17 February 2009
So my great idea to blog most days this year has been a failure. I wish there was a good reason I haven't blogged but it's down to me being lazy. So lazy that there really isn't anything to report since the last post, my life is mindnumbingly dull at the moment full of work and people around me constantly moaning.
And I think I may need to start wearing glasses due to staring at too many spreadsheets at work....
Tuesday, 17 February 2009
Sunday, 4 January 2009
3 January
The most boring day ever?
Woke up to see The Shots game may be called off and that there would be a pitch inspection. Finally at 1.15pm while ready to brave the town and then watch the game, I see on Sky Sports News the game has been postponed. Nice of the referee to make the decision early - feel sorry for the fans trekking down from Nottingham. The rest of the day was made up of playing the demo of Football Manager and watching Jeff Stelling while going increasingly stir-crazy that I could not leave the house.
I then watched Liverpool bore their way past Preston while also keeping an eye on the new Doctor Who. Who indeed? Give him a go but Johnson from Peep Show would have been a better choice. Following this I have dinner late and a friend comes over, we spend the evening watching and slagging off CBB.
4 January
Up fairly late again, not good. Must learn to see the whole of the morning at weekends rather than just an hour or 90 minutes. Go and see 'The Spirit' at the cinema - it's good fun but not great, cheesy one-liners and it looks stunning. It is like a real, breathing and moving comic book. Went round the shops on my increasingly frustrating search for a coat. Also checked HMV but everything seems so much cheaper online now. Can't shops learn from Woolies' demise?
Watched the Dark Knight while searching for holidays for March. Vegas is looking a good option but could be expensive. Watched Celebrity Big Brother and I'm starting to think Coolio is some kind of comic genius.
The most boring day ever?
Woke up to see The Shots game may be called off and that there would be a pitch inspection. Finally at 1.15pm while ready to brave the town and then watch the game, I see on Sky Sports News the game has been postponed. Nice of the referee to make the decision early - feel sorry for the fans trekking down from Nottingham. The rest of the day was made up of playing the demo of Football Manager and watching Jeff Stelling while going increasingly stir-crazy that I could not leave the house.
I then watched Liverpool bore their way past Preston while also keeping an eye on the new Doctor Who. Who indeed? Give him a go but Johnson from Peep Show would have been a better choice. Following this I have dinner late and a friend comes over, we spend the evening watching and slagging off CBB.
4 January
Up fairly late again, not good. Must learn to see the whole of the morning at weekends rather than just an hour or 90 minutes. Go and see 'The Spirit' at the cinema - it's good fun but not great, cheesy one-liners and it looks stunning. It is like a real, breathing and moving comic book. Went round the shops on my increasingly frustrating search for a coat. Also checked HMV but everything seems so much cheaper online now. Can't shops learn from Woolies' demise?
Watched the Dark Knight while searching for holidays for March. Vegas is looking a good option but could be expensive. Watched Celebrity Big Brother and I'm starting to think Coolio is some kind of comic genius.
Saturday, 3 January 2009
2009
1 January
Woke up late after not getting to sleep until 3am. Read the rest of Kevin Smith's very detailed, but also very funny, diaries. Watched Mock the Week DVD. Went to bed early for the first working day of 2009.
2 January
Went to work when looking at the roads no-one else was. Got parked easily. Eat lots of Domino's Pizza during lunch break. Went to Ian's in the evening with a few other friends - watched Celebrity Big Brother. Disappointing line-up - Terry Christian is my favourite on first impressions, also wondering how long it will take Ulrika to get her claws into Mini-Me. Watched final three episodes of Blackadder.
1 January
Woke up late after not getting to sleep until 3am. Read the rest of Kevin Smith's very detailed, but also very funny, diaries. Watched Mock the Week DVD. Went to bed early for the first working day of 2009.
2 January
Went to work when looking at the roads no-one else was. Got parked easily. Eat lots of Domino's Pizza during lunch break. Went to Ian's in the evening with a few other friends - watched Celebrity Big Brother. Disappointing line-up - Terry Christian is my favourite on first impressions, also wondering how long it will take Ulrika to get her claws into Mini-Me. Watched final three episodes of Blackadder.
