There are two reasons as to why today didn’t suck. Number 1- Morrissey announced a London show and number 2- there’s a new 2:54 song.
A few weeks or so ago, the wonderful Colette and Hannah brought the single Orion into the world and got us all hooked. Or maybe just me. I play it a hell of a lot every day. It gets me through work, and their debut record is still getting played daily. There is something about 2:54 that is perfect for grey days like today. As London was battered by rain today and the Summer quickly faded to be taken over by heavy, thick grey clouds- there is only one band you should be listening to (it’s 2:54.)
In The Mirror pretty much justifies why Colette Thurlow has one of the most gorgeous, haunting and entirely gripping vocals I’ve heard in a long long time. She’s got an ethereal sway to her voice that makes those who cannot sing (like myself) wish they could. She sings with this delicate power that immediately has hold of you. She could sing me the Yellow Pages and I’d be utterly captivated.
With a lot of bands they can fall into a trap as they face the release of their new record, but with 2:54 they sound equally as exciting as they did a few years ago when they first came out. I’ve got this horrible feeling that 2:54 are overlooked and underappreciated by so many, I just don’t understand how. They’ve got something that makes them tower above so many. I’m not being lazy wth my word, but I really can’t begin to describe their sound. I think me not being able to describe their sound is really what makes me love their music so much. They are the kind of band that I want to write about always, and make me want to write about music constantly.
2:54 make music for you to wander around under the bulging grey skies that are fit to burst at any time; In The Mirror is another eerie gem by them and has made me even more excited about their new record.
2:54 will be releasing their second record on Bella Union (so proud!) and is titled The Other I. The record is out 10th November (2 days before my birthday.) Here is the track listing:
1. Orion
2. Blindfold
3. In The Mirror
4. No Better Prize
5. Sleepwalker
6. Tender Shoots
7. The Monaco
8. Crest
9. Pyro
10. South
11. Glory Days
12. Raptor
As the sun seems to be slowly creeping out for the next half hour or so here in Hackney, I’ll welcome the nighttime by playing In The Mirror on repeat.
Oh the sheer urge to leave England behind is growing by the day it seems. Who is to blame for such urges? Bands such as No-Fi. A band from the West Coast who make me feel like I am there without enduring a painful flight journey with some bratty kid sat behind me kicking the seat and some overweight and sweaty guy next to me spilling into my seat whilst dribbling at the sight of his in-flight meal. I’ll get there by the power of my mind. They say the mind is a terrible thing to waste, but I’m wasting it on nothing bad.
No-Fi are pretty damn good. On record they sound as if they are trashing their guitars about and drumsticks are flying everywhere. A pleasurable riot ensues as soon as you start listening to them. Like a glorious smack in the chops, these guys know how to hit you with wonderfully sordid grooves. Why sit at the beach when you can head to your nearest dive bar and indulge in whatever behaviour you desire after consuming a little whiskey.
Do you want to know who they sound like? Sorry, I can’t tell you. Not because I’m being a selfish ass, but because I genuinely have no idea who I would mention. Besides, comparisons are for those who are too lazy to actually listen. If you want a band that sound like the Velvet Underground, then go listen to the Velvet Underground. Pretty simple really.
Going by what’s on their Bandcamp page, I think they’ve only got one record/EP out and much like Girl Tears (I will mention my love for them whenever and wherever I can) they’ve pretty much created a solid sound with just one record. No-Fi are again a band that have EVERYTHING I love about music in one. They’ve got a Punk feel to it, some mellow moments and some hard rambunctious grooves to get you going. They wouldn’t sound out of place anywhere, their style is utterly timeless. Just back to Girl Tears a second, when I first wrote about them I felt glad that writing about music/music in general is my love. I’m getting the same feeling as I write about No-Fi. If you can be moved like this by a band so quickly, then I think it means you have found something truly special. You can’t let go of it, even if you tried. Their songs are swirling around your head on a daily basis as you stroll down the street heading nowhere in particular.
