Author Archives: Olivia

WATER TRASH

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In an ideal world, everyone would get paid to do something they love. In an ideal world, I’d be paid to write about music. Nothing too over the top. Just enough to pay my rent, maybe get a dog, buy my girlfriend presents without a care and to live off food that isn’t soup. Or pasta. Being Italian, I should be okay with pasta, right? In moderation. Not because your bank account is crying at you to leave a city you have no reason to be in. I’m only working to pay my rent at the moment- that alone just fucks my head up and has set me back with this bastarding anxiety and depression I have, and cannot shake. But hey, enough of that. A slight vent from a frustrated soul. I’ll write about a band that eases the mind and mood slightly.

Ready?

Water Trash has got it going on. They’ve got this exquisite laid-back sound that makes you forget all your troubles. Every song feels like it has come from the heart, and I think that’s what makes you relate to the songs, and what allows you to let the music just take you away. It’s powerful in all the right ways, and it is done in a beautifully subtle way. I know for the most part I do like music that makes me want to flail my limbs around in a small, sweaty dive bar. Water Trash does give me that same feeling, but the only difference is that they make you feel like you’re the only one. What I mean is, if you were to catch them play live- you’d feel as if it was just you in the room. Irrespective of size, they’d make you feel it was only you in the room. Like when the person you’re besotted with looks at you and when you look at them. That’s one of the best feelings in the world, and when music can evoke this grand and gorgeous feelings- that’s when you know you have found something to truly treasure when everything else seems painfully unruly and bland.

Their debut record from last summer is stunning. It’s got a beautiful summer feel to it. Something we all need when it is bloody freezing outside. They just take you somewhere really tranquil and serene. They add the perfect amount of calm to the mind, body and soul. For me they have that similar relaxed feel that is in the likes of Warpaint and Beach House. Two bands I absolutely adore who can calm any chaotic mind right down. For me, I feel that Water Trash have got this tight sound and I think it stems from them knowing each other since they were around 12 years old. They are growing together, and you can really hear that on their debut record, which sounds effortlessly timeless.

One of the louder moments on the record is a song called Elevator which has this heavy guitar sound that reminds me of the hook in Undone-The Sweater Song by Weezer. It’s laid-back then it just gloriously smacks you right in the choppers. I love when a band spring that kind of surprise on me. I think that’s when you know just how great a band is; no matter how many times you listen to the song it still has the ability to hit you. It’s such an amazing feeling.

Water Trash is such an exciting band to listen to, and you can really pick up on how much dedication and care has gone into their music. They’re the kind of band that you just cannot get enough over.

You can buy/stream their glorious sounds here:

https://watertrashpa.bandcamp.com/releases

 

LOVERS CLUB: Empty Ballroom Blues

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One of the most exciting bands to emerge from London, Lovers Club has just released their phenomenal EP Empty Ballroom Blues. It excels everything they have done to date, and it truly shows how great they are and undoubtedly, 2018 will be their year.

There is only one criticism of the EP-it’s not long enough. I want, I need more songs. This is a band that leaves you needing more. The need is greater than the want here. Everyone seems to follow certain “buzz” bands without giving a thought to those who are making something worth listening to. Lovers Club are that band. They are massively underrated and effortlessly cool. Alec’s vocals are nothing short of eerie and gripping. They make you feel like you are being chased down a dark alleyway with no hope of survival. They fill you with this dark excitement that takes you back to hearing The Cramps and The Mummies for the first time. That might just be me, but it’s alright. Lovers Club have this sound that makes you just want to totally immerse yourself in all that they do and hope they never ever call it quits. It’s a beautifully creepy sound that takes you over in the best way imaginable.

The opener, Empty Ballroom Blues truly sets the tone for the EP. It has this grand sound to it that is found in bands that have been at it for decades, but Lovers Club have this magnetic confidence in their sound that just makes you feel and believe that this is a band who have been around for decades. It’s a proper established and powerful sound that as I’ve said, just leaves you wanting more. Needing more. Alec’s guitar skills remind you of part Poison Ivy and part Johnny Thunders. The band has this raw Rock N Roll feel to their sound that is lacking in music right now. Are they are saviours? If you want them to be.

