Festival Features – Travel Advice, Survival Tips and Festival Band and Artist Interviews – Clash Music

Offset Festival

Robin Murray — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 10:29:30 +0000

Bridging the gap between new bands and their influences, Offset Festival is set to take Hainault Forest by storm on 5th and 6th September.

For those of you who missed our recent headline announcements, let me refresh…a half an hour tube ride out of east London, Offset is situated in leafy surrounds that serves as a neat escape from the frustrating trappings of most of inner-city fests. And how can you possibly resist squeezing in one more festival before the season slams its doors firmly shut?

Now in its second year, Offset offers a line-up unparalleled in its vision - for savvy souls seeking relief from the mainstream festival circuit. For one weekend only, over 150 artists, including A Certain Ratio, The Slits, Damo Suzuki, and The Horrors will perform.

Clash is delighted to take its place among the angular haircuts and tight trousers and, on Sunday 6th, the Clash Live stage will be playing host to a handpicked selection of our favourite bands.

What’s more, we’ve teamed up with Cushe Footwear, who are bringing something extra special to our stage. Transport yourself to our Cushe profile to learn more...

To celebrate, we’re dishing out two pairs of VIP tickets. For details on how to enter, click HERE!

The line-up for the Clash Live stage is a veritable who’s who of 2009’s most exciting music, here’s our rundown on the bands you’ll see on the day:

Wild Beasts
Having caused a flurry of excitement this summer with the release of their second album ‘Two Dancers,’ the eccentric Cumbrian quartet bring their surging melodies to Offset.

The xx:
The moody Londoners have quietly caused waves of excitement this summer with the release of their self-titled debut album of minimal r’n’b tinged melodies.

Maps:
Bedroom electro wizard James Chapman whetted our appetite for his forthcoming album ‘Turning The Mind’ with the download-only release of ‘Let Go Of The Fear’ earlier this summer.

Ipso Facto:
The Horrors’ favourite girl band venture out of the studio to treat fans to what is sure to be an exciting onslaught of their punky pop.

Tubelord:
One of the year’s biggest buzz bands, the math-pop trio bring their noisy soundscapes for Offset’s delectation. One to watch.

Gold Panda:
We are proud to present a rare London performance of laid-back electro from one of this year’s most exciting producers, look out for airings of superb Little Boots and SMD remixes.

Sian Alice Group:
Look forward to a pulsating set from the genre-bending group of unfeasibly talented musicians, all underpinned by Sian’s mesmeric vocal.

Shrag:
Expect a sultry, groove-laden performance from the scuzzy Brighton outfit.

She Keeps Bees:
Fresh from Green Man Festival, the acclaimed bluesy stomp of She Keeps Bees is not to be missed.

Sunderbans:
Last, but by no means least, Sunderbans the gospel flecked folk-punk of this London trio is sure to excite the Offset masses. No video in sight, but be sure to befriend them.
Sunderbands MySpace link!

Offset Festival takes place over the weekend of 5th-6th September, with the Clash Live stage kicking off on the 6th. Tickets are priced as follows:
Weekend camping- £55
Weekend without camping- £45
Individual day tickets £27.99.
For more information, and to purchase tickets head to:
http://offsetfestival.co.uk/

Words by Ben Homewood
http://www.cushe.com/

Dour Festival 2009 - Clash's Must-See Five

Mike Diver — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 10:44:31 +0000

As a media partner of the 21st Dour Festival - held in Belgium on July 16-20 - Clash is pretty dang excited by the bill the organisers have assembled: it's safe to say it's the best line-up you'll see on the continent this summer.

With the likes of Apehx Twin, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Mercury Rev, Roots Manuva, Diplo, Crystal Castles, ...Trail Of Dead, 65daysofstatic, Deadmau5, Animal Collective and Venetian Snares on the bill, Dour truly promises something for everyone across four days and six stages.

Tickets are 85 euros for the weekend - information at the festival's official site - but Clash still has a handful of them to give away (our old competition is closed). These are tickets only, though - transport is not covered. But if you want a pair, simply email mike AT clashmusic DOT com right now and tell us why you should attend.

Easy!

Here's Clash online ed Mike Diver's top five bands to see at Dour this year...

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ISIS
Simply the finest exponents of their chosen craft, which itself has developed over the years from a primal industrial metal sound into something more texturally detailed, Isis in the live arena are never to be missed, and especially not with a superb fifth LP, ‘Wavering Radiant’, recently released. Expect emotional progressions through convulsive cacophonies, always guided by frontman Aaron Turner’s incredible roar. Skin-tingling stuff from start to finish, but perhaps pack the earplugs if it gets too much.
MySpace

Isis - 'Holy Tears'

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ROLO TOMASSI
Acerbic teens (ish – some are in their 20s now) Rolo Tomassi have long been a live force to be reckoned with in the UK – they hail from Sheffield – but in the last 12 months the five-piece have truly honed their sound, incorporating wonderfully weird tangents into their Locust-meets-Dillinger splatter-core racket. A liberal dash of jazz-tinged wobbliness here, a little blast-beat electro there – it’s a mixture that never fails to enthral.
MySpace

Rolo Tomassi - 'Oh, Hello Ghost'

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THE HORRORS
Although wrongly dismissed by some as a fashionista band around the time of their debut album ‘Strange House’, London’s finest-dressed out-there-rock quintet have confounded critics, in the best possible way, with this year’s ‘Primary Colours’ long-player (REVIEW), a sophomore that’s less artistic development, more entire reinvention. Taking cues from the likes of My Bloody Valentine and Can, the end result’s accessibility is exquisitely realised, and there’s longevity aplenty in the rippling rhythms that run throughout. Expect a confrontational, but captivating, live set.
MySpace

The Horrors - 'Sea Within A Sea'

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SLEEPY SUN
With their debut album ‘Embrace’ (REVIEW) earning plaudits by the skipload, this young Californian band have conjured the magic of Comets On Fire without resorting to simple sound-alike structures – the similarities, instead, lie in the feeling, the vibes, the raging battle between freak-out lust and meticulous instrumental precision. They can chill you down one second before setting fire to your soul the very next, and their show at All Tomorrow’s Parties – they’re signed to the festival’s label – was an ear-stinging highlight of an amazing weekend. Dour is, indeed, blessed.
MySpace

Sleepy Sun - 'New Age' (live)

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MONOTONIX
Really, no words can do this trio justice – they are a live phenomenon. See them, do, and pray the wind doesn’t suddenly change or you’ll be stuck with that dumb grin of delight forever.
MySpace

Monotonix - live at Bumbershoot Festival

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Find more information on Dour Festival at its official website.

To win a pair of tickets - no travel! - simple e-mail mike AT clashmusic DOT com telling us (me) why you deserve 'em.

Glastonbury 2009 - Strummerville

ClashMusic — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:01:30 +0000

Welcome to Strummerville: The Joe Strummer foundation for new music; a charity that aims to help create opportunities for aspiring musicians.

Strummerville will again be hosting the biggest campfire at Glastonbury 2009, situated perfectly near the commemorative stone, devoted to Joe Strummer in the Arcadia field. There will be many acoustic performances happening around the campfire from Strummerville’s supported new talent. A guest appearance from Billy Bragg and friends Johnny Neeson and Leon Walker on the Saturday should definitely attract a huge crowd.

Strummerville supports the work of Billy Bragg’s charity, Jail Guitar Doors, an independent initiative which provides instruments to those who are using music as a means to help with their rehabilitation process whilst in prison. Founded by Bragg, the name is taken from The Clash’s 1978 single ‘Clash City Rockers’.

"It's great that Strummerville are hosting a performance by Jonny and Leon. I named my music in prisons initiative Jail Guitar Doors in memory of Joe Strummer, and the people at Strummerville have been very supportive of our work since the off. Inviting the lads to play at Glastonbury Festival is very much in keeping with the work that Joe did. The voice of ex-prisoners is rarely heard in a society that locks more people up every year and both Jonny and Leon draw on their life experiences to write powerful songs.

"I'm here this year not to play but to support Jonny and Leon when they play the Strummerville stage. I set up my Jail Guitar Doors initiative - providing musical instruments to prisons in the UK for rehabilitation - in the name of Joe Strummer and The Clash and it's really fitting that they are playing Strummerville in that tradition." – Billy Bragg

"This is my first first time at Glastonbury and I'm really looking forward to playing for Strummervile on Saturday night, with Billy (Bragg) coming up to support us and maybe play with us. This has been a great journey. Jail Guitar Doors has given me self confidence and a belief in myself to be a great performer." - Leon Walker, released from HMP Dartmoor two months ago

"I'm also a Glastonbury first timer. I can't believe the size of the place. It's been a really liberating experience so far. There's no doubt that I wouldnt be here if is wasn't for Jail Guitar Doors and Billy." - Jonny Neeson, released from HMP Guys Marsh last year. He has already supported many artists including Dirty Pretty Things and is currently working on a single with Sam Duckworth (Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly.).

With anticipation of very big acts (possibly including Glasto’s headliners!) to perform round the campfire, the surprise will definitely be something to look forward to over the weekend.

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Words: Chloe Gillard

Glastonbury 2009 - Oxfam DIY Project

ClashMusic — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:51:38 +0000

Oxfam in Camden has recently been given a complete makeover and greatly deserved renovation by well-renowned celebrity stylist Mrs Jones; it’s subsequently been described as “The ultimate fashion resource destination for independent style seekers”. But Mrs Jones hasn’t stopped there – her ambitions are bigger, and she has Glastonbury 2009 in her sights.

With this is mind, Oxfam will be celebrating their 16th year at Glastonbury by having two new marquees themed around the inspiration of fashion and the makeover – the Oxfam DIY project.

