Author Archives: Olivia

WARTIME.

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They say you can always find a positive in any bad thing that happens. From a break-up to death, there is always some good to come out of it. At times this is easy to see, but for the most part it is just another empty cliché to get you through the day. You can decide for yourself what it will be, there is no right or wrong.

As you know, I’m a huge fan of Crocodiles. I love Brandon’s side project with his wife Dee Dee as Haunted Hearts. Charles’ project with his partner, Hollie Cook- Psychic Dancehall was brilliant. His new project, Wartime was originally to be with him and a close friend of his. Sadly and unexpectedly, his friend took his own life. The project is now Charles on his own. A sense of healing is in the song Wartime Won’t Let Me- if you didn’t know the story behind the project you may not be as sentimental towards it. Yet when you find out, you truly gain more respect and appreciation for what Charlie has done. When something bad happens, it is just easier to turn away from it all. There is a lot of courage in this side project of Charles.

He has wonderfully sampled the drums from an underrated Iggy Pop song, Horse Song which is taken from the equally underrated (and strange) Zombie Birdhouse. Anyone who has seen Crocodiles play knows how enthralling it is to watch Charlie slay the guitar. If you’re looking for a band that play with EVERYTHING they have and more, go see a Crocodiles show. Charles just goes some place else when that guitar is in his hands and these electrifying sounds just pour out. This is exactly the case with Wartime- the passion is there on Wartime Won’t Let Me. This is for those who have a place in their hearts reserved mainly for the weird and wonderful.

The 8 track cassette, Graffiti Dogs (Ku Ku)  is available for pre-order on the brilliant Art Fag label, and you can get your grubby hands on a copy right here: http://artfagrecordings.blogspot.co.uk/

Stream the song Wartime Won’t Let Me here: https://soundcloud.com/art-fag-recordings/wartime-wont-let-me

To end this, I feel the best way is from a quote by Charles from an entry taken from Brooklyn Vegan. He puts is beautifully and to the the point:

“This tape was written solely for the purpose of helping me cope with my close friend’s death. His spirit lives on. I am certain.”

HUNCK.

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What do you do if you have a neighbour who plays truly awful music at a disgusting level? You simply put your headphones in and play something that stops you from being mad at the inconsiderate idiot. As I proceed to deafen myself by listening to a new band called HUNCK, it doesn’t seem so bad. Mainly because they have this hint of The Jesus And Mary Chain about them which is clearly an excellent thing.

HUNCK are consisted of Thomas Wykes (who plays live for Parakeet) and Frederik Tyson-Brown who plays in MT. Put them together and you have this Mazzy Star/Slowdive-esque band who have immediately excelled themselves with their new song, Toy Trucks. Toy Trucks is a 3 and a half-minute wonder that sends you off into some hazy daydream. With the days starting to get a little longer, songs like this are truly welcome. As the sun goes down, this is the perfect song to listen to. And of course it is lovely to listen to as a way to drown out the sounds of others. Most music is good for that.

In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning is a little more relaxed (it is possible) than Toy Trucks. I could quite happily listen to these two songs on repeat; HUNCK are a brilliant new band who offer something soothing for the soul and ears. It is like they are singing a lullaby sweetly in your ears as you drift off into a beautiful sleep.

You can listen to HUNCK’s gorgeous sounds right here: https://soundcloud.com/hunck

HUNCK’s songs will make you dream, sway and go someplace truly beautiful. Close your eyes and listen.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOU.

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Today would have been Lou Reed’s birthday. It is fairly obvious just how important he was to a hell of a lot of people. For his music, his words, his wisdom; he guided those who felt uneasy in their skin and allowed them to feel a hint of self-acceptance. Has anyone recently done that? No. Will anyone ever do it again? No. Lou Reed was something truly rare. Treasured in life and death.

Forever missed.

FAT WHITE FAMILY.

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When I was home for Christmas my uncle and I spoke about Fat White Family. We sensibly agreed that they are one of the best bands around and also one of the most exciting bands around. Their debut record, Champagne Holocaust came out last April. I was an idiot and didn’t mention it as one of my favourite records from last year. I’m making up for it now.

Champagne Holocaust is a brilliant chaotic record. Everything is disorganised and wonky. It makes sense in some ways, but in others it just messes with your brain. This is why I love them. There are 6 of them making a lot of noise; demanding to be heard.