The Barge is just under 2 minutes and again, it isn’t enough. But it is taster of what Lovers Club is capable of and what is to come. It feels completely right to just keep on hitting repeat with this EP. Nothing can touch it. I truly feel that this is going to be one of my favourite things I hear all year, and will most definitely be one of my most played. The Barge has this brilliant distorted sound to it. It feels like it could have been in a Vincent Price film- it’s got this brutality to it that comes through effortlessly in Alec’s voice. Everything about this song just goes so well together. When the chorus kicks in, you can really hear just how great Alec, Oliver and Matt are. Towards the end the song has this energy to it that makes you think it’ll go on forever. It makes you want it to go on forever. Then it ends making room for the closer, Dark Country.

Dark Country is a heavy song. It carries something quite sinister to it, and I think that’s why I really love this one. I love the whole EP but Dark Country has this really heavy feel to it which just oozes a shade of evilness that makes you want to be part of it all. The whole EP feels as if it was made for a Horror film. The atmosphere they create in their music is something which I absolutely adore, and I really cannot wait to see and hear what they do this year because they really are the best new band around. Sure it is a biased opinion, but I’m not going to waste anyone’s time by writing in a negative manner. That’s just pointless. I love finding new bands and writing about how much I love their music, and how exciting they are. Lovers Club are one of those bands that make me want to keep writing about music- and recently that love has been fading. It’s back again. I think. I hope.

Anyway, you can buy/listen to the EP right here: https://loversclub.bandcamp.com/album/empty-ballroom-blues-ep

They are playing a few dates in London over the next couple of months at:

23rd February- The Black Heart

1st March- The Lock Tavern

See you at the front!

SHADY FRANCOS

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It’s pretty hard to listen to anything else or care about anything other than The Fall right now. It’s been a few days, and it still hasn’t sunk in that the greatest and most unapologetically honest frontman is no longer with us. It sucks. It really, really sucks.

I needed something this morning to lift my mood up a little bit this morning. I found a band called Shady Francos. Proper Rock n Roll band that have this excellent psychobilly sound flowing through. If you dig The Cramps, you’ll probably love this band. I’m not sure what they’re up to right now, or if they’re still together, but it’s alright. There’s enough music for me to work on to write about them.

https://soundcloud.com/fieldtripssd/shady-francos-cant-opener

They have this effortlessly cool sound, the kind of sound you wish you could make. They’re the kind of band that if you walked past them rehearsing, it would stop you in your tracks and you’d never leave. It’s an intriguing sound that leaves you wanting more, and more. It’s a real lucid sound that you cannot shake. You can’t get enough of it. Feel free to lose your damn mind to this band. Their bio says that they are from the shady part of San Diego. They really do make you feel like you have ended up on the wrong side of town. I’ve just finished reading Digging The Vein by Tony O’Neill (if you’ve never read his work, you’re really missing out. He’s an underrated genius) and Shady Francos really do make you feel a little creeped out with their sound. They are loud, off the wall and brutal with their sound.

I love the distorted and shaky vocals. I love how you can hear this trembling in the vocals that makes you cling onto every word. I love how aggressive the drums are which go perfectly with the vocals. Everything about this band is just brilliant. They remind me a little of The Cramps and Küken. Some bands are just made to be played loud. Some bands are made to just take you some place obscure- Shady Francos do exactly that. They make you want to sit and do a load of nothing with their music blaring out.

You can imagine some kid in San Diego listening to them and just wanting to do what they do when they are older. They’re subtle heroes, and given the chance could take over the world. Things take time, so I’ll let them takeover mine. I don’t mind.

Soggy Diner Toast is so far my favourite song by them, but I’m obviously likely to change my mind as I repeatedly listen to them and find new things to love about them and more songs to claim as my favourite. If you’re looking for a band to do a whole load of nothing to, then Shady Francos are the band for you.