Friday, 28 November 2008
Satellite State – Plans
Hailing from Guildford and already critically acclaimed, the five piece release ‘Plans’, their first official EP. With an extensive tour schedule over the past couple of years, Satellite State have steadily been building a fanbase and now reward their loyal fans with this release to rave reviews.
Opener ‘Plans’ is a slow-burning and anthemic piece that crawls under your skin and makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. With the dark undertones the likes of Editors and Interpol are specialists in, it is fair to say Satellite State’s sweeping rock could easily find it’s way onto fans of these bands record players.
‘Sometimes/Always’ shows the band at their best, synth effects and U2-style guitars build up into a swelling climax. It’s a song Snow Patrol would have been proud to write. And the perfect fitting soundtrack to the end of a Hollywood film. The finale of the song leaves you wanting more.
Luckily this comes with ‘One Small Step’, a song that has nods to The Verve when Richard Ashcroft isn’t busy being pompous or making monkey noises. A melancholic piece of understated pop-rock, the combination of Gary Nicks’ vocals and guitarist Ciaran Stephens’ backing howling and riffs is both powerful and reassuring. Although the EP is quite one-paced, the band have mastered the craft so this is no bad thing. And there is enough in the instrumentation of ‘Lights Out’ to suggest that this band has a lot of ideas for the future. Nicely piano-led before breaking into an instrumental crescendo, there is the essence of Echo and the Bunnymen – if they decided to take Arcade Fire out for a drink and collaborate. Which could only be a good thing.
Satellite State make heartfelt and intelligent pop with real meaning. Melodic and mellow, this is a band that are infectious and have backed up their live shows with some tremendous recording.
4/5
Opener ‘Plans’ is a slow-burning and anthemic piece that crawls under your skin and makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. With the dark undertones the likes of Editors and Interpol are specialists in, it is fair to say Satellite State’s sweeping rock could easily find it’s way onto fans of these bands record players.
‘Sometimes/Always’ shows the band at their best, synth effects and U2-style guitars build up into a swelling climax. It’s a song Snow Patrol would have been proud to write. And the perfect fitting soundtrack to the end of a Hollywood film. The finale of the song leaves you wanting more.
Luckily this comes with ‘One Small Step’, a song that has nods to The Verve when Richard Ashcroft isn’t busy being pompous or making monkey noises. A melancholic piece of understated pop-rock, the combination of Gary Nicks’ vocals and guitarist Ciaran Stephens’ backing howling and riffs is both powerful and reassuring. Although the EP is quite one-paced, the band have mastered the craft so this is no bad thing. And there is enough in the instrumentation of ‘Lights Out’ to suggest that this band has a lot of ideas for the future. Nicely piano-led before breaking into an instrumental crescendo, there is the essence of Echo and the Bunnymen – if they decided to take Arcade Fire out for a drink and collaborate. Which could only be a good thing.
Satellite State make heartfelt and intelligent pop with real meaning. Melodic and mellow, this is a band that are infectious and have backed up their live shows with some tremendous recording.
4/5
Jacob’s Stories/Guns Or Knives/Klaus Says Buy The Record/Tom Williams/Shoes and Socks Off, Boileroom, Guildford, 11th June 2008. Words - Matt Phelps.
The so-called ‘Bedwetters Tour’ made its merry way to the Boileroom in Guildford tonight, after gigs in Manchester and Sheffield earlier in the week. It was one of the best value gigs Underdogzine has had the pleasure of attending, not least because it was free entry, but also as the line-up was bursting at the seams with talent and all round awesomeness…
First up was Shoes and Socks Off, aka Toby Hayes – one half of the Run For Your Life label (which puts on regular gigs in Aldershot and London), one third of Shield Your Eyes, and former Meet Me In St. Louis frontman.
His set tonight was a far more down-tempo affair than any St. Louis set, but mesmerising all the same. Huddled on stage in a hoodie with just an acoustic guitar for company, Toby played his way through a selection of minimalist tunes as if there was no-one else in the room. The highlight was ‘I’m A World Class Assassin’, with its electrifying rhythm and chord changes and insightful lyrics. Great stuff.