Fat Whites have this psychedelic feel to their music that makes you feel like you’ve taken something stronger than paracetamol. Their sound will weird you out, but at the same time you’ll be totally grateful that you are exposing yourself to their sound. If anything, they’ve perfected the sound that the genius that was (and always will be) Captain Beefheart. The whole weirdness that is found in Captain Beefheart’s music (mainly Trout Mask Replica because that is just off the wall) is found right in Fat Whites. It’s like Don Van Vliet has been reincarnated in Fat Whites music. Their sound is like a drunken riot. Completely out of control but so so good.

I think you know when you’ve found a strong band when they make you wish you had some musical talent, Fat Whites are one of those bands. They are evidently one of the most exciting London bands around. When you listen to them, nothing really makes sense. I’m aware not much ever really does, but Fat Whites really do get inside your mind and fuck with it as you listen to them. Their new song, Touch The Leather (apparently an ode to Daim bars..apparently. It could be drugs though.) is out of this world. Can they just be the biggest band in the world already? Besides, they have a song called Wet Hot Beef- how can you not love them?!

I’m not a person who is too keen on music festivals, they aren’t something I have any interest in. Yet when I listen to Fat Whites, I can just imagine them in a few years headlining certain festivals. If modern music is going to head in this direction, then you know what? ABOUT BLOODY TIME. This is the good stuff right it. Fat Whites are a band for those who don’t get current trends or don’t want anything to do with them. No good comes from following others does it. You forget who you are and what you stand for.

It is fairly obvious that Fat White Family are going to get bigger and bigger. They have a sound that you just cannot ignore. They’re everything you want your favourite band to sound like. They sound like the past, they sound like they’ve had too much fine whisky; they are the truth and the future. They are quite simply everything.

A band that were once a sacred kind of listen are now erupting into something remarkable.

You can listen to their debut record here: http://fatwhitefamily.bandcamp.com/album/champagne-holocaust

Touch The Leather will be out via Hate Hate Hate Records on 10th March.

SEX HANDS.

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I’ve been attempting to complete a job application form since about half 1 this afternoon. I’ve left it alone for now because I simply cannot write about myself without thinking like a massive wanker. I probably sound like one when I write about music, but we all have our faults.

As you know, Manchester is pretty much the home to the best music around. It’s picked up over recent years and let’s be honest- it is shitting on London from a great height. Of course London is wonderful and all that but the Manchester music scene feels more…I guess, “warmer.” And also, a darker sound.

Sex Hands have a creepy name and a creepy sound. Their eerie and sinister feel to their music is perfect to me. I love music that sounds like this. Yesterday I was sent a few emails from Christian rappers and singers. I’m not sure why I was their target. I probably need to repent for some stuff. I’m sure there is a list somewhere of all my wrong-doings, and I remember them all too well. Sex Hands don’t make you want to repent. They make you want to play their music obnoxiously loud, and if you have a shitty neighbour then this is the music you have to play as loud as you can.

Sex Hands are a fine Manchester band that I’m not even going to say who they sound like as that’s not my style. But if you love weird and wonderful music, then this is the band for you. They have some cool shirt designs on their bandcamp page, and if anyone wants to buy me one I’d be happy with that.

Their perverse and fucking excellent record, Season 1 has some stunners of song titles on there. We’ve got the delightful Jam Sandwich and the frivolous The Moist Maker. If you’re looking to woo someone, play them these songs. If they don’t want to be yours after this, then move on. Pretty sure if I played my girlfriend any of these songs she would just shake her head at me. Or walk off. Maybe both.

The record is handsomely influenced by the TV show Friends (song titles) and to be honest, if these songs were on episodes of Friends I probably would have liked it. Sex Hand riot filled songs are made to be played loud and aggressively. This brilliant and exciting sound they have just reminds me of why I love music so much. The energy they have is brutal and a pleasure to have ringing in your ears.

In a dream world these guys would be playing scary venues with the likes of Bad Grammar. Creating a super haunting atmosphere and screaming into the crowd whilst thrashing their instruments about. When a band play with this much passion, it is pretty easy to love them in an equally intense manner. Some music is just made to be played so loud you feel as if your ears are going to bleed, I can only hope their live shows captivate this. I have every faith that it will.

If you like music that sounds dirty and is wonderfully perverse, then Sex Hands are for you. If not, then don’t be a prude and listen to them. Basically, just listen to them.

Listen to their delectable sounds here: http://sexhandsband.bandcamp.com

Oh and be careful when typing their name into search engines. Or live on the edge and don’t have the parental lock on.

GÄY.

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If a band or singer can leave me in a state of confusion, completely unaware of what is happening; then there’s a good chance I’ll probably love them. Conventional and typical is for those who look for nothing. I know for the most part good music and the like can smack you right in the face, and that’s always nice. There’s a band from a small town in Denmark ( to be exact) who are nothing short of strange and wonderful. I know how shit it can be to grow up in a tiny shitty place. Never go to the Isle of Man kids, not unless you want your soul ripped out from you.