Play ‘em loud, piss off your neighbours and relax.

 

MARK E. SMITH

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I was about to settle down with a book and play The Fall when I read that Mark E. Smith had died. My hands are shaking. Hitting the keyboard to try type out some sense is all I’ve got.

I’ve been into The Fall for close to 16 years. I worshipped Mark E. Smith. His words were like religious scriptures to me. His words were to the point, honest and hilarious. Observational and vital. Pure and unapologetic. Genius, genuine. Northern. My hero.

Some dismissed him. Those who dismissed him didn’t get him. Those that got him adored him and like me, clung onto his words. For me, his words were my crutch when I was on the dole for a while and his words have rang true whilst I struggle living in a city that I just do not want to be in. His words, his voice, him. The hell do we do without him? I thought he would outlive us all, in a way he will. There will never ever be anyone like Mark E. Smith. There was no one else like him before. No one else will come close to him. He’s one of those people who are just so rare and so precious. I feel like someone has repeatedly punched me in the stomach. Can this just be a joke? Come on now.

His autobiography is my second most read book (my first being Just Kids by Patti Smith.) My copy is well read. It’s been everywhere with me. I’ve taken it on trips, I’ve used it to provide laughs, I’ve quoted it at appropriate and inappropriate times. I’ve clung onto it like a baby holds a blanket for comfort. Mark’s words were a safety net. They always will be. An escape route from the mundane.

The way he used his words was nothing short of brilliant. The guy was a genius. A proper poet. The people’s poet. He had this way of just getting in your head and making everything fall into place. Sure he had a reputation of being difficult or whatever, but he probably had his reasons. People can be idiots at times and he was probably rightfully annoyed at their stupidity. We can all relate to that.

I have this weird ritual that any time I leave London to go home/north, I have to play Hit The North a certain amount of times. When I hear this song, it gives me butterflies because I know I am going to see people I love. It reminds me of home. I don’t know why, but it always has. I used to listen to it at uni when I got homesick. The Fall have always been my band. Everyone has that one band that is theirs (I don’t mean in a “I love them more than you” way at all) They were a band I found on my own. By on my own, I mean staying up late to listen to them on the radio when John Peel would play something by them. I was hooked instantly. First listen and I knew I had found a band that would be a massive part of my life. A band that I would come to rely on over and over again.

Mark E. Smith was undoubtedly the most hardworking person in music. He was my superman. He had this ability to just make you connect to his words in a way that no other could. I know I love Morrissey with all I have, but Mark E. Smith was the King of Manchester. He truly, truly was. He made you want to have a pint with him in his local and just talk about anything and everything. He was so fascinating. I can’t get my head around writing this in past tense. It just doesn’t make sense at all.

I remember finding a copy of The Wonderful and Frightening World Of… in Oxfam on the Isle of Man and thinking I had won the lottery. In my head, it was my version of winning the lottery. It is one of my most played records. A couple years ago my mum got me a bootleg live record at a car boot sale on the Isle of Man along with Captain Beefheart and The Pretty Things.

I know this is all over the place, and there is so much more I could write. Maybe I will another time. For now, I have to let this settle in my head. How most felt about Bowie leaving us is how I feel about Mark E. Smith leaving us. The greatest frontman of all time, one of the greatest writers of all time. Entirely genuine and effortlessly charismatic. His humour and intellect was apparent in every single song, every single record, every single word he spoke, sang and wrote- it was all there. Always.

Mark E. Smith could make you belly laugh, he could make you chuckle at his observations, he could leave you in awe with his wisdom. He made you feel and think so much. He made you see things differently, and it was such an honour. The Fall weren’t a band that you listened to once in a while. They were, and are…fuck they ARE a band that just become so important to you. The amount of times I have had a panic attack and used Hip Priest to calm me down. It’s over 7 minutes and it’s one of the few songs that can calm my mind down. I can zone out, and all is okay.