* artwork by Simone Hills*
In an ideal world these guys would be playing dingy venues in London so I could stare and be in awe of how brilliant they are (Girl Tears would of course be there.) Back to what I wrote in my post about 13th Pillar earlier, I really do need to start playing the lottery.
Their debut released manages to merge so much in one go, yet sounds ridiculously tight. They have a sound that many try to figure out and probably struggle to achieve, they’ve done it in their first release. So what comes after that? The world of course. Your hearts, ears, souls, mind, bodies- they are coming for it all.
What’s so great about their music is that you can tell they are the bestest of friends and they really love making music. When you can feel that love and passion from a band in their music/live shows, you know you’ve found something worth treasuring.
I’m constantly dissatisfied with myself for never learning to play an instrument and make a noise of my own. I wish I had the ability to lock myself away in a tiny room somewhere and make my own noise, with nobody telling me what to change or add. On my own terms, my own noise. Instead, I listen to music that does this. I listen to music that answers back to anything that is expected or demanded. Like many who can’t play an instrument, I write about music instead. I’m probably dissatisfied with that too, but that’s just me. Is there always something better? I’d imagine so.
13th Pillar are a brilliant band from the Isle of Man. If you know me (sorry about that) you will know of my dislike for the place as I had a 19 year stretch there. I’ve not been to prison, sadly I was brought up there. I say brought up, I just had the life sucked out of me, fucked off to Uni and gained some much needed freedom. By freedom I mean going to gigs all the time and walking around places where nobody knew my name. Bliss. Yet with all the crapness I personally associate with the place, 13th Pillar are pretty much the best band on the Isle of Man. I’m saying this because my Uncle is in the band and also they actually are the best band on the Isle of Man. I’ve listened to a few bands from there, and even if I wasn’t related to him- I would still say they were a brilliant band.
Their new EP is bloody excellent and is only made up of 3 songs. In 3 songs you can do a hell of a lot, so don’t let that put you off. 13th Pillar sound like everything I listen to all rolled into one. They remind me of my pals Girl Tears in a sense that you can tell nobody is telling them what to do. They’ve got a fuzzy TJAMC feel to them mixed with something lucid/psychedelic. They take you on some lucid trip full of kaleidoscopic images, making your eyes ache afterwards from staring at the walls to hard. This 3 track EP is all kinds of magic. It is brutally strange and nothing but a joy to listen to. I’m a proud niece right now.
*My uncle is the one in the grey shirt, and you get a nice shot of my auntie’s head in the first few seconds as she takes some photos….*
The title track off the EP is 6 minutes and 22 seconds of euphoria; there’s no way I can compare it to anything else I’ve ever heard before because this is a different level of weird. I’m quite content with playing it over and over this evening. This EP is the kind you either play locked away in your room to weird yourself out to or you play it to your pals and weird them out to it. Basically, listen to it and get weird.
In an ideal world I’d be a millionaire so I could fly my favourite bands out to wherever they wanted to bring their shows to life. There are so many venues I can think of that would be ideal for 13th Pillar…guess I’ll have to start playing the lottery/buying scratchcards. The EP has 3 incredibly strong tracks on it that just leave you as ever, wanting more. Family bias aside, it’s one of the best EPs I’ve heard in a while.
The best thing about music is the ability it has to just transport you to anywhere in the world. It doesn’t matter if you’re in a box room in Grimsby or a town house in York, music can take you anywhere. It gets you to where you want to go, where you should be.
A band that take you on such a divine journey like this are West Coast gems, Bonfire Beach. I don’t know anything about them, all I know is that I really like their music. I think that’s enough to know. I don’t know if LA has a typical sound, but when I think of LA I would immediately hear the beautiful sounds that Bonfire Beach makes. They have a traditional Summer feel to their music. They just make you want to go sit down at the beach and do nothing. Look out at the sea, read a book or just watch people pass you by. Their hypnotic grooves are what summer dreams are made up of. From those loathing their jobs to those wanting to leave school; they unleash your frustrations in their captivating sounds. You find yourself swaying out of time to their songs, the music just moves you and you don’t care for being in time or holding any form of rhythm. If you’re in your room, why take it seriously?
