Manifesto #18 Nov 2010

the

18 November ‘10 /FREE t

WOoden SKY PLUS Give Me The Horn Ashleigh Lowes CD and Live Reviews Top fives

Contents

November ‘10 Issue 18

05

11

DESIGN Callum Brand ‘Big Gulp Graphic Design’ biggulpdesign@gmail.com

WORDS Philip Jarvis, Kelly Horn, Emma Reynolds, Nicky Banggs

15 5691012141718-

18

Give Me The Horn This month...

Top Tracks & Quiz Wooden Sky CD Reviews Live Reviews Top Fives Ashliegh Lowes

PHOTOGRAPHY Nicholas Gray, Ian West, Jazzy Lemon, Amy Brammalll Manifesto Magazine 29 Stockton Rd Sunderland SR2 7AQ Tel: 0870 922 0336 E-mail: manifestomagazine@ymail.com www.myspace.com/magmanifesto Facebook - ‘Manifesto Sunderland‘

MaNiFestO

03

04

MaNiFestO

Place Facebook on the shelf and get social!

By Kelly Horn

Let me introduce to you a rather disquieting thought: the printed word of which you are currently gracing your fine eyes is destined to become obsolete; everything a person can ever need can be found caught within the intricate working of the world wide web. Including their social lives.

Welcome to a society dependent on tweeting, liking and informing the masses about what is on our minds! This eventuality has become more widespread via mobile-phone revolution in which telephones aren’t used for ringing but as micro-computers for surfing. Oh, bring back the days when we were content with playing Snake on the go! The line between reality and the virtual world is blurring; the art of conversation and social antics bludgeoned by the general public being far too lazy to visit familiar faces, with a preference to daub messages on profile walls and taking up an agricultural career on a faux-farm.

Facebook, the main culprit of this arguable social decline, is so far removed from the actions of life that it is a wonder why social networking takes precedence over being social.

Its purpose is ‘to connect and share with the people in your life’; so why can’t our vocal chords suffice? Notifications of so-and-so writing on some wall always conjures up an image of a mate armed with paint indulging in a bit of graffiti on the stack of bricks surrounding my abode. How about drop me a line, pen some correspondence, fire up a smoke signal? And don’t even get me started on poking; friends, foes and strangers alike are at liberty to prompt such a purposeless act yet if you were to go on such a similar poke-fest in the town-centre, be prepared for broken fingers and some time invested at Gill Bridge.

OK, OK, I admit it allows the means to keep in touch with old friends who have succeeded in escaping the confines of a land known as Sunder. And the cat-killing curiosity of discovering that the heart-throb of secondary school earns their living from sweeping up autumnal leaves in Aylesbury to support their twelve offspring from four different marriages can be strangely satisfying. The commercial and advertising aspect has served to work wonders on the ailing music scene via event invites but the RSVP is likely to be ‘No’ since most have way too many photographs to tag that evening.

But this virtual forum is a sincere worry of mine; a former Facebooka-phobe turned addict who browses news feeds whilst waiting in a supermarket checkout, updating stati with how cold my feet are this winter and, all the while, aware of how ludicrous it all is! Readers, lets go cold-turkey; find a friend, pop to the pub! Gis’ a sec while I stick a status up and see who fancies it…

MaNiFestO

05

This month I will be...

LISTENING TO...

Definitely without a doubt Mumford and Sons! And also Yeasayer too, I’ve always been a fan but I’m really enjoying the current album at the moment. Another artist I love right now is Klaus; he’s a fantastic folk-type artist with a very very nice voice!

WATCHING...

The Apprentice! I am so glued to this series. ‘Lord Sugar’ is as fantastic and ruthless as ever. Also I’m really getting into An Idiot Abroad, Karl Pilkington is a genius! And I’m not ashamed to admit I’m loving the new Desperate Housewives series.

Rachael Devine

Head of Music at Spark FM

READING...

I’m re-reading a book I got over summer called ‘Looking For Alaska’ it’s a great read and soon to be made into a film! I’m also going to get the new Russell Brand book as I loved the first one!

GOING TO...

Hopefully there will be a lot of good gigs coming up, I’d like to go and see Alexisonfire but also Minus The Bear at Newcastle in the next month. Also Interpol are playing there in a few weeks so I’d definitely like to go along and see them again, they’re a great band!