So, Gäy (formerly known as No Mans Band) are a mighty fine band with songs to dance to. For now, we’ll say The Third Is The One to move your stuff about to the most. I don’t know how you’re supposed to move to it, just flail yourself about. As if you’re calling out for help. Don’t yell help though, that would be foolish. Their sound is ridiculous. They sound like nothing else I’ve heard in a long time. They’ve got the strangeness of Talking Heads and the rawness of say, The Cramps. I’m not comparing them to those bands or to anyone else. As far as I know the boys are pretty young, but that doesn’t come across in their music. Considering they are about to put out their debut 7″ on Zoo Music, they sound like they’ve been doing this for decades.

Their sound is pretty much what I’m into. It’s all over the place; a chaotic and distinctive sound. A lot of noise, a lot of passion and more gutsy than anything else around. I’m pretty sure there are people who will have some issues with the name of the band, but it’s not like they are called “WE HATE GAYS” or something equally vile. The only issue I have with people using the word “gay” in a negative way is when people call something bad “gay.” Use another word, and if you’re totally stupid pick up a thesaurus and look up other words for “bad.” It’s not really hard. Gäy are an excellent band with a sound that makes you feel like you’ve gone back in time and hit 2014 as if this was supposed to be the sound of this time. Does that make sense? I don’t know.

The boys will making their UK debut at The Shackwell Arms on the 16th March. Anyone want to be my date?

The 7″ of their new single, Blue Blue Heart is out on Zoo Music on 3rd March from places like Rough Trade and Piccadilly Records. Buy a copy, play it to death.

You can listen to their jaunty tracks right here: https://soundcloud.com/nomansband

And you can also play the phenomenal Blue Blue Heart here: https://soundcloud.com/zoo-music/blue-blue-heart

BAD GRAMMAR.

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Last night I saw PINS live, and their support band blew me away. A lot of bands I’ve seen live have always had really good support bands, but last night was something else. I want world domination for Bad Grammar.

Bad Grammar are a duo from Manchester. This just backs up my point that duos and music from Manchester is quite frankly, the best. But, I am willing to cast my biased opinion aside briefly to tell you why Bad Grammar are brilliant without being too biased..if I can. I can only try I suppose.

Bad Grammar are the kind of band that make you pull weird faces when you see them live, or pretty much when you’re sat in your PJs at home listening to them at half 10 in the morning. Their ferocious sound makes it hard to believe that only two people (Lucy and Ben) are making this much noise. Ben broke a guitar string within seconds last night; that’s how furious they are. They play with determination and the ability to immediately make them your new favourite band. Lucy has this amazing talent of making you go “OH SHIT!” when she beats the shit out of the drums. She sits with a look of content on her face as she destroys the drums. It is almost as if she knows she is making people lose their mind to their music.

Their stage presence is a joy to watch, and the way they rip through their set and basically melt everyone’s faces with their rambunctious songs is just outstanding. Again, like PINS, I would not get bored with seeing Bad Grammar live. And is pretty much a reason as to why they need to be your new favourite band.

There are so many reasons as to why Bad Grammar are a pleasure to listen to. They have this raw feel to their sound; it’s unpolished and unapologetic. What’s the point in wanting to smooth your sound out when you can having something like this? I don’t know the names of all the songs they played last night, but I do remember hearing Temper Temper and enjoying every second of it.

As you listen to them, it is hard to believe that only two people are responsible for this excellent sound. Duos seem to play a little harder and with more blood, sweat and tears. Bad Grammar are a perfect example of this. Of course the best way to listen to them is as loudly as you can take. When they hit the stage last night, I felt as if my ears were going to explode and to me, that’s quite alright. Besides, they have a song about hating people with fast metabolisms- something everyone can pretty much relate to!

Bad Grammar’s EP, Forced Fun is out on 31st March on Flatpack Records. If you’re fortunate to live in Manchester or close by, you can catch them at The Castle Hotel on the 29th March for the EP release show. They will also be back down in London on 21st March at Hoxton Bar & Grill and back at The Old Blue Last on  29th April.

You can play their sounds as loud as you like here: https://soundcloud.com/badgrammar

You just know in your gut when you hear something exceptional. I think Bad Grammar are going to be my favourite new band. Their sound is exciting and brutal; I can’t wait to hear more from them.

PINS. The Old Blue Last. 25th February 2014.

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I’ve said it so many times now, but Manchester is truly the home of great music. It is obvious who the great bands are, and PINS will probably be named amongst them in a few more years.