Bonfire Beach may have tunes for the summer and maybe they would sound out of place in the harsh winter months (you’ll never know unless you try.) They’ve got that seductive glow that is found in say, New Young Pony Club (think they’re just known at NYPC now) and have the ability to lave you satisfied with what you have heard, yet wanting more. Bonfire Beach have an effortlessly cool feel to their music. I really hate using the word “cool” to describe something or someone, but it seems alright to describe Bonfire Beach as being cool. They’re really soothing but have this excellent subtle aggression to their sound. Basically, if Courtney Love made Hole sound mellow, this is how they would sound.
They’re a band to do nothing to, but a band to fall in love with. After a few seconds past listening to them, I knew I had found a band that I’m going to play almost religiously this summer and way into the depths of autumn and winter. Their eerie sound resembles 80s Goth with a mix of something unheard of; they’ve got something about them that just lures you in and grips you passionately. I guess it is like falling in love for the first time, except it happens with every song of their that you listen to. They are magical, mysterious and gentle on the ears.
“Don’t tell me listen to your song because it isn’t the same.”
There are some singers that when you hear them, you can’t really believe someone can sound so perfect. Alright so “perfect” doesn’t exist, but you know what I mean. There are singers that just hit you in the gut wth how pure their voice is and how honest their words are. Some singers just have this gift of sounding so ethereal effortlessly. Examples of this are Sade, Aaliyah and Jessie Ware. From Sade we got Aaliyah and since Aaliyah died no female singer has really come close to what she did aside from Jessie Ware. They all have this delicate voice that just makes everything alright, even if their songs can be heartbreaking.
This leads me onto Banks. In an ideal world I would have written about her last year, but it didn’t feel right because I had no idea what I wanted to say. I didn’t know what I could say. After listening to Beggin’ For A Thread non-stop over the past two days, I think I have some understanding of what it is I want to say. Well, type if you’re going to be like that.
I’ve seen people call her the female version of The Weeknd. That’s just lazy. Using a person’s gender to describe them/what they do is pretty shit isn’t it? There’s more to a person than to what they have between their legs. In the grand scheme of things, gender is irrelevant. Be who you want. I’m ranting. Sorry. Anyway, Banks isn’t the female version of whoever. She’s a brilliant singer who hasn’t released her debut record yet, and when it comes out it will probably blow our minds. I’m expecting it to, fully. I never expect anything, but I firmly believe it is going to be a brilliant record. It’s out in September, and she’s touring the UK in October (I think.) I’m all for someone taking me to see her. We don’t have to stand next to each other, I’m alright with that.
The thing with Banks is that she can pretty much sum up every feeling you’ve had when you’ve come out of a relationship, when you’re leaning towards one and when you’re in one. Basically, she’s like Dear Deirdre but with a lot more sense and class. Her vocals on Brain are dark and brilliant- think a more R&B version of a Zola Jesus song, she’s got this haunting feel to her music that just keeps you coming back for more. I think as soon as you hear one song by Banks, you become addicted. Like pizza. Pizza is all I have, sorry. I’m Italian. Her voice is so smooth and flawless, like the skin complexion we strive to have. I really don’t know why all of this sounds so weird. I don’t know what’s happened. Let’s blame the heat.
Her song, Change is the perfect song for those who are in a fucked up relationship. Banks calls the person out on their “Daddy issues” which is wonderfully done. Her sarcasm in this song is brilliant. If anyone else did it, it would sound a bit bitchy and trashy. But Banks has this superb and classy way of calling you out on your faults, just listen to Goddess, a prime example of it. She doesn’t need to be awfully over the top or pretentious with her words. She gets to the point in a real and raw way. Her lyrics aren’t all “woe is me” they are brilliant “fuck you’s” at times, and you can’t help but fall totally and madly in love with her. Before I Ever Met You will really hit you in the gut, for reasons up to you. There is something about it that will just leave you in awe. It is likely to be her honesty and the way she sings certain parts in the song- it is almost as if she is stood in front of you, and calling you out on all of the times you’ve messed up. Basically, Banks won’t stand for your shit.
