As suggested to me by my lovely friend Sarah, following the recent riots it might be worth adapting the Food Band daily post to what is being tweeted as #chavband.
With that in mind, I put forward this first offering for Friday: THEFTONES
Friday 12 August 2011
WE HAVE FRIDAY!
The weekend is upon us again! Annoyingly this seems to be the first in a while where I've got nothing going on (outside of a trip to the Old Blue Last tonight to see a friend's band, Friendship). In preparation for some intense thumb twiddling, here's my WHF video!
Generally my WHF choices have been dance-y, but I thought I'd go for some balls-out rock from the excellent Welsh trio THE JOY FORMIDABLE. They're not the most original, but their album, The Big Roar, takes me back to my teenage days, watching bands like Reuben, Hell Is For Heroes and Hundred Reasons at The Pitz in Milton Keynes or The Soundhaus or Roadmender in Northampton.
Well written, loud songs with lots of drums and distorted guitars; you can't go wrong.
Generally my WHF choices have been dance-y, but I thought I'd go for some balls-out rock from the excellent Welsh trio THE JOY FORMIDABLE. They're not the most original, but their album, The Big Roar, takes me back to my teenage days, watching bands like Reuben, Hell Is For Heroes and Hundred Reasons at The Pitz in Milton Keynes or The Soundhaus or Roadmender in Northampton.
Well written, loud songs with lots of drums and distorted guitars; you can't go wrong.
Thursday 11 August 2011
Food Related Artist Of The Day
MANIC STREET PEACHES (with their song 'Faster'..."I AM AN ARTICHOKE!!!")
MK-47: MWEN
Time for another new artist introduction, in preparation for next Tuesday's awesome MK-47 SHOWCASE. Opening the showcase will be the excellent experiment-electro-soul soloist MWEN.
Frankly, I don't think you'll find a more succinct description of Mwen's sound than from the review given by Rich Morris at Soundblab.com:
Frankly, I don't think you'll find a more succinct description of Mwen's sound than from the review given by Rich Morris at Soundblab.com:
'In her music, you can detect influences ranging from the skittering female-centred rhythms of The Slits and The Raincoats; the bleak, bewitched emoting of Portishead's Beth Gibbons; the otherworldliness of Bjork; the fire of Nina Simone, as well as more contemporary electronic sounds.'
She's a very exciting talent with a very original sound, and I'm chuffed to have her open the next showcase! Here's some more of her stuff; listen to it, and then come along on Tuesday!
Wednesday 10 August 2011
MK-47: SOLAR STATE
After a few days of looting, it's back on with the blog!
We're now less than a week away from the next MK-47 SHOWCASE, and so it's time I mentioned a quality new band playing at the event, SOLAR STATE.
Sirens (STRANGERS Remix) by S O L A R S T A T E
Solar State by S O L A R S T A T E
We're now less than a week away from the next MK-47 SHOWCASE, and so it's time I mentioned a quality new band playing at the event, SOLAR STATE.
These guys haven't been around long, but are already making waves with their exciting hybrid of dream-pop, folk and electronica! Atmospheric synths, sweeping strings, sweet vocals, interesting beats: lovely stuff!
Influenced by the likes of Sigur Ros, Fever Ray and Massive Attack (amongst many more), they remind me of a mellower Picture Book (blogged about below). These guys are definitely worth checking out live!
They have recently had their track 'Sirens' (poignant) remixed by Strangers, and it is below (along with more of their demo recordings)! Check them out, and then come see them next Tuesday!
Sirens (STRANGERS Remix) by S O L A R S T A T E
Solar State by S O L A R S T A T E
Friday 5 August 2011
WE HAVE FRIDAY!
For this week's WHF track, I'm going with the classic Get A Move On by MR. SCRUFF. A great Friday tune!
I just found out he's playing a FREE GIG this evening on the South Bank, straight after I finish work, great way to start a very busy weekend!
I just found out he's playing a FREE GIG this evening on the South Bank, straight after I finish work, great way to start a very busy weekend!
Wednesday 3 August 2011
PICTURE BOOK
PICTURE BOOK are playing a last-minute show tonight at The Lexington in Islington (onstage 7.30pm).
I've been following the Liverpool-based dance-pop trio for a couple of years now, since randomly seeing them support Casiokids at the Sound City festival in 2009, and in that time they've gone from strength to strength and really refined their sound. A captivating blend of intensely banging, balls-out electronic beats covered in fat synths, kept in check by singer Greta's beautifully sweet vocals, and occasional electric violin. The result is perfect electro-pop in the best sense.