Oxfam DIY will be accessible for anyone and everyone at the festival – that is the beautiful nature of this fun idea. The organisation’s perception of just being a charity/second-hand shop has changed, and Oxfam DIY will not be ‘just a shop’ – it will feature exciting activities such as ‘Be The Band’, where festival-goers will get to recreate their favourite artist/band of their choice... basically musical-themed dress-up for all ages! After their drastic makeover, the participants will have a speedy photo shoot and also get to keep their magnificent one-off outfits. How fabulous, darling!

And of course, Mrs Jones herself will be happily contributing by hosting DIY workshops and giving advice and tips on how to spruce up outfits throughout the festival. Fast, fun fashion while maintaining the important and charitable message that Oxfam uniquely deliver.

Fee Doran, a.k.a. Mrs Jones, has worked with previous Glastonbury headliners, such as Kylie Minogue and The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers. Working with such music royalty, she is the perfect person to run the Oxfam workshops.

There will also be acoustic sets from some of Glasto’s electrifying acts daily, around 7pm at the two marquees. As our magazine is dedicated to music and fashion, we truly believe this is the perfect combination for a successful and popular place to be this year at Glastonbury. We will most certainly be present at Oxfam’s DIY marquees to soak up some advice and fun with Mrs Jones and the Oxfam team.

Says Emily Eavis on the project: "Now this is a good idea. You can ferret through Oxfam's wondrous supply of gear and dress yourself up in whatever takes your fancy and get stuck in with your friends for a good cause. And with a souvenir thrown in for good measure.”

Sarah Farquhar, Head of Retail at Oxfam: “Mrs Jones personifies that sense of adventure we’d like our customers to feel shopping at Oxfam, where affordable, sustainable fashion is available to everyone. Her work highlights the ways in which we can all look again at our wardrobe, experiment with fashion and create looks that complement our own personalities. Best of all, by shopping at Oxfam you can do all this while helping us to fight poverty around the world.”

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Words: Chloe Gillard

Glastonbury 2009 - Shangri-La

Clash Music — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:35:06 +0000

Shangri-La... a perfect world of total pleasure.

Shangri-La could be described as a festival within a festival, and it’s having its second year at Glastonbury, with the broad theme of DYSCOTOPIA.

Shangri-La consists of a staggering 40 acres of bizarre ideas turned into what could be seen as reality. It’s the perfect place to hang out, and explore just one of the very different atmospheres available at the messiah of festivals. The permanently happy land of Shangri- La is a mystical paradise, for any festival-goer to experience nothing quite like it.

Clash asked Steve Godwin, director of the Dice People Group, about his involvement this year at Glasto 2009…

“Last year I ran a stage called ‘The House’, but enough about last year! This year, my job is to help gain promotion for one of the most creative fields at Glastonbury festival: Shangri-La.

“The field this year is made up in the theme of a Mad Max-type town. We have secret gigs by some of the world’s biggest pop stars along-side the best new bands. I will be working alongside journalists, magazines and TV to get the best promotion possible for the effort that goes into making this field happen...

“In the picture, I am on the left and with Chris Tofu on right – Chris (the mad guy with the hat) has been part of running the field at Glastonbury for over 20 years, and he runs festivals all over the world, and I am working to get him PR for Glastonbury.”

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Read more Glastonbury 2009 preview features...
Festival Virgins - Fucked Up and In Case Of Fire
Clash's must-see-bands schedule

Words: Chloe Gillard

Clash Twitters Glastonbury

Nick Annan — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:02:59 +0000

Clash is on the ground at Pilton Farm, ready for this year's Glastonbury festival, and we'll be reporting across the event thanks to the wonders of technology.

If you're that way inclined, check us out on Twitter HERE or just sit back and watch as the box below magically updates out Tweets. Forgive us if they sometimes get a bit 'mystic' - this country air is strong stuff.

We haven't totally abandoned traditional journalism though, as we'll also be stringing together more than the Twitter-centric 140 characters for some in-depth coverage before long. Also, look out for some suitably 'vibey' photo galleries and video footage. Links can be found below...

Glastonbury 2009 Preview - Festival Virgins (Fucked Up and In Case Of Fire)
Glastonbury 2009 Preview - Strummerville
Glastonbuty 2009 Preview - Oxfam DIY Project
Glastonbury 2009 Preview - Shangri-La
Clash's Must-See-Bands Guide

Glastonbury 2009 - Thursday In Photos
Glastonbury 2009 - Friday In Photos
Glastonbury 2009 - Saturday In Photos
Photo Gallery - The Punter's Perspective
Glastonbury 2009 - The Clash Review
Glastonbury 2009 - Trash City Reviewed

Glastonbury 2009 - The Clash Guide

Mike Diver — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:33:07 +0000

It hopefully hasn’t escaped your attention that the summer’s biggest British festival takes place this weekend: Glastonbury.

Scribes and snappers from Clash will be heading to Pilton tonight and tomorrow – things start properly on Friday, but there’s plenty to keep Thursday arrivals entertained, as the festivals stages are filled with music a day earlier than usual this year.

Here’s just a very quick guide to some of the fest’s truly do-not-miss musical performances. Don’t worry about trying to see them all, though – if you tried, you’d miss out on all the wonderful non-musical attractions that make Glastonbury so special.

(Please note that timings are estimates. Many bands play more than once, so look out for repeat performances.)

- - -

THURSDAY

QUEENS HEAD STAGE
4pm: Maximo Park
8.20pm: Alessi’s Ark
9.15pm: Golden Silvers
10.45pm: Kap Bambino
11.30pm: Metronomy

DANCE LOUNGE
7pm: Mystery Jets DJ set, followed immediately by East 17!
2am: Altern-8

PUSSY PARLURE
11pm: Qemists DJ set

- - -

FRIDAY

PYRAMID STAGE
1.45pm: Regina Spektor
4.30pm: Fleet Foxes
6.20pm: Lily Allen
10pm: Neil Young

OTHER STAGE
2.30pm: The Maccabees
6.30pm: Friendly Fires
11pm: Bloc Party

JAZZ WORLD
9pm: The Streets
11pm: Q-Tip

JOHN PEEL STAGE
2pm: Fucked Up
9.30pm: Jamie T
11pm: Doves

THE PARK STAGE
9.30pm: The Horrors
11.15pm: Animal Collective

AVALON
9.30pm: British Sea Power

QUEENS HEAD
10.30pm: The Big Pink

DANCE EAST
3.15pm: Tom Middleton
7.15pm: Easy Star Allstars
9.45pm: Freeland

DANCE WEST
5.15pm: Skream & Benga
8.40pm: Crookers

GUARDIAN LOUNGE
12.00pm: Bombay Bicycle Club
2pm: Slow Club

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SATURDAY

PYRAMID STAGE
2.50pm: Spinal Tap
4.20pm: Dizzee Rascal
10pm: Bruce Spingsteen

OTHER STAGE
11am: Broken Family Band
12pm: Peter, Bjorn And John
10.50pm: Franz Ferdinand

JOHN PEEL STAGE
3.10pm: The Temper Trap
5.30pm: The Gaslight Anthem
6.30pm: Passion Pit

ACOUSTIC STAGE
9pm: Tindersticks

THE PARK STAGE
11am: First Aid Kit
7.45pm: Klaxons
9pm: M. Ward
11pm: Bon Iver

QUEENS HEAD
12pm: Blue Roses
1.45pm: Marina And The Diamonds
2.30pm: Peggy Sue
4pm: Broken Records

DANCE EAST
1.15pm: Heartbreak
5.45pm: La Roux
11pm: 2 Many DJs

DANCE WEST
2.30pm: Hudson Mohawke
3.45pm: Japanese Popstars

GLADE
3.45pm: Rusko

GUARDIAN LOUNGE
3.30pm: Totally Extinct Enormous Dinosaurs
4pm: The Invisible
5.30pm: Micachu & The Shapes

- - -

SUNDAY

PYRAMID STAGE
12pm: Status Quo (!!!)
8pm: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
10pm: Blur

OTHER STAGE
5pm: Yeah Yeah Yeahs
6.30pm: Bat For Lashes
10.30pm: The Prodigy

JAZZ WORLD
7.15pm: Roots Manuva

JOHN PEEL STAGE
11.45pm: Wave Machines
5pm: The Soft Pack
6pm: Ladyhawke

QUEENS HEAD
7.30pm: Joe Gideon & The Shark

DANCE EAST
2.25pm: Kissy Sell Out
4.15pm: Frankmusik

DANCE WEST
10.30pm: Peaches

G STAGE
5.45pm: Caspa

- - -

And really, we’ve only skimmed the surface of what’s on offer musically this weekend – keep ‘em peeled when on site for a wealth of special guest appearances, one-off sets and acoustic performances. Those not going: it’s all over the telly, ain’t it. A lot less muddy in most living rooms, too.

Follow Clash at Glastonbury on Twitter – find us HERE - and check ClashMusic.com for photo galleries and more.

RockNess 2009

Nick Annan — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:30:37 +0000

RockNess 2009 took place at Dores, near Inverness from the 12th to the 14th of June with headliners The Flaming Lips, Orbital, Placebo, Basement Jaxx and The Prodigy.

Clash again hosted the Clash Arena, building on past successes which saw Daft Punk and The View provide some classic festival memories, and was on the ground this year to bring you all the news, reviews, photo galleries and videos.

Check out Clash's RockNess coverage below.

Read about some of our favourite moments from the weekend HERE.

Our onsite blog is HERE.

RockNess Friday Gallery

RockNess Saturday Gallery

Watch Clash TV's interview with The Flaming Lips' Wayne Coyne HERE.

Watch Clash TV interviews with Wave Machines, Crookers, and Dj Yoda HERE.

Watch Clash TV's interview with The Aliens HERE.

