Tag Archives: Isle of Man

You Got Good Taste: For Raz.

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Writing this seems entirely pointless, but maybe it’ll help make the past day or so feel “real.” Even if none of us want it to be.

Yesterday one of the most beloved and all round great human beings from the Isle of Man sadly died. Everyone knew Raz in some capacity. Some through music, some through Bushy’s, some through footie (his adored York City) and some through where he worked.

For me, I knew him all my life. He was Raz the Punk. He played in a band with my uncle, and they were super close friends. He’s always been there. My stepdad got me into The Cramps but I honestly don’t think anyone on this planet loved The Cramps as much as Raz did. I honestly don’t think anyone loved music like he did. He was always on the boat sailing over to the UK to see a band or 5- the ultimate band botherer. The friendliest and most supportive.

A few years ago I was at the METZ gig in Manchester, and I saw the outline of someone by the bar. “That’s not Raz is it?!” I took a photo, sent it to my uncle and he confirmed that Raz had come over for the gig. I went right up to him, and in that very busy and packed venue, I felt safe because someone from home was there. He was someone you would always look for at gigs and if you were lucky- you’d find him.

Raz made time for anyone and would back any band he listened to. He was known for his methodical planning when it came to the Rebellion Festival- that man could timetable the shit out of a lineup. I’m pretty sure that was his super power, and you best believe he probably saw every band he wanted to see.

Reading tributes to Raz from people not just on the Isle of Man truly shows how loved he is and how painfully missed he will be. It’s not sinking in that he’s gone. It’s never the evil bastards in the world that go too soon, is it? It’s always the ones with a good heart.

Sometimes I’d write about a band, and Raz would message me to say he listened to them and got tickets to go see them. That made me so happy, because someone as cool as him read something I’d written about a band I loved. He just backed music entirely and his love for live music was truly beautiful. I think from now on, I’ll be writing about bands with Raz in mind, and wondering if it would be a band he’d like or maybe go see. I’ll look for his distinctive silhouette at every gig I go to, knowing he should be there. Knowing the world will be less interesting and punk without him.

Wherever he is, I bet he’s watching the coolest band in the world. Maybe he’s lovingly band bothering someone there. Maybe he’s hanging out with Lux Interior. That gives me some comfort because I don’t think anything else will. I reckon my grandma will hang out with him too. She loved him, and he thought a lot of her too.

The Isle of Man will be a duller place now. I’ll miss going home, and him stopping to have a chat with my mum and I when we see him at work. I’ll miss his gig photos and videos (he’s the only person who could never be annoying by filming everything!) I’ll just really miss him. We all will. I’ve known him for as long as I’ve been alive, and for someone to be there one day and the next day just….not. Well, it’s brutal and it’s heartbreaking.

Whenever I listen to The Cramps now (which is a lot) I’ll think of Raz and how much he means to us. It may take some time to listen to them, but when I do- our Raz will be on my mind.

The photo above is of The Bastinados. The band that Raz and my uncle were in around 1987/88. The coolest band to have ever come from the Isle of Man.

MAD DADDY: Too Tough To Die.

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Here comes record number 2 by one of the best bands to have ever come from my hometown (well, home country) the Isle of Man…that band is Mad Daddy. I’ve written about them before, and I stand by everything I’ve said. They are truly a fantastic band, and record number 2 fully backs that up.

Too Tough To Die came out yesterday, and it’s got everything you could possibly want from a rowdy Garage Punk record. You want songs that smack you in the face? Mad Daddy have got you covered. You want harmonica infused anthems that’ll have you feeling like you’ve discovered Iggy Pop for the first time? They’ve got you. Mad Daddy have grown on this record, and this massive sound that they are now gracing us with is purely divine. You’ll want this injecting into your veins and brain.