Next on was anti-folkster Tom Williams, who was minus most of his backing band ‘The Boat’ for this acoustic set, but the inclusion of violinist Geri more than made up for the others’ absence as she proved the perfect accompaniment to Tom’s vignettes of growing up in Kent, that are in equal measure both touching and humorous. There’s something wonderfully personal and personable about Tom’s lyrics and the way he sings them. Having already supported the likes of The Wombats, Laura Marling and Jack Penate, the future is certainly bright for this one.
‘Klaus Says Buy The Record’ is certainly an ear-catching name, and his set was equally as interesting. In fact it was hard to take your eyes from the stage as Klaus, aka Jonathan C Mills (at least that’s what his myspace says) raced through an incredible set which saw him flit from acoustic guitar to baritone ukulele, to whole songs or part songs based around loops of his haunting voice. In such an intimate setting the stage wasn’t going to hold him long either, as he frequently made his way into the crowd or onto a chair to play entirely unplugged. There were shades of Patrick Wolf in his voice and songs but Klaus is a great talent in his own right.
Guns or Knives completed the Bedwetters’ section of the night. Also known as Stef Ketteringham, (t’other half of Run For Your Life, and another third of Shield Your Eyes) Guns or Knives set was brilliantly shambolic. Not to be outdone by Klaus on the instrument swapping stakes either as he alternated between numerous electric and acoustic guitars and, for one song, an electric mandolin. Veering between raw blues and minimalist anti-acoustic songs, Stef never gave anyone time to get bored with his pleading voice and brilliant guitar work. Time to change the sheets.
And so for the headline act of the night Jacob’s Stories, who UDZ had briefly seen supporting British Sea Power at the Fort Rox festival in Newhaven in 2006, but had forgotten quite how enchanting his music is. Hailing from Brighton the 27-year-old Stuart Lee constructs musical delicacies using just his voice, a piano and, on this occasion, a mini disc player. Like some kind of missing link between Sigur Ros and Rufus Wainwright, his songs don’t so much as get in your head, as float right into you as if someone has opened a window in your soul to let some fresh air in. Very few people could make a song about Bernard Manning sound so beautiful or sing of the Pope’s halitosis with such tenderness.
First up was Shoes and Socks Off, aka Toby Hayes – one half of the Run For Your Life label (which puts on regular gigs in Aldershot and London), one third of Shield Your Eyes, and former Meet Me In St. Louis frontman.
His set tonight was a far more down-tempo affair than any St. Louis set, but mesmerising all the same. Huddled on stage in a hoodie with just an acoustic guitar for company, Toby played his way through a selection of minimalist tunes as if there was no-one else in the room. The highlight was ‘I’m A World Class Assassin’, with its electrifying rhythm and chord changes and insightful lyrics. Great stuff.
Next on was anti-folkster Tom Williams, who was minus most of his backing band ‘The Boat’ for this acoustic set, but the inclusion of violinist Geri more than made up for the others’ absence as she proved the perfect accompaniment to Tom’s vignettes of growing up in Kent, that are in equal measure both touching and humorous. There’s something wonderfully personal and personable about Tom’s lyrics and the way he sings them. Having already supported the likes of The Wombats, Laura Marling and Jack Penate, the future is certainly bright for this one.
‘Klaus Says Buy The Record’ is certainly an ear-catching name, and his set was equally as interesting. In fact it was hard to take your eyes from the stage as Klaus, aka Jonathan C Mills (at least that’s what his myspace says) raced through an incredible set which saw him flit from acoustic guitar to baritone ukulele, to whole songs or part songs based around loops of his haunting voice. In such an intimate setting the stage wasn’t going to hold him long either, as he frequently made his way into the crowd or onto a chair to play entirely unplugged. There were shades of Patrick Wolf in his voice and songs but Klaus is a great talent in his own right.