Check out a gallery covering the weekend at RockNess HERE

Camden Crawl 2009 - Day Two

Alison Kerry — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:37:17 +0000

Day two of the Camden Crawl, and most people are still recovering from the excesses of day one and easing themselves into this, the second and final day. With so many pubs hosting relaxed daytime events and secret gigs, though, the key to a good experience is to get stuck in early.

A quick comedy set at the Oxford Arms starts us off, then on to the overflowing Camden Eye that hosts an acoustic afternoon. A local unsigned band, The Standards, go down well with their surf-pop harmonies. So well in fact that the stack of free demos they leave on in front of the stage has people clamouring to get a copy.

Up at the Constitution, Island Records host an afternoon party celebrating 50 years of the legendary label. First up, The Rumble Strips generate the first queue of the day, but fans stuck outside still get a good view through the windows. They do, however, quite possibly oddest cover version of Chaka Demus & Pliers’ 'Tease Me' (yes, I had to look that up). Probably an Island Records tribute, and that's fair enough.

Frankmusik does a short semi-acoustic set featuring his current top 30 single 'Better Off As Two' plus a cover of Pet Shops Boys’ 'It’s A Sin'. Poor Vincent Frank doesn't look too happy though, and urges everyone to come see the full band tonight at Koko.

There's only time to catch two songs from fantastic reggae-rockers The King Blues in order to get to the worst kept secret of the day: Graham Coxon doing and impromptu gig in the Spread Eagle pub at 5.30pm.

Arriving 40 minutes early means I'm able to shoehorn myself in to see this extraordinary gig. The guitar virtuoso looked relaxed and happy throughout. Coxon and his two bandmates play songs from his new album The Spinning Top – 'This House' and 'Look Into The Light' - in an eventful 40-minute set. The size of the queue to get in, the number of people pressing against the windows and then the power of the band causes the recessed lighting above the bass player to drop from its fitting and hang there precariously for the rest of the set. There is also a love note branded "To Graham" (seriously, hearts and kisses included) passed from the back of the room mid-set and kindly delivered on stage. Such was the heat of the well-over-capacity room, with people standing on chairs and tables, it became too much for some. The festival atmosphere prevails and despite the conditions this was a collective special moment had by all.

Up at the Roundhouse, it's Little Boots who up the glamour, dressed in a backless blue sequined mini-dress for her indie-pop-cum-dance set. Her latest single 'New In Town' in a setting as good as this makes you think some of the hype is actually deserved.

The Maccabees headline the early session at the Roundhouse with an immense set mainly from their new album ‘Wall Of Arms’. Opening with new single 'Love You Better' they're sounding heavier and more accomplished these days. Again, it seems extra special due to the amazing venue which they say they're proud to be playing. They throw in a few old tracks, including 'Toothpaste Kisses', for the delighted crowd.

As afternoon turns to evening, thus begins the endurance test to see as many bands as possible before the night is over.

It's up to the Bullet Bar next for Kasms. The self-styled "shriek-beat" quartet give us indie-garage with a goth-punk twist. Former Test-Icicle Rory Brattwell is on drums and a banshee-like genius comes from frontwoman Rachel Mary Callaghan, who explores the audience and climbs atop the bar mid-set. Their first single 'Taxidermy' sold out all 2,000 copies almost immediately, and with such free-form style, a refreshing lack of attitude and a new single 'Male Bonding' out in May, expect to see more of them on the live circuit soon.

Dashing over to the Electric Ballroom to catch the second half of The Joy Formidable is well worth the effort. The outstanding post-rock trio include 'Austere' and recent single 'Cradle' in their set, but it’s the closing song, and next single, 'Whirring' that takes fuzz-rock to another level. Intense, atmospheric, utterly epic and definitely the set of the day. This is possibly the largest venue this band has played in their career to date. They should get used to it.

Next, it's over to Dingwalls for South African four-piece BLK JKS. Sadly, I miss three songs due to being stuck at the bar behind Jack Peñate who, although not playing the Crawl this year, seems to be buying a round for the entire venue. Finally, with Mr Peñate's friends fully Jäger-bombed up (to be fair, they were very nice people), I'm able to get down the front for a unique taste of southern hemisphere art rock. BLK JKS have broken down barriers in their homeland by playing rock instead of traditional African music and, surprisingly perhaps, going down quite well. Take out the politics and their raw sounding dub-rock/psych mix is well worth investigation soon. With a UK album release slated for autumn, they're bound to be in much larger venues when they return.

Another frantic dash down Camden High Street to Koko and a trip back in time to acid house and Madchester with 808 State. The second summer of love veterans still sound great and appear to be enjoying it even more these days. When they kick into their 1989 top ten hit 'Pacific State' the happy house atmosphere in Koko is as if the last 20 years never happened. Welcome back Graham Massey and friends!

And finally it’s a quick hop next door to the Purple Turtle for Three Trapped Tigers. Chief songwriter Tom Rogerson's classical music training is obvious as they blur the lines between electronica, indie, prog and jazz-rock. With all songs almost completely instrumental, the trio - keys, guitar and drums - appear to be playing an improv’ competition against each other that goes from subtle to down right rock. Whether improvised or planned to detail, the outcome is fully accessible and unpretentious pop that works very well. Theirs is a sensational noise and a wonderful end to the night.

Forget recent criticism that the Crawl is getting too big, too many queues, et cetera. For the true music fan, where else can you see 12 bands in ten hours and not one of them be crap. That is what we call a good day.

- - -

Part one (Friday) HERE.
Full photo gallery HERE.

Photo: Steve Asenjo

Camden Crawl 2009 - Day One

Damian Jones — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 13:20:27 +0000

It's that time of year again: the festival season is upon us and Camden is crawling with rowdy revellers. Now in its ninth year, 140 bands descend on 33 bars across NW1 for another weekend of boozy shenanigans.

The streets are awash with gig-goers as they criss-cross a mile-long stretch from Mornington Crescent to Chalk Farm stations to catch plenty of new acts and the odd old-school indie heavyweight.

This time last year it was bloody freezing. But in 2009 order is fully restored as the sun beats down on north London to get the festival season going in full swing.

Over the years, Camden's finest mini-festival has showcased the likes of Kate Nash, Klaxons, Hot Chip and The Cribs, and thrown up some stunning surprises. Example: last year, when Crystal Castles made their bleepy debut in jaw-dropping style. And this year’s fest is bigger than ever, with an extra ten bands and eight venues added to the bill – a far cry from the original one-day bash of 1995.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs (pictured) kick things off as pretty much the whole festival descends on the Roundhouse to catch New York's finest. It's a who’s who of indie stars inside, with the likes of Oasis' Andy Bell, Kaiser Chief Nick Hodgson, Kate Nash and her other half Ryan Jarman all watching enviously from the sidelines as the enigmatic Karen O struts and writhes under a giant inflatable eyeball. The sound is pretty shocking in the venue to be fair, but somehow the magnetic songstress' vocals still manage to cut through tremendously, as the NYC trio throw out the pulsing electro-heavy 'Zero', the fantastic 'Gold Lion' and the gut-busting 'Maps'. It's a shame they didn't close the night, but then you can't have everything.

Next up we head off to the Electric Ballroom to catch this year's coolest cats The Big Pink, only to find scores of fans clogging the tail end of Chalk Farm Road for ska legends Madness' fourth impromptu gig of the day on an open top bus. You can hardly hear Suggs and co, but no-one cares as the crowd joyously belt out the words to 'Our House' and 'It Must Be Love'.

Back in the Ballroom it's a far gloomier scene as TBP's Milo Curdell and Robbie Furz find themselves bathed in white smoke and blinding strobes as their bulldozing wall of sound gives way to melodic electro beats. Officially the owner of the biggest keyboard in Camden, the duo's knob twiddling mastermind Milo throws out all sorts of stabbing beats as the duo kick out the thudding 'Too Young To Love' and synth-heavy 'Velvet', like James Murphy hijacking My Bloody Valentine. There's a huge crowd to see London's most-hyped electro duo, and you can see why by their impressive feedback-drenched ten-song set.

Over at Koko, headliners Echo And The Bunnymen keep the crowd waiting as the post-punk heroes arrive to huge cheers. Donning his trademark trench coat and dark shades, Ian McCulloch leads his band through old classics 'Lips Like Sugar', 'Villers Terrace' and 'Seven Seas', impressively in between The Verve-esque 'Nothing Ever Lasts Forever'.

Now in their 31st year, blinding new track 'I Think I Need It Too', lifted from the Bunnymen's eleventh studio album 'The Fountain', is surprisingly brilliant with its searing guitar riff and uplifting chorus. Easily their best material in years, it bodes well for the future and proves McCulloch and his band still have something left in their locker after all this time.

The highlight of the night as ever is the moody 'Killing Moon', with its brooding guitar line and Mac's heart-choking vocals. It brings the first night of the Camden Crawl to a most unforgettable climax.

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Part two (Saturday) HERE.
Full photo gallery HERE.

Photo by Elinor Jones

Aldrei For Eg Sudur - The Clash Review

Brian Murnin — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 11:21:26 +0000

So what do you think is the northernmost music festival in the world? Take ten guesses and I bet you can’t even get close. You certainly wont find it on the web… yet…

The answer is the riotous springtime showcase, Aldrei For Eg Sudur (translated: I Never Went South), situated 66°4'14"N, 23°7'46"W, just shy of the Arctic Circle on the most north-western tip of the volcanic wonder that is Iceland.

Devised over a beer after a gig at the ICA London, Aldrei is a wonderful, unique and utterly freezing celebration of the Icelandic hot-pool of talent, led emphatically by virtuoso of music and merrymaking Mugison, alongside his father PapaMugi, local hero and Harbour Master of the festival’s location, Isafjordur (Ice Fjord).