The record opens with the title track, and we are then smacked with Hot Chicks which definitely makes you feel like it could be a record by The Stooges. Iggy Pop is a fan of the band anyway, so it’s a justified comparison. He’s got good taste. It’s a wild ride of a record, and you can hear how they’ve really pushed themselves on this record and have made something that fits perfectly after their debut from 2021. In those 3 years they’ve had a journey and a half, and this record really shows it. They’re not afraid to be louder on this record. They’ve also gone down the road of only having singles available on streaming sites, so if you want to hear this record- then you’re going to have to buy a copy, and blast it as loud as possible.

Every song on the record feels like it was made to be played live. You totally get this from songs like Stoned, I’m An Outsider and Be Bad. The harmonica on Stoned (especially) feels like a freight train hurtling towards you at top speed ready to launch you into the throes of some gnarly world that only Mad Daddy have the keys too. I love that their sound also has a motorcycle chase to it, and maybe that’s influence of the Isle of Man and the TT Races we have there. You can imagine their songs being blasted out as racers take on the roads with every twist and turn. It’s a thrilling record, with songs that make you feel like life is coming at you a billion miles per hour but you don’t mind- especially with songs like Road Racer. Too Tough To Die is a perfectly sleazy Punk Blues infused record. Think along the lines of The Cramps going headfirst into The Dead Boys and Iggy Pop. You can hear hints of The Dead Boys on Be Bad. The vocals on this are snarly and smutty- absolutely perfect, and I think it may be my favourite on the record at the moment. Of course I’ll change my mind, but right now- this is the one I feel that needs to be played the loudest. You can just imagine how wild this one will be live.

It Ain’t Easy is another example of why Mad Daddy are probably a band you HAVE to see live in order to really get how great they are. There’s this urgency to their sound that is so hypnotising and just makes you want to listen to them on a loop whilst you go about your day. Mad Daddy are one of those bands that you just know that their sound truly comes alive when they play live. They deserve the world, and hopefully this is the record that hands them it.

Every song on this record is a real example as to why they are such an exciting band, and from their debut to now- they’ve really developed a strong sound that you cannot get enough of. The drums on this record feel like blows to the gut, and the bass and guitar add this intensity that is a joy to listen to. It’s such a great record, and you can’t tell if you’ve found something from 2024 or if you’ve uncovered a hidden gem of a record from decades and decades ago.

Check out the tour dates here:

THE 13TH PILLAR: Pieces Missing.

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Disclaimer- my uncle is in this band. He plays guitar, and in my biased opinion; he’s probably the best guitarist you’ve never heard. He’s full on responsible for my love for Punk and for my obsession with certain bands. Especially my love for Nick Cave.

Hailing from the middle of the Irish Sea (the Isle of Man) The 13th Pillar is a killer Garage Rock/Punk band that in a previous life, probably would have taken over the world. I mean, they still can. We don’t kill dreams here.  For the past 25 years, my uncle (Karl) and his buddy Selwyn have been making music together. Pieces Missing is their heaviest sounding record to date, and you can hear just how beautiful and strong their creative partnership is on this record. Their last release was an EP 10 years ago- proving that good things come to those who wait. The theme that is constant throughout the record is dysfunction and it is wonderfully prominent on the opener, These Are Strange Times. A 5-minute anthem that Iggy Pop would probably happily sing his heart out to. In fact, the whole record has that same energy as Raw Power but with something even more weird and wonderful thrown in.

The sounds on Break My Bones feel like an acid trip (I’ve never taken acid but I have taken a fair amount of CBD oil to calm my mind and that’s enough) and the guitar on this is ridiculous. If you’re looking for something to really blow your mind and brains- that’s the song you need to get familiar with, and play as loud as you can. There are tender moments on the record, and it shows just how bloody great the band are. The bass on How Much More To Make You Smile? is absolutely glorious; it sounds so ethereal, and that flows all the way through the song. It is a beautiful song and has everything you could want from a summertime anthem. It is divine; the kind of song you play whilst the sun is setting and you have a can of lukewarm Red Stripe in your hands. There’s hints of loss and longing on this one, and it is done in such a beautiful way. A really different sound for the band, but is still entirely perfect beyond words.