LISTENING TO...

Illmatic by Nas gets a spin every month. I’m still celebrating Meet Me In St. Louis Day, an (as of yet) unofficial bank holiday commemorating the anniversary of the now defunct band’s first and only album, Variations on Swing. British mathy post-hardcore at it’s most jerky, frantic best. Alcopop Records, who get a bit creative with their releases, from a CD in a Christmas card to a treasure map/message in a bottle. And a stack of demos.

Emma Reynolds

Manifesto Journalist & Pod-Caster

WATCHING...

Back to the Future at the pictures for its 25th anniversary. It was great to get the chance to see it on the big screen, being that I was just a speckle in my parents’ eyes when it first came out READING...

A bunch of zines I’ve picked up over the years. ‘Avow‘. ‘Burn Collector‘.

‘Cometbus’ - classic DIY punk zine. A cool one is ‘YOU‘, simply an anonymous letter from different writers to you, the reader. A little slice of life at somewhere, sometime.

GOING TO...

Be keeping myself busy drumming. Maybe try to build a flux capacitor.

06

MaNiFestO

MaNiFestO

07

08

MaNiFestO

Here’s what we’ve been listening to on repeat for the last month, discovered online, on the radio or at live shows.

We Beat The System - Exit

This slow burning epic was one of the highlights of September’s Split festival and the studio version sounds just as good. Don’t be surprised if WBTS are headlining next year’s event.

Rainfalldown - Alas My Atlas

Wearside’s most underrated band, Rainfalldown, keep wowing us at their Big Night Inn shows. This is a stompy, happy, singalong track with a groovy mandolin vibe giving it texture and warmth. Make sure you get along to their next Big Night Inn show at Plugged Inn.

Field Music - Terrapin

A brilliant homage to Syd Barret’s post Pink Floyd number. It’s dark, psychedelic and pretty much perfect. It’s probably the best cover we’ve heard since the Futureheads’ Hounds of Love.

Sonner - Horizon

Sonner have a new singer in Mick Corkhill, and he’s taken the band in a whole new direction.

Horizon is a load more subtle than their previos output, but anthemicat the same ime. With its uplifting chorus this could’ve come straight off of Born in the USA.

MaNiFestO Quiz.

Answer this collection of brain destroying nuggets correctly for the chance to win a year’s subscription of Manifesto delivered to your door. Send your answers, along with your name and address, to manifestomagazine@ymail.com before close of play on august 31st..

1. November’s Old Friends / Bookends headliners The Wooden Sky hail from which Canadian city?

2. What is the Futureheads’ highest chart position and what number did it reach?

3. Complete the line up of this famous Manchester band: Curtis, Sumner, Hook, _______.

4. What is the name of Frankie and the Heartstrings’ very own record label?

5. The View play Independent on November 20th, what was the title of their first album, released in 2007?

MaNiFestO

09

the the

WOoden WOoden SKY SKY Since launching this summer, folk gathering Old Friends / Bookends has gone from strength to strength, showcasing some of the regions hottest talent, including Lucas Renney, Chased by Wolves and Matt Stalker and Fables. The fifth installment at Independent’s Little Room sees Toronto’s The Wooden Sky on the bill, alongside local faves The Lake Poets and Jayne Lewis, on November 26th..

The Wooden Sky traces its roots back through the winter of 2003, when with a collection of songs under his arm, Gavin Gardiner began to seek out musical collaborators to help bring his sketches out from the bedroom and onto the stage. It was soon after the first snow fall that Andrew Wyatt and Chris Cocca joined Gardiner and began to flush out ideas that would become their first EP. It was only after they had finished this record that they realized it possible to put their newfound interests on display.

Moving from a makeshift studio and into Gardiner’s garage in downtown Toronto, a place the three had come to call home only the year before, they began the plot to share their amateurish themes with others.

Certainly much has changed since those formative years huddled around space heaters and dodging noise complaints. Gone are the songs they began as teenagers and gone even is the name, Friday Morning’s Re-

10

MaNiFestO

gret, with which they had branded themselves. In its place stands the Wooden Sky, with new fulltime and moonlighting members Simon Walker, Anissa Heart and Andrew Kekewich.