Maybe it is pathetic, but I genuinely feel like someone has ripped my heart out and punched me in the gut over and over. It’s one of those things you dread. What do you do when your hero goes? I’m at a loss with this one. Like I said, there is so much more I could write and maybe I should have left it longer to get this out so it was written in a better way.

He had this laugh that was like a naughty schoolkid. I can hear it now as I blast out Hip Priest. His cheeky smile was infectious too. He was one of the good ones.

Thank you, Mark E. Smith. Forever my hero. Safe trip x

JADED JUICE RIDERS.

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As I am slowly approaching 10 years of writing about music, I realise I’ve got sloppy with it. I’m more likely to sit and watch crime documentaries than do what I love. Maybe it’s a distraction- but what from? Anyway, I’m going to push that aside briefly and write about a band that have given me the urge to write about them because they are THAT good. The thing is, I do want to write- but maybe I also don’t want to. I’m talking to myself.

Jaded Juice Riders are made up of two brothers, Josh and Mateo Hwang.  They have a sound that I always gravitate towards- they make me feel like I’m on a beach in California with a load of nothing to do, watching the world go by with some good music blasting in my ears. I think part of me will always want to do that, but the other part (the bigger part) hates flying and would get annoyed by the heat. I’d rather escape in my mind than physically.

What I really enjoy about Jaded Juice Riders is this playful yet distorted sound. It makes you want to dance around but they also relax you. You can be anywhere in the world when you listen to them, and for me that’s a huge thing. Their sound reflects a gorgeous summer mood. I think anyone who loves Wavves (who doesn’t!?) would really like Jaded Juice Riders. Both bands give off that same feel in their music. I can’t really put it into words, but I do know that I absolutely love it. Maybe this was the kick I needed to write again. I just want to shut off and listen to Jaded Juice Riders. It’s grim in London today, and this band have taken me to a warmer place. Year 22 is definitely one of the songs that you there.

Their last release, Bowl Cut came out in October last year and it is criminally underrated and nothing short of brilliant. It’s got the perfect mix of lo-fi/Garage with Surfer Rock tones. I guess that’s a sound? I’m not sure. I read it once when reading about a band I like. Jaded Juice Riders sound like a party I wouldn’t bail out on going to- and I’m useless at parties. They just make you want to relax and just be. Be whatever you want. Do whatever the hell you want. They are an absolute delight to listen to and to get lost in. Oh and they are huge fans of playing Fifa- something which I can relate to. They’re the perfect band to listen to whilst playing, for sure.

The slight fuzzy sound and distorted vocals are so great, and so easy to fall in love with. I love the songs Agriculture and Mr Psycho so much. The lyrics to Agriculture are my favourite- so far. They have a number of releases that are well worth investing time (and money) in.  If you’re new to them, start with Bowl Cut and work backwards. Or go in whatever order you like. Their first record (I think it is self-titled) is my favourite so far. It’s got a more raw sound, but they still keep with that in the likes of Bowl Cut. It’s a real distinctive sound that you cannot help but enjoy. They’re just a brilliant band, and I hope one day they make it over here because I reckon their live shows would be wild. They have that sound that is just made to be played in a live setting.

If you’re having a shitty day, Jaded Juice Riders will make it much better. Stick your headphones on, play it as loud as you want, shut off from your surroundings and let them take you somewhere magical and trippy.

STALLED MINDS.

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France is home to two of my great loves- Rimbaud and the Born Bad record store in Bastille. It is also home to exceptional musicians who have undoubtedly been an influence on the bands I listen to. Paris has an insanely great Punk scene. It’s enough to make you sack off all responsibilities and move there to really immerse yourself in it. Or you can live vicariously through others. It’s the cheaper option.