Banks has this way of effortlessly (sorry for repeating the word) portraying hurt in a way that makes you BELIEVE it is all going to be alright. It doesn’t matter if you’ve had your heart ripped out, because the person that did it was a twat anyway. She’s got a real refreshing attitude in her music that makes her believable. To be believable is to be honest, and her lyrics are brutal and to the core.
I’ve not read too much about Banks, and I’m not one for caring about what “Music Journalists” say about bands/singers, everyone has an opinion but I’m glad that so many are believing in Banks and see just how talented she is. She’s got something about her that is gracious, raw and pure. She’s everything that music needs, she’s not afraid to be honest with her lyrics, and she portrays the feelings we try to cover. She exposes the feelings that we try to cover or the feelings of someone we know is hiding. She’s got something about her that goes beyond words, and singers like this don’t come around often.
I’ve mentioned artists like Deptford Goth and Burial as being ones I can only listen to when it’s dark out, because it just feels like they were created for the nighttime. In some respects, I really feel that way about Banks but to be honest, I can listen to her anytime, any place. I don’t care. She’s just a real, raw talent that is just going to blow everyone away when her record comes out in September.
Her music just has this beautiful depth and soul to it that just stuns you. When a singer or a band can leave you speechless like that, you know you’ve found something that is really going to last. The eerie atmosphere in her music completes it all, and is part of the reason why she is easy to get hooked onto. I really can’t praise her enough at all.
If I had the ability to sum up just how wonderful the new Raveonettes record is, then I’d be a lot smarter than I am. I’d have to ingest a thesaurus just to get a taste of it. But luckily I’m not all about using fancy words to sound good, I’m not that kind of person.
I’ve read a few reviews of Pe’ahi and all I’ve seen is a bunch of crappy Beyonce (Bay-Once if you’re my cute nephew) comparisons just because they kept their record a secret. The Raveonettes are better than Beyonce, so what’s the use? I’ve just finished reading Sune’s guide to the new record on my lunch break (I use my time wisley) and I can’t help but appreciate the record in a different way. His father died last year due to alcohol. Something I can relate to, and even though it’s been nearly 20 years I’ll never have a solid opinion or a definitive emotion to describe it. You just get used to it. Although aged 7, you are made to feel out of place living in a small community with a dead parent. It doesn’t make you tougher, it makes you overly sensitive.
The Raveonettes have been a band I have been clinging onto for many years. Their ability to sound like something from the 60s with a chilling and haunting feel to their sound is something I adore and seek in a lot of music I listen to. The new record starts with Endless Sleeper, which starts like The Doors debut record. As soon as you hear it, you’ll feel the ghost of Jim creeping up on you. The Doors are one of the best bands from the West Coast; they had a beach sound yet were not typical LA. You really get that with The Raveonettes, especially with Pe’ahi.
What is truly wonderful about Pe’ahi is that it is made up of spontaneous moments that just leave you in awe. When a band surprise you with a new record, you know it is going to be truly special. It is made up of bitter words (Summer Ends) and gloriously aggressive moments (Sisters.) It isn’t a record for those seeking songs about lust and falling in love. It’s for those who want something with meaning, something that is ridiculously raw. Summer Ends feels like a real heartfelt “fuck you.” Something which is lacking in music. Don’t be afraid to be angry.
Z-Boys is one of the songs that really makes you picture the West Coast in your mind. It’s a subtle summer number that is a beautiful nod to surfers and the like, even if it is grim outside this song will make you feel better. The Raveonettes are one of those magical bands who can create something cheerful but infuse it with awfully sad lyrics. Go back and listen to their song Boys Who Rape (Should All Be Destroyed) the lyrics are dark but it is over this brilliant Hip Hop drum beat.
