Album Review: Crystal Fighters - Cave Rave

Over two years on from the release of their groundbreaking debut, Star of Love, Crystal Fighters have finally returned with their magnificent second album, Cave Rave. The whole album encompasses every aspect of Crystal Fighters that you undoubtedly fell in love with the first time around; their unique ability to intertwine dance and electronica with acoustic sounds including their musical influences from the Basque country which continue to set them apart from any other band around.

Cave Rave is a meticulous and cleverly crafted work of art. It isn’t one of those albums where you end up skipping track 3 and 7 because they’re just not as good. Instead, this album is one of those rarities where you want to abuse the repeat button on each track. No one song sounds similar to the next but they are united by the overwhelming sense of euphoria that they exude. You might be thinking that that’s a bit over the top, but once you’ve listened to the album you’ll have an undeniable urge to cover yourself in glitter and dance like a member of an indigenous tribe into the sunset hugging everyone that you pass… trust me.

For their second album, Crystal Fighters have taken their signature sound and made it into something bigger and better. ‘Wave’ and ‘Separator’ have already been released online and have received great feedback for their immense dance vibes. ‘LA Calling’ has also recently appeared online and you don’t even have to be “bathed in sunlight” to appreciate the fact that the track just oozes summer. Zane Lowe labelled the first official single from the album, ‘You and I’ as one of his hottest records in the world and it certainly won’t be long until the whole album is the hottest record in the world. It’s not all about epic dance tracks though, things are stripped back in ‘Everywhere’ and ‘These Night’s’ showcasing the dreamlike harmonies. Along with ‘Love Natural’ which has a chorus that you’ll be singing for days, ‘Bridge of Bones’ is a stand out track with its beautiful and soulful melody and wonderful lyrics that will get stuck in your head – not that that’s anything to complain about!

This highly anticipated album certainly doesn’t disappoint. Cave Rave, which is filled with unique indie love songs, will without question be the soundtrack to your summer. Crystal Fighters will be spreading their euphoric vibes far and wide as they embark on the world tour stopping off to headline the festival republic stage at Reading and Leeds festival this summer. Their world tour comes to end on Saturday November 30 at The Institute for a very special gig right here in Birmingham, brought to you by Counteract Magazine – a night not to be missed. Grab your tickets here.

Cave Rave is released May 27 via Zirkulo/PIAS.

Published in Counteract Magazine here

Live review: Dumb + Wide Eyed + Youth Man + The Scribers

Check out my review in this month's Brum Notes

Wide Eyed invite friends and fans down to ‘Bleak’ video shoot

Photograph by Nicole Peplow

Birmingham’s best dressed band and resident psychedelic shoegazers, Wide Eyed, invited friends and fans over to their practice room in the middle of an industrial business park just outside of Cannock (aka the middle of nowhere) to film the video for their debut single, Bleak.

Against all the odds an actual sun radiating actual heat (occasionally) shone down on the bunch of attendees as they swigged cheap beer whilst slumped on old knackered leather sofas with the likes of Nirvana and The Horrors blasting from the stereo; definition of rock ‘n’ roll or more like a scene from an indie version of shameless?

After a couple of hours of being totally chilled, the filming commenced in their incredibly cool practice room complete with all kinds of posters and music memorabilia; a haven for any music lover. The crowd assembled and downright chaos ensued as speakers fell to the ground, people fell onto the band and flowers were ripped up and thrown around. There was the case of the missing pineapple and the attack of the bumble bee which claimed the camera man as its victim. Despite the small space and low ceilings, crowd surfing was still a major event; it wasn’t just members of the small crowd either, as almost all of Wide Eyed gave it a go. When they weren’t swinging from the beams of the ceiling, they somehow managed to play a brilliant live set despite the fact they were being fallen on top of and their instruments were being bashed around. Along with ‘Bleak’ which was played a number of times, the band played another favourite ‘Still’ and treated the crowd to two new tracks which were equally well received. The hazy vocals and echoing guitar riffs make Wide Eyed one of the most interesting bands to emerge from the Birmingham music scene.

The special gig came to an end at just the right time as the cigarette smoke to oxygen ratio started to get ridiculously unbalanced in the room. Someone shouted “let’s get the fuck out of here,” and like something out a zombie movie everyone staggered out 10 times less attractive than they were when they went in; dripping in sweat, squinting at the sun they’d forgotten all about and desperately trying to cure their deafness; all conclusive evidence that the live set was tonnes of fun.

Wide Eyed proved themselves to not only be a group of lads with impeccable taste in fashion and heaps of musical talent, but also down to earth personalities. They were genuinely appreciative and humbled by the support of the people who starred in their first ever music video. Keep your eyes peeled for the finished result!

Published in Counteract Magazine here 

I made it into NME...

Not quite the way I wanted to but nevertheless my face is in NME (see brunette back left)

Words and photos simply can't do this night justice. I'm so excited that I got invited and therefore got to experience such an AMAZING and LEGENDARY night (see review below for more)

Wide Eyed, Dumb, God Damn, Bad Moon and Laced play a secret gig in a Birmingham living room. No, really.

If you’re under the impression that the whole Birmingham music scene ‘hype’ has been exhausted to its fullest extent with the likes of Swim Deep and Peace making a name for themselves, oh how wrong you are. There is an immense underground scene exploding with undeniable talent. Jack Parker, or DJ Jacky P as he’s better known, was brave (or stupid) enough to invite a bunch of up-for-it music enthusiasts into his house on Friday March 15 2013 for a night of phenomenal live music, fun and frolics.