I’ve written about loads of bands from Paris over the past few years. I don’t seek them out on purpose, it just happens. Accidents are sometimes alright. One band I found today that have immediately won me over are Stalled Minds. Easily one of the loudest and best bands around right now- even though their self-titled release came out two years ago, they still have this exciting and new sound. They make you want to break stuff, they make you want to start a band that is part Bad Brains and part whatever the hell you want so long as it is loud. I’m currently writing this with my housemate’s cat on my bed. I’m looking after him until tomorrow evening, and he’s currently having another nap. Every so often he lets out a snore and I tell you what, he manages to fit it in time with the music. He’s got good taste.

Stalled Minds are the kind of band you want to join and trash basement bars with. You want to lob lukewarm beer over the crowd and go insane to their song, Shit City. They have this energy in their songs that you’ve never quite heard or felt before. They’re a band that you’ll wonder why on earth they aren’t huge, but you treasure them and play the music as loud as your ears can stand.

From what I’ve heard so far, and yes I am late to the party, I just absolutely love their sound. I love how the vocals are sometimes distorted. I love how furiously they play and how it feels like a collective riot. There is such a united sound, and I think that it is one of the many reasons why I love them and why they just sound so great. It’s an impeccable sound that they have crafted and they just sound so effortlessly cool.

A couple members of Stalled Minds are in the equally great Youth Avoiders. I’ll be writing about them real soon too. Both bands play with this infectious fury that sort of eases the mind but also unleashes everything you’ve pent up. Music should be a release, and Stalled Minds take good care of that notion.

If you’re looking for a band to blow your mind and eardrums then listen to Stalled Minds. Listen to them as loud as you can handle, then push yourself to go a little louder. They’ll make you want to start a band, they’ll make you want to go to every live show they ever do. But until you see them, you’ll imagine the show in your mind- covered in sweat and beer.

RIHANNA: Anti.

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If more people admitted when they were wrong, then maybe the world would be a better place. Or some people would be bearable to be around. Who knows. I’m wrong most of the time. This is part apology and part appreciation. I’ve wanted to write this for some time, and I guess right now is the time to do it.

Honestly? I’ve never really been a fan of Rihanna. I don’t know her so I won’t judge her as a person but even if I did know her- I still wouldn’t. I always dismissed her music. There are some songs I liked and there are a lot that remind me of easier times/being drunk with my best friends. I’ve grown up. They say when you get older your tastes change. I think that’s true. Aged 31, I’m happy to say that I’m a fan of Rihanna. What changed my mind? Anti. Her eighth record was released last year. I remember Jamie from The Kills saying if you didn’t like that record, you don’t like music or something similar. I wanted to dismiss that statement. But, he’s someone I admire so I gave it a chance. The Kills covered Desperado. Their version of it feels like it is theirs but when I heard the original I immediately was disappointed that it took me this long to hear how great Rihanna is.

Anti was one of the most underrated records of 2016. It’s one of the most underrated records ever, to be honest. Do you remember when Aaliyah released her records and everyone was in awe of how ahead of its time they all were? There are two singers since her that have brought on that feeling- Banks and Rihanna. All three of them are ahead of us all in so many ways. I think Aaliyah just started it all to be honest. She was strong in ways that could only be admired and not emulated. Banks and Rihanna are exactly like that. What makes Anti so great? Well, after one listen of it I went back and listened to all of her previous records and for me, Anti sounds like the record she always wanted to make. It sounds like something that is completely and utterly her. Some of her records before may have sounded quite similar but Anti is something else. It’s out there and it’s unlike anything else. If I was growing up now, I’d definitely have Anti as an inspiration and a beacon of strength. It’s just such a strong record that has such a powerful and unique sound. I’m really glad that my girlfriend and her sister forced this record upon me because it is easily one of the best things I’ve heard in such a long time.

Her vocals on Love On The Brain are my favourite. If I was going to try convince someone who was like me and pretty dubious about her music, this would be the song I’d make them listen to. The whole record is really vulnerable but powerful. Love On The Brain allows you to hear the cracks in her voice and it is just a real intense listen. You can hear something in her voice that you’ve never heard before. I honestly haven’t heard that in a long time, and the way she sings it just leaves you covered in goose bumps. You can’t help but listening to it on repeat because you want every raw emotion to hit you again and again. I could happily write an essay about this song- maybe one day I will.