I can hear influences of bands my uncle got me into on this record, and I think hearing something not as heavy by the band is really surprising. I love the gentleness on the record but at the same time there are these gorgeous sun-kissed sounds on the record which you really get on the likes of Who Knows What We’re Gonna Find, and it reminds me so much of The Stone Roses. That beautiful sun-drenched sound that feels like a sunset hitting you all over. It is such a stunning song, and every song on this record was made to be heard live and loud. I cannot tell you how proud I am of them and how much I just adore this record. You can hear the years of work going into this, and the connection that Karl and Selwyn have is just out of this world.

There are many influences flowing through this record whether it be the sounds of The Velvet Underground to The Stone Roses and beyond. Pieces Missing is such a heavenly record and is entirely trippy in the best way possible. It’s like falling in love with the person you’re supposed to, which kind of fits the theme of dysfunction on this record. The diversity of Selwyn’s vocals on the record is just a delight to hear. One of the biggest moments on this record has to be Waiting For The End Of The World; it feels like it should be played at the end of a film. The kind of film you’d have found Harry Dean Stanton in- something weird, lucid, and poetic. Just like this song. You can imagine the end of the film turning to black as this song plays out. Utterly beautiful.

The record ends with the title track, and is 8 and a half minutes of something I have yet to find the words to. Everyone truly shines on this record- Selwyn’s vocals, Gyp’s bass playing is unreal. Brian beats the shit out of the drums in the most majestic way possible and you have Karl creating some serious magic on the guitar. Put this all in an 8 and a half minute song, and you get this dream of a song. It’s phenomenal. They truly saved the best till last with this one. The production on this record is just exceptional, and you can really hear it on this one. It is the perfect way to end such a glorious record. From the 5 minute mark, you get The 13th Pillar at their heaviest and at their best. It kicks off and it is a joy to hear. It’s one of those moments where you just feel like you’re being transported into a different world. Top tip- play this one through headphones to really feel every element of this song.

Every single song on this record is beautiful and put together in such a captivating way. I think my heart may belong to the title track- the last 3 and half minutes of this song will just blow your mind. Oh, and another fun fact- my uncle also did the artwork for the record.

Biased love for the band aside, this is truly a phenomenal record that deserves your time, ears, and love.

You can buy the record here: https://the13thpillar.bandcamp.com/album/pieces-missing

MAD DADDY: The Road Racer EP

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The exceptional new EP by Mad Daddy has been on my list of write-ups for ages, but I’m rubbish at keeping up with what I need to do. I’d rather take a nap but that’s no excuse! I’m going to use my words wisely and tell you all about one of the best bands to have ever come from the Isle of Man. The other being my uncle’s band, The 13th Pillar and the other being Voodoo Bandits.

This EP is ridiculous. They should serve time at Jurby’s finest hotel on the Isle of Man for making something this good. Should be a crime! But hey, it isn’t! The EP is made up of 4 fast, ferocious and f….ing incredible songs. Every single song will indeed make you feel like a road racer. Get your leather on and hop on your bike. Go as fast as you legally can and go out into the unknown.

Be Bad is Mad Daddy at their best- it’s filthy, beautifully obnoxious. It’s like Lux and Stiv Bators got into a fight with Iggy Pop, and this song came out. It’s my favourite at the moment, but with a record like this- you cannot settle with just one song. It’s the kind of song that you have to play as loud as you can and snarl along with Dolyn as he unleashes one of the best Mad Daddy songs to date. It goes beyond anything else they’ve done. It is one of the slickest records of the year, and the production is a dream!

Everyone on this record truly shines. Matt’s drumming on this EP is just *chef’s kiss* and again, it smacks you right in the face on Be Bad. The record ends on Here To Stay- Liam and Elvis on this one smash your eardrums on this. Every song on this EP sounds like a band trying to get to the finish line to prove their point. Their point being? Well, that they are one of the best bands in the world. But. you already knew that didn’t you. This is Mad Daddy at their loudest, their best and rowdiest. This EP really does feel like you are on the TT Race Course on Mad Sunday, and no one can keep up with you. It’s such an energetic record. Even though we’re just over a year from their debut record- this EP is another taste of what’s to come from this band.

