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It had been a really nice day in Norwich before the Holloways played, it felt like summer was around just around the corner, and I was in the mood for a pleasant evening of upbeat indie tunes to cap it off. Local 4-piece The Interpreters kicked things off with a solid set of well-crafted guitar-based indie pop songs. What their sound lacked in originality was more than made for by their musicianship and presence on stage. There was a maturity and a confidence about them which belied their obviously tender years.
Next up was folk-rock troubadour Frank Turner, back in Norwich supporting the Holloways exactly one month since he was last in town headlining his own UK tour. Even though Frank has been on the road in support of his latest album, Love, Ire and Song, since it came out at the end of March he showed no signs of he was flagging tonight, belting out his songs with his usual passion and energy. Although the majority of the crowd seemed to unfamiliar with him and music, by the end of his set they seemed to have warmed to him, especially when he invited out Rob from The Holloways to play fiddle on his set closer ‘Photosynthesis’.
Finally the Holloways themselves took to the stage and played for a little over an hour. Although The Holloways have now finished their new, as-yet-unnamed follow-up to 2006’s debut, So This Is Great Britain, they have yet to make any new material available prior to this tour. As the album is not actually scheduled for release until the summer I suppose they can be forgiven for holding back. As a result though, the beginning their set was somewhat tame as the crowd didn’t seem too impressed by the first few songs and the band themselves appeared a little lacklustre as well. Happily, as their set progressed into more familiar territory with songs like ‘Dancefloor’, and ‘Happiness and Penniless’ the crowd warmed up and band hit their stride, and each other as Rob and Alfie got a little too close when singing the end of ‘Generator’ into the same mike. The three new tracks they did introduce in the second half of the set seemed to go down well. Overall they don’t sound too dissimilar to their old songs, which I think most Holloways fans would agree is no bad thing. The Holloways rounded off their main set with rousing rendition of ‘Two Left Feet’, the song everyone seemed to have been waiting for. They then proceeded to play a short, but sweet, encore of the best of rest of songs they hadn’t played from So This is Great Britain, finishing off the night with a rowdy version of ‘The Fuck Ups’. Overall a great evening of music on a nice summery day – what more could you want? Roll on the summer and the new Holloways album!
By Adam Tolladay
www.myspace.com/theholloways
www.myspace.com/frankturner
www.myspace.com/interpreters
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ARE YOU READY FOR A BATTLE?
Lost Alone opened the night for Paramore – there energetic tunes certainly got the crowd going. This is not the first time Lost Alone has toured with Paramore, as this time last year they were doing the same thing. The guys certainly know how to rock….the music is certainly different to Paramores catchy pop rock.
The Academy was packed and was fit to burst; people had been waiting for this concert since February when Paramore was meant to play. Paramore came bursting out onto the stage; the entire crowd went mental.
Let the Flames begin opened the show, Paramore had two albums to choose from this time around and they certainly gave the crowd a mixture of both. Firm favourites such as Whoa, Pressure and Emergency got the crowd going.
Hayley (front woman) asked the crowd “are you ready to dance?” the crowd replied with an almighty cheer, Here we go again displayed the band’s and the crowd’s dancing skills.
Having seen Paramore play from King Tut’s, the Garage and the ABC – the Academy is a much larger venue and they did not disappoint one bit.
Hayley wore a skin-tight black vest top – to stub out those rumours of a pregnancy. Hayley oozes confidence and sex appeal no wonder the majority of the crowd was guys.
When Misery Business was played, I honestly could not believe the reaction from the crowd – everyone was singing and dancing. Those upstairs in the stalls were also dancing. Everyone was having an absolute ball.
Paramore stated that this gig on this night had been there best so far in there entire life’s, Hayley said, “I know you think I say that at all the gigs but I don’t!”
Hayley tried her best to produce a Scottish accent through her strong American accent and did not to bad – asking the crowd to recreate the last scene from Brave heart “are you ready for a battle?” for the last song!
Everyone left the Academy on an almighty high. This is Paramore at there best; I would like to see where they are this time five years down the line as they are superb.