I think Needed Me is probably my favourite Rihanna song ever. There is something about it that just blows my mind every single time I play it. It’s one of my most played songs. Remember when she released S&M and everyone was shocked? Needed Me has that same level of independence to it, and when Rihanna has songs like this, that’s when she really shows us how fucking brilliant she is. It’s the songs that show how strong she is that make you just love her. Looking back, I really don’t get why I was so quick to dismiss her. If she released this at the start of her career maybe I’d love her music as much as I do now. What I love about her is that she doesn’t let anything or anyone control her- and you really get that from Anti. Especially on songs like Woo and Needed Me. I love how every song on this record feels like it could be part of a film. It feels like a film score and an exploration of the perfect body of art. It is truly a masterpiece, and it is criminally underrated.

Her cover of Same Ol’ Mistakes (originally by Tame Impala) is insane. If you listen to it without realising it is a cover, you can’t help but cling onto every word Rihanna sings- she truly makes it her own. With this cover, she does what is supposed to be done with a cover- she makes it unrecognisable and makes you believe it is her song. It is so euphoric and so gorgeous. It’s one of those songs that you play and let yourself just escape. It is such a fantastic cover, and I honestly can’t praise it enough. It’s 6 minutes of bliss and it really does soothe the mind, and ease the soul.

Close To You is another real stand out moment on the record. I think if someone listens to this and doesn’t get choked up, then maybe they are made of stone. The line, “I know you don’t need my protection” has so much weight to it, and for some reason it always gets to me. It’s one of those songs that is so beautiful but hard to listen to because it really hits you in the gut. It is such a powerful song and the lyrics are so painfully honest. Again, I could write an essay about this one too.

Anti is a timeless record, and when I first played it in full I was just in awe of everything about the record. From the lyrics to the vocal arrangements to the production. It is such a perfect record, and every song stands out in its own way. It honestly does feel like the record she was always supposed to make, and I honestly hope she keeps doing exactly that. It feels like a fuck you to anyone who wanted to try control her career or try get her to go in a certain direction. It is powerful, it is fragile and it is nothing short of a masterpiece.

LOVERS CLUB.

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If the bio for your band states that you are the best Rock ‘n’ Roll band in the world, then you’ve got a lot to live up to right? Wrong. Who cares about expectations! Who even needs them! Lovers Club have made a bold statement, and they are true to it. They are easily one of the best around and most certainly one of the best bands in the UK.

Whatever you’re expecting from Lovers Club- ignore it. There’s no point in assuming that they are a gentle band with such a loving name. Far from it. The irony. Their sound is The Cramps headbutting The Jesus And Mary Chain. They are loud, the sound is aggressive and it is all so brilliant. If you’re wanting a band that sounds like they are crashing into your skull and possessing your body, then Lovers Club are for you.

Lovers Club put their first release out in March this year. I think it was only released as cassette. The songs on this tape are heavy- they have the heaviness of Sleep and the eeriness of The Cramps. For me, they just have the perfect sound. I’d pretty sure that the top three bands in this country right now are Table Scraps, Night Shades and Lovers Club. Each band has a distinctive sound that just takes over the mind. What does it do to the body? Well if you’re questioning it, then you’re not listening hard enough.

Lovers Club have this sound that makes you wish you could continuously go to their live shows and live in this world that they have created. The world that they have created feels like a horror film from decades and decades ago with a hint of Edgar Allan Poe lurking throughout. They just have this instantly iconic sound and style- it makes you want to do what they do, but all you can do is listen. Religiously.

Lovers is possibly my favourite song by them at the moment but I am likely to change my mind as the day progresses. I love how brutal everything sounds on this song. It sure does hit you throughout in all their songs, but Lovers is the one that is a little more in your face than the others on the tape- and it is the one I keep going back to. There is something really, really special about this band. If I could describe what makes them so bloody brilliant there would be no point. They just immediately draw you in. It’s like they’ve got you in a headlock and no part of you is going to even fight an escape.