Mad Daddy have ripped apart bands up and down the UK with their recent shows, and now they are back to mess up your hearing with their rambunctious Punk anthems. Iggy Pop is a huge fan, so that tells you just how special this band are and how remarkable this record is. Every song on this EP was made to be played full volume and with the wind in your hair as you drive and drive, with no destination in mind. It’s a proper gritty record, with songs that’ll have you craving live music, craving more from Mad Daddy. I started writing this review nearly 2 months ago, but for some reason, I’ve not had it in me to finish this or write about music. I’ve got enough records I need to write about so that’ll keep me going! But, if you need something to keep YOU going- go ahead and listen to this record. Isle of Man friends-ride the TT route playing this EP over and over.

Just when you think Mad Daddy have done it all, they unleash a heavy and gnarly record like this on us. It may only 4 songs long, but those 4 songs will ricochet through your eardrums, mind, body and brain at full pelt. Take it all in and play it loud!

MAD DADDY: Mad Daddy.

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Well, it’s finally here (it’s been here since Friday just gone but I’ve been lazy, sorry) The full length debut record by the finest noise you’ll hear from the Isle Of Man!

Mad Daddy make a hell of a lot of noise, and if you’re a bit sensitive to noise then you should probably pass this one. Or, stop being silly and get into it! They won’t hurt you. I’m not just saying this because they are from where I grew up, but honestly, Mad Daddy make the kind of music that would make The Cramps proud. There’s the creepy sound, the snarls, the effortlessly cool and slick sound that just makes you wish you could make noise like this.

I’ve been listening to the record non-stop since I was sent a copy, and I can’t get enough of it. You just want to live in the world that they’ve created on this record. These 10 songs were made for you to blast out super loud and just have a great time. Like the great MC5 said, “Kick out the jams motherfuckers!” No truer word was spoken. Words to live by. Don’t let anyone tell you any different. Mad Daddy sure do kick ’em out. They boot them into the deep unknown. Nothing has been the same since. It’s a real Bluesy Punk number this record, and it’s one to really enjoy. For me, I feel like I’m listening to all the old bands I love on one record. You can really hear the influences here but there’s also something else going on that you can’t help but be in awe of.

The songs on this record have this brilliant rugged sound, and the production is nothing short of perfect- but not in a way that makes you feel like you’re listening to something too perfect. You can hear everything going on on this record, and that adds to that lo-fi sound that so many of us love. Nothing beats hearing something like this, and when you’ve got songs like Give It To Me, which is the perfect way to open a record. It’s 2 minutes and 55 seconds of your face getting beautifully smashed in. The whole record is just a masterpiece!

Ride With Me makes you wish you could take a road trip into the unknown. Now, you probably wouldn’t do this on the Isle of Man because the roads are TERRIBLE! But you know, you could hit the road anywhere with this blasting out and it’d just be beautiful. It’s fast and a proper gnarly Punk anthem. The harmonica makes it on this one; it adds this bite to it that you cannot get enough of. Basically, this is a killer record and you just cannot get enough of it.

Picking a favourite song off this record is impossible, but I can say that right now I’m a bit obsessed with Ain’t Gonna Stop and Let’s Get Messed Up. This whole record is just a joy to listen to. Do I associate this record with a band from the Isle of Man? Heck no! But it sure makes me proud to be from there. This is what we have there, and it is so good to hear music like this coming from such a small place. Mad Daddy could easily be one of those bands that future bands cite as an influence, and that is something to be proud of. I just want to do nothing and play this record loud. But, I’m at work and on my lunch break so I can’t really do that. But hey, if you can slack off- do it. Play this record whilst you’re at it!