Sune and Sharin’s vocals (separate and together) are truly hypnotising (When Night Is Almost Done really showcases this) and they just have this gorgeous way of making you feel alright. I’ve only ever known one other person who likes this band, let alone knows them. I do hope they’ve listened to it. A person into The Raveonettes is a person worth knowing.
For me, this record really does define this band as being easily one of the best bands around. Sure my opinion is biased, but it doesn’t matter. Anyone who hears this record will hear just how great they are, and I sincerely hope Pe’ahi turns new listeners onto them. I just want to go back to Sisters briefly- the song is one big tease. It starts with an aggressive beat followed by some relaxing harp kind of feel, then back to the aggression again with the vocals. It’s such a strong song that you can’t get enough of. But now, I’m going to talk about Killer In The Streets. This is my favourite on the record, easily. I can normally swayed when trying to chose a favourite song, but it is so easy on this record. I love everything about it especially the subject matte. In Sune’s words : “The alluring girl who pisses me off, I always forgive. I’m forever caught in her cunningness and savage innocence.” We’ve all been there, sometimes more times than we wish to. When it ends and that person goes, it is wonderful day. You find normality afterwards. Thankfully.
There are so many special and stunning moments on this record, and like I said it really does define why this band are one of the best around. Is it the best record they’ve made? As someone who holds a lot of sentimental value towards In And Out Of Control (one knows) I am prepared to let my love go for that record in order to state Pe’ahi as my favourite record by this inspiring duo. They’ve really grown into something beyond remarkable on this record, you simply cannot get over how ethereal it is without it having typical ballad like songs on it. Nobody else is doing what The Raveonettes have done and are still doing. They are rare and deserve to be treasured, this record really exposes that.
Music can make you feel ugly and wonderful things. It can take you back, it can guide you forward and it is the most reliable source of comfort you will ever experience. It helps you remember, to just cling onto things and to also let go. Knowing what influenced this record has made me listen to it and appreciate it in a different way. There’s healing in this record, and by looking at the state of the world right now, I think it is something we all need.
Weak mini poem out of the way, LA’s dreamboats Roses have just put out their FIRST music video. I’ve had a mild obsession with them since late last year, and this video pretty much justifies my love for them.
Roses are a perfect summertime band who will just make you feel GOOD from the inside out. The kind of band you listen to and you just start to smile. The video was directed by the super talented Cassandra Hamilton. Go watch it and go frolic in a field afterwards.
If you’re lucky enough to live in LA/New York you can catch Roses on the following dates:
22/07/14 – Los Angeles – The Echo with Cymbals
1/08/14 – New York – Death By Audio with Future Punx, Darlings
02/08/14 – New York – Cakeshop with Outside World, Yin Yangs
03/0814 – New York- Silent Barn with Grand Resort, Chimes, Bueno
Roses will be releasing their EP Dreamlover (please let it be a little tribute to Mariah Carey!) on 5th August and you can pre-order it here :
I heard Orion by 2:54 this morning and all I’ve wanted to do was leave work and write about it.
So two things- 2:54 are back (PRAISE WHOEVER!!!!) and they are now signed to Bella Union.
Is Orion any good? Nah. It’s not good at all. It’s INCREDIBLE.
Their debut record is one I still play pretty much every day. Colette’s voice is bloody beautiful, I don’t want to imagine a world where it doesn’t exist. Her voice can make you tremble with how captivating and how haunting it is. Hannah is probably one of the best guitarists around. They make me wish I had a sister so I could form some kind of band like 2:54. Alas, I don’t have a sister. I’ve got a cool big brother who is the best goalkeeper on the Isle of Man. There’s a lot of proof surrounding this.
Orion has that eerie sound that made me fall right in love with 2:54 many moons ago (alright it wasn’t that long ago, it was about 3 years ago.) They have this beautiful moody feel to their music that is unlike anything else around. Sure they’ve had every Goth-like comparison under the sun thrown at them, but who cares?! They are a solid band who are just a joy to listen to. I’ve been waiting for them to come back for AGES. Comeback of the year for sure. Sorry Morrissey, you know I love you..but this is different.