Lovers Club are more than just a Rock ‘n’ Roll band. Their sound is beyond being just Rock ‘n’ Roll- it is truly something else. Lovers Club are here to shake your skull, potentially deafen you and make you move in a way that you feel sure about doing. They make you want to join their band and add some more noise to their sound. They’ll only get better and louder, and I really cannot wait to hear more from them. They’re just effortlessly cool and they make it loud/sound so easy.

The next Lovers Club show will be at the Old Blue Last on the 13th December.

Buy the tape, and play it loud: https://loversclub.bandcamp.com/releases

 

TWO FIFTY FOUR: The Pickle Factory 29/11/2017

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Last night was my fifth time seeing Two Fifty Four and it was also one of the best times I’ve seen them. There may have been a few issues with sound but that didn’t stop the band from putting on an incredible show.

Their last show in London was in 2015 at Dingwalls, and to see them play an even more intimate venue like The Pickle Factory (opposite Oval Space-make sure you queue up for the right gig if you go here, we made that mistake!) I’ve seen them play in an old church which is set upon old graves and at the Shacklewell Arms but the show last night was something else. Mainly because of the new songs. The new songs are outstanding live, so I can pretty much say with confidence, that when their new record does come out- it’ll be the record of the year. If it comes out next year, I am calling it now as the best thing to happen in 2018.

There is so much to take in when you see Two Fifty Four play. You don’t know where to cast your gaze as each member of the band is nothing short of excellent musicians. They will leave you wishing you could make noise like this. Certain songs allow certain band members to shine a little more, making you take in even more so just how phenomenal they are.

I always seem to gravitate towards watching Hannah play. She is undoubtedly the best guitarist around. There is no one else around that can make noise like her, there is no one else around that can make you feel that alive with a guitar. The sheer heaviness of the sound reminds me of bands I’ve been obsessed with for so long. We know that Houdini by the Melvins is one of the greatest records ever made, right? Well, Two Fifty Four carry the same heaviness as them. Hopefully you know the link between the Melvins and Two Fifty Four (play A History Of Bad Men if you don’t know, and see what happens at the 2:54 mark. If you aren’t covered in goose bumps, you aren’t human.) What I love so much about Two Fifty Four is their ability to make it look so easy, but we know it isn’t. They are one of the hardest working bands I have ever known and that truly comes through in their music and of course in their live shows.

Colette’s stage presence is magnetising. When she sings without her guitar she unleashes moves that resemble a wild animal hunting its prey- these ferocious moves accompanied with such a powerful voice that can electrify you is just mind-blowing. The only person I have ever seen with a presence like this is from my idol, Shirley Manson. Colette’s voice can be delicate when needed but she can definitely add some boom to it when needed. Her voice shows its strength on songs like In The Mirror and also on the new one, Pieces.

Of all the new songs they played last night, I think Ghosting may be my favourite. The new songs sound like Massive Attack mixed with Sleep. For me, that’s an ideal combination. The songs are delicate but also bloody brutal. Again, that’s another reason as to why I love this band so much. They have this loudness and this brutal sound that just leaves you in awe.

They end their set on Pieces, but the crowd wasn’t having any of that. We wanted one more. Some were yelling “Two more! Three more!” I think we all would have loved them to play both records and their earlier songs like Got A Hold and On A Wire. They ended their set with the wonderful Creeping. It was one of the highlights for sure; another is the little jam at the end of Scarlett. Something takes you over when they do that, and you realise even more just how bloody great Two Fifty Four are.

If you’ve seen Two Fifty Four live before, you’ll know that Alex is the best drummer you’ll probably ever see. The sheer passion that comes through as he beats the shit out of his drum kit is astounding. He makes you wish you could do that, but musicians/bands like Two Fifty Four do not come around often. I think that is why their crowd is so diverse, and why people go to see them because they truly love the band. There is none of this business where people go to see them just so they can say they have. Not at all. People go to see Two Fifty Four because their music really means something to them, because they know that they are a band to be absolutely treasured. They are also criminally underrated.