From the 50-seater flight from Reykjavik over majestic mountains and round coastline contours seemingly chiselled by the Norse Gods themselves - landing about five metres from the waters edge on a sheet-ice runway - through to waltzing with my Icelandic hosts at the festival’s closing Viking-style banquet under the sonic sunset of PupaMugi’s famed yearly karaoke rendition of Elvis’ ‘I Can’t Help Falling in Love With You’, Aldrei ‘09 was a non-stop experience of new music, unique culture, insane adventure and lots of laughter that instantly forged a heartfelt resonance I won’t quickly forget.

With the incredible backbone of the IMX (Icelandic Music Export) at its core, the Icelandic music community is as close-knit, well supported and as proud as any you will find. The IMX, set up to take Icelandic music overseas and bring overseas attention to these great shores, heavily invests in showing fortunate foreign guests both a deep insight and a rip-roaring time. This experience was no different – offering up a mix of snowmobiling, kayaking, ice fishing and arctic jeep safari alongside the unique wonder that is the festival itself.

Aldrei For Eg Sudur is set in an old fishing warehouse on the edge of town, with fairly simple rules of engagement: 20-minute sets per band, no soundcheck, and most importantly no headliners. The event is about placing the surprisingly abundant local talent alongside national treasures and the very occasional international star. It’s a bonkers affair, showcasing electro-pop pageantry alongside male choir rock operatics, and folk fragility alongside breakneck rock brutality. The crowd is about as wide ranging in age as I’ve seen at a music event, and they accept everyone’s efforts with rapturous encouragement, regardless of chin-stroking muso-purist protocol.

The fact that one of the busiest, and rapturous, moments of the weekend is when local hero Hemmi Gunn (Iceland’s most famous footballer, turned alcoholic, turned reformed alcoholic, now daytime TV show host) takes to the stage with his own brand of pretty awful swingin’ après-ski style euro-skiffle, just about says it all, yet the crowd response doesn’t fail to charm.

The music is by no means all about lapping up the tongue in cheek. The Friday night at Aldrei ‘09 is the stronger offering for serious music heads with a funky dance tinged set by newcomers Who Knew kicking proceedings off perfectly, before the rock anvil is dropped firmly with Brot and Sleeping Prophets both taking on guises clearly influenced by Nirvana and Rage Against The Machine. This reviewer’s favourite of the night, and very possibly of the whole weekend, Sin Fang Bous take to the stage next for a well-structured and assured set of melodic rock meanderings occasionally lifted with crashing keys and rousing bass, reminiscent of an arctic Arcade Fire. They are a stunning five-piece that you’ve got to check out.

Icelandic legends long transcendent of these fjords, Múm, are eagerly welcomed on-stage but, in keeping with the respect and beauty of the festival’s unwritten ethos, their gentle and intricate set is mellifluously delivered but remains respectful to stage-mates by retaining a focus on subtlety. Next up, Bix and then Dikta, pick up proceedings sharply with the latter sounding reminiscent of early Manic Street Preachers.

By now the venue is absolutely packed and ready to rock to the rafters, and the night’s closers don’t disappoint. The crowd-baiting punk metal ballistics of Dr Spock (pictured), sporting pink elephant mask and trademark yellow marigolds, creates the archetypal mosh-pit, turned into a bounce-pit by Iceland’s current favourite FM Belfast, also heralding the kind of sing-along euphoria and stage invasion MGMT would be proud of. All in all, an end of night moment that will take a long time to be beaten.

With our travelling party sitting down to a delightful spread of sheep’s head and coleslaw for some Saturday sustenance, Mugison typically sneaked in his own rocking blues-tinged set right at the start of the day, leaving the limelight for his chosen guests.

The Saturday line-up represented the full range of the Icelandic spectrum, offering as much fun as there was funk and punk, with all present in heavy doses. From the awesome rock operatics of 20-plus-piece male choir Prostur Og Pufutittlingar, to Agent Fresco and their amazing wild man drummer and electric double bass, to Mammut with talented flame haired frontwoman Kata piercing the evening sky as the sun sank. Hemmi Gunn and his euphoric audience led us into nightfall before the more contemporary rocking sounds and stage-diving antics of Reykjavik then the jaunty arctic psych-pop of festival closers Boys in a Band, brought proceedings to an ecstatic end.

The second night electrified and confused the musical palette in much the same way as sheep’s head did the culinary one! Bewildering yet something that simply had to be experienced. The after-parties across town took us all way into the early hours as the Icelanders proved that they out-drink and out-party most, often whilst trashing their own parents’ house.

The final day happened to be this writer’s birthday and kicked off with a hangover, cured swiftly by a virgin yoga session and an Arctic hot pool, before watching a Mugison-led Aldrei supergroup play an impromptu gig by the poolside to rapturous splashing and semi-naked jiving and diving.

This led us to the festival’s famous closing banquet on the edge of local town Bolungaravik, where a fish soup and ham hock feast, cooked by PapaMugi himself, is served to the bands and the friends and family of the festival, with the odd lucky visitor like myself invited in. It’s an open mic stage with varying levels of comic performance and rousing calls-to-cheers with musical interludes. I was hauled on-stage for a rendition of Happy Birthday in both Icelandic and Faroese before being sent homeward in a hail of hugs and backslaps, with PapaMugi’s Elvis croonings gliding out the door behind me.

The journey home included a mountain road crash at 80mph with the temperature at minus 11 degrees outside, which at the time seemed all part of the hilarity of a truly surreal weekend experience, but this laughter probably perpetuated by the fact that as we were mountain rescued the Northern Lights danced their eerie electric green jig in the ice-clear skies above.

It was only the next day the potential gravity of the situation hit me, but it didn’t and still hasn’t stopped me smiling.

An unmissable experience for anyone who likes a little more than the ordinary in a music festival or travel experience. Those that are like-minded: get there soon.

Photo: Paul Sullivan - full gallery HERE

View video of Dr Spock, FM Belfast and King Creosote performing at Aldrei For Eg Sudur HERE

TignesFest 2009 - The Clash Review

Joe Zadeh — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 11:02:25 +0000

Nobody has ever successfully explained to me how TignesFest survives. Zero sponsorship is contradicted by free entry, and an uphill battle to secure the freshest line up for zilch. Whilst sharing a similarity of essence with an Alpine festival titan like Snowbombing? Eh? It is an organisational conundrum.

Yet this musical showcase enigma seems to charm folk from the slopes in their masses, creating one of the most amiable atmospheres I have ever experienced at a festival. Kissy Sell Out explains the event’s importance:

“I love the idea of Tignes. We are a long way from Snowbombing and other big festivals. It is very young. It is just new talent getting a platform to deliver on. And that is quite unique. You don’t know what you are going to get, and I’m yet to be disappointed. I’m surprised there are not more events like this. For me it is so exciting. And I was flattered to be asked for my opinion.”

Unlike my usual sweaty train journey to festivals, the trip to Tignes was a 2,000-metre ascendance through a gang of hunched mountains, circling like bullies in a playground. And after overcoming so much ear popping that it resembled laid-bare minimal techno, it became clear why the French modestly dub Tignes “the most beautiful ski area in the world”.

Responsible for siphoning the most promising acts from the milky music pump of Europe were the special guest curators Kissy Sell Out (of Radio 1 notoriety) and XFM’s electro grey fox, Eddy Temple Morris. TM himself (pictured in action) gave us the lowdown:

“For me, a lot of this is education. I mean, artists like Alma Nofear (Swedish acoustic act)… She would never figure on my radar normally. Unless she had some sort of banging remix done. But it is really nice to listen to such stripped-down artists. From my personal choices, I’m excited to get the Midi Midis on. Tignes is all about unsigned talent and they are so fresh and so new. They are making music that nobody else is. I’m also really feeling Frankmusik, and it is great to see Benni G from Jackbeats. I was their first champion on radio, so I’m chuffed about that.”

And the ‘Ed-ster’ was not far off with his recommendations. Alma Nofear opened the festival with a whimsical acoustic sequence, constantly charming the crowd with Björk-ish mannerisms and a playful stage presence. Her tones settled well as an early afternoon slot in the sleet, and free mulled wine guaranteed a jovial, willing crowd. The atypical consequences of human nature took control, and as the alcohol flowed freely, so did the freeform boogie and artist mingling. By the time the Midi Midis took stage, a makeshift dance floor had formed and various characters from Russia to Reading got their groove on to the diamond in the rough/slight-Casablanca (Julian, not Bogart) vocals of Midis’ frontman.

With the swing meter at ‘full’, Black Peter Group took the final outdoor slot. Luckily an excitable Kissy Sell Out was at hand to offer his personal review. “I ran up to Eddy TM after Black Peter Group and said: ‘That was my choice. Beat that!’ They absolutely rocked it. They had such charisma on stage. And at the end of the day, the actual music was good. Here at Tignes, they are literally going to the top of the hills and shouting about it.”

Whether the crowd were fixated by their rapturous take on cheese-pop, or the skimpy attire of female vocalist Anna (let’s be honest), they had certainly buoyed attention. Their most infectious track ‘Goody Two Shoes’ has nested within my brain and refuses to recede.

Into the night and out came the resident nocturns of dance – Para-lel, Jackbeats and Mr Sell Out himself. Local nightclub ‘Melting Pot’ opened its doors to all and sundry for the decks to be commandeered and driven through a five-hour marathon of bass beats and jump-up rock, provided by the aforementioned trio. The sights of the dancefloor symbolised what Tignes is all about: promising musicians befriending fellow musicians, established producers, organisers, fans and press. All consuming copious amounts of alcohol. And generally loving it.