Guns or Knives completed the Bedwetters’ section of the night. Also known as Stef Ketteringham, (t’other half of Run For Your Life, and another third of Shield Your Eyes) Guns or Knives set was brilliantly shambolic. Not to be outdone by Klaus on the instrument swapping stakes either as he alternated between numerous electric and acoustic guitars and, for one song, an electric mandolin. Veering between raw blues and minimalist anti-acoustic songs, Stef never gave anyone time to get bored with his pleading voice and brilliant guitar work. Time to change the sheets.
And so for the headline act of the night Jacob’s Stories, who UDZ had briefly seen supporting British Sea Power at the Fort Rox festival in Newhaven in 2006, but had forgotten quite how enchanting his music is. Hailing from Brighton the 27-year-old Stuart Lee constructs musical delicacies using just his voice, a piano and, on this occasion, a mini disc player. Like some kind of missing link between Sigur Ros and Rufus Wainwright, his songs don’t so much as get in your head, as float right into you as if someone has opened a window in your soul to let some fresh air in. Very few people could make a song about Bernard Manning sound so beautiful or sing of the Pope’s halitosis with such tenderness.
Johnny Foreigner – Southampton Joiners. 6 June 2008.
With an album released at the beginning of the week, Johnny Foreigner had a hectic week of gigging everywhere and anywhere. Playing the Joiners seems to be special for any band, and despite the unbelievable, almost unbearable heat up on stage the two guys and one girl from Birmingham still made this a gig to remember.
With Ox. Eagle. Lion. Man pulling out the other bands seemed to club together to make sure that the audience got their money’s worth. A local band called Venice Ahoy opened the night, I didn’t catch that much of them but from what we did see they looked a very tight and promising band. Although very now with a sound borrowed from the likes of Klaxons and Foals, they managed to incorporate their own ideas into the songs and their energy and sense of fun was contagious. Oh, and the sniper rifle-style guitar playing was genius.
Tubelord were second up and automatically won our approval with a shoutout and t-shirt tribute to the recently departed Reuben (RIP –we’ll miss them here, one of my favourite bands back from when Underdogzine first started). Hailing from Kingston, the three piece claim to make: “Pop songs for rock kids”, a statement hard to disagree with. With nods to progressive rock but also some heavier, shoutier moments the band are one to watch out for.
A versatile band that bring to mind the likes of Biffy Clyro and a hint of Youthmovies, songs such as ‘Arm Watches Finger’ and ‘Obstacles’ need to be heard by fans of any post-punk/rock/indie/whatever you want to call it. And with the tour they have lined up for the next few months they should be coming to a town near you in the near future. The highlight of their set was the new single, one the band themselves claim to be “a complete rip-off of Oceansize’. Well, if they had to steal at least they’ve stolen from a brilliant band…
After a fairly long wait Johnny Foreigner started up with a blast and it took them one song to complain about the heat on stage. With all three members drenched in sweat, including Kelly the bass player who claims to never perspire (although she also claimed to be a robot built by the other two members Junior and Alexei, so whether to believe that is up to you), the band rattled through 45 minutes of perfect three minute pop songs. With each band member clad in a different band t-shirt you could hear the influences from all in their sound – Operator Please’s youthful enthusiasm, Pixies in the vocal interplays and The Most Serene Republic’s experimental edge all make up the noise that JoFo (as the kids call them) excel in. With songs about how dull their hometown Birmingham is and about girls from there, it was good to see the band have branched out with the one new song they played – about girls in towns other than Birmingham. The lyrics in the songs are both witty and insightful and will resonate with young people of a similar mindset everywhere.
With a rip-roaring energy and a unique sound, this is a band that put their all into a gig every night. Some of the between-song chat was random but well worth listening to, singer and guitarist Alexei talking about a girl he used to fancy before seeing her in a porn video drew a few gasps especially. With Junior playing the drums and a Casio keyboard at the same time and Kelly’s marching bass moves, it was hard to know which member to keep an eye on. So much energy and such a great force between the three members. A band that has helped restore some faith in music after a barren few months, I have a feeling the likes of ‘Sofacore’, ‘Eyes Wide Terrified’ and ‘DJs Get Doubts’ could well be the soundtrack to the summer.