When Lost at Sea, the Wooden Sky’s debut LP, was originally released in February 2007 to a sold-out Horseshoe Tavern and reveals the band arranging fragile folk songs in a context that has drawn comparison to such modern acts as the Great Lake Swimmers, Neutral Milk Hotel and Okkervil River.

Following a year of hard work, the When Lost at Sea was picked up and re-released by Black Box Recordings. The eclectic Toronto-area label is distributed by Fontana North, and is home to the Juno-nominated hip-hop artist Shad, and the MMVA-nominated Ten Second Epic.

The Wooden Sky, along with The Lake Poets and Jayne Lewis, play Old Friends Book Ends #5 @ Independent on Friday, November 26th, 8pm.

Entry is ÂŁ4.

You can also check them out at www.myspace.com/thewoodensky MaNiFestO

11

CD Reviews

Reviews by Emma Reynolds

Coal Train - Tall Ships (Single)

Another class release from the former This Aint Vegas lads, coming sharply after debut single Building Dens (released 27th September on Run of the Mill Records). This one will sneak up on you. Strong Mackem vocals are backed by upbeat drumming and an irresistible keyboard melody. You can get your (figurative) hands on a download by emailing the band at coal.train@hotmail.co.uk

Matt Stalker & Fables - The Wicked Sleep Sound Demo EP

A lovely collection of material from Matt Stalker & Fables. At nine tracks, does it still count as an EP? They call it ‘chamber folk’. A rich sound, with a warm backdrop of instruments including guitar, cello, harmonica and light percussion. Over nine tracks, it remains consistent. Songs include ‘Apostrophe Catastrophe’, about the perils of misused grammar, and a rearranged rendition of Radiohead’s ‘Let Down’..

Saint Saviour – Woman Scorned (Single)

In this cracker of a debut, Saint Saviour’s commanding vocals stand out over a quirky pop track. The local lass, now based in London, gained much praise as a singer for Groove Armada. On B-Side, ‘When You Smile’, her voice is really allowed to shine, leading the song over a sparse, twinkling backdrop. Also on the promo is a chopped up Dimbleby & Capper remix of the main tune.

Recusant - Demo EP

Passionate, feet stomping music. Grooving beats and big hooks, with a distinctly Northern feel in the imagery of pubs, council tips and the despair of “a town like a time warp”. “Thunderous Teesside Revolutionaries”, BBC Radio Tees called them.

Maybe a bit much, but Recusant have put together a solid EP. Fingers crossed they can follow it up on their upcoming album.

12

MaNiFestO

CD Reviews Synoiz - Shock! Horror! (Single)

While Synoiz’s last release Ever Emptiness/Silhouettes might “have you looking over your shoulder... in a good way”, on this Halloween themed single that aspect is laid on thick, to a less than chilling result. With a name like ‘Shock! Horror!’, I have a sneaking suspicion that might be intentional... Behind the haunting strings and creaking synthesisers, the anguished wails, murmurs and howls dotted throughout are actually genuinely unnerving. Meanwhile, the ‘Sinister Mix’ sounds almost tribal, with added backing percussion and slurred chanting

Puce Wallpaper - Compendium

A compilation of material from two of this bizarrely named band’s albums. Not a stranger to wacky names, artists on their MySpace page include Yoghurt Weavers and Odd Shaped Head. Puce Wallpaper build on a laid-back classic rock foundation with elements of blues, punk and ska, on songs including ‘Top Gear’ (sadly not about the TV programme) and tootin’ third track ‘Ghosts’ (cover). Hit and miss.

Stringmen – Demo

Rock ‘n’ roll with a lick of hardcore, bursting with energy and melody among the ruggedness. ‘Adagio’ is the heaviest track here, with growled vocals and a pounding intensity right off the bat. The vocalist sounds like he’s suffering an asthma attack in the wheezed chorus, punctuated by nutty laughter. Somehow, it works.

Morris Ford - Wash Our Blues Away Demo EP

Five lo-fi indie folk recordings. Largely driven by acoustic guitar and Morris Ford’s hushed vocals, keys add a further layer to the sound. There is a simplicity to the music which works well. The kind of music to stick on at night as you drift off to sleep. As subtle as it is, it benefits from a couple of listens to get into. Best heard through a pair of good headphones, on a cold winter’s night tucked up nice and warm, I reckon.

