Issue 162.Pmd
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email: [email protected] website: nightshift.oxfordmusic.net NIGHTSHIFT Free every month. Oxford’s Music Magazine Issue 162 January 2009 zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcba AlphabetAlphabetAlphabet BacBacBackwkwkwardsardsards zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcba GET HAPPY! with Oxford’s new pop joybringers interview inside photo: Emma Sainsbury NIGHTSHIFT: PO Box 312, Kidlington, OX5 1ZU. Phone: 01865 372255 NEWNEWSS Nightshift: PO Box 312, Kidlington, OX5 1ZU Phone: 01865 372255 email: [email protected] Online: nightshift.oxfordmusic.net THE OXFORD PUNT 2009 takes lives for so long. We will miss it.” place on Wednesday 13th May. The A farewell gig is planned from one annual showcase of unsigned Oxford of the most stunning local live bands is now in its 13th year and bands. In the meantime Xmas Lights local acts can apply now to be part electronics wizard Umair Chaudhry of this year’s event. This year’s plays his debut show with his MAGAZINE will play a special warm-up show at the O2 Academy on Punt will feature some 17 acts Monday Morning Sun project at the Tuesday 10th February. The new wave legends are reforming after 27 playing across five venues in Oxford Wheatsheaf on Friday 16th January, years for a handful of dates in London, Manchester and Glasgow. The city centre. The venues involved are alongside Witches and Governors original line-up of the seminal band, Howard Devoto, Barry Adamson, Borders, the Purple Turtle, Thirst (Of California). Dave Formular and John Doyle are joined by Devoto’s former- Lodge, the Wheatsheaf and the Luxuria bandmate Noko on guitar, who stands in for John McGeoch, Cellar. WAKESTOCK FESTIVAL will who died in 2004. Magazine were a major inspiration for the likes of Bands or solo artists wanting play not be happening this summer, it The Smiths and Radiohead, releasing four studio albums between 1978 at the Punt should email a Myspace has been confirmed. The three-day and 1981. Tickets for what will be a legendary night are on sale now (or similar) link, clearly marked music and wakeboarding festival from the Academy box office. Here at Nightshift we can barely start to Punt, to took place for the first time last July describe how excited we are. [email protected], or send in the grounds of Blenheim Palace in a CD, again clearly marked Punt, to Woodstock, and despite a number of THIRST LODGE are looking for The first gig is on Saturday 17th Nightshift at PO Box 312, organisational problems and poor bands and promoters to play January. Acts interested should Kidlington, OX5 1ZU. Please ticket sales, it was hoped it would regular or occasional nights at the contact them via include a daytime phone number return again this year. city centre venue. Anyone www.responsecollective.co.uk and email contact Meanwhile, Cornbury Festival interested should contact Rob on The only rule for bands that they will take place over the weekend of 01865 242 044 or at DON’T FORGET TO TUNE into must be unsigned and from the 11th and 12th July at Cornbury [email protected]. BBC Oxford Introducing every Oxfordshire. The deadline for demos Country Park, near Charlbury. Last Saturday evening between 6-7pm is the 15th March. year’s event was headlined by Paul THE RESPONSE COLLECTIVE on 95.2fm. The dedicated local Simon and Crowded House. host a series of monthly electronic music show plays the best Oxford XMAS LIGHTS have split up. The showcase gigs starting this month. releases as well a featuring local avant-metal heroes who graced THE CELLAR hosts the regional The band are inviting local interviews with local and touring the front cover of Nightshift in heats of the 2009 Red Stripe Music electronic bands and artists to take acts, a demo review and a gig and October last year and released their Awards on Saturday 7th February. part in their shows at the Jericho clubbing guide. The show is debut album the same month, The winners of various heats will Tavern. Response Collective will available to listen to online all week posted a message on their eventually play at the final at the play at each show as well as DJs. at bbc.co.uk/oxford. noticeboard that read, “It is with Kentish Town Forum in May with