Words by Emma Jackson
Photo by Jo Bristowe
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15/5/08
‘In Silico’ is out now digitally and physically on Warner Bros/Ear Storm
www.pendulum.com / www.myspace.com/pendulumofficial
Pendulum have spoken out on the difficulties of making their second album, but the Australian act have said they overcame the hardship to bring about one of the most eagerly awaited records of 2008 with In Silico which is released this week (May 12th) on Warner Bros/Ear Storm Records.
The band, who have sold out their entire UK tour for the second time in a row, said: "We went into this album with the attitude that it would be easy, determined to avoid the cliché of a second album being difficult, but it was five times harder than we ever imagined it would be. We underestimated the amount of work that had to go into it to make it turn out the way we wanted it to, but I think we've achieved that, and we hope you all enjoy it. THIS IS A NEW WAY!"
The live setting is where the new record has come alive in a very big way and recently the group wowed thousands at the Radio 1 Big Weekend, storming the stage and leaving the crowd open-mouthed at what they had witnessed. Even Zane Lowe was quoted saying that Pendulum was his ‘moment of the weekend’. You can check out just how intense the set was by watching the full set on video at Pendulum’s official site: www.pendulum.com
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15/5/08
Weezer have pulled forward the release date of their new long-player, which for the third time in the band’s six-album history, will be titled simply ‘Weezer’, to 9 June (digital) and 16 June (physical).
The standard version of ‘Weezer’ (also known as ‘The Red Album’) feature two UK-only bonus tracks: covers of Talk Talk’s ‘Life Is What You Make It’ and ‘The Weight’ by The Band. ‘The Red Album’ is also the first Weezer long-player to feature all four members contributing songwriting credits and singing lead vocals. ‘Automatic’ is written and sung by drummer Pat Wilson, whilst guitarist Brian Bell delivers ‘Thought I Knew’. Meanwhile, bassist Scott Shriner co-wrote ‘Cold Dark World’ with Rivers.
The full tracklisting is:
1. Troublemaker
2. The Greatest Man That Ever Lived (Variations on a Shaker Hymn)
3. Pork and Beans
4. Heart Songs
5. Everybody Get Dangerous
6. Dreamin’
7. Thought I Knew
8. Cold Dark World
9. Automatic
10. The Angel and the One
11. The Weight (UK Bonus Track)
12. Life Is What You Make It (UK Bonus Track)
Full details are in the attached PR.
The album ‘Weezer’ is out 9 June (digital) and 16 June (physical).
The single, ‘Pork and Beans’, follows on 23 June via Geffen/Interscope via Polydor.
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15/5/08
Patrick Wolf was going to spend the summer of 2008 recording the follow up to his last album 'Magic Position', but baiting Nazis during a triumphant appearance at Love Music Hate Racism has given him the appetite to return to the stage a little earlier than planned.
Expect a new band line-up, some new songs and lots of old favourites from him this July at Redfest as he headlines the main stage on Saturday night.
He's joined the line up alongside:
The Maccabees Crystal Castles Los Campesinos! Does It Offend You, Yeah? Elliot Minor Pete and The Pirates Operator Please I Haunt Wizards Fear Of Music WinterKids Lightspeed Champion Late Of The Pier Johnny Foreigner Robots In Disguise This City Ebony Bones SixNationState & more
All this for £64.00 + booking fee!
Day Tickets are also now on sale for £35 + booking fee!
http://gtickets.co.uk/redfest
Friday 4th & Saturday 5th July 2008
Robins Cook Farm, Redhill, Surrey
This year sees the launch of a new festival – with a difference - Redfest. This exciting two day festival, with onsite camping, takes place in parkland near Redhill, Surrey (a mere 15 miles from London) and features some of the most exciting acts to emerge from today’s thriving underground music scene. With a music policy spanning indie, rock, electro and dance there’s enough to capture the imagination of today’s iPod generation.
http://www.redfest.co.uk/
www.myspace.com/red_fest
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15/5/08
Indie behemoths, The Charlatans, Gary Numan, the ‘Godfather of electronic music’, hotly tipped dirt rock trio White Denim and abstract jazz-sters, Polar Bear have been confirmed as the first four music acts to perform at the much-anticipated Mighty Boosh Festival, which takes place at the Hop Farm in Kent on the 5th July.