MaNiFestO

13

live Reviews

Split Festival

25/09/10 @ Ashbrooke Sports Club Someone came up with the great idea of having the main tent split (geddit...) into two stages either side. This meant no agonisingly long waits to see bands, as the acts alternated between the two. There was also a third, acoustic stage in its own tent, which drew a canny crowd. Acts on offer here included The Lake Poets, Joe Versus The Volcano and Molk Vant.

Over at the main stage, promising young Sunderland band We Beat The System had an early but explosive set. One of my highlights was Let’s Buy Happiness; quirky female vocals over a huge, effects laden soundscape. Coal Train was another.

Later, The Stones treated the crowd to a well-replicated tribute set. Then, in what was their first hometown gig in some time, Frankie and the Heartstrings front man Frankie bopped and (occasionally)

Reviews by Emma Reynolds

shrieked his way through the band’s retro pop gems. “Maximo, Maximo, Maximo”, fans hollered, before the anticipated headliners took to the stage to close the Saturday in true Maximo style, an erratic Paul Smith darting and diving about the stage as they played through a fantastic sing-along set of material old and new.

A worthy send off for the band, who it was announced will be Going Missing for a while, as Paul Smith is to embark on a solo project.

Other attractions at the festival included... fire breathing circus folk traipsing around on stilts, a lovely little cupcake stand by the name of Pet Lamb Patisserie, and the opportunity to try your hand at the art of graffiti. And of course no festival is without an array of wacky vintage and hemp clothing and accessory stalls. Split is one of few festivals to offer food and drinks at decent prices, and no doubt queues at the bar were lessoned with the voucher system. No faffing around through pennies and pounds.

Maximo Park

14

MaNiFestO

Hot House

live Reviews

15/10/10 @ Arts Centre Washington: We Beat The System, Sonner, The Phinetics.

It’s not often you walk through an art exhibition on your way into a gig. Not your typical venue, the audience made their way through the display to the hall where the gig was held. A spiffy little bar and restaurant area sat adjacent to it.

The first band on tonight was Sonner. I’d wager a guess that they weren’t playing to quite their usual crowd tonight... A bit of a mosh pit briefly erupted during their set. They closed with top tune ‘Green Park’, bringing the set full circle with a

reiteration of “it’s not what you do, it’s where you go” of the opener.

Next was The Phinetics. I’d never heard of them but they surprised me with some nice cover choices, most memorably There Is A Light That Never Goes Out by The Smiths. They got love from the crowd.

A fairly recently formed band, I suppose you can only wait and see. Potential.

We Beat The System closed the night to a packed room of fans. I’ve been writing quite a few reviews of these lately, which goes to show the waves they’ve been making in the local music scene. They’ve cultivated a solid alternative sound in the time they’ve been together and at a young age. I didn’t catch all of their set but I’m told they put on a great show, and given their consistently impressive gigs so far, I don’t doubt it.

We Beat The System

MaNiFestO

15

live Reviews Old Friends/ Bookends #3

@ Little Room, Independent: Lucas Renney, Coal Train & The Lake Poets.

With the stellar line up tonight, it’s not surprising Independent was heaving.

Candles were lit and drinks poured. After an introduction from Old Friends/Bookends resident Matt Stalker, the evening got into swing with a set from singersongwriter Martin Longstaff, aka The Lake Poets. Though his music and demure had a delicate feel to it, he commanded the attention of the audience with a heartfelt performance and distinctive voice.

A member of Coal Train joined him with accompanying keys. Songs performed include ‘Friends’, ‘How Do You Love Me’ and ‘Windowsill’. The Lake Poets has won a fan here.

Next was Coal Train, formed out of the ashes of This Aint Vegas. As fitting with

5 5 5

the Old Friends/Bookends vibe, the band performed acoustic renditions of songs like ‘You and Him’, ‘Snow’, and soon to be debut single, ‘Building Dens’. I was looking forward to their set and it definitely didn’t disappoint. The band has an energy to them that stands out even in this stripped down performance. Not one to miss at Split Festival.