2:54 are going on tour in November, and you can catch them here:
7th – Ramsgate, Ramsgate Music Hall
19th – London, St. Pancras Old Church
20th – Sheffield, The Harley
21st – Glasgow, The Broadcast
22nd – Manchester, Soup Kitchen
24th – Nottingham, The Corner
25th – Bristol, The Louisiana
26th – Brighton, The Hope
The London date clashes with me going to see The Jesus And Mary Chain (it’s alright I’m seeing them in Manchester and their other London date…if you want a ticket to their Troxy date….) Oh and 2:54 are also playing Union Chapel on 8th September (the day I start my new job) as part of the Bella Union, Labelled With Love showcase. Tickets for that and their Ramsgate show are already on sale, and the other dates go on sale this Wednesday.
Orion is exactly what I expected from 2:54, and by that I mean brilliant. You know when a band you love go away for a while, and they come back and all the reasons as to why you love them smacks you in the face when you hear new music from them? That’s pretty much what happened when I heard Orion this morning. Like a giddy toddler who has eaten some Skittles on the sly.
Their new record will be out later this year; perfect for the early dark evenings as you walk through the mist home.
Back in April I wrote about one of New York’s finest band. A band that are loud, brilliant and decadent. No other band is going to move you like they do. No other band is going to make you feel as violated as they do. All in the most pleasurable way possible, of course.
Their new record, Hate Young Boys may only be 6 tracks long but it’s enough to put you in a dancing spin and to just gloriously melt your brain. Their record was made for those hazy summer days when you’re trapped indoors due to the blistering heat. There is something about Young Boys that makes you want to crawl to your nearest dive bar and engage with the most depraved individual you see and to just raise hell with them. Their lustful songs will get you through the blistering heat. I’m all for David ‘Legs’ McDaniel serenading my ears with his hypnotising voice.
Hate Young Boys is a brilliant record that is bathed in sinful yet glorious melodies that will make you forget you are in 2014. They’ve got something futuristic going on, but with a hint of past Garage Rock bands about them. They’re a typical band that I would go for, this is the kind of music I truly love and always want to hear. The soundtrack to my days as I daydream about something better, because we all know that there is something better. But is there anything better than this Young Boys record? Don’t be silly, of course not.
I think at the moment I’ll say Sin Again is my favourite track off Hate Young Boys. It’s pretty dark but is coupled with synths beautifully. I know I said when I wrote about them that Young Boys sounded how a New York band should, but I think I want to take that comment back slightly. You see, as I listen to this record I am not seeing any images of New York in my mind. All I’m seeing is Berlin. If a piece of music or a band can make you do this, then you know you’ve found something utterly timeless.
I’ve never seen Young Boys live (please come back to the UK) but I’d imagine their live shows to be sweaty, teetering to the edge of danger with lust and passion filling the room. Their music is highly romantic, and maybe it’s David’s vocals that make it seem that way. There is something about his voice that I hope in years to come someone says that he made them want to sing or start a band.
There’s a gang like feel to their sound. It is tight and it cannot be swayed nor can it be compromised. There have been some amazing releases this year, and Hate Young Boys is easily one of the best. It is rambunctious in all the right places, and I’ll quite happily spend the rest of my evening listening to it.
I don’t need to write any more than this about it. Go listen to it right here: http://youngboys.bandcamp.com/album/hate-young-boys play it as loud as you like, and let these handsome devils enter your being and allow your limbs to flail as if you are unapologetically possessed.
“You wore the smell of success, I wore the taste of sin.”
Everyone has their own idea as to what makes a brilliant songwriter. It can be the way they make you laugh with their words or the way they just “get” you with their words. It can be many reasons, it doesn’t just have to be one. The songwriter that makes you laugh can also be the one who makes you feel tough, weak and alright. All at once or eventually. They get you to where you are going with their words. You hear their words and it just makes you want to write something equally moving. Their words can instill a form of fear and passion inside of you, and you are not someone who is easily moved.
