Fan the Fire Magazine Issue 20
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#20 FANMAGAZINE THE FIRE MAY 2009 SXSWSXSWSXSWSXSWSXSWSXSWSXSWSXSWSXSWSXSWSXSWSXSWSXSWSXSWSXSWSXSWSXSWSXSW 200920092009200920092009200920092009200920092009200920092009200920092009 M U S I C S P E C I A L #20 SXSW 2009 MUSIC SPECIAL WAVVES 4 FAN THE FIRE IS... THE VON BONDIES 4 HOCKEY 4 Editor Sam Bathe THE WHIP 4 [email protected] THE GOLDEN FILTER 4 HEARTSREVOLUTION 5 Features Writer VIVIAN GIRLS 5 Martin Roberts THE DEATH SET 5 [email protected] LATE OF THE PIER 5 Features Writer Mira Fil JAPANESE MOTORS 5 [email protected] THE SPINTO BAND 6 WHITE LIES 6 Staff Writer IGLU & HARTLEY 6 Dan Hopchet LADYHAWKE 6 [email protected] THE SHYS 6 Editorial Assistant Eva Alexandra Liu DELTA SPIRIT 7 [email protected] WHITE DENIM 7 FANFARLO 7 Art & Design SHOUT OUT OUT OUT 7 Sam Bathe CHAIRLIFT 8 Contributors FOL CHEN 8 Michael Evans, Jonathan Green, Dan Hopchet, DANANANANAYKROYD 8 Eva Alexandra Liu, We Barbarians THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART 8 For advertising enquiries, please email us on WE HAVE BAND 9 [email protected] YONI WOLF 9 WEB: www.fanthefiremagazine.com KAP BAMBINO 9 BACK ISSUES: www.fanthefiremagazine.com/backissues THE ETTES 9 FAN THE FIRE MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY. AMANDA PALMER 9 CONTENT MAY NOT BE RERODUCED IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF FAN THE FIRE MAGAZINE. BEAR HANDS 9 © FAN THE FIRE MEDIA LTD 2009. 2 FAN THE FIRE MAY 2009 FANTHEFIRE MAGAZINE BLOG BLOG AD THE ALL NEW, REVAMPED FANTHEFIREMAGAZINE.COM/BLOG WAVVES The breakthrough act of this year’s SXSW, alongside live dummer RW Ulsh, Nathan Williams’ Wavves were electrifying in each of their sets across Austin. From performanes for Gorilla Vs. Bear’s annual party at Peacocks to the renowned a show at Fader Fort, it’s no surprise the two-piece were booked up throughout the four day festival. Mixing grungy We Are Scientists- esque indie rock with angsty lyr- ics and never-ending guitar riffs, Wavves’ sound is remarkably full for a band without a bass guitar. On record, Williams adds a little too much reverb and distortion, but live, no-one in Austin topped their exuberant live shows. Third album ‘Wavvves’ is out now on Fat Possum but really, you want to catch them live on their upcoming summer European tour and Ameri- can dates next autumn. HOCKEY Touring with Friendly Fires on their upcoming UK shows, Portland-based Hockey’s smooth, beat-based electro has already attracted major labels to sign them world- wide. Single ‘Too Fake’ is their best track by far at the moment, but a well produced album could be just as good as the early hype suggests. THE WHIP Knowing this might be one of their few chances to catch the British acts making the trip Stateside, Ameri- can fans were lapping up the bands on offer. The em- phatic Manchester band proved a huge hit, if anything their heavy dance-electro went down better than in THE VON BONDIES the UK. At the end of their set, ‘Trash’ brought raptur- ous applause so expect to hear more from them in the After their 2004 breakthrough single ‘C’mon C’mon’, American market. The Von Bondies somewhat missed a beat, and should be far bigger right now but new album ‘Love, Hate And Then There’s You’ has announced them back on the scene stronger than ever. In their stand-out SXSW show, THE GOLDEN FILTER the Detroit band wowed a packed crowd at Vice with After catching their excellent final song of a previous their cool again garage rock. Mixing tracks from their set, when we managed to catch The Golden Filter from back catalogue with a handful of new songs, no doubt the beginning, we had high hopes for what followed. enjoying life after ditching major label Sire, who put out Sadly they proved the disappointment of the festival, their previous LP. This time next year, if The Von Bondies and their synth electro struggled to stand out, each are back at SXSW, don’ be surprised if they’re headlin- song blending into the next, and all thoroughly one ing the Stubb’s main stage. dimensional and empty as a whole. 