There’s so much to love about this record, and you know with songs like Real Bad Day, you kind of feel that you’ve got a band that just get it, you know? The drums on this are my favourite. The drums are really out there on this record, and you can just hear the passion for music on this record from the whole band. If you’re looking for something to just burst your eardrums in the best way, to hear drums that sound like a riot in your ears and songs that will stick in your brain forever- then the Mad Daddy record is for you.

Biased opinion aside, this is just a magnetic record. You don’t want to leave it alone. Ever. You want to keep on playing it. Why sleep when you can listen to this record? Buy it. Play it loud. And when we can all travel again, go see the band play on the Isle of Man!

VOODOO BANDITS: Backyard Wrestling (video)

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Voodoo Bandits - ManchesterTheatres.com

Sick of the rain? Sick of not being able to see the people you want to see? Sick of being fed up constantly? Well, Voodoo Bandits have a new video up for Backyard Wrestling.

It’s bittersweet listening to them because they are from where my family are- the Isle of Man. I had my application for a compassionate visit rejected (I’ll appeal then cry again over it being rejected) and all I want is to go home and see my family. The sweet part is that knowing that bands like this are making music back home. It’s something to really, really be proud of.

We all need some form of release, and Voodoo Bandits give you that Summer feeling even if it is pissing it down outside. If you’re feeling a bit lost or just, well, shit really then this song will be like a comfort blanket for you.

You can keep up to date with these cherubs here:

https://www.facebook.com/vo0d0obandits/

https://www.instagram.com/voodoobandits/

MAD DADDY.

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A few weeks or so I wrote about a band from the Isle of Man called Voodoo Bandits. As I am missing home, my family and friends- I thought I’d make myself even more homesick by writing about THE coolest band on the Isle of Man. They’re called Mad Daddy. Fun fact- the singer is the brother of my best pal’s partner. Small world? Oh you have no idea!

In May, Mad Daddy released their 3rd EP. I was going to just focus on that, but when the music is this good you cannot ignore the greatness at all. If you’re looking for some straight up Rock’n’Roll with that filthy style that The Cramps had- then you’re going to love Mad Daddy. There aren’t many bands around that sound like this now- a lot have come and gone. Left their mark and that’s it. With Mad Daddy, you can hear something else. You feel like you’re in Nashville in the 60s- not the Isle of Man at all!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQIGT4jMUqk

They released 2 EPs back in 2018, and let me tell you, you’ll be wanting more and more after listening to EP #3. As you go back and listen to their previous releases, you can definitely hear a band that has been influenced by so many bands but have most certainly created something of their own and done the Isle of Man so proud. EP #1 has all the makings of a great band, and by the time we get to EP #2 you know full well that this band isn’t to be messed with at all. The passion is infectious, and it makes you want to dig out some old records too and just have a great old time. They’ve had a bit of a lineup change over the past couple of years, with Matt Twist now as the drummer (he’s a BEAST!) but regardless of who is in the band, you simply cannot deny how tight the sound is and how perfect every damn song is.

I know they’ve probably been compared to The Cramps a stupid amount of times, but to be honest with you, it isn’t a lazy comparison at all. You can hear in Dolyn’s vocals that Lux has played a huge part in his style but by no means does it come across as a replica. What you hear is someone who has been influenced by the greatest band of all time, then gone on to create their own band, with their own style. Pretty sure if Lux was around still he’d love them. How could you not! Songs like One More Time (taken from EP #2) have that signature harmonica sound that makes you feel like a train is about to steamroll into your body then catapult you into the delirious and magical world of Mad Daddy. For me, their first 2 EPs are a solid way of showing the world what Mad Daddy can do but it’s EP #3 that shows us exactly who they are and again, makes you want to hear more and more from them. 

EP #2 has a more Blues feel to it, a little like EP #1 but I’m all about EP #3 because it has a more raw sound to it. Everything about EP #3 is tougher and has way more attitude. It has more of a Punk feel to it, and you’ve just to keep on hitting the repeat button on these songs! The coolest thing about EP #1 and #2 is that they were recorded live at one of the most sacred places on the Isle Of Man- Ballagroove Recording Studios (I think my uncle has  recorded there too with his band/bands.) Knowing they were recorded in this way makes you feel even more so that you’re right there in the room with them. The atmosphere on all 3 EPs is electric and just a real pleasure to listen to.