New kids on the block, Laced, opened the night with great success. They may not have the most live experience, but my god they’ve got potential.

Laced

As everyone squeezed into the living room, complete with decorative rock ‘n’ roll bunting, they listened intently to Gracie and Andy’s dreamy harmonies against the edgy psychedelic backdrop. With just two demos that haven’t even been put online yet, it’s incredibly exciting to imagine where this band will be in months to come.

Bad Moon were up next; another band with immense potential. As the crowd spilled out into the hallway and on top of radiators and poor old sofas (RIP), they enthusiastically nodded along as the band rocked out to their killer tunes.

Bad Moon

The dreamy sounds of their current available demo, ‘Quinton Expressway’ intertwined with heavy guitars and a rocky beat wowed the crowd. Is there no end to Birmingham’s talents?

As soon as Wolverhampton’s very own God Damn started playing, everyone completely lost their shit. Their loud and relentless set of heavy grunge and blues infused tracks shook the room into a state of energetic chaos. With feet in their faces and elbows in their sides, everyone went completely insane and moshed like there was no tomorrow to the band’s heavy rock tunes; especially recent single ‘I’m a Lazer, You’re a Radar.’

God Damn

By the time Dumb came on, blood alcohol levels were on the rise, and everyone was ready to continue rocking out. With vocalist Dylan playing with the front of  his top missing, bass player Adam crowd surfing during their set and Jacky P, the host himself, joining in with a cheese grater and a drumstick (a very worthwhile contribution, may I add), it’s clear that this gig was unique and downright crazy.

Dumb

Risen from the ashes of The Carpels, Dumb proved that they have all the makings of a great indie rock ‘n’ roll band. Their upcoming single Dive received the best reaction and finished their set on a high.

Headliners, Wide Eyed, triumphantly brought the one-of-a-kind gig to an end with their majestic psychedelic rock tracks. With crowd surfers and moshers still on full form, the crowd continued to appreciate the superb live music; so much so that they started to fall on top of the band themselves! Wide Eyed proved once again that they are a phenomenal live band as popular track ‘Bleak’ sent the crowd into a state of frenzied admiration.

Wide Eyed

B-Town, West Madlands, or plain old Birmingham; whatever you want to call us, we’ve got something truly special here which was proven by this legendary house party. Everyone who was lucky enough to be there witnessed something incredible. Musicians, friends, and fans alike came together in Jack’s living room to support and appreciate the talent that just won’t stop erupting from our very own hometown. It’s safe to say that the feelings the next morning were of great pride for Birmingham, along with a banging headache of course.

Photographs by Andy Hughes

Published in Counteract Magazine here

Album review: The Strokes - Comedown Machine

After the release of their debut album This Is It all those years ago, The Strokes were widely labelled as the most influential indie band around. The New York five-piece set themselves the seeming impossible task of ever topping one of the greatest debut albums of all time. Any band with such critical acclaim for their debut comes across the inevitable hurdle with their following albums; continue with their trademark sound and be criticised for not developing, or reinvent themselves and be criticised for selling out as musicians.  The Strokes’ fifth album Comedown Machine finally hits the right mark between innovative and familiar ground.

One Way Trigger, the first single to be released from the upcoming album, shocked many with Julian Casablancas’ experimental falsetto and the 80s new wave inspired synths with an undeniable comparison to A-ha. Once the initial shock wear off however, the track’s genius can be appreciated. One Way Trigger is a perfect taster for the album as it really sets the tone. Indie icon Casablancas’ messy falsetto features on many of the tracks including the dramatic opener, Tap Out. Don’t be alarmed though as his sexy, husky and slightly distorted vocals are still a main feature, especially in the stand-out track 50/50 which actually sounds like a Strokes song, as does the second single to be taken from the album, All The Time. Everything slows down with 80s Comedown Machine and Chances which border on the atmospheric and offer a contrast to the faster, rockier tracks such as Welcome to Japan and Partners in Crime. Each track has something to offer and it’s easy to imagine each one being a hit single.

The whole album is brought together into one complete musical triumph by the funky rhythm that encompasses each track. This take on 80s synth-pop intertwined with The Strokes’ signature sound makes for a legendary piece of work.

With a nostalgic video for the second single All The Time and a tribute to their record label as the album artwork, everything points towards the end of the road for The Strokes, and if true then what a way to end their career as one of the best loved bands of their generation. Whether they make another album or not, The Strokes will no doubt continue to influence bands far and wide for many years to come.

Published in Brum Notes here

Wolf Alice + Wide Eyed + Hoopla Blue, The Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham 23/02/13

Published on February 25, 2013

Wolf Alice

One of Birmingham’s most intimate venues, the Sunflower Lounge, filled to capacity with B-Town music enthusiasts eager to hear the latest in the underground indie music scene.

Local band Hoopla Blue were far from similar to the stereotype of small unheard of support bands; the experimental pubescent teens. Instead, their sound was precise, well refined and moreover interesting and exciting.

Hoopla Blue

Their 80s-esque debut track ‘Holy Ghost’ manages to sound soft and dreamy at the same time as dark and heavy; how masterful! They set the bar high for the other acts that night. There really does seem to be no end to the talents that keep being produced from Birmingham.

The venue soon became crammed with people, including other local bands, ready to show their support for Brummie band Wide Eyed; the next big name to emerge from the vastly growing B-Town music scene.

Wide Eyed

Lead singer Jake Bellwood dressed to impress with his suitably fitting accessory; a sunflower guitar strap. Wide Eyed truly have the whole package; they look and sound like readymade rock stars. Whether it’s the big hair or the psychedelic sounds, a complementary comparison with The Horrors has to be made; A harmonious take on The Horrors though, with a more rock n roll edge.