4 FAN THE FIRE MAY 2009 LATE OF THE PIER Bringing with them, a vast ar- ray of instruments from the UK, a festival like SXSW was alwas likely to throw up a few problems. With so many bands playing day and night, sound check carried out between sets, immediately be- fore a band goes on, rather than in advance, so for Late Of The Pier to tune up and sound check THE DEATH SET in fifteen minutes unsurprisingly Showcasing what makes SXSW so threw up a few problems. amazing, The Death Set took to a makeshift stage in a ballet studio Despite a shaky first couple of for a midnight show. Despite a slew tracks the Castle Donington of technical issues, not aided by band played to a thriving Cedar HEARTSREVOLUTION the fact the crowd were standing Street Courtyard audience, with Despite shouting at the crowd for a on half the cables and monitors, hits off their electro-synth-disco good five minutes, lead singer Lo soon The Death Set’s punk rock eventu- debut ‘Fantasy Black Chan- sparked up for Heartsrevolution’s per- ally got into action and the crowd nel’. Their music can be quite formance at Austin’s iconic Beauty Bar were delighted before the PA gave eclectic at time, but always an venue. in completely. Still, the three tracks captivating listen, and after the they near managed to complete security guards wrongly cut them The enigmatic Lo was soon dancing proved just what The Death Set are off towards the end of their set, about on the cramped stage, and all about with fans spilling onto the Late Of The Pier’s thirty minutes though almost all of the backing synth band, at one point pushing over all of stage time went down hugely tracks were playing at the touch of a of the drums, but Jahphet Landis still well, with the opportunity even to button, unlike some electro bands, this found a way to somehow continue. throw in a couple of new tracks. was a live show that lacked anything but energy. After Crystal Castle huge success, Heartsrevolution’s scream-sampled- electro is much easier to digest, and feels like the next step on from the Canadian two-piece. Hearts’ music has a diversity to it that the style would suggest and after Kitsuné took a shine to their new tracks, releasing ‘Ultravio- lence’ on a five track EP plus their lat- est Kitsuné Maison release, the building blocks are in place for this talented, and still somewhat unearthed band. VIVIAN GIRLS At first listen, Vivian Girls’ uncompro- mising grinding rock can be a tough listen, but beneath the effects there are levels of complexities that make their tracks hugely compelling. Their current hype might currently oversell the New York girls slightly, but new JAPANESE MOTORS tracks debuted at SXSW boasted more Proving why Vice Records were so eager to snap them up, Japanese catchy riffs and a stronger baseline. Motors are very reminiscent of early Strokes, mixed with a less eclectic Their next album is shaping up nicely, Vampire Weekend element. Their chirpy pop-rock is quickly building and coupled with the girls’ on stage a strong fan base, lapping up their self-titled debut album. Their music charisma, they could yet make good might not be as instantly appreciable as other bands at SXSW but in on their potential. term of lasting appeal, Japanese Motors could go far MAY 2009 FAN THE FIRE 5 THE SPINTO BAND Given one of the closing sets, The Spinto Band faced an uphill task to get a weary SXSW crowd on their toes. Their inherently upbeat tracks, however, had just the right effect and throwing in show stealer ‘Oh Mandy’, The Spinto Band drew a huge cheer after the four festival days had obviously taken their toll on all involved. WHITE LIES The breakthrough band in the UK this year, White Lies’ dark, murky glam-rock is far removed from for- mer iteration Fear Of Flying’s sound. The old tracks were more tradition- al, thought there’s no doubt they wouldn’t have had the success to IGLU & HARTLEY date without rethinking their direc- tion. Ending their set at Vice expectantly half-naked, Iglu & Hartley invited all the women in the crowd on stage after racing through tracks from album At first their sound is very striking, but ‘And Then Boom’. The Echo Park band’s surf hip-hop pop was hugely ap- as on record, sooner rather than preciated from the crowd as they start to make steps into the mainstream. later, it will no doubt, start to soun dated. For now though, they put on In what proved to be a rollercoaster SXSW, singer Jarvis Anderson was later a good show on stage and appear arrested for an alleged assault on a hotel security guard, also committed to hold the inspiration to take their in barely any clothes, Iglu & Hartley know how to create a show and will be music far. around for a long time to come. LADYHAWKE THE SHYS Playing the huge outdoor Stubb’s stage, Ladyhawke Playing a late show at Prague after several perfor- had a huge opportunity to showcase her excellent de- mances over the four days, The Shys proved momen- but album to the American crowd. The New Zealand- tum is building once again. Mixing material from early er’s spritely electro has made her a big name in the UK rock album ‘Astoria’ and their more recent bluesy but it was a muted performance in Austin.