To sum up, Mad Daddy are one of the coolest bands around and their current lineup is super strong. I’m sure whatever comes next after EP #3 (maybe a full record? World tour? A national holiday named after them?) it’s going to blow us all away. Mad Daddy are a bunch of pals making straight up Punk/Rock ‘n’ Roll music to obliterate your eardrums in the most beautiful way imaginable. So if you like your music fast and like a Glaswegian kiss to the soul, then Mad Daddy are the band for you.

https://maddaddy.bandcamp.com

VOODOO BANDITS.

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By now you know how much I miss home, and that I haven’t been back on the Isle of Man in nearly a year. I miss the beach. I miss proper chips. I miss pals. I miss my family. I miss my brother’s dog. I miss my mum’s cat. I miss fresh air. It can’t be helped, and knowing everyone is safe and well because they shut the borders so the virus wouldn’t ruin the Island is a good thing. But still, I just want to go home. I thought my need to go home couldn’t be more heightened but the other night, I received an email from a band that are from the Isle of Man. Cue my homesickness going into overdrive.

Voodoo Bandits are 4 buddies from the Isle of Man and they are in short, brilliant. I’m not trying to put a biased view on you, but it’s the truth. They’ve got this powerful Surfer Rock feel, and knowing that there are bands on the Isle of Man that sound like this make me so proud to be from there. If I had bands like this back home when I was growing up, I may have been more sociable. Instead, I stayed in my room listening to music. You could say that I’ve been waiting for social distancing since my teens!

Initially I was going to write about their glorious new song, Backyard Wrestling but they deserve more than that. I’m going all in. I’m just going to give you all reasons possible as to why they are one of the most exciting bands around. They’ve been compared to bands like WAVVES and Hockey Dad, and even The Strokes but to be honest, they’ve got something else. Personally, I can only hear a slight nod to WAVVES and that’s about it. You can really hear a band that are truly dedicated to what they do, and are perfectionists- and that is by no means, a bad thing. You truly feel that this is a band that are sure of themselves, and they’ve only been putting music out since 2019.

Backyard Wrestling came out on the 31st July and it is a perfect Summer anthem. It makes you want to escape to the beach and laze about. I guess it’s a frustrating listen right now (unless you’re a selfish prick who doesn’t know how to SOCIALLY DISTANCE!) but it just gives you that beautiful summer mood. The one band I can liken this to is the debut record by Best Coast which coincidently, turns 10 years old this year. That record is the definition of summer and Voodoo Bandits, 10 years on, have created their own summer mood for us all to enjoy. But it doesn’t start and end with this beautiful song.

Yesterday’s Jam and and Empty Swimming Pool are two ethereal gems, and have made 2020 less crappy. Hearings songs like this just make you feel good. The lyrics have a sadness to them, but the music makes you forget that. Take the music away, and read the lyrics and you’ll see just how gorgeously poetic they are. Again, just another reason to love this band and be utterly proud of the Isle of Man. Watching their music videos, and seeing places that I know so well and seeing the beach makes me homesick but at the same time, just so proud and delighted. Sink Below is the perfect example of this, and the video could even be used as a tourism promo video for the Island. Vocally, it is still my favourite song of theirs and I adore the lyrics on this so much. They’re just an effortlessly cool and slick band. Exceptional musicians and an absolute asset to the Isle of Man!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWpX_WeOLjw

If you’re looking for a new band to get rid of your blues, or to just make you mentally feel free- Voodoo Bandits are the band for you. There’s this perfect innocence in the songs that gives you such a freeing feeling; they are just a delight to listen to. Of course I’ve not been to one of their shows, but going by the sheer passion and drive they have on record, I’m pretty sure it will come across just swell at their shows. I love them. I just bloody love them; exciting, enthralling and a pleasure to listen to. I’m super excited to hear more from them.