Aside from the music, Tignes is a hub of activity. When not on the slope with an instructor being told how much of a hazard you are to other skiers, local shops and a spa welcomed those donning the wristbands with open arms. And buckets of ice water to the face. Good for the skin, apparently. Not so much for the threat of pneumonia.

Day two presented another array of brash new talent. London electro-poppers Ou Est Le Swimming Pool lacked a little in substance for what they provided in bravado, but foundations are certainly set for growth. The performance of the day came from the least expected. Danimal Kingdom, set up for their first-ever live gig together, executed an alluring set packed with dainty pop soul like ‘Girl Boy Girl’ and more upbeat emotion with ‘Through The Ice’. The late night watering hole changed to L’@robaze Café, where Spanish DJ Pablo Decoder (pictured with Eddy TM) awaited with an arsenal of tight hi-NRG disco and electronica galore.

After a laidback afternoon with reflective acoustic sets from Scotsman Ryan Lauder and mezzo soprano Leslie Davis, TignesFest assigned the final night to London’s newest late night phenomenon, White Wedding. Since a feature in Glamour, the popularity of this tacky brides and ill-fitted grooms bonanza has become the biggest new ‘thing’ of 2009 since pirates got cool again. Fans, bands and curators piled into the cramped Bagus Bar to shake their bow ties and veils to the guilty pleasures of Lionel Ritchie, Duran Duran and plenty of other cheesy reminiscence.

So is Tignes worth a visit? If you want a free festival that, in the face of a punishing economy, stands firm with a credible ethos and admirable intentions; that delivers the best upcoming music, chosen by those immersed in the industry; and that gives out free mulled wine on the really cold days… Yes. Yes it bloody is worth it!

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Check out our TignesFest photo gallery HERE.

Also check the Tignes Youtube Channel

Homegame 2009 - The Clash Review

Robin Murray — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 10:09:31 +0000

As bizarre as it seems, the Fence Collective is now big business.

With head honcho King Creosote set to release his next album on new home Domino, the Scottish micro-indie has set up their biggest and most ambitious Homegame festival yet. Bringing big-city names to small-town Scotland, the streets of Anstruther are overrun for three days by some of the most acclaimed songwriters from Britain and beyond.

An old fishing town, Anstruther retains an otherworldly charm that is part living history and part League of Gentlemen. Taking over small halls around the village, it is not inconceivable to find yourself watching an acoustic set stood beside a musical hero.

A palpable sense of community seems to ooze through the walls on Anstruther, and the event opens to the strains of Frightened Rabbit singer Scott Hutcheson. Armed only with a battered acoustic guitar, the Selkirk musician blasts his way through a handful of fan favourites before unveiling a never-before-played newie. And with acts scattered across the winding streets of Anstruther, festival-goers have their pick of weird and wonderful acts.

Sheffield’s Slow Club play to a packed town hall, with their twee-pop finding receptive ears even if the band themselves struggled with the Scottish accent. Emma Pollock is a living legend through her work with the peerless Delagados, and a solo set finds her on striking form. Edinburgh’s FOUND stand out with their tartan blend of Hot Chip-style electro geek-chic, before all-star project Burns Unit bring the night to a close. Led by King Creosote, the collective were formed to adapt the poetry of Robert Burns to music, and the Bard would surely have approved of their strikingly modern update on his verse.

A stroll down the harbour begins day two, with the sun darting between whisps of grey cloud. Eagleowl provide a suitably downbeat opening, with their Low-gone-rustic strains soothing some aching heads amongst the audience and the artists themselves.

One of the most special aspects of Homegame is the amount of secret shows that spring up. I sipped a cream tea with Malcolm Middleton in a church hall while Pictish Trail, Adem and more played a stunning set together. Suffice to say Mr Middleton will no doubt be mentioning the same story to his friends come Monday morning, though I doubt if I will have a very prominent role.

dem returns for a glorious solo set later in the day, while Fence collaborator Adrian Crowley shows just what James Yorkston sees in his music with a deeply impressive performance. KT Tunstall is a long-time friend of the Fence bunch, and her appearance is perhaps the biggest coup of any Homegame event to date. The diminutive singer is a constant fixture at the event, darting between stages and playing two secret shows. Tunstall plays her main set to a capacity crowd that extends out into the street. Choosing to perform only new songs, the singer invites King Creosote and Pictish Trail onstage with her for one of the event’s many all-star sessions.

Whilst it’s hardly the French Riviera, when Scotland does deliver the sunshine it tends to do so with a great degree of style. Bathed in warm weather, the halls seem noticeably roomier with fans and artists alike spending time on the nearby beach. No matter, as the pool of talent shows no signs of evaporating as Bristol’s Rachael Ladd plays a stunning set. Armed with a ukulele, she is backed by an impromptu steel drum performance from Japanese sensation Ichi.

Alasdair Roberts (pictured) tends not to be the ideal soundtrack to a sunny day, with his frequently morbid folk songs best experienced in a dark room with plenty of alcohol. However, his performance here is one of the highlights of the weekend, as his long and lithe fingers pick out forgotten melodies with outstanding grace. Malcolm Middleton is never particularly happy, but his headline performance finds the Falkirk songwriter on unusually chatty form. Playing a selection of material from his forthcoming album ‘Waxing Gibbous’, the singer even finds time to play a Girls Aloud cover, turning the record-breaking girl group into the melancholic types we always suspected they were. (We did? – Ed)

The event closes, as it perhaps should, with King Creosote. The singer covers every inch of Anstruther in an attempt to make sure people are having a good time, and the genial host is joined by a number of friends for a spectacular finale. Playing a mixture of old favourites and new material, the stage’s crowded for closer ‘The Happy Song’ with (deep breath) Pictish Trail, Adem, Long Pigeon, KT Tunstall and more stomping out the uplifting Aliens’ classic.

Hidden away in rural Scotland, the Fence Collective has overcome the odds to become a hugely influential fixture in British music. Including some of their most prominent alumni to date, Homegame proves that you really can go home again.

Photo: Sarah Luv

The Laugharne Weekend - The Clash Review

ClashMusic — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 10:30:49 +0000

Well that was a boozy weekend…

I heart The Laugharne Weekend. I don’t really want to share it with you; I want it to remain a well-kept secret cherished by a lucky few. Set in the sleepily stunning town that inspired Dylan Thomas’s Under Milk Wood and provided a backdrop for the film The Edge Of Love, the three-day event involves an excellent programme of readings and gigs in the Dylan Thomas Boathouse and several pubs including the infamous Brown’s Hotel. It also offered the unmissable chance to see Ray Davies (The Kinks) and Mick Jones (The Clash) in an intimate setting and then mingle in glorious Welsh sunshine with the musicians, writers and actors between events.

As it turned out Mick Jones and his manager were so disappointingly insular and boring in the first half that I went back to the pub, but that was my only low point of the festival. Ex-Gorky Richard James’ musical curation soared with a host of Welsh stars making pretty noise, including the lovely Cate Le Bon, the sparklingly psychedelic pop of recently-signed Race Horses (formerly Radio Luxembourg and definitely Ones To Watch), and the fiddletastic Threatmantics with their fearless viola-wielding frontman. It also boasted a well-received first outing for Euros Childs’ (pictured) new project Johnny, in which he folked it up with Teenage Fanclub’s Norman Blake. All in all a programme of complete pleasure wrapped up perfectly by James’ own sardine-packed and absolutely rocking Sunday gig (despite the new strings on his guitar). The set included the beautiful ‘Seven Sleepers Den’ number ‘My Hearts On Fire’ and, even more charmingly, Cate Le Bon, Euros Childs and Threatmantics all guested during the set. James has a second solo album in the offing and from this performance I’d expect great things.

Gap-toothed Ray Davies cut an introspective figure on stage at the Millennium Hall as he read from his eccentrically entertaining unauthorized autobiography X-Ray. He spliced the wordy bits with gentler new tracks before a crowd pleasing end which included Kinks numbers ‘Waterloo Sunset’ and, a sing-along personal favourite, ‘Dedicated Follower Of Fashion’. The boozy crowd participation has barely altered in 25 years.

Literary highlights included appearances by Rachel “I hate novels” Trezise, the 2009 Dylan Thomas Prize winner Nam Le, Joe Dunthorne (reading the real-time sex scene from Submarine), Björk collaborator Andri Snaer Magnason, Simon Armitage, Robert Lewis, Niall Griffiths, Dan Rhodes, Matthew Scott and the filthy rogue that is DBC Pierre.

The festival itself closed with an enchanting solo performance from Jo Bartlett (It’s Jo and Danny) and a rowdier session for the institution that was Twin Town read through by the original cast. A more appropriate ending for this lost weekend of cultural magic and mayhem came from Ray Davies, who finished off his set with ’Days’, because right now, Laugharne: “I won’t forget a single day, believe me.”

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Words: Susie Wild
Photography: Emyr Young - click HERE for full gallery

Clash @ Snowbombing 2009

Brian Murnin — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:27:24 +0000

Clash were out chillin' on the hills and getting dope on the slopes at this year’s 10th annual Snowboming festival.

The event was surely the best example in the history of the ‘boards by day, beats by night’ ethos of Snowbombing, with storming sets from 2 Many DJs in The Forest area (replacing headliner Fatboy Slim who had to cancel due to his recent rehab problems), Grandmaster Flash rocking an underground tennis club, dance don Lindstrom, and then Heidi letting loose in basement venue The Arena.

The Noisettes' Shingai nearly took the roof off the XBox Social doing a live RockBand link-up with Just Jack in the UK through the power of XBox Live. And the traditionally tumultuous street party saw hordes of fancily dressed revellers rocking to the sounds of human beatbox wonder Beardyman and the comedy capers of The Cuban Brothers. Kyle Falconer from The View apparently fell off stage four songs into his own show... so you can imagine the carnage that ensued all week...