I will mention their support act in a separate post because they are incredible and I’ll just ramble otherwise.

This was the third time I had seen PINS, but the first time seeing them headline their own show. They are a band I could quite happily watch live over and over again, and find different parts of their music to adore. PINS remind me of all the bands I love, but I don’t mean it in a rip-off kind of way. Far from it. They also remind me why I love music so much.

Aside from the gig being free (which was bloody good as I had lost £10 on the way..and as someone who has £5 in their bank account, this was pretty shit) PINS got their visas to go to America. I sincerely hope America falls in love with them because they are a band that just need to be heard by everyone. I think it is obvious that PINS are going to have no problem with being loved in America.

For me, it is always going to be LuvU4Lyf that causes me to move the most. I guess it is because it was the first song I heard by them a few years ago now, you always cling to the first song you hear by a band you love don’t you? It doesn’t matter if they’ve put out a record full of brilliant songs, you always go back to the one you first heard. I love seeing Girls Like Us live because Faith and Sophie beat the shit out of the cymbal in the intro (cymbal bashing is always welcome, just watch Oliver from The XX do it during Infinity.) Mad For You is brilliant live, and the way they all sing together in unison just really shows how tight the band is.

The night before I saw Brody Dalle live, and I’m pretty sure she burst my eardrums, and PINS pretty much did the same (as did their support band, Bad Grammar.) PINS are easily the most exciting bands around because they have this indescribable sound that makes them stand out from everything else that is going on. If you’re fed up of what you’re supposed to be listening to, go listen to PINS. Go see them live and kick out your frustrations because they are truly something else.

On record they are perfect, you cannot fault them and to look for fault would make you an ass. However, when you see them live it is something else. They sound tighter live and the way they sound live is even more perfect, they are simply a band that deserve every ounce of success they get. I’ve seen them support two bands I love; Warpaint and Dum Dum Girls, and to finally see them headline their own show was a memorable experience, especially in a venue so small. They are the kind of band you need to see in a small and sweaty room. They are the best kinds of shows, and only the best kinds of bands play these kinds of venues.

I’m not really sure what the crowd was like, I was just happy to see PINS but I saw some creepy guy taking photo of Faith’s legs throughout the show which was pretty stupid. Then again, some people are just idiots aren’t they.

PINS have this way that, after seeing them live making you wish you had some musical talent so you could start a band. They are the kind of band you wish you could join. They just have this way of playing together that really makes you believe in their music, and I think when you see a band live and you can tell they love playing together, it pretty much makes you love the band even more. If they stood on stage looking as if they didn’t care, you wouldn’t be moved by it. PINS are just an absolute pleasure to watch live because they each lure you into this weird world they have made with their eerie sound. Sophie makes you wish you could play the drums. Anna is a hypnotic bass player. I’ve never seen anyone enjoy themselves on stage as much as Lois does. Faith’s voice is enviable, I wish I could sing like that! You can tell that they have the best time playing live, and that is what makes you want to keep seeing them play.

The sinister undertones in their music really comes alive when you see PINS live, and it is just a beautiful thing to witness. I’m pretty sure this is how people felt when Siouxsie And The Banshees first came out. Oh and also, I know it has nothing to do with the music, but Anna’s hair looked amazing last night. I had hair envy.

If you get the chance to see PINS live, GO. Don’t think twice about it, just GO. To anyone who thinks music is boring or lacks that “something” then go listen to PINS. Oh and if you are a fan, the band have got a treat for you on Record Store Day (this day is better than Christmas.)

BRODY DALLE. Hoxton Bar & Kitchen. 25th February 2014.

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I read somewhere (probably an unreliable source, as ever) that London crowds are pretty shitty. I won’t say this statement is entirely true, but to a fair extent it is bullshit. Last week when I saw Warpaint, I was in awe of how the crowd were. Maybe it is the band and not the place. Anyway, the moral of the tale is- don’t believe anything you read in the papers.

If there was a Holy Trinity of female musicians (I’m not including Patti Smith because we all know she’s the greatest) it would consist of Courtney Love, Shirley Manson and Brody Dalle. Those 3 are responsible for the songs that got me through my teenage years and part of adulthood that I still can’t get my head around. They made it alright to be pissed off at what was around you; and when you’re 14/15, you’re pissed off at a lot of stuff.

I was never lucky enough to see Brody when she was in The Distillers, but I saw her when she had Spinnerette and I used the photos I took as part of a Photojournalism module I did at university. Pretty sure her “Fuck Off” tattoo helped me get a good mark. Hoxton Bar & Kitchen is one of my favourite places to see bands, more than likely for sentimental reasons (you probably know by now.) I’m still slightly deaf from last night, and I think that’s a sign that I had a good time.