Needing no introduction are one of England’s most esteemed bands, The Charlatans, who are back in the hot seat with their tenth studio album, ‘You Cross My Path’ and have gone the Radiohead route by giving it away absolutely free. With well over 90,000 downloads so far and rave reviews all round, Tim Burgess and the boys bring their blend of edgy, well crafted pop tunes to the Mighty Boosh Festival.
Widely known for his chart-topping 1979 hits "Are 'Friends' Electric?" and "Cars" as much as he is for his odd-ball appearance and genre-hopping experimental tracks, Numan's influential signature style has been classified as everything from experimental, synthrock, synthpop, dark wave, new wave, industrial rock and post-punk, making him the perfect act to accompany the equally experimental and eccentric Mighty Boosh boys. Gary’s legacy speaks for itself, and of course the boys are thrilled at his confirmation. Noel states; “Having Gary on board is mental! He is a hero of mine and was always a first choice, having him perform at our festival is almost surreal”.
Next up we have the awesome White Denim. Hailing from Austin, Texas this band is certain to enthral and entertain the Boosh revellers. As a feverishly creative ensemble this band have smashed in to the good books of music reviewers, garnering praise from the likes of NME who call them “local heroes, who are spelling out the future of dirt-rock in blood” and The Guardian who said they have “great riff and tunes, and like a genuine rock’n’roll band, sound genuinely hyperactive and deranged”.
White Denim have toured extensively including dazzling showcases at SXSW Music Festival, and caused a massive stir at the recent CMJ Music Marathon. They also received the award of "Best New Band" at the 2008 Austin Music Awards. With their debut full-length LP release, entitled ‘Workout Holiday’, just around the corner, this is the perfect platform for the guys to introduce themselves to the UK’s buzzing live music scene.
On a more experimental tip, abstract jazz collective, Polar Bear, compliment the quirkiness of the Boosh boys by bringing to the stage their unique blend of offbeat compositions. Music press have tipped these guys for big things. The Observer Music Monthly say, "Polar Bear blast out of the past, full of straight, cool school skills, and detonate the past, bursting with edgy, forward-looking lust."
Of course, no Mighty Boosh festival would be complete without a performance from the boys themselves. They will headline the day’s events with a comedy extravaganza on the main stage.
Entertaining 30,000 fans, the Perrier, NME and RTS Award winners Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding AKA Howard Moon and Vince Noir, will delight fans with their magical and comical wizardry and take us on a hilarious journey from their Nabootique homeland to the very ends of the comedy universe!
The Boosh is also revered in the musical world and rub shoulders with the great and the greater of the music scene. The festival will therefore perfectly fuse the finest musical acts with their own spectacle, with the boys inviting some of their own special favourites to take to the stage with them!
Says Noel Fielding “We’ve never played a music festival before and a comic has never headlined at a festival before so we are seizing the opportunity and doing both!”
Further acts to be announced shortly.
Tickets on sale now at See Tickets – 0871 220 0260 http://www.seetickets.com/?c=310082
Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Official-Mighty-Boosh-Festival-Page/36282555547
www.myspace.com/mightybooshfestival
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15/5/08
Welsh-rockers FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND have announced they'll be playing a number of festivals and headline shows here in the UK over the summer !!
They are also gearing up to the first release, single 'Waterfront Dance Club', on their own label, due to be unleashed on the world on July 7. It will be a double A-side with track 'Beneath The Burning Tree'.
They will be filming the accompanying video to 'Waterfront Dance Club' THIS WEEKEND at an undisclosed location in London and would like as many people as possible to head along to take part! If you're interested, drop your name, age and mobile number to waterfrontdanceclub@hotmail.co.uk for more info!