I always talk about Morrissey or Patti or Lou Reed when I mention really great songwriters. I mention them because their music has been around me since I was a baby. I grew up with their words and managed to shake my teen angst off to their tunes. There is one other person who I can firmly place next to them as being one of the greatest songwriters of all time; Rowland S Howard.
His soul shone through with his words. He got to your gut with his words; he made you feel things deeply and brought you into another world with his words. A dark, tormented world with hints of beauty piercing through. If you read the lyrics to Undone you will be thrown into a world of sheer heartbreak, the real pureness and torment of it with a chunk of disdain thrown in. It’s an ultimate “fuck you” with bouts of “how dare you.” If you’ve ever had your heart ripped out, just listen to this song and you’ll forget the one(s) who have wronged you. The secrecy you share with another (friend or lover) is no longer of any worth, and this song just portrays it perfectly. It is one of those songs you wish you had written. His dry and gnarly way with words made Rowland S Howard stand out from so many. The guy was a genius, and nobody else comes close.
Personally, I can’t get my head around songs that are full of positive energy. I like the songs that take me to some place where others daren’t go. I want the weird, I want the tormented, I want the dark lyrics. I want the songs that make me think and take me deep into some underworld that cannot be described. His way with words is addictive, to the point where you try to find someone else who has a similar take on words like Rowland did, but nobody else comes close at all. When I listen to his music or just read his words, I can’t help but wish more would delve into the world he created but at the same time glad nobody else has ever come close. Some may wish to compare Rowland to his buddy and ex-bandmate Nick Cave, but there was something different with Rowland. There was something in his innocent gaze and tormented lyrics that made you feel something unexplainable. Something you’ll spend days trying to figure out. His words at times wonderfully mocked whoever he was writing about in such a romantic way. A way that makes you instantly think of someone you’ve hurt with your words, you probably want their forgiveness but you’d rather fuck around for a bit before you launch an apology. As you taunt them, you taunt yourself. Some would say it is sadistic, but anyone with half a brain cell would know it is just human nature in all its ugly glory.
Aside from his way with words, Rowland was a ferocious guitar player who easily added the “dangerous” style to The Birthday Party. If it was anyone else playing the guitar in that band, they really would not have sounded the same, they would not have been as brutal as they were. He had this charm about him that just made you want to be into everything he did. I’ve watched the live clips of The Birthday Party, and the way he was on stage complimented Nick’s vocals (and occasional wails) perfectly. They had this bond on stage that is found now in the likes of The Kills to Crocodiles. If you’ve seen those bands live, you’ll know exactly what I mean. His look on stage was completed with a cigarette daringly yet casually hanging from his lips.
Rowland S Howard was rare. People like him don’t happen often, and that’s why he will always be missed. Although he only died 5 years ago, the gap is still there. There is nobody as daring and as rebellious as he was. He kept that streak upon him even when The Birthday Party was done. His solo work goes perfectly next to what he did with The Birthday Party, nobody could ever deny just how magnetic and sometimes delicate he was. On stage he moved like a madman, but you go into his lyrics and you’ll pick up on vulnerable aspects that surrounds us humans. He made it easy and alright to be a little weird and to just let go when you found something you loved.
He was brave; not just with his battle with cancer, but with the way he made music. He was someone who should still be around now scaring the life out of everyone with his words, his stage presence and his ability to play the guitar like no other. He should still be here to show us all how it is done, but as always, we have the music. We will always have the music.
The Birthday Party opened my ears up to a different world, I went into a different world with Rowland S Howard. A world to feel part of, a world to escape into. A world to no longer be afraid of. His music reminds us to be brave, be daring and to just do what feels right. He moved on stage like a beast possessed. Possessed with something bigger than the person containing it. The recognition of his genius came late in life, maybe too late. But those that knew, will always know just how amazing he truly was. Not many can leave you in awe like he did, not many ever will.
He unleashed a monster on stage; one that wasn’t feared, but one that was adored and treasured. It still is. His vulnerable gaze on the cover of Pop Crimes is always one of the first things that come to mind when I think about him, then the music plays and it all makes sense.
Beat In My Bones. 