Inviting two members of Tubelord on stage for the final song (their bass player was on merch duties for both bands), it was a loud and fitting end to a rapturous set, with two drummers duelling and some screaming before the band left the stage for some fresh air and a well-deserved drink. Alexei however collapsed in a big heap and had a lie-down for a good ten minutes. Our new favourite band, and we reckon they’ll be yours too if you get the chance to see them live.
With Ox. Eagle. Lion. Man pulling out the other bands seemed to club together to make sure that the audience got their money’s worth. A local band called Venice Ahoy opened the night, I didn’t catch that much of them but from what we did see they looked a very tight and promising band. Although very now with a sound borrowed from the likes of Klaxons and Foals, they managed to incorporate their own ideas into the songs and their energy and sense of fun was contagious. Oh, and the sniper rifle-style guitar playing was genius.
Tubelord were second up and automatically won our approval with a shoutout and t-shirt tribute to the recently departed Reuben (RIP –we’ll miss them here, one of my favourite bands back from when Underdogzine first started). Hailing from Kingston, the three piece claim to make: “Pop songs for rock kids”, a statement hard to disagree with. With nods to progressive rock but also some heavier, shoutier moments the band are one to watch out for.
A versatile band that bring to mind the likes of Biffy Clyro and a hint of Youthmovies, songs such as ‘Arm Watches Finger’ and ‘Obstacles’ need to be heard by fans of any post-punk/rock/indie/whatever you want to call it. And with the tour they have lined up for the next few months they should be coming to a town near you in the near future. The highlight of their set was the new single, one the band themselves claim to be “a complete rip-off of Oceansize’. Well, if they had to steal at least they’ve stolen from a brilliant band…
After a fairly long wait Johnny Foreigner started up with a blast and it took them one song to complain about the heat on stage. With all three members drenched in sweat, including Kelly the bass player who claims to never perspire (although she also claimed to be a robot built by the other two members Junior and Alexei, so whether to believe that is up to you), the band rattled through 45 minutes of perfect three minute pop songs. With each band member clad in a different band t-shirt you could hear the influences from all in their sound – Operator Please’s youthful enthusiasm, Pixies in the vocal interplays and The Most Serene Republic’s experimental edge all make up the noise that JoFo (as the kids call them) excel in. With songs about how dull their hometown Birmingham is and about girls from there, it was good to see the band have branched out with the one new song they played – about girls in towns other than Birmingham. The lyrics in the songs are both witty and insightful and will resonate with young people of a similar mindset everywhere.
With a rip-roaring energy and a unique sound, this is a band that put their all into a gig every night. Some of the between-song chat was random but well worth listening to, singer and guitarist Alexei talking about a girl he used to fancy before seeing her in a porn video drew a few gasps especially. With Junior playing the drums and a Casio keyboard at the same time and Kelly’s marching bass moves, it was hard to know which member to keep an eye on. So much energy and such a great force between the three members. A band that has helped restore some faith in music after a barren few months, I have a feeling the likes of ‘Sofacore’, ‘Eyes Wide Terrified’ and ‘DJs Get Doubts’ could well be the soundtrack to the summer.
Inviting two members of Tubelord on stage for the final song (their bass player was on merch duties for both bands), it was a loud and fitting end to a rapturous set, with two drummers duelling and some screaming before the band left the stage for some fresh air and a well-deserved drink. Alexei however collapsed in a big heap and had a lie-down for a good ten minutes. Our new favourite band, and we reckon they’ll be yours too if you get the chance to see them live.
Duke Special – Aldershot West End Centre, 5June 2008.
Duke Special returned to the Westy to round off a solo tour in style. Having played the venue last year with a full band as the first date of a tour, it was fitting he went full circle and finished this tour in Aldershot. Having gained huge critical acclaim for his album ‘Songs From The Deep Forest’, Duke Special (real name Peter Wilson) decided to try something different this time around.
But first up was support The Voluntary Butler Scheme. The name may conjure up visions of a mass of people crowded on stage but one man, Rob Jones, appeared and went on to captivate the entire audience for his half hour set. Incorporating loops, samples, keyboards, drums and the occasional guitar solo TVBS had a vocal style not dissimilar to Badly Drawn Boy and was bursting full of ideas The Beta Band never got round to using.