Clash topped Snowbombing '09 off with the daytime closing party at the has-to-be-seen-to-be-believed Arctic Disco, a network of igloos 10,000 feet up on the snowy rooftop of the Austrian Alps. There, Beardyman treated the VIP crowd to an impromptu burst of beatbox wizardry, Mr Hudson provided Snowbombing’s first-ever full live set at the top of the mountains, and DJ demons - the northern soul legend Greg Wilson and head honcho of house Jon Carter, as well as our own Clash DJs - dropped enough bombs to send everyone back down to earth in an avalanche of euphoria... ably assisted with just ‘nuff glueveins and schnappes...

Check out our exclusive videos from the Clash party as well as our gallery from that event and the best shows across the week.

Watch this space for more blogs and interviews with the stars of Clash’s week in Austria.

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Read Adam Park's review of the event

View a photo gallery from Clash's party

View a gallery of some of the bands and DJs who appeared at Snowbombing

View a gallery capturing the schenanigans at the Snowbombing street party

Read interviews with Mr Hudson, Jon Carter and Greg Wilson at the event

Watch clips of Beardyman and Mr Hudson in action at the Clash party

ATP Week - The Punters Perspective

Mike Diver — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 12:45:07 +0000

All Tomorrow’s Parties is nothing without the people that really make it – the fans, who flock to the festival in their thousands three times a year in the UK, and even make trips overseas to enjoy the experience in foreign climes.

In anticipation of this ATP Week, we (well, me/I) asked the message board hordes of DrownedinSound.com for their favourite memories of the festival that just keeps growing, always exploring new opportunities and presenting mouth-watering line-ups that keep punters coming back time and again.

And here are just a handful of the responses we got…

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* “Peaches' set at the Vincent Gallo weekend… Completely incredible and I managed to lose my wristband in all the excitement. Seeing Magik Markers for the first time at the same weekend, coming on 20 minutes late, playing for about 15 minutes and completely shredding my face. They've never matched that performance since.”

* “Hugging The Thermals while Echo & The Bunnymen played ‘The Killing Moon’ in the background.”

* “First ATP (Mogwai/Shellac/Tortoise) I went to, I got a +1 on the press list, and we got to go in the press entrance and park there. We were unloading all our shit from the car, and I had the door wide open and blocking the next parking bay. My mate shouts out to me, as I'm trying to pull something out: "Dan, shut the door some guy is trying to park!" I shout back: "Tell him to fuck off!" and continue to try and pull this thing out (think it was six bottles of water wedged in). In the end he parks two bays down, gets out, and it's John Peel! We kind of grin and nod at him red faced. We lock the car and set off with our stuff towards the chalet, and immediately we walk past David Pajo and Bob Weston having a chat. Do the first two minutes at first ATPs get better than this?”

* “Being tipped off that Lightning Bolt are setting up in the corner during Sonic Youth's set, legging it over just in time, being in the front row and then having 2,000 other fans piling on my back trying to get a glimpse of it as well. Complete chaos but worth it.”

* “Les Savy Fav's Tim Harrington starting the show with an on-stage haircut, followed by a sweaty performance that includes t-shirt swapping and black face paint, even though the gimmicks are no substitute for the fact that an in-form LSF are as tight as you want your US guitar bands to be.”

* “The Japanese dude dressed as a superhero, who did that funny run on the spot and punch the air dance to every band one year.”

* “The Mars Volta weekend. Amazing. Just amazing. The best time, the nicest people. Oh, The Kills played BUT even they failed to ruin that weekend. Christ, I saw Battles twice and Les Savy Fav. AND The Locust. AND Saul Williams. AND Acid Mothers Temple. I was genuinely depressed when I went home.”

* “While watching Destroyer with a friend who had never heard him before, he said: ‘These are the kind of guys whose favourite Bob Dylan album is ‘Street Legal’’. Ten minutes later we meet the band outside their chalet, they steal my shoe, give me a free CD and admit with not a moment’s hesitation that their favourite Dylan album is indeed ‘Street Legal’.”

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Fancy a trip down memory lane? Click HERE to read the full feedback. Find ATP’s official website – for information, tickets and more – HERE.

More ATP Week content…
* Performers Past and Future – with Super Furry Animals, Grizzly Bear, 65daysofstatic and HEALTH
* Sleepy Sun Interview
* Apse Interview
* Alexander Tucker Interview
* The Drones interview
* Interview with the first ATP curators, Mogwai
* Fuck Buttons Interview
* Deerhoof Interview
* A Brief History: interview with ATP founder Barry Hogan
* ATP: A Beginners Guide

Photo: Copyright: The Line of Best Fit (click to pay them a visit!)

ATP Week - A Beginners Guide

Mike Diver — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 11:18:57 +0000

In May, All Tomorrow’s Parties will again take over Butlins in Minehead for two weekends of top-dollar alternative rock sets from the cream of the many and varied crop. For weekend one (May 8-10), The Fans have had their say, the line-up co-curated by those who’ve paid for their tickets; weekend two (May 15-17) is helmed by iconic indie foursome The Breeders, and the support bill flies pretty close to brilliant.

Ahead of these events, Clash is running a whole week (this week!) of ATP-related content to whet the appetite for the May double-header, and associated events beyond (including the ATP stage at Primavera Sound at the end of May, and the summertime Don’t Look back series).

Before we get stuck into interviews with the likes of Mogwai, Grizzly Bear, 65daysofstatic, HEALTH, Deerhoof, Fuck Buttons and many more – including ATP head honcho Barry Hogan – here’s a little Beginners Guide To ATP. Because there’s always a slow few at the back.

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• ATP’s roots stretch back to 2000 – the first weekender, curated by Mogwai, was held at Pontin’s in Camber Sands in April. Among the acts performing on this debut three-dayer were Sonic Youth, Wire, The For Carnation, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Sigur Rós, The Delgados, Snow Patrol, Super Furry Animals, Stereolab, …Trail of Dead and, of course, the curators themselves. Suffice to say it was Quite The Bill, and ultimately the success of the first ATP has paved the way for all that’s followed, both in terms of its unique atmosphere – everyone stays on site in holiday camp chalet accommodation, including most of the bands – and the discerningly high-quality line-ups.

• 2001, 2002 and 2003 festivals were each curated by a musician or band – Tortoise, Shellac and Autechre respectively – but at 2004’s inaugural Nightmare Before Christmas event, artists of no little notoriety The Chapman Brothers took the reins. The NBC event – three days in December – has been held every year since. The second US ATP, held in 2003 after Sonic Youth guided the first festival to fruition the year before, was another with an artist involved, namely The Simpsons creator Matt Groening.

• Earlier this year, ATP presented festival events in Australia for the first time (REVIEW). The company – which achieves its goals without the aid of corporate sponsorships or partnerships – is also setting its sights on further foreign events, with Japan a possibility for the future.

• In 2004, multiple curators were involved in the Directors Cut weekenders – Mogwai, Tortoise, Shellac, Stephen Malkmus, Sonic Youth and ATP themselves. Each had a day to programme. This format was repeated in 2006, at the United Sounds of ATP events, which saw Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Shins, Sleater-Kinney, Dinosaur Jr, Mudhoney and Devandra Banhart each tackle a day’s bill.

• In 2006, for the Thuston Moore-helmed Nightmare Before Christmas, ATP moved from Camber Sands to Minehead’s Butlins site, and has only returned to Pontin’s once since, for an event in association with US music site Pitchfork in 2008. The forthcoming ATP events are both to be held in Minehead.

• ATP spawned a record label in 2001. Initially it released compilations of festival participating acts, but now the label is home to acts including Deerhoof, The Drones, Fuck Buttons, Sleepy Sun and Alexander Tucker. The label’s next album release will be ‘Embrace’, the debut album from Sleepy Sun.

• ATP’s fanbase stretches into the music world, beyond regular attendees to the artists themselves. Shellac’s Steve Albini has said: "There are three things in the world that I endorse: Abbey Road ... Nutter Butter Sandwich Cookies, and All Tomorrow's Parties." When asked if they’d play the event again, Grizzly Bear’s Ed Droste told Clash: “If we could fit it in our schedule, no questions asked!” In other words, many an artist has much love for it. The mingling of bands and punters lends the festival a truly singular atmosphere – it’s relaxed, the line-up is always great, and you can dip in and out of the live action as you please, with plenty of other attractions to distract you/eat up your pennies.

• I have been known to buy the three bottles of red wine for £10 from the on-site supermarket and totally miss bands I’d been killing to see beforehand after consuming said liquid too quickly and basically wiping myself out. This is something that will happen to every ATP-goer at some point. Just accept it... if you’re lucky, said band will show up in someone’s chalet for an impromptu jam. Failing that... just feel the guilt burn.

• It is, all told, basically the best festival in the world. And that’s why we’re giving it a whole week of love. So, if you’re an absolute beginner to the weird and wonderful world of ATP, be sure to click back here each day for plenty of related action.

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ATP’s official website can be found HERE, where you’ll have access to full line-up details and ticket links.

An interview with ATP founder Barry Hogan will be published later today.

Canadian Music Week 2009 – Recession Reviews

Sari Delmar — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 18:14:57 +0000

Over here in North America, as I’m sure you’ve heard, there’s a huge lack of funds, jobs, cheap drinks… However, for the one week of the year that is Canadian Music Week, there is anything but a lack of music in the great big busy city of Toronto. Talent from all corners of the globe are parading around our downtown core schmoozing, rocking, stalking… you name it!