Brody’s setlist consisted of a beautiful mix of solo, Spinnerette and The Distillers songs; as I’d never seen The Distillers, this was as close as I was ever going to get. Roaring through the likes of Dismantle Me, Ghetto Love and Sick Of It All; you feel the same rage you did when you first heard them. There aren’t many musicians around that are as powerful as Brody. She doesn’t need to mouth off to be heard, she doesn’t need to engage in awkward conversations on stage for you to feel some form of connection to what is going on. She’s just naturally got this presence that makes you drawn to her. Her effortless ways on stage justifies fully why you’re a fan, and why this show at Hoxton last night was is probably going to be one of the most important moments in music this year.

The new songs are brilliant. Meet The Foetus is amazing live. Of course if Shirley Manson and Emily Kokal turned up on stage with Brody that would have been magical. A few hours before the video premiered online and to see Shirley and Brody doing a music video together is what dreams are made of. It’s massively twisted and strange, but that’s the best way and sometimes only way to do it.

Brody’s cover of The Misfits Hybrid Moments is pretty special, as is her request for yellow socks. I have no idea. Maybe it was to go with her fluorescent orange t-shirt. It’s Brody Dalle; you don’t question why she wants yellow socks. Back to the new songs; if anything her solo songs pretty much shut up anyone who thinks “guitar music” is dead. You can find out for yourself when her record comes out at the end of April. Or you could go see her live and experience a bunch of people go ape shit to bloody good music. I advise both.

For me, Brody symbolises the same things as Courtney Love and Shirley Manson do. I wish I could explain it eloquently or even in a coherent way, but what I’m trying to get at is that, they are powerful. Powerful in ways that most dream of. I don’t want to make a big deal out her being a female musician because your gender doesn’t define what you do and who you are. It’s just a thing really. A lot of female musicians do however, struggle in the music industry due to archaic mindsets of sexist idiots. With the likes of Brody Dalle making this kind of music, it pretty much shuts up any critic really. She’s still the woman those who grew up listening to wish they were as tough as, but deep down we probably already are.

6 Years.

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“If you ever get lonely, just got to the record store and visit your friends.”

Six years ago in a classroom at University I set up this blog as part of an Online Journalism module I had to take. As someone who cares far too much about writing and music, I decided to keep at this for longer than I probably should have. There have been times where I am supposed to have done something “important” but decided to write about a band instead. I’ll always do that, and I don’t see anything wrong with it.

Over the past six years I have done the ridiculous (met Patti Smith) and the relatively sane (standard record reviews.) I don’t find writing about music I love exhausting, but Writer’s Block can sometimes smack me in the face leaving me feeling entirely frustrated and annoyed with my abilities, or in that case- a lack of. Everyone has something that they truly care about, something that forces them to wake up in the morning and to keep going.

I decided to keep this blog up because I was annoyed with typical Music Journalists who seem to enjoy slagging off bands in their writing. Sure I dislike boring bands such as Coldplay, Mumford & Sons and the dull sounds of that guy with the poor quiff, Bastille but I’m not going to waste my time writing a thousand words as to why I dislike them. I’d rather write about a band/singer/song/record that has truly moved me because it makes me feel like I’ve done something worthwhile I guess. My words won’t change the world, they won’t make someone else go out and buy a record and they won’t make a band I love become huge. They’re just words. Words some will skim over. Words that may not go read. Words that most won’t agree with. But seeking approval is the worst thing a person can do to themselves because they will lose sight of who they are.

Maybe I’ve got another year in this or maybe I’ll be 90 years old dribbling on the keyboard writing about “that time I saw….” I have no idea. All I know is that you cannot put a price on doing what you love. I’ve never received money for writing about a band.

I wish I could name every single band that has sent me their music, but I can’t. I’ve got a rubbish memory, but everything I’m sent gets written about.

However, I would like to specially thank the following for being exceptionally generous with their music and time:

-Royal Chant

-Savage Sister

-Soft Power Records

-Nita Keeler

-Little Death Machine

-Autumns

-Hana Piranha

-Birdeatsbaby

-The #1s

-The Creeping Ivies

-L.A Witch

-The Long Wives

There’s many more, but as I’ve mentioned I don’t really have the best memory.

Any email or comment left about anything I’ve written means a hell of a lot. I remember when I posted my Warpaint interview and reading the emails I got sent-I felt proud and that maybe someone got the point I was trying to make.

Thank you! xx

The Smiths debut record came out 30 years ago. There’s no other reason really.