You can waste your days away listening to Voodoo Bandits right here: https://voodoobandits.bandcamp.com

13TH PILLAR-All Sounds The Same (EP)

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13thpillar

 

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.

You can listen to (and buy) the EP right here: http://the13thpillar.bandcamp.com/album/all-sounds-the-same-ep

 

KC.

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A loss is a painful thing to experience and is something nobody can avoid. You can attempt to shut off from the world and wrap yourself in some form of a protective bubble but something will get in and you will experience an all too frequent situation.

Regardless of how close you were to the person you have loss, you are told several clichés in order to make you feel better. At the start it is raw, your brain is in some weird state and your heart aches. The loss can be temporary or it can be permanent. The feelings however, well, nobody can tell. The beauty (and isolation) in emotions is that only you know how they feel to you. Others will be feeling the same thing, but it hits you different.

Part of me feels like I shouldn’t be writing this, but I’m a person who is more than likely too sensitive for their own good. I can cry at the sight of a cute puppy just like I can cry quite easily at all the bad happening in the world. “Better out than in” is something that probably seems quite apt.

I was born on the Isle of Man. It is home to strange things such as cats with no tails and it’s in the middle of the Irish Sea. I saw the bad in it on a daily basis when I was living there- it is far from everything I know. But if you wander round the place you will see some truly beautiful places. I miss being away from the sea because there is truly nothing more relaxing than staring out to the sea with the sea air whirling around you. Play your favourite song and stare into the unknown. Peel beach is my favourite beach on the Island; even when it is cold and pissing it down, it is still beautiful. More importantly a woman who many (myself included) regard as a fighter and just a beautiful spirit lived there.

In December 2012 I wrote about a woman named Katherine Crow who had recorded a song at Abbey Road studios in the hopes for a Christmas number 1. At the time I was working at HMV and I refused to serve anyone who was just buying one copy of the single. Why buy one when you can buy three. This sales technique worked, but I don’t have the guts (or the extremely outgoing nature) of working sales. I was just passionate about the cause, like everyone else on the Isle of Man.

On Wednesday evening Kath passed away. Aged only 39, that ugly and vile disease that affects so many took her. Cancer is part of way too many people’s lives and to live in a world where no more families or friends or loved ones had to ever endure the pain and hurt it causes, well…I just live in hope. We have to, it’s the only way.

I did not know Kath personally but like anyone who knew her story or is from the Isle of Man; they were just touched by how tough and just how bloody lovely she truly was. To write this in past tense goes beyond my head, I have to keep going back to change it because it makes no sense. I have no point as to what I’m writing, and I’m fully aware I only ever write about Music as it is all I know. But, if you knew of Kath you knew she had a gorgeous voice. I only saw her perform twice and both times I sobbed. See, I just cry too easily- especially with live music.

I remember a story she told both times; she would say she had to drink a lot during performances otherwise her top lip would disappear and demonstrated this, it was too funny and is something I’ll always remember. That voice, that humor. When I was living at home and was forced to go food shopping with my mum, we would sometimes bump into Kath outside Tesco and she just had the glowing presence about her. Just watch this interview below and see how genuine and lovely she was.

Her presence, her smile, her voice and so much more will be missed. Her strength, passion and determination was infectious and inspiring. If we can take anything from this heartbreaking and devastating event (I’m sure there is a better word, but I can’t think of it right now, sorry) then let it be the courage and passion she had.

An event is being held on the Isle of Man on 31st October til 2nd November for the Isle of Man Hospice; The Big Beat For Hospice. A group of talented musicians are going to be making a load of noise for charity. Three days of drumming, sounds perfect right? You can donate to the cause right here: http://www.justgiving.com/bbfh Just donate whatever you can for a cause that’s sole purpose is to really make a difference. You can find out more about the event on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TheBigBeatForHospice

Rest easy Kath. You’ll be missed xx