By no means intending to make light of the current economic downward slope (well, maybe a little), I have decided to get in to the recession spirit and write these ‘CMW Recession Reviews’. I have limited myself to only five sentences about each band I saw. Lucky for you dear reader, you’ll save some time getting through my weekend adventures and I’ll get right to the point in most cases and hold off on unnecessary banter. I highly suggest you check out some of the talented artists I touch on below…

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Thursday March 12th – My First Night on the Town

$100 @ the Horseshoe Tavern
As first band of the festival (for me) the bar wasn’t set very high just yet. I quite like $100 and their old-timey country folk jams, but that’s not to say there is anything particularly original about the songs front woman Simone Fornow and her bearded backing band are crafting. Judging by their stage language (if there is such a thing) the band is a close musical unit of friends and that’s always best with this type of twangy plaid-endorsed rock. Something that really gets under my skin, no matter how great the artist is, is front women or men who think it’s a great idea to play charades to their lyrics while they are singing them. Unfortunately Fornow was one of these types, which was extremely distracting and kept my mind significantly off their honest home baked Dylan-inspired set, and more fixated on what awkward hand actions I could brace myself for next. MySpace

We Are the City @ the Supermarket
As part of the Music BC Showcase, Kelowna’s We Are the City made the trek over to Toronto to grace us with their extremely diligent blends of post-rock indie-pop bliss. I really only know two bands from Kelowna, and both of them are truly amazing, which leads me to believe Kelowna is breeding pure indie-rock gold out there in the mountains! Taking cues from foreigners like Sigur Rós and Múm, and blending them with organic Americana rock spirit (Wilco, the Shins) just might be the perfect combination to reinvent the wheel, and quite possibly the answer to this country’s stale revolving door of young talent. If they keep these types of live sets up and manage to translate this energy on to their debut album, there will be no stopping them from all kinds of success!
MySpace

Megan Hamilton & the Volunteer Canola @ Rancho Relaxo
A key player in the Toronto music scene, Megan Hamilton is a personal favourite for a few reasons. Starting with her uncanny and unique lyrical wit, paired with her charming sense of melody, puts her in the ranks with great songsmiths like the super indie femme fatale Julie Doiron, or the cannon-residing Daniel Johnston. This night Hamilton was armed with her new backing band, which features a guitarist who filled in some of the cuts off her forthcoming album, ‘See Your Midnight Breath in the Shipyard’, with hands down this city’s best falsetto back-ups. Her set was inspired to say the least, and it was unfortunate there weren’t more in attendance to witness her sultry ballads turn into captivating soundscapes on the small Rancho Relaxo stage. Regardless, she is gearing up for a big year and I suspect the live set can only get better and stronger from here on out. MySpace

Matt Mays and El Torpedo @ Lees Palace
One of the main headliners of the festival, probably the ‘biggest’ artist I personally saw all weekend, Matt Mays (pictured) is no stranger to the stage. A rock star in every sense, the ballsy frontman romped across the stage with his shirt buttoned six buttons too low, wielding his weapon of command – the almighty axe. Hammering out gut-wrenching east coast heartbreakers one after the next, the Halifax-bred band poured every ounce of themselves into the entirely tight and explosive live set. The crowd was in a daze of excitement as the songs just kept flying at us harder and more furiously than the last. The night culminated with an epic moment, when Mays invited a friend on stage and sang a “camp fire song” with only one guitar player strumming and five grown men shouting into one mic – bro-love at its finest.
MySpace

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Friday March 13th – The Night With No End. Well Kinda.

Dinosaur Bones @ the Horseshoe Tavern
I’ve written about them before to you UK followers over there, but I will do so again. Toronto’s Dinosaur Bones have something very special and it comes in the form of their truly well written and hard-hitting indie-rock songs. It becomes even more apparent that their brand of dark and haunting, yet endearing tunes are itching to be chart toppers when they take to a live stage, including their early set at the ‘Shoe this Friday. What truly draws me in, and did so with most of the crowd (I noticed), is their ability to construct catchy hooks so honestly in songs like ‘Royalty’ and ‘NYE’, yet never do they once come off sounding like a pop band. Their New York-inspired swagger may evoke comparisons to The Strokes and The Walkmen left and right, but they’ve got something a little bigger than that – a universal urgency and lyrics that allow each listener to fill them with their own thoughts/experiences, yet they don’t sound vague in the least when lead singer Ben Fox sings them with his eyes closed into the mic. This is a rare skill, making Dinosaur Bones a great find and possibly the most groundbreaking new Canadian band at this current moment.
MySpace

The Junction @ Sneaky Dees
The Junction are a balls-out rock outfit that has been circulating central Ontario for the past six or seven years. They’re notorious because of their ability to craft great group chant-alongs and hand-clapping frenzies. The room was packed wall to wall, getting a drink would probably take you a few hours, and the boys were looking sharp! Joined by a new member who will be added in to the fold, the four-piece took charge of the room with their anthems. New single ‘My Love Was There’ is sure to take these Brampton boys to new heights, and proves they have finally figured out their sound and decided it lies in east coast-inspired rock and roll with some dark undertones, and undeniably a lot of heart. (This is good news!)
MySpace

The Februarys @ Tattoo Rock Parlour
Commercial radio’s new darlings The Februarys are anything but up my alley. Regardless, I support Wind-Up Records and caught the band playing the Wind-Up showcase at the Tattoo Rock Parlour, probably one of my least favourite venues in the city. Their poppy sing-along rock isn’t offensive, just nothing new. They do it well though, with catchy-as-hell choruses and abrasive hooks. Front man Lucas Lawrence has a great voice that you can’t avoid wanting to sing along with, but unfortunately their brand of pop will always leave them in the guilty pleasure category of my playlists. But hey, it could be worse!
MySpace

Cheesecake (literally) @ Free Times Café
Sure, this isn’t a band or a showcase but it deserves a mention nonetheless. We had to stop mid-city-stroll at the best little café/restaurant - Free Times Café. Their homemade strawberry cheesecake is ridiculously incredible. Simply, the perfect ammo I needed to keep me going all night and at a very affordable price, might I add (keeping the recession in mind)! And then we were off to the next venue of choice!

Black Hat Brigade @ Rancho Relaxo
Rancho Relaxo proved to be a tad too small and under-ventilated for the 150 or so people trying to cram into it. Local art-rockers Black Hat Brigade capitalised on the sweaty, inebriated audience with their set stuffed with post-rock translucence, building catchy and messy explosions bordering on pop sing-alongs at times. Wearing their Modest Mouse and Wolf Parade influences proudly on their sleeves, Black Hat Brigade borrow from the best and then expand and take the comfortable dance rock into foreign terrains, adding frantic tambourine hitting and spacey roofless jams into the puzzle. In a live setting it turns into a very jaw-dropping affair where you can do one of two things – dance like a maniac, or just stand with your eyes glazed over and start drooling a bit until one of your drunk friends hits you and is like, “Dude!!!” I did the latter, go figure!
MySpace

Amos the Transparent @ Rancho Relaxo
Ottawa’s Amos the Transparent followed Black Hat Brigade with their much more chilled-out set, but that’s not to say it wasn’t captivating. Frontman Jonathan Chandler has some real talent and knows how to craft pop songs that are just right. Their buoyant melodies filled the club and forced many up to the front of the stage. Their single ‘Lemons (BigPondLittleFish)’ is undeniably a perfect pop song and when fleshed out by the band sounds like a stunning indie-pop acoustic orchestra of noise. Unfortunately I couldn’t catch all of their set, as I rushed off to the Horseshoe to catch my next band, but I enjoyed what I did see/hear.
MySpace

The Schomberg Fair @ the Horseshoe Tavern
For a band to play a 2am set and get the drunkies up and out of their seats, it should very well be a band like The Schomberg Fair. They brought their angry, country speed gospel to the late-night crowd the only way they know how –viciously and unapologetically. Seeing The Schomberg Fair is unlike any experience I or presumably you have ever had with a band: they’re a three-piece and they basically just get up and yell at you for 30 minutes straight with their guitars and banjos; it gets offensive sometimes, but it’s all in good fun. It’s crazy they’re only a three-piece, but any more members on stage and things would get downright dangerous. Their bassist has this deep growl, with which he spews a few back up vocals in behind frontman Matt Bahen’s very Tom Waits-y croon, making the band incredibly memorable and quite simply unique.
MySpace

Saturday March 14th – The Day with no End. Actually.

Peachcake @ Trash Palace (daytime show!)
Gah, I don’t even really want to write five sentences about this band. Aside from being quite annoying on the ears (atrocious Casio beats glistening with nasally vocals), their live show irked me even more. Gimmicks out the wazoo! The band travels with a treasure chunk of fedoras, glitter sparkles, costume changes, and Fisher Price keytars and… come on! Aren’t we in a recession here? Who has the money to transport such items all the way from LA? (or Planet Awesome as their MySpace states.) Not to mention the audacity to bring them on-stage while your frontman marches around with a cane touching people in inappropriate places, hanging off the rafters, and taking his clothes off. This might be allowed, if their music was somewhat impressive, but the whole package I could have done without, thank you.
MySpace

The Great Bloomers @ Trash Palace
Gearing up for the release of their new album in May, The Great Bloomers have established themselves as a must-see band in and around Toronto. Much like the Wooden Sky and Plants & Animals, they slide in nicely to the local scene with their home-brewed melodic folk rock. They have their sing-alongs down pat, and their flourishing yet humble build ups; I also found a lot in the lyrics that I was impressed by, so what’s not to love about these cats? Sure they might not be breaking new ground entirely, but they are by no means treading stale water. I look forward to hearing the new album and watching them grow in to their own place in the Canadian music landscape.
MySpace