Closing the night was Lucas Renney, former front man of The Golden Virgins. He performed a set of lush, acoustic material from his debut solo album Strange Glory, including ‘How The Night Gently Falls’ and ‘Other Men’. The set was not at all lacking in his characteristic, soft-spoken dry wit.

He followed the lovely ‘She Gives Me The Chills’ with a tale of performing it at Radio 4, where I do recall the show and tell of a picture of Terry Wogan. Whatever you make of his in between song chatter, the man’s song writing is undeniably brilliant.

And that marked the end of a great night.

The intimate setting of The Little Room was a perfect fit; I couldn’t picture it anywhere else.

Coal Train

16

MaNiFestO

5

5

5

5 5 5 5 5 5 5

5 5 5 55 5 5 5

5

5

5 5 5 5

5 5 5

5

5

5

5

5 5 5 5 5 5

5

5 5

ToP Fives 5 5

5

5 5 5 5 5 5 55 5 5 5 5 5

5 5

5

5 5 5

5

5 5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5 5 5 5 5 5

5 5 5 5

5 5 5 5 5 5

5

5

5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Gav’s top 5 eyebrow impressions:

Henry’s top 5 things to suck up:

Kye’s top 5 veggie dinners:

1. Roger Moore 2. Patrick Moore 3. Noel Gallagher 4. Columbo 5. Boy George

1. crumbs 2. dust 3. snots 4. choc lick 5. pund coins

Lee’s top 5 retro toys:

Tarley’s top 5 tickets:

Stevo’s Top 5 O’s:

1. Stretch Armstrong 2. Evil Kneivel 3. 6 Million Dollar Man 4. Millenium Falcon 5. Barbie & Ken

1. Bus ticket 2. Gig ticket 3. FA cup final ticket 4. Dinner ticket 5. Workey ticket

1. Rolo 2. Polo 3. Bolo 4. Solo 5. Yoyo

1. butternut squash 2. mushroom risotto 3. cheese on toast 4. beans on toast 5. grass on toast

MaNiFestO

17

5

Ashleigh Lowes Move aside Ellie Goulding , Sunderland has found its own starry eyed girl in the form of 18 year old Ashleigh Lowes. Up and coming singer/songwriter Ashleigh from High Barnes, is currently taking part in nationwide talent search Open Mic UK. The competition started in August at the Journal Tyne Theatre with a nerve racking two hours in the theatres cafe/bar for all the contestants, listening to the other auditionees, waiting for their chance to shine. And shine she did, Ashleigh blew the judges away with her rendition of a Paul McCartney classic Live and Let die, a performance that won her a place in the regional finals on 3rd October.

In the lead up to the regional heats Ashleigh began to practice with guitarist, Robbie McBride member of local band Sunday Best.

The pair then practiced nonstop and began writing and recording original material and putting their twist on classic covers.

They performed at a series of local gigs, the first of which was in The Ivy House, where Ashleigh works part-time to finance her studies, so when she put the mic down she was straight back behind the bar pulling pints.

After a heart wrenching visit to the Teenage Cancer Unit in the RVI Newcastle she decided to do a charity gig in aid of the Children’s Cancer Fund, organising, promoting and then performing at Plugged Inn in Sunderland, playing alongside local jazz 6-piece, SoulTrane and raising over £100.

In between all the fund raising, writing and recording Ash managed to squeeze in a trip to 107 SparkFM, Sunderland’s local radio

18

MaNiFestO

station, where she did an interview and an acoustic set of her original tracks and two covers alongside her guitarist on Ethan O’Leary’s drive time show receiving excellent feedback.

She also found time to create a huge online presence, arrange a photo shoot with local photographer Helen Russell, start work on her video as well as continue to write more of her own songs.

So by the time the regional final came along, her confidence was high and once again she took the competition by storm with a rendition of Tina Turner classic ‘Proud Mary’ and her own track ‘Bright City’. Once again she sang her way through to the next stage, the area final, which is in Dewsbury on 11th December 2010.

Ashleigh is continuing with her busy schedule including a number of gigs including another self promoted charity gig at Independent Rm 2 on the 3rd December, while also playing alongside Sunday Best, Rainfalldown and The Castells for the Hothouse gig at Arts Centre Washington on the 26th November.

Then it will be all aboard the Open Mic train again next stop Dewsbury on the 11th of December.

MaNiFestO

19