Wide Eyed

They finished their breathtaking set with their superb debut track, ‘Bleak.’ If Wide Eyed are already capable of stunning an audience with their headline-worthy set at such an early stage in their career, who knows what they’ll achieve in months to come.

Hot new band Wolf Alice, although from London, have been making a name for themselves within the Birmingham music scene and we seem to have adopted them as our own. During their set, front woman Ellie Rowsell joked, “Apparently we’re from here, so it’s good to be home.”

Wolf Alice

Ellie has the ‘rock chick’ persona down to an absolute T. Her soft vocals against the heavy guitars works so perfectly and is almost reminiscent of 90s punk band Elastica. Their jaw dropping set finished with a bang as they played their debut single ‘Fluffy’ – one to really rock out to. Wolf Alice are the band that you’ll be able to brag about seeing and knowing before they made it big, and judging by their performance at the Sunflower Lounge, that won’t take long.

Photographs by Jonathan Morgan

Published in Counteract magazine here

Swim Deep + Jaws live review

Check out this review from the February edition of Brum notes

Live | NME Awards Tour | Birmingham

The annual NME Awards Tour, which felt more like a mini festival, returned to Birmingham to showcase the best indie acts around at the moment.

Local Brummie boys Peace kicked of the show proudly waving the flag for B-Town. They started with some relatively new songs; ‘Higher Than The Sun’ and ‘Scumbag’ which had the crowd enthusiastically swaying. However, as soon as soon as the opening riff of ‘Bloodshake’ was heard, the crowd erupted into a mass of energy. Considering the fact that the last time Peace played in their hometown it was at a significantly smaller venue, it’s not surprising that Harrison was “struggling to get [his] head around it.” Peace looked at home on the big stage and not at all out of place. They looked like true rockstars; so much so that it wasn't hard to imagine them headlining the whole show! Peace have got a great bunch of songs under their belt. From the slower ‘California Daze’ to the more upbeat ‘Follow Baby,’ they were performed with effortless precision and were received exceptionally well. Their short but sweet set proved that Peace are ready some kind of music-world domination.

Palma Violets were next on. After making the front cover of NME twice even before the release of an album, it was easy to assume that this band had been over hyped. However, these four lads lived up to the immensely high expectations. Their set fast, furious, and seriously rock ‘n’ roll. It was impossible not to get caught up in the moment and start fist pumping, moshing or screaming the lyrics to crowd favourite, ‘Best of Friends.’ Palma Violets, heavily influenced by the likes of The Libertines and The Ramones, proved themselves at the show to be everything they were supposed to be and more. Their debut album is set for release later this month and will no doubt be very promising.

Miles Kane kept the energy flowing with his set. Miles’ 60s inspired songs really got the crowd dancing as Miles’ passion and energy was effortlessly transferred onto the audience. Amongst the classic favourites like ‘Inhaler’ and ‘Rearrange,’ Miles performed new songs such as ‘Give Up’ which were received with the same enthusiasm. Judging by the new tracks and the crowd’s reaction, his second album is set to be a corker. Miles finished his lively set with some audience participation. He had the whole room chanting the ‘Woah ahh’ parts from another favourite, ‘Come Closer.’

Django Django had a lot to live up to if they were going to top the previous three acts. Although the crowd dynamic had changed slightly, the band won over the doubters with their innovative sound and captivating live performance. After the last two hours of guitar rock it was refreshing to hear the psychedelic sounds from the band’s critically acclaimed self titled debut album. Django Django are perhaps the most pioneering band on the bill. They set the scene with ‘Hail Bop’ with its intricate beats and Beach Boys-esque sweet harmonies. Although borderline impossible to ‘mosh’ to Django Django just like the crowd had been doing for the previous acts, they were equally engaged by favourites ‘Storm’ and ‘Waveforms.’ Their set finished on a high as the perfect harmonies along with the incredibly catchy riff of ‘WOR’ filled the room.

A congratulations is in order for NME for putting on another spectacular show.

Published in Counteract Magazine here

Swim Deep fan girl

I met Higgy after Swim Deep's first ever headline show in Birmingham. It was a really great show; I felt proud! Higgy was such a cutie, and he remembered me from the interview which was a bonus. He enjoyed the cookie/gingerbread/biscuit thing that I got them haha!

I'm writing up the review now which will be in next month's issue of Brum Notes, woo. I'm also dancing around my room to Palma Violets getting all psyched up about tonight. Peace, Palma Violets and Miles Kane tonight, omg my body is so ready; excited doesn't even cut it!

x

James Blake | Retrograde

James Blake, The King of ‘post-dubstep,’ has returned with his stunning new single ‘Retrograde’ which is the first single to be taken from his upcoming album, Overgrown. Blake is known for his groundbreaking and boundary pushing sounds and he certainly hasn’t disappointed with his new track.

James has gone on a journey of self discovery in the years since his debut album. ‘Retrograde’ exudes maturity and sounds like a confidently structured piece in contrast to the experimental style of ‘The Wilhelm Scream’ and ‘Limit To Your Love.’ This track has everything that a song from a second album should have. His signature style hasn’t wavered as the new single is full of lyrical loops, clever technical devices and a prominent snare drum. Nevertheless the sound is different enough to show James’ growth as an artist. ‘Retrograde’ has more of an emphasis on Blake’s soulful voice than typical dubstep techniques.

Granted, ‘Retrograde’ is not an easy listen but that’s exactly what makes this unique and genre defying singer songwriter so interesting and gripping to listen to. James Blake’s hotly anticipated second album Overgrown will be released on April 8.