They have a FREE single available, and are playing tonight. And having recently sign to industry legend Seymour Stein's new label, Blue Horizon, it looks like these guys are well on their way to some very exciting times!
Tuesday 2 August 2011
CROSSES (Deftones / Team Sleep)
Good morning!
Great news for fans of DEFTONES and TEAM SLEEP (such as myself): Chino Moreno (with Far guitarist Shaun Lopez) has a new project, CROSSES (spelt in cross symbols I don't know how to type). Even better, they're releasing their debut EP for FREE! Click on the artwork below to get it!:
Great news for fans of DEFTONES and TEAM SLEEP (such as myself): Chino Moreno (with Far guitarist Shaun Lopez) has a new project, CROSSES (spelt in cross symbols I don't know how to type). Even better, they're releasing their debut EP for FREE! Click on the artwork below to get it!:
I'm gonna give it a listen now, and then update this with what I think...
Monday 1 August 2011
FIELD DAY EXCITEMENT POST 2 - CLOUD CONTROL
I'm not going to be able to write nearly as many of these as I'd like but fudge it. Today I'm talking about CLOUD CONTROL!
Another band I annoyingly missed at Great Escape and Liverpool Sound City (who did I actually see again?), I've only been really getting into their debut album, Bliss Release, over the past week or so, in anticipation for Field Day, having heard many good things about them by a good many people.
And getting into their debut album, I have! The Australian 4-piece hailing from the Blue Mountains near Sydney sound more like they came out of 1960s beach-side California, with dreamy pop sensibilities nodding clearly to The Beach Boys, and more recently akin to bands like Best Coast and Beach House. The sweet boy/girl harmonies remind me of moments of Fleetwood Mac (and perhaps Jefferson Airplane?), while they're quieter, more contemplative moments shift their location in my mind to the mountain-men sound of Fleet Foxes amongst others.
They're like Grouplove, but better. And I like Grouplove.
A raucous guitar-pop band, full of hooks and harmonies which (particularly if the sun is out) should go down very well at Field Day!
Another band I annoyingly missed at Great Escape and Liverpool Sound City (who did I actually see again?), I've only been really getting into their debut album, Bliss Release, over the past week or so, in anticipation for Field Day, having heard many good things about them by a good many people.
And getting into their debut album, I have! The Australian 4-piece hailing from the Blue Mountains near Sydney sound more like they came out of 1960s beach-side California, with dreamy pop sensibilities nodding clearly to The Beach Boys, and more recently akin to bands like Best Coast and Beach House. The sweet boy/girl harmonies remind me of moments of Fleetwood Mac (and perhaps Jefferson Airplane?), while they're quieter, more contemplative moments shift their location in my mind to the mountain-men sound of Fleet Foxes amongst others.
They're like Grouplove, but better. And I like Grouplove.
A raucous guitar-pop band, full of hooks and harmonies which (particularly if the sun is out) should go down very well at Field Day!
MAIA
So, Friday night, and I'm at the Spice of Life in Soho to see DANNY PAPE (much more on him soon). Danny was going to headline, and I was planning on going to see him and then head home, but as his guitarist fell ill and he ended up playing a solo set he was bumped down the bill slightly. Which meant I ended up catching another band who I hadn't expected to, MAIA.
Well, they were something else! The only frame of reference I could think of for their sound was Gomez. They were a bit like a folkier, less blues-y cousin of Gomez (back in the days of Liquid Skin, when they were making instruments out of whatever they found in their garage). It'd be lazy to say they were quirky, when really they just used a variety of interesting instruments (a mariachi-esque trumpet, a mandolin, a cajon, a banjo, their drummer was more of a 'percussionist' than outright drummer), though they do call their music "Disco sci-fi folk pop". I'd perhaps stick 'Americana' somewhere in there too.
But their songs were very sophisticatedly written, particularly dynamically intriguing, which made for pretty captivating viewing. And you can never go wrong with the occasional three-part harmony.
Andy thought the singer sounded like Mark Greaney (the JJ72 singer), not a bad shout. I reckon a bit like Finley Quaye as well.
All in all, they convinced me to buy their debut self-titled album. I haven't bought an album at a gig for years, so I think that's a good compliment.
Go check out more of their stuff HERE. It really is very good.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)