Catch the guys at one of their following UK dates:
Jun 28 - Woodstock, WAKESTOCK FESTIVAL
Jun 30 - Manchester, Academy 3
Jul 1 - Glasgow, King Tuts
Jul 2 - London, Kings College
Jul 4 - Newport, TJ's
Jul 5 - Abersoch, WAKESTOCK FESTIVAL
Jul 6 - Port Lympne Wild Animal Park, ZOO THOUSAND & EIGHT FESTIVAL
www.funeralforafriend.com
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14/5/08
'LP3’
XLCD353 / XLLP353
Release date: July 7th, 2008
LP3 is the third studio album from Ratatat, the follow-up to 2006's 'Classics' and 2004's self-titled debut. Since the release of 'Classics', Ratatat have toured relentlessly, headlining shows around the world. They were asked to open for Daft Punk at Los Angeles Sports Arena back in June 2007, before they jetted off to play shows in Hawaii and Japan. They have also added their unique sound to a recent remix of Bjork’s ‘Wanderlust’ and released the second in their acclaimed ‘Remixes’ series, featuring bootleg remixes of Notorious BIG and Young Buck among others. 'Remixes Volume II' also featured exclusive new freestyles from Beans (Warp) and Despot (DefJux) and is currently available for free download on the band's site www.ratatatmusic.com
Whereas 'Classics' took them months to record, LP3 came together in a matter of weeks after the duo – Mike Stroud and Evan Mast – were asked to produce some tracks for their friend White Flight who introduced them to Old Soul Studios.
Old Soul is a large old house in the small town of Catskill in upstate New York. It doesn't have much in the way of hi-tech recording equipment but does have a wealth of keyboard instruments from a grand piano and harpsichord through to a mellotron and Wurlitzer. Pretty much all of the instruments at Old Soul made it onto 'LP3' giving the record a much broader palette of sounds. The record is much more dynamic than their previous two, with a leaning towards keyboards as opposed to guitars, and live percussion rather than programmed beats.
The band also decided to mix the album in a studio for the first time, and headed to Trout in Brooklyn, NY to mix the entire record down onto 1/4inch tape which has lent the entire album another layer of atmosphere.
Ratatat have also had some friends remix tracks from the album, including Animal Collective who've turned 'Mirando' into a 10 minute techno wonder. After several remixes under their various solo guises, this is Animal Collective’s first remix done under their own name. YACHT, Zongamin, Copy and E*Rock (brother of Evan ‘E*Vax’ Mast) have also taken on some album tracks, expect to hear these soon.
LP3 sounds like the album Ratatat have wanted to make for some time, equally stripped back and fuller sounding than their previous two. Overflowing with ideas and with more pop and dancefloor moments mixed in with their unique take on atmospheric, instrumental rock. LP3 could have easily come across as disjointed, instead Ratatat have created a fully formed, 21st Century record instilled with the unique sound that made their name. LP3 sounds completely timeless and very, very now.
Ratatat 'LP3'
1. Shiller – 2. Falcon Jab – 3. Mi Viejo – 4. Mirando – 5. Flynn – 6. Bird Priest – 7. Shempi – 8. Imperials –
9. Dura – 10. Brulee – 11. Mumtaz Khan – 12. Gipsy Threat – 13. Black Heroes
www.myspace.com/ratatatmusic
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The female singer/songwriter has evolved of late, leaving behind the everyday realism of Lily Allen for the altogether more talented likes of Laura Marling and Emmy the Great. Then along comes Rosie Oddie and her Odd Squad.
Encompassing every current marketing technique in the industry; a grating mockney accent for Kate Nash charm and an overly complex band name for Jing Jang Jong eccentricity. Having been informed of Rosie’s “controversial and chantable” lyrics, I tried very hard to find these. Unfortunately, I couldn’t quite get a grasp of the accent, thus only understanding around half of what she is actually wailing on about.
The Odd Squad, however, appear to be very talented musicians, and with their help Rosie could have been a female counterpart to Kid Harpoon, who does similar jangly acoustic music. Except his lyrics are intelligible to those outside the N7 postal area and ever so slightly more relevant than hers, which cover a range of subjects from rum to needing the toilet. Odd, yes, but not interesting.
By Gemma Elliott
Release Date: 2/6/08
Label: Bloody Awful Poetry
www.myspace.com/rosieoddieandtheoddsquad
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