Published in Counteract Magazine here

Swim Deep Interview

I caught up with my favourite brummies, Swim Deep, back in November in a pub in Digbeth just before their gig supporting Mystery Jets. Lucky me also got to have a phone interview with Austin (lead singer) recently to catch up with what they'd been up do. The interview has been published in this month's edition of Brum Notes magazine which can picked up all around Birmingham - have a read of it at the bottom of this post!

It's incredibly exciting that I had the opportunity to meet them and speak to them. I can't wait to see them live again next week! They are such a great band and have so much success ahead of them. Big up Swim Deep

Interview  at a pub in Digbeth. I have a ten minute video of
Higgy eating pizza ... is that weird?

I am now known as the cookie girl

Austin is an absolute babe 

If that doesn't work, feast your eyes upon the normal online version here

2000 views!

So it looks like Lazy Ukulele has gone past the 2000 views mark - how crazy is that!

My exams are over, so life can return to normal (ish). I'm constantly coming across overwhelmingly good music so I've got some some really cool posts lined up. I've also got some ridiculously exciting stuff coming up regarding magazines and gigs - watch this space for it all to be revealed. I can't wait to get back in to the habit of bogging regularly again. 

To celebrate the fact that people actually read my ramblings on here, let's dance to Disclosure's new track with Alunageorge ... not my usual style but I'm so hooked on this. 

A massive thank you again to the people who check out my blog

x x x x x  

Crazy!

My blog was viewed 206 times yesterday in 10 different countries. What the hell?! To put that into perspective, the average is usually about 20 views a day. Back in May, it was just me viewing it!
This is amazing. All hail the power of twitter!

Please feel free to comment or contact me in whatever way, shape or form! I'd love to hear what you think about my blog or what kind of music you're in to. Are there any bands that I should be listening to?

Things are really busy at the minute with my A level exams and revision etc etc, but from February onwards I've got quite a few gigs planned so I'll be more active on here.

X

Btownstock @ The Rainbow

It's no secret that Birmingham, or B-Town as it's now been named, has become the new hotspot for great indie music. Birmingham is starting to lose its reputation as chav central and is instead becoming an indie kingdom. There are so many phenomenal bands emerging from B-Town, bringing heaps of vintage style straight from the streets of Digbeth and fresh new indie sounds to the current music scene. 

At the Rainbow Warehouse on the 22nd of December, the best of Birmingham's up and coming bands played a show to a bunch of crazy Brummie hipsters. Birmingham promoters and Counteract Magazine presented a gig with Heavy Waves, Wide Eyed, Junnk, Jaws, special guests Swim Deep and headliners Peace. Without trying to sound overly sentimental or cringey, the show really did feel special and will no doubt go down in history. It was a proud moment for all the Brummie fans and the bands who came together to celebrate B-Town's success. 

I was stupid enough to get there late, so I missed the first three bands. However, from the atmosphere of the crowd and the general reaction after the gig it's obvious that they were great. This wasn't any ordinary gig. The bands prior to Peace weren't treated like your average support band; each band received the respect they deserved. The fans weren't there just for Peace, but were there to support each and every local musician. 

I hadn't given Jaws a proper listen previously, but since seeing them at Btownstock (as the gig was rightfully named on twitter) they've really grabbed my attention and now I just can't get enough. Their music is so chilled out. There's a real tropical vibe to their tunes with what I can only describe as a 'whatever' kinda tone to the singer's voice. Their latest single, 'Surround You' is one of my favourites, and is a real 'surfer-dude' type track.



The crowd swayed in a trance-like state to Jaws' trippy tunes. The same can definitely not be said for Swim Deep's performance. In true Brummie style, everyone went absolutely insane. From the moment they came on stage, there were screams in appreciation for each member, an overwhelming sound of people singing along to the chorus' of their favourite tracks, an insane amount of moshing and a crazy amount of crowd surfing. The band themselves seemed overwhelmed by it all, and Austin said "I guess the B-Town hype is real." It certainly is. Almost every lyric of 'Beach Justice,' 'Orange County,' 'King City' and crowd favourite 'Honey' were sung back to the band. 2013 is so gonna be their year.

The crowd was growing bigger in anticipation for Peace. Everyone was getting sweatier and more and more up for it by the second. Eventually, Peace came on sporting some Christmassy attire. Douglas was wrapped in some Christmas tree lights and Harrison was wearing some dangly snowman earrings. Amazingly, they still managed to look ridiculously cool. I have been to an awful lots of gigs, but not once have I been to one where the barriers at the front have been crowd surfed to the back ... What?! The barriers between the manic fans and the band were being trampled on and were eventually lifted and crowd surfed to the back. It goes without saying that everyone vibed SO hard to every single track; even the especially new track that they'd never played live before! 'Bloodshake' was a definite crowd pleaser.

Even though it's a shit-hole, I'm so proud to be from Birmingham. Btownstock has made me genuinely excited about what 2013 will bring. I have no doubt at all that we'll be hearing so much more from everyone on the bill of this very special gig, especially Swim Deep and Peace.

Yay!

I've just been told that the Interview I did with Swim Deep back in November is going to be used in the February edition of Brum Notes, rather than just on the website. I'm really excited to have a big piece in a printed magazine. ALSO my editor is looking into me catching up with the band again so I can update the interview. Since I met them, they've recorded the album, played some more shows and had their next single aired on the radio, so there's lots for to add and change ... exciting!