With a dry sense of humour prevalent throughout, both in songs (one was called ‘Tabasco Sole’) and during the banter, it was clear this is fun music made to make people smile. The Pet Shop Boys-referencing, kazoo-led ‘The Eiffel Tower The BT Tower’ deserves to be a huge hit – a fine piece of summertime pop. Getting Duke Special to help out on one of his songs fitted perfectly with their voices complimenting each other well. Having only one single left to sell and clearly more people wanting to buy it, it was clear there was only one way to see who would go home happy – a raffle to be drawn in the headline set.
With a military drum raised on stage and visuals projected onto it, Duke Special came on to rapturous applause and sat at his grand piano to captivate the audience for an hour and 45 minutes. Haunting vocals and sublime playing had the crowd in silence for almost the whole gig. Although with many lyrics about getting drunk, it’s clear he’s not a miserabilist. This was shown when during the early part of the set he stood up, talked into his gramophone-style mike and started handing out lyric sheets to the crowd (“One between two”). With lyrics to five songs in the set printed in there, he led the crowd into communal singalongs – some split between boys and girls, some were led by Duke Special and others put the crowd on backing vocals. It worked perfectly, with every single person getting into it and sounding surprisingly good and coherent.
Hailing from Northern Ireland and softly spoken, it became clear that Duke Special was enjoying himself on stage and the freedom of playing solo. He could stop for chats with the crowd, he only had himself to blame for cock-ups and he seemed to know he had the crowd enthralled by his playing. When he asked the audience to sit down for two highly emotional songs, they did with no exceptions. Playing his biggest hits ‘Freewheel’ and ‘Last Night I Nearly Died’ using an antique record player to replace the lack of band even worked. Two encores later, he ended the set singing in the middle of the crowd while banging cymbals together. A truly special gig.
But first up was support The Voluntary Butler Scheme. The name may conjure up visions of a mass of people crowded on stage but one man, Rob Jones, appeared and went on to captivate the entire audience for his half hour set. Incorporating loops, samples, keyboards, drums and the occasional guitar solo TVBS had a vocal style not dissimilar to Badly Drawn Boy and was bursting full of ideas The Beta Band never got round to using.
With a dry sense of humour prevalent throughout, both in songs (one was called ‘Tabasco Sole’) and during the banter, it was clear this is fun music made to make people smile. The Pet Shop Boys-referencing, kazoo-led ‘The Eiffel Tower The BT Tower’ deserves to be a huge hit – a fine piece of summertime pop. Getting Duke Special to help out on one of his songs fitted perfectly with their voices complimenting each other well. Having only one single left to sell and clearly more people wanting to buy it, it was clear there was only one way to see who would go home happy – a raffle to be drawn in the headline set.
With a military drum raised on stage and visuals projected onto it, Duke Special came on to rapturous applause and sat at his grand piano to captivate the audience for an hour and 45 minutes. Haunting vocals and sublime playing had the crowd in silence for almost the whole gig. Although with many lyrics about getting drunk, it’s clear he’s not a miserabilist. This was shown when during the early part of the set he stood up, talked into his gramophone-style mike and started handing out lyric sheets to the crowd (“One between two”). With lyrics to five songs in the set printed in there, he led the crowd into communal singalongs – some split between boys and girls, some were led by Duke Special and others put the crowd on backing vocals. It worked perfectly, with every single person getting into it and sounding surprisingly good and coherent.
Hailing from Northern Ireland and softly spoken, it became clear that Duke Special was enjoying himself on stage and the freedom of playing solo. He could stop for chats with the crowd, he only had himself to blame for cock-ups and he seemed to know he had the crowd enthralled by his playing. When he asked the audience to sit down for two highly emotional songs, they did with no exceptions. Playing his biggest hits ‘Freewheel’ and ‘Last Night I Nearly Died’ using an antique record player to replace the lack of band even worked. Two encores later, he ended the set singing in the middle of the crowd while banging cymbals together. A truly special gig.
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