Every song they play is greeted with enthusiastic and loving cheers by the crowd. There are no obnoxious heckles or people yelling songs out that they want to hear. There is the utmost respect, love and admiration on both parts. There are no drunken fools spilling their overpriced craft beer on you, no one barging past to get to the front and no one talking whilst the band play. For as loud as they are, the atmosphere is tranquil and respectful. As someone who suffers stupidly with panic attacks- this felt like a totally safe space. All you can do is close your eyes and let the music move you.

As I mentioned many times before, bands like Two Fifty Four don’t come around too often. They are a pleasure to listen to and a sheer joy to watch. It was over all too soon, but I am so excited for the new record.

What I always take from their shows is like a kick up the arse to do something I love. Hanging out with Colette and Hannah after the show makes you see the band differently. On stage the band have this bold confidence and presence. Off stage they are taken aback with how adored they are.

Meet your heroes and let their music be your crutch. The world that Two Fifty Four paint with their music is like Ted Hughes crashing into Poe. Dark, eerie and good for the soul, and mind.

TABLE SCRAPS.

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I always seem to gravitate towards bands that make me feel like I’m being smacked in the face. I don’t really know what that says about me. I don’t want to be punched in the face really. I just want music to give me that brutal force. I’m sure I’m not alone in this. Thankfully bands like Table Scraps exist. I should have written about them ages ago. I genuinely thought I had, but I guess I just imagined it.

Table Scraps are one of the most exciting bands around. They don’t fit in with any genre, they don’t sound like anyone else and they are LOUD. I feel that when I listen to them I’m about to lose my hearing. There’s no better band to do this to. They’ve got this beautiful menacing sound. Every snarling song feels like someone is pushing you into a wall and forcing you to move your limbs in a questionable manner. It’s something that goes beyond your standard dancing at gigs.

They have a brilliant sound that makes you unaware of time and place. Sometimes you just need that. You need to cut off your surroundings and give in to the music. I try to do that several times a day. It’s how I keep relatively sane. Live through the music because what you see happening in the world is terrible. I love their song Electricity. It makes me feel like I’m in an arcade playing Tekken and I’ve won every battle so far. Foot Of Our Stairs is one of my favourites. I love how the guitar sounds like a revved up motorbike and the drums sounds like everything just crashing down. They have this sound that feels like machine guns going off. Again, they are one of those bands that make you wish you were in a band.

I know we are all led to believe that London is the home to all things great, but don’t fall victim to that mentality. I’ve lived down here for too long, and sometimes you just need to look elsewhere for that sound you craze. Table Scraps are from Birmingham. You could argue that they don’t have a typical Birmingham sound. However, Birmingham doesn’t have a typical sound. It never has, it never will.

I love how the guitar and bass both have this violent sound. It feels like some kind of electric shock going right through you. Scott and TJ just make you feel like you’re battered and bruised, and that you’re hearing may never be the same again. Why would you want it to be? Poppy is probably up there as one of my favourite drummers. EVER. I’ve got a mental list, and I’m putting her in the Top 3 (Stella from Warpaint, Sophie from PINS and Poppy from Table Scraps- if you must know.) Her drumming style is just something to be adored. The way she brutally beats the shit out of the drum kit is fascinating. I’ve never seen them live but what I get from their music on record, is that on stage they make the songs sound darker and bolder than they already are. I mean, you could wear earplugs- but why ruin the fun?

There are so many reasons why Table Scraps are one of the most fascinating and brilliant bands around, but their music explains it better than I ever could. They are a band to play constantly and loudly. When you think you can handle the volume, turn it up a little more. You’ll pick up on just how great they sound together. There is no band around at the moment that is doing what they do. They are unlike anyone else around, and that alone makes me love them.

You can buy/stream their music right here: https://table-scraps.bandcamp.com/ Start from the beginning just so you can see how their sound has evolved and how they have become one of the most exciting bands around.