BBC Sound of 2013 winners

Haim have been announced as the winners of the BBC Sound of 2013. The three girls from LA are all sisters, and make music that has been compared to Fleetwood Mac and the like. Perhaps I'm just bitter that Peace didn't get the title, but Haim just don't do it for me. I'll admit that they're talented, but I just don't get that excited feeling rushing through my body followed by an overwhelming instinct to click repeat and tell everyone about them when I listen to them. I actually find them annoying, and I just can't put my finger on why. In the video for 'Forever,' the lead singer does this over exaggerated short breathe thing and it just irritates me and makes me feel like they're just trying to be that cool hippie girl band that have no limits. I suppose it's at least refreshing to see a girl band that's far from similar to the diabolical girl bands around the minute like Little Mix and Stooshe.

Time will tell if 2013 will be Haim's year; they've got a lot to compete with. Have a listen and see what you think - maybe you'll find them more interesting than I do. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I hope you celebrated as much as I did (or maybe not as much - I definitely felt the consequences this morning). We have SO much to look forward to this year in terms of music. It's time to update your iPod and fill it with all the superb bands that are really gonna make it big this year.
With institutions like NME and the BBC predicting their sounds of 2013, I thought I'd do my own...

Lauren's Top 10 Ones to Watch in 2013!

• 1. Coming in at no.1 is, with no surprise, PEACE. 2013 is going to be the year that Peace dominate. The 13th of this month will see the release of their new single 'Wraith.' Their psychedelic mix of sounds that logic says shouldn't sound right together makes them such an interesting band. With their vintage mix 'n' match style, uber cool personality, fantastic live presence and phenomenal tunes, these Brummie rock stars have got everything covered.

• 2. It's again no surprise that at no.2 are the Brummie boys that make up Swim Deep. Their newest single, 'The Sea' was aired on Huw Stephens' show recently, and oh my god it's good ... like really really good. Their music takes me out of boring Birmingham and puts me on a sunny beach, dancing like a lunatic to their trippy tunes. Their debut album will be released later this year; I have no doubt at all that it will be unbelievably amazing.

• 3. Palma Violets are inevitably going to gain even more positive attention this year. They're a new band and yet they've made the front cover of NME twice! They've been labelled as the next 'Libertines.' I just hope that they don't get big headed or complacent, or even crumble under the pressure. I love their music, and if they stay true to themselves they'll be an awful lot more people lovin' their stuff.

• 4. Tame Impala have admittedly been around for a while, but it's clear that after their latest album 'Lonerism,' which topped a load of album of the year type charts, that they're getting the recognition that they deserve. The Aussie's will be entering 2013 with a huge amount of new fans. I reckon they'll be all over the festival scene, wowing everyone with their 70's hippe style tracks. I feel like I'm in one of Noel Fielding's dreams when I listen to them. 

• 5. 2013 will see the release of Bastille's highly anticipated debut album. They're fantastic live, and their simple yet effective indie-pop tracks are so great. They've got a pretty strong set of fans already, but I've got no doubt that as soon as that album is released, they'll become everyone's new favourite band. 

• 6. It's been announced that Tom Odell has won the highly respected Brits Critic's Choice Award. I've actually seen Tom live without realising! He was one of the support acts for Jake Bugg a few weeks ago. He's got a beautifully pure voice and he's a great musician - a deserved winner! If the previous winners are anything to go by (e.g Florence and Adele), Mr Odell will soon be a household name.

• 7. Chvrches were placed at no.5 on the BBC sound of 2013. They're like a reeeeeally slowed down and calmer version of Crystal Castles. I love Lauren's (great name) voice; it's pure and girly and sounds great in contrast to the electro sounds. You'll hear a lot about this Scottish trio this year, I'm sure.

• 8. If Morrissey used Dubstep, he'd sound a lot like King Krule. He's only 18, but he's really talented. It's    really to hard to pigeon hole him into a specific genre - he's totally original. There's a bluesy type rhythm to his darker Jamie T-esqye style of singing with occasional dubstep techniques - wow.

• 9. TOY are like a colourful Joy Division. They're not revolutionary in terms of genre, but you can't deny their talent. Their music just seems to draw me in and keep me in a trance like state. They remind me an an awful lot of The Horrors - in a good way.

• 10. Last, but my no means least is Splashh. I saw them support Spector earlier this year, and they were superb. It's really rare to get a support band that really grab your attention and don't make you wish that their set will hurry up and end. It's like being transported back to the 90s with their grungy and distorted sounds. They're really really cool.

Hope you enjoyed! x

Admiral Fallow + Olympic Swimmers + Cannon Street, HMV Institute, Birmingham 10/12/12

Cannon Street

Birmingham’s own Cannon Street were the first to open for Glaswegian favourites, Admiral Fallow. There were awe struck faces all round as their effortless, spine tingling, haunting harmonies echoed through the room, accompanied by a lone acoustic guitar. While their songs are exceptionally mature and somewhat dark, their personalities are refreshingly young and fun. It was hard to keep up as they energetically spoke about cats, pet earplugs and dragons.Cannon Street’s unique sound, remarkable talent and effortless ability to make a crowd laugh and smile no doubt proves that the success they deserve is inevitable. These two beautiful sisters are definitely one to watch.

Olympic Swimmers

Fellow Scottish rockers, Olympic Swimmers were the next on. Vocalist Susie told us about a traffic crisis that almost meant that Admiral Fallow wouldn’t have been gracing the stage! The news that Admiral Fallow had recently played a show in their hometown to a couple of thousand fans put some pressure on the crowd to given them the best welcome Birmingham could offer. With that in mind, there was foot tapping and subtle head-banging to the atmospheric indie rock of Olympic Swimmers. Susie’s folk-like vocals, with a certain feel of The Cranberries, over a classically indie sound complete with fast paced guitars makes for a great sounding band.