Dinosaur Bones @ Trash Palace
Yes! I saw them last night, ok! But thanks to my self-constraining five-sentence limit, I didn’t really get to go into too much detail. Let me elaborate: their daytime set was great again, of course. It was during this set that I figured out what my favourite song of theirs is, a new not-yet-titled cut that doesn’t really have a chorus and it just starts and ends with the same verse. The song doesn’t really ‘go’ anywhere, but it’s where it sits that is the most appealing aspect to me. I feel bad typing about it because you can’t even go and listen to it (sorry!), but nonetheless it sits in a kind of sad, yet hopeful and blatantly honest place. The ability to capture different moods and feelings in every song they write puts this band lightyears ahead of their peers… go to their MySpace and listen to ‘Life in Trees’ (or any of their songs for that matter) - you’ll know what I mean.
MySpace

The Rural Alberta Advantage @ Trash Palace
The oft-buzzed local three-piece headed by songwriter Nils Edenloff was the band to finish off the adorable daytime show (presented by the Musebox and local promotions company No Shame). I had a hard time getting through to the songs they were crafting beneath Edenloff’s rather bold, nasally, and by no means soothing vocals. Simplistic acoustic folk shanties as they are; I enjoyed the melodies when I could hear them and firmly believe that someone in the band, although they might not admit it, has a past riddled with late ‘90s emo. I’m assuming Dashboard Confessional and Get Up Kids definitely played a part in these delectable and romantic indie-pop songs and only a true emo fan wouldn’t be able to hear it. They are by no means an emo band; they are an organic acoustic indie-folk/rock band (what?), but believe me, there’s something very peculiar about the way they write their songs which could be a good thing or bad depending on whose ears they fall on.
MySpace

The Courtyard (literally) @ Trash Palace
Again, not a band but the weather was just so nice and the little venue that was Trash Palace (more like a basement/loft/workshop sort of thing) had one of the cutest little courtyards I have seen. The whole atmosphere of the daytime show, paired with the adorable courtyard, made the whole experience that much better.

Club Sandwich (literally) @ Johnny Rockets
Ok. I’ll stop, but I just love food. Food takes a close second beside music in my life. Anyways, in brief – this club sandwich sucked big time. I was very unhappy with my selection, not to mention their carelessness for the art of making a club sandwich. Sheesh!

Parlovr @ the Drake Underground
Montreal’s latest CBC Radio 3 chart-topping export Parlovr (pronounced Parlour, I think) are young and vicious! This is part of their charm when they play live sets: just a three-piece, they crank out roaring guitar post-rock and shout their lyrics between synth-heavy dance waves. Think the Black Lips or the Mars Volta with a steady diet of Franco-indie rock (Handsome Furs, Sunset Rubdown) then wrap it in some crazy loud group shout-alongs and nerd-rock jams and you have Parlovr: Canada’s next huge thing. Mark my words, their Montreal roots will only extend so long until the country claims them as their own and they dazzle the masses overseas; UK, watch out for these ideal Foals and Does it Offend You, Yeah? tourmates.
MySpace

Modernboys Moderngirls @ Rancho Relaxo
Undergoing some recent line-up changes, the Toronto group recently shed some of their excess members and dwindled back down to core founding members and songwriters Akira Alemany and Brett Millius. Watching a two-piece perform their garage-rock anthems would have been kind of boring, so lucky for us they brought along friends and members of the Toronto indie rock elite - Dave Wickland, keyboardist from Dinosaur Bones, filled in on keys, and Rajiv Thavanathan, frontman from Oh No Forest Fires, jumped in on bass. Pretty girls were smashed up against the front of the small stage singing their hearts out to the band’s undeniably hip hits. Little did I know single ‘My Baby Says Boy, Don’t You Ever Go’ would be left spinning in my head for the coming month. MBMG write damn good songs that have the universal accessibility to turn heads, not just in Canada but also overseas. They mash Britrock influences with dance rock, melding them all together with unforgettable choruses and hooks and then simply rock the fuck out on stage. If that’s not the formula to success, I don’t know what is.
MySpace

The Day with No End @ the Day With No End
I went to an after party. Did I mention that I was seeing Peachcake play at 1:30 pm earlier this day? Or that I was out until 4am the night before watching Black Hat Brigade’s second set? Needless to say, CMW only comes once a year so I decided to hit it hard, much harder than my body could have hoped or appreciated. I ended up getting home at 7am on Sunday morning.

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Good night CMW, good morning recession reviews. There you all have it. Come visit Canada to get a taste of all this madness yourself! Cheers!

Photo: Bob Battams

Clash @ SXSW - The Official Showcase

Matthew Bennett — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 12:58:01 +0000

Tattoos at the ready… SXSW was back in its dominating 23rd year. Three years into the Clash assault on Austin and our angle went underground. Dig dig.

After having the honour of presenting Mick Jones from the Clash in his Carbon/Silicon outfit last year, our 2009 showcase focussed on slightly newer and emergent talent. For those unacquainted with SXSW imagine having ALL the bands that would play for a month in a major capital. Have a think about how many styles, singers and symphonic possibilities there are… then condense them into a handful of days and cram them onto one ragtag American street of low down seedy venues. In an explosion of the alternative and the carnivalesque, Austin keeps up its leftwing hippy status as an enclave in America’s most rightwing state.

As this traditional rock behemoth of a conference spreads its stylistic wings, we witnessed this year much more brightly colourer sounds than the expectant monotone distorted guitar dirge that has both made SXSW great, and at points sadly generic.

With Devo headlining the Austin Music Hall for arguably the festival’s headline slot, their brilliant flashes of sound and colour - both in terms of stage show and proto-electro inflected punk - was a great masthead for increased diversity to flourish.

As ever, Clash’s roster of hand-picked talents blazed a path from traditional rock and roll through to lysergically drenched folk and into bruising club cabaret. Here’s what happened at our official showcase…

Openers Innercity Pirates had their own stripped-back interpretations for the Austin masses – having haemorrhaged a keyboardist, their sound which before had meandered through too many styles was now tighter and less confounding. Singer Russell, who’s penned an anthem deemed heady enough for a Guinness campaign, certainly has it in him to sharpen a distinct edge from their boisterous and hardened indie; regards their commercial reach, time will tell we are certain. Their current set-up as a trio allows each member more space to shine, with bassist Stephy riling an early crowd into warming the floor yet, without the flashes of electronics previously heard at our In the City Showcase gaps were felt. Overall, promising noises beckon from their lean musical ship.

Second up are FOUND, an alt-folk band from Edinburgh treading a unique sonic furrow and looking to ignite this year from an entirely self-lit touch paper. Picking up at the crossroads where the Beta Band buried their electronically infused indie, FOUND add more croon, equal dashes of playful keyboards and some cortex-whipping digital shenanigans. With many a song heavily conceptualised around their slacker art projects or vagrant technologies exploited for their own amusement, there’s more to this FOUND band than you can find on their self-printed, self-designed seven-inches that are being squirreled away by sensible and passionate anoraks. Singer Ziggy’s self proclaimed “discount whisky croon” has enough space to stand aside of other vocalists, and represents a fresh voice from the Scottish scene. The boyhood feel of fun from the rest assures them a steady climb into little expectation yet assured, if cult, adoration.

The footfall fell heavy for the next band: Slow Club, the fastest seducing duo to come out of Sheffield for a while. It’s a White Stripes set-up with less flare but oodles more nuance. The pace of their set was a wonder to behold and a starched lesson to many of the bands bustling in this 6th Street dance hole. The interplay between Charles and Rebecca is intimate and the flow of their songs, their velocity and their well cared for tender lulls, captivated a full house. Relaxed and effortlessly normal, their northern breeding sits well on a street where Jonny Borrell increasingly looks ridiculous in strut; thus Slow Club’s low-key nous to take their finale into the crowd for a gentle crescendo had the impassioned huddle singing chorally and proclaiming them as champions. Slow Club’s summer album has Clash’s lips well licked in anticipation.

The equally tempered Wild Beasts were up next, the Yorkshire Domino darlings who make a mockery of both their name but crucially any notion that they are belligerent or violent with loved instruments that lie magically in their hands. This being our first live viewing of the office staple of Wild Beasts presumes they are a band best seen in a venue packed solely with their own diehard fans, who can hang silently off every tender and furtive note. Their understated folksy cacophony is complex, layered and engaging. At points they captivate with softness; at others they surprise with New York-styled punk-funk dance anthems that standout in their set and are fired into memory through such severe contrast. We urge you: whatever your tastes, catch this band as they truly are craftsmen. Rampant angels of sound are closer to their true nature.

Things got a delightful overhaul next as We Have Band appeared. Having redeemed themselves from redundancy and fired straight into a band, they are a dance act with a tad more musical coherence than their toddling name purveys. Sounding in equal quarts past as they are of the future, this trio manage to tread the fine line of making addictive dance music, steered by unrestrained unaffected and genuinely inspirational vocals, without making it sound cheesily futuristic or dated. Their anthem ‘Oh!’ saw all heads in sync as a radio gem that has clearly travelled far, whilst their live bass re-workings of other albums tracks look set to stand them in excellent stead in the guaranteed touring of the UK and the European festival circuit. With solid and intriguing live dance anthems, We All Have Band join in with their own fun.

Whether fortunes are made in the Texan sun is irrelevant for many, as SXSW remains a great event and one of the best places for a sonic trolley dash around bands who can no longer hide behind their MySpace, behind their favourite venue, their hoards of scenester pals or the alchemy of studio blags. Once off the plane, in a venue they’ve never seen with the basic equipment needed to perform, it’s easy to grind wheat and spit the chaff into the dust. It’s a glaring and terrifying prospect, and such a naked approach makes discerning the mediocre from the manna so much easier in a place that just seems to spin faster. And drunker…

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For exclusive video interviews and live sets of all these bands click HERE (content forthcoming).

For a photo gallery of this show click HERE.

Photo: Phillip Sharp