* * S P E C I A L D O U B L E I S S U E * * YO U R E N D O F Y E A R M U ST L I ST E N G U I D E TO 2 0 1 8 ’S B E ST A L B U M S !
December 2018 / January 2019 upsetmagazine.com
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C REEPER CAN’T SWIM MEMPHIS MAY FIRE PALISADES
Featuring...
BLACK PEAKS BOSTON MANOR IDLES DREAM WIFE BLACK FOXXES +'more'
the last twelve m o fr s rd o c re e Th months you can’t miss!
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DECEMBER 2018 / JANUARY 2019 Issue 39
HELLO.
It's the end of another year, which means it's time for The List. We've rounded up some of our favourite records from the last twelve months - fifty of them in all - and talked to some of the people behind them to provide a must hear list of everything great from 2018. It's not all good news, though. This month saw Creeper seemingly draw a line under their big adventure as they appeared to split on stage at London's Koko during a 'final' gig. We're not sure if it's real, or if it's another of those immersive games they like to play with the imagery around the band, but until we hear otherwise, we're pouring one out to one of the very finest.
S tephen
Editor / @stephenackroyd
Upset Editor Stephen Ackroyd Deputy Editor Victoria Sinden Associate Editor Ali Shutler Scribblers Alex Bradley, Alex Cabre, Alex Thorp, Dan Harrison, Danny Randon, Dillon Eastoe, Jack Press, Jake Hawkes, Jamie MacMillan, Jasleen Dhindsa, Katie Pilbeam, Linsey Teggert, Rob Mair, Sam Taylor, Steven Loftin Snappers Frances Beach, Jennifer McCord Sarah Louise Bennett P U B L I S H E D F RO M
W E LCO M E TOT H E B U N K E R.CO M U N I T 10, 23 G RA N G E RO A D, H A S T I N G S, T N34 2R L
All material copyright (c). All rights reserved.
RIOT 4. CREEPER 8. YONAKA 9. THE BRONX 10. CAN’T SWIM 14. MEMPHIS MAY FIRE 18. PALISADES ABOUT TO BREAK 20. SICK JOY 22. POLISH CLUB 23. SOEUR
FEATURES 24. THE BEST OF 2018
FEAT. BLACK PEAKS, BOSTON MANOR, DREAM WIFE, IDLES, BLACK FOXXES, THE XCERTS, WATERPARKS, AS IT IS, AGAINST THE CURRENT AND MORE.
REVIEWS 56. THE 1975 TEENAGE KICKS 58. PUPPY
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Riot_
THIS MONTH IN ROCK
EVERYTHING HAPPENING IN ROCK
RIP CREEPER?
CREEPER’s future is uncertain as the band ‘break-up’ onstage at London’s KOKO. Words: Ali Shutler. Photos: Sarah Louise Bennett.
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Yonaka give us the low-down on their new EP ‘Creature’, and what’s on their minds as they go into 2019. p.8
Chris Loporto runs through the ins and outs of Can't Swim's new record, 'This Too Won't Pass'. p.10
Memphis May Fire don't claim to have all the answers, but they're laying themselves open in the hope it can help others. p.14
T
here’s a sense of finality surrounding Creeper’s one-off headline show at London’s KOKO.
The band have long spoken about The End of their little group, and they’ve been strangely quiet in the lead-up to tonight, save for a mysterious countdown leading to this show. Billed asking the question “can the city withstand one more callous night in the city,” there’s no way around it, things will never be the same for Creeper after tonight. “It’s here now. You better wake up,” warns a faceless voice as the curtain covered stage flashes with strobes. There are haunted house screams, that song from the X Factor (or ‘O Fortuna’ from Carl Orff’s ‘Carmina Burana’ if you’re a little more classical) and a whole lot of anticipation before Creeper even take to the stage. As the curtain drops, the band stands still for just a moment before Will throws his fist and they launch into ‘Suzanne’. The opening songs fly by in a flurry of scratched punk and unruly abandon. ‘Valentine’s pause of “I’ve been low,” is the first real moment to take a breath but it doesn’t last long. The only story Creeper are telling for the first half of tonight is just how ferocious and unrelenting they can be. There’s no theatrics, no drama, just locked hand escape as they bounce between their back catalogue. “Close your eyes, count to three, make a wish,” sings ‘VCR’ with a leading poignancy. Creeper did, and it’s still coming true around them.
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THE BEST NEW BANDS. THE HOTTEST NEW MUSIC.
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WANT A NEW BAND CRUSH? CHECK OUT THIS LOT! >>>
PRESS CLUB Aussie punks Press Club have just signed to Hassle Records for debut album ‘Late Teens’, out in Jan. ‘Headwreck’ is a particular highlight.
GRANDSON grandson's Fueled By Ramen debut, the powerful ‘a modern tragedy vol. 1’ EP is billed as “provoking discourse [via] art and activism”.
FONTAINES D.C. FFO Idles and Shame, Dublin rabble Fontaines D.C. are coming out all-guns-blazing for 2019, with urgent, noisy punk and a ridiculous tour schedule.
SICK JOY SO HOT RIGHT NOW
Brighton bunch SICK JOY are on the up with their fuzzy, grunge-influenced heavy pop.
B
righton upstarts Sick Joy are one of the highlights of The Great Escape’s First Fifty showcase this winter, showcasing buzzy newcomers ahead of next year’s festival - and they’re playing Upset’s stage. Nice one, right? With a heavy Pixies influence, the trio - made up of Mykl Barton (vocals, guitar), Danny Piston (bass) and Drew Michael (drums) - are busy bringing back all the grungy best bits of the 90s. Hey Mykl, what's up?
I'm good just sliding down some vegan bacon with a side of scrambled eggs because contradictions are everywhere.
So who's in the band then?
There are three of us. Danny plays bass, Martyn plays drums. I met Danny back in Newcastle just through bands on the circuit, and we started playing together. Martyn was the same. Saw him playing at a show, we needed a drummer, so we got together. Sounds so simple written out. Martyn and Danny are both currently exploiting the world's fascination with coffee and all its guises working
Words: Sam Taylor at coffee shops in Brighton. I'm just here. Doing life.
What prompted the move from Newcastle to Brighton? That's a bit of a trek.
It fuckin' is, man. Whatever way you do it, it's long and expensive. Our poor mothers. We just got seduced by all the rad bands going on in Brighton and the vibe of the place, so Danny and I got in a van and just went down. Lived in that for a while, got some jobs, got a house. Here we are.
How are you finding life at the seaside?
It's nice down here, man. It's like nowhere else. It's a melting pot, and a lot of it revolves around creativity and freedom, which is nice.
You seem to have been really busy this year, any notable highlights?
I mean, Brixton Academy was pretty decent, like. The tour we just finished, the EP and recording the single. It's all fucking good, right? Otherwise, what's the point?
Are you going to have a similarly packed 2019? Lots of
“EVERYTHING THAT ISN'T JUST ACTUALLY PLAYING CAN BE A REAL FUCKING DRAG” MYKL BARTON
festivals and stuff? We just want more of it. We're greedy boys. Hopefully, we can get out and play more, get more music out, all the classic shit. If we can, we will. What else is there?
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing new bands at the mo? The business bullshit. I think everything that isn't just actually playing can be a real fucking drag. But if you wanna try and pay your rent or buy some food with your music, you've gotta work out how to do it without it sapping your life out. As long as you love it, you'll be fine. P
Sick Joy play Upset’s First Fifty gig at The Old Blue Last on 29th November, ahead of The Great Escape next year. Upset 21
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