Admiral Fallow

After a frustrating nine hour drive down from Glasgow, Admiral Fallow successfully made it on to the stage where they were greeted with a very warm welcome. The band was humbled that anyone outside of Scotland would actually spend their Monday night at their gig – it was a Monday night well spent! There was a great atmosphere in the room as the audience enjoyed their relaxing, folksy tracks. Admiral Fallow aren’t like any ordinary band; their range of instruments, including a clarinet and a flute, along with beautiful harmonies between Louis Abbott and Sarah Hayes in their thick Scottish accents makes Admiral Fallow a unique and interesting band with a great live presence. From the slower tracks like ‘Tree Bursts’ from their latest album, with an Elbow-esque sound, to the faster tracks like ‘Squealing pigs,’ with an instrumental reminiscent of Mumford and Sons, the willing audience were completely engaged and enjoying every minute.

Admiral Fallow

In their inevitable encore, it was time for some crowd participation as they sang along to a favourite, ‘Isn’t This World Big Enough??’ The atmosphere of the whole gig was so warm; a perfect cure for a hideously cold Monday. Admiral Fallow’s humble characters and humorous interactions with the crowd left everyone with a gleaming smile. The talented indie folk five piece are welcome back to Birmingham anytime soon!

Photographs by Jonathan Morgan.

Published version here

Gigs, gigs, gigs

There is absolutely nothing I love more than going to concerts. Since the last update i've seen

• The Vaccines (see below)
  
  
• Boat to RowA lovely and remarkably talented band, but I couldn't help but feel that their music was more 'background music.' Brum Notes (one of the magazines I write for) hosted the gig so I felt like it would be wrong for me to miss out. Their music would be perfect if you're on a comfy armchair with a good classic novel and a glass of red wine, not standing in hot cramped room.
  

• Admiral Fallow
  
  This was a last minute thing because Counteract didn't have a reviewer. I knew their first support act, Cannon Street because I'd seen them at the Oxjam festival. They are truly unbelievably talented.
  
  
  
  
  Admiral Fallow were great too. Spontaneity is always a good thing!
  

• Jake Bugg
  I'll be getting my review of Jake published in Brum Notes, yay! 

• Peace + Swim deep + more (aka Btownstock)
  THE BEST GIG EVER
  I am so proud of Birmingham. Everyone went absolutely insane!

'Tis The Season...

I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas and filled your ears with great music. 

Here's a breathtaking cover of War is Over from the wonderful Jake Bugg

x x x 

The Vaccines + DIIV live in Birmingham

It’s been an immensely successful year for The Vaccines. The band didn’t succumb to the inevitable pressures surrounding the dreaded second album, and instead produced a second work of indie art. The rightfully titled ‘Coming of Age’ appropriately reflects the bands own growth in maturity musically. Birmingham welcomed them with opened arms when they played at the O2 academy nearing the end of their UK tour.

New Yorkers, DIIV were the last to support The Vaccines in an attempt to warm up the continuously growing crowd. They successfully eliminated any aggravating boredom that was taking over the fans as they anxiously awaited their teenage icons. DIIV’s 70s psychedelic and 80s new wave sounds infused with a generous helping of 90s grunge echoed throughout the academy, grabbing the attention of the audience.

Chaos ensued as soon as The Vaccines took to the stage. To say ‘the crowd went wild’ would be a gross understatement.  From the word go, the crowd were fist pumping to ‘No Hope’ and going downright crazy for ‘Wreckin’ Bar.’ The sing-alongs to the slower songs, ‘Wetsuit’ and ‘A Lack of Understanding’ wouldn’t have been out of place in a football stadium! As if the crowd weren’t sweating and bruised enough, after emphatic screams of ‘The Vaccines,’ they came back for an incredible encore where favourites ‘Bad Mood,’ ‘Wolf Pack’ and ‘Norgaard’ caused even more enjoyable havoc.

The Vaccines are such a timeless rock ‘n’ roll band; it’s borderline impossible not to let the infectious rhythms of their indie anthems take over your body. Like the rock and roll stars they are, their whole set was energetic from start to finish and they performed with effortless style. Boys, you may be no Frankie Avalon, but you are without doubt somebody’s hero.

Front man, Justin Young, interrupted the set to tell us how the last time they’d played in the main room at Birmingham’s O2 academy they were the first of four support bands. This just amplifies how much they’ve grown as a band in just two years. With an arena tour announced for spring next year, The Vaccines are only going to get bigger and better.

Published in Counteract Magazine 

Backstage at the Vaccines

Last night was pretty surreal!

I met Jack, the organiser of Chazzstock, after the Vaccines gig, and he'd amazingly sorted me out with a back stage pass. Ever since Chazzstock things have been really crazy and it's thanks to Jack that I've been able to do all of this. Thank you so much!

A couple of years ago, I'd be the crazed fan waiting in the freezing cold at the stage door for hours after a gig. Now, I get to chat with fantastic musicians and have intelligent conversations with them, rather than just melt and awkwardly ask for photos (although I couldn't resist getting a photo with the guitarist, Freddie).

I look pretty dishelved from moshing all night!
Freiddie (left) Jack (right)

I met Charlie's mum which was really special. It was really moving to hear that this gig was the first she'd been to since he passed away, and the last concert she saw him play was at the o2 in Birmingham when Ou Est Le Swimming Pool supported La Roux. It's weird to think that I was at that gig too. She seemed so genuinely grateful that I went to Chazzstock and she thanked me for my review of the festival too. What a really brave and lovely lady. 

All in all, it was a really amazing night. The gig itself was, as always, phenomenal. The Vaccines still remain in my top 5 live band ever. I'm still bruised, battered and aching but at least I'm not covered in my own and other people's sweat any more.  That's what gigging is all about! I'll be writing a review of it for Counteract Magazine so stay tuned. 

Peace - Wraith

I just can't get enough of Peace's upcoming single. It's music like this that makes me proud to be from Birmingham. Every part of this well written track just seems to work perfectly; from the outrageously catchy intro to the familiar screeching guitar sounds typical of Peace, it makes my ears feel satisfied! Whenever that chorus comes on, I just have an overwhelming urge to scream the lyrics, turn it up to full volume and dance the night away, repeating it over and over again. Any song that can do that is quite simply a gem.

Peace are a really incredible band and possibly even revolutionary. Their headline show on the 22nd of December could not come sooner. They'll be playing a special Christmas show at the rainbow with all of the B-Town buddies; it's definitely going to be a night to remember.

Interview Feedback

Hey Lauren,

Just a quick note to say thanks for the awesome interviews with both bands they were really great. And both bands seriously happy with them.

Cheers,

Kev

Kev has PR connections with both bands so I've been in contact with him a lot recently. I can't even describe how pleased I am that the bands liked the interviews! 

Interview: The Traps

Counteract were fortunate enough to catch up with Jamie Berry, front man of the relatively local indie band, The Traps, after their show at Birmingham’s trusty ‘ole favourite pub, The Flapper. The Flapper has been a local to this indie four piece for a while and Jamie went as far as calling the venue a “stalwart of the Birmingham music scene.”

I quizzed Jamie about the band. “We’ve been together for about ten years actually but in different guises. We’re all from Shropshire originally. We met at school and we’ve just gone from there and have been together ever since.” It was clear to see from their incredibly tight performance that this band has been together for a while. This gig was the official launch for their latest track, ‘Moving Pictures.’ With an undeniably catchy guitar riff along with Jamie’s oxymoronically soft yet edgy vocals, it’s no wonder why it had such a great reaction from the crowd. “We’ve released stuff in different bands before but as The Traps, this is our first official release. About a year and a half ago we just decided we were going to make a record. Moving Pictures was the second track that we wrote for it. We wrote it together just in the rehearsal room; I wrote the melody and the lyrics.”

I asked Jamie about specific influences behind the track. “At the time we were really into Phoenix. We were listening to their ‘Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix’ record a lot and we just liked how they seemed like an indie band making a pop album with big songs on it. It didn’t seem like there were many bands around at the time doing the same thing. The production of it is really great. We felt that this fitted with what we were trying to do so that was a big influence.” The Traps can definitely be seen as a band making big songs. Their music can be described as ‘grown-up’ indie as their tracks seem to have a carefully thought out structure as well as being performed professionally. I felt as though as I was watching a fully fledged rock band in the midst of their world domination tour rather than an up and coming band in the basement of a local pub.

It’s inevitable that four musically aware guys are going to have different tastes. “We like all sorts of different. I think that’s important because it makes everyone think differently. We don’t get stuck in one way of doing things necessarily. I think that’s important for any creative process really. You should take influences from all kinds of creative projects.”

Not only have these guys got a great set of music, but they’ve also got their own record label where they’re humbly helping up and coming bands make it. “It’s called Speech Fewapy records. We’ve got a couple of bands singed to it at the moment and we’re releasing our own stuff via the label as well. Tom Peel’s on the label.” Tom peel was The Traps’ first support act of the night. We laughed together as we reminisced about his set, however not in a mocking way, but with a general sense of awe. The only words we could muster were “unique” and “cool.” Tom Peel; singer songwriter/musician/comedian. He’s pretty much indescribable; you most certainly need to check him out. “His second EP will be out soon,” Jamie informed me. “We’ve also got a guy called Greg Bird and Flamingo Flame who has an album out now off the label which is really exciting. A band from Birmingham called The Bombergs is also on the label and we’ve worked with a band called Black Heart Generator from Birmingham too. We just wanted to help make stuff happen for artists we really liked; artists that we feel want to do something out of the ordinary.”

I righty assumed that releasing their own stuff from their own record label would have an impact on how things happened. Jamie told me the pros and cons. “It gives you a lot more independence I suppose. I mean, obviously money is always a problem when you‘re releasing stuff yourself but in terms of creative freedom it’s superb. I don’t have any experience of being in a band that’s been signed to another label so I don’t know what the flipside of it is.” February will see the release of their debut album, produced by Rob Jones; the man behind The Voluntary Butler Scheme who were coincidentally The Traps’ second support act. “We’ve done a lot of jamming together; we’re like Kindred spirits. He’s superb.” The Voluntary Butler Scheme, complete with saxophones and trumpets really caught the attention of the crowd with the jazzy yet indie-pop sounds. Rob and his trumpet even made an appearance during The Traps’ set.

Seeing as though they’re a pretty local band, I chatted to Jamie about the current indisputable B-Town hype. “I really like Peace and Swim Deep; they’re really good bands. I think it’s nice that there’s a focus on Birmingham if that’s the case. From my time of playing in this city, there’s always been a really rich vein of great bands. I’m quite surprised that it’s taken so long for the focus to come on to this city. A lot of bands who I know and thought would really do something kind of slipped away and haven’t really done much. In particular those two bands are great; I don’t know a great many others, although I did hear a band called Jaws and thought they were really good.” Although astonishingly different from Swim Deep, Peace and the like, in the sense that they are so much mature in style, sound and lyrics, perhaps The Traps can jump on the B-Town bandwagon and finally get the recognition they deserve.

Is this truly The Traps’ time to shine after being together for so long? “It’s hard to say really. It’s always hard to tell if it’s your moment to shine. The thing for the four of us is just that we really love playing the music that we’ve created. We’re immensely proud of the album and we’ve had a great experience making it. We just want to do it justice as much as possible.”

This is such an exciting time for The Traps as they’ve got a lot lined up! “They’ll be a new single called Calypso, which is the title track of the album, which comes out in January and will get national radio coverage and that sort of thing which is exciting. We’ve actually started making the second album which has about 13 or 14 tracks already written. The plan is to just get in and record it as soon as possible.”

With a new single, a debut album and another album in the pipeline, we’ve got a lot to look forward to from this promising band. I wish them all the very best!

Check out the published article in Counteract Magazine

Interview: The Ghosts

Counteract were lucky enough to catch up with The Ghosts, minus Ian Palmer (drums), after their show at one of Birmingham’s more intimate venues, The End. They concluded their first UK tour in style as infectious synth pop riffs flew from the keys and driving dance beats were dropped left right and centre. Birmingham definitely enjoyed the show. The Ghosts enjoyed themselves too, “apart from the fact I had smoke in my eyes; I couldn’t see a thing,” explained Alex Starling; front man of The Ghosts. Don’t worry Alex, we didn’t notice.

“We’re like ABBA” was the response I got from Alex Starling when I asked the band how they’d come together. He jokily implied the coupled relationship between himself and Dan Whiffin (guitar), and between Alex Sharman and Rayna Ferner (both on keys). Dan however would definitely be victorious in a battle of the facial hair against Benny Anderson with his magnificent horseshoe! On a serious note, Alex Starling explained how the band formed; “Ian was recommended to me by Charlatan’s drummer, Jon Brookes… Me and Dan have been friends for a while and we’ve been in bands together in the past.” It’s obvious that the talented musicians that make up The Ghosts have all had past experiences in the industry as their performance was exceptionally professional.

So how did this superb five piece spend their last day of their tour? “We spent the day at Q studios and did an acoustic session for them, and then we went to Kerrang! studios where we met Duff McKagan (Guns and Roses)” Alex starling told me.  He dedicated a song to Duff on request during their set as he liked their “rockier stuff.” If legendary icons such as The Charlatans’ drummer and now Guns and Roses’ bassist like their stuff, then The Ghosts have got to be doing something right!

It turns out it’s not the band’s first time in Birmingham as this gig was somewhat of a homecoming. Starling informed me that Ian is a local Birmingham guy! It just so happens that it’s not the first time for Alex Starling either; “I spent some time in the Midlands when I was younger.” He joked that he’d “moved around a lot through school life because [he] was naughty.” He told me how his Irish family travelled around a lot (although not actually Irish travellers) and he ended up at a school in Wolverhampton.

Throughout the summer, The Ghosts have played gigs and festivals all over the place, including the infamous Chazzstock, or as Reyna misquoted, “Chavstock.” “I’d love to go to a festival called Chavstock” she laughed. Chazzstock was held in Wolverhampton in homage of the late Charlie Haddon of Ou Est Le Swimming Pool who tragically committed suicide back in 2010. Ou Est Le Swimming Pool was in fact Alex Starling’s old band! Among Alex Starling and The Ghosts, other bands including Tribes, The Horrors and The Vaccines played tribute to their late friend at what turned out to be a really special event.

Prior to the interview, Jack Bissel, the organiser of Chazzstock, told me to ask Alex Starling how he had “got done by [Jack] with a super-soaker and a Krispy Kreme doughnut.” I was extremely intrigued – I had to get to the bottom of this! It’s clear that Jack Bissel and Alex Starling have got an ongoing love hate relationship, full of friendly banter. Alex told me his side of the story; “I pelted Jack with 12 Krispy Kreme doughnuts while he was fast asleep.” “So an assorted dozen then” Alex Sharman interrupted. “He’s so stupid that he didn’t even realise.”  This donut war happened between the two whilst on tour with Ou Est Le Swimming pool. Jack tried to get revenge, but according to Alex his doughnut throwing skills weren’t up to scratch. I was even treated to an impression of Jack as Alex did a limp throwing action. “He’s a lovely guy, but as some people might say, he throws like a girl.” When you thought this conversation couldn’t get any weirder, Jack also tried to get Alex with a “supersoaker” or as Alex called it, “a tiny water pistol.” “I tipped one glass of water over him and he was more soaked than I was.”

I wanted to know if there had been any similarly crazy antics on The Ghosts’ tour. “I had a bath last night that was pretty wild” Reyna told me. “Well it was in Vodka” joked Alex Starling. Dan then showed me a video of Alex riding around the Kerrang! studios earlier that day on a miniature bicycle. Erm, rock on Alex?!

What can we expect from the Ghosts next?  Alex Starling informed me that “the next album is ready and written and we’ll hopefully be releasing something in the New Year. We’ll be having some time off too because Alex (Sharman) is having a baby!” After the success of their debut album, ‘The End’ I can’t wait to see what the next album brings.

The Ghosts are such an exciting new band. Their album showcases heartfelt lyrics about love and loss with a surprisingly upbeat backing track complete with new and electrifying sounds. These talented musicians make for a superb live band. I wish them all the very best in the release of their next album and the best of luck to soon-to-be dad, Alex Sharman.

Take a look at the published version in Counteract Magazine