great sadness we announce today a major festival slot and a record that Xmas Lights are having to call deal part of the prize. To enter, Dr Shotover: They’re a Crazy Mob it a day. Much as it would be nice to bands must be over 18. Sign up or Yes, it was a RIOT, I can tell you - sports goths, greboes, flower punks, glam say we have had massive fallings check out details at skinheads and psychedelic tweedies partying like it was 1899... and that was out and punch-ups for the sake of www.redstripe.net. just the ladies! Actually (ahem) I spent much of the evening IN the Ladies, now the drama, the truth is far more dull. Banbury rockers The Keyz, you mention it... I was after all dressed as Hattie Jacques in “Carry On Orthodontist”. What’s all this about? Try and keep up, shortarse - why, the East For many members of our band the meanwhile, have won £15,000 to Indies Club Xmas Knees-Up, of course. So... what DID Figgy Sturgess put in financial and time commitments spend on recording and releasing an that punch? All his strength, that’s what. Under these Raybans I am still became too much and, for want of a album via the website sporting a shiner that would get me instant admission to the panda enclosure at better term, life got in the way. We www.slicethepie.com. On the site Beijing State Zoo. Apparently he mistook me for his mother the late Duchess, and panicked. Never mind, eh... least said, soonest mended and all that. I am are very proud of what we have over 10,000 unsigned bands have not one to hold a grudge... especially now that I have emptied half an industrial- achieved over the last few years, posted songs anonymously, which sized tube of tyre glue into the miscreant’s Brylcreem dispenser. What did I do touring the country, playing with are then scouted and reviewed by with the rest? Why sniffed it, obviously. Can’t remember a thing about Boxing great bands and great friends and fans, with the bands attracting the Day. Oops, talking of Boxing Day, here releasing an album that we honestly best reviews winning the prize comes Figgy Sturgess could not be more proud of. With all money. Listen to The Keyz at the amateur pugilist that in mind I guess we could not be www.myspace.com/thekeyzuk himself. Modelling, it more gutted than we are right now. must be said, quite an INTERESTING new We intend to see all this out in style BORDERS in Oxford city centre hairstyle. Quick, however, and whilst we are unable are looking for bands to play instore Bedingfield, make mine to honour our touring commitments shows in the coming months. Due the swiftest Loch Peatie (for which we are hugely sorry) we to the nature of the bookstore, acts you’ve ever served, and then lock me in the will play one final gig in Oxford that need to be on the mellower side of pantry before the we are organising at the moment. things and they are particularly surreally-coiffed Look out soon for a new band from looking for classical, jazz and bullyboy spots me... If Umair and a new project from acoustic groups as well as brass all else fails, slip this tin of Brasso into his drink. James and Dave in the new year, bands, pianists and mellow or Yes - ALL of it. Toodle and in closing, thanks so much to chilled-out bands. Anyone pip! everyone that made being in this interested should email Georgia Next Month: What A Boxing Day - Dr Shotover squares up to band such an amazing part of our Waite at [email protected]. Bunch of Sweeties Figgy Sturgess A quiet word with AlphabetAlphabet BacBackwkwardsards EVEN MISERABLE CAREER STEPH: “We genuinely really curmudgeons like Nightshift get enjoy playing, whether as a band on happy sometimes. Once in a while stage or just having a jam together. we even like to dance, and if it’s not We’re all such good mates, and I a pretty sight, it proves we can still think that always helps make a nice have fun. Recently we’ve been atmosphere on stage. If you’re spotted jigging merrily at Alphabet having a giggle then chances are Backwards gigs. Here is a band that other people will too.” could make Mr Grumpy himself PAUL: “I think it’s something happy. that comes naturally when we’re playing; it’s a ‘moment’ kind of ALPHABET BACKWARDS ARE thing: you just get lifted up and simply a happy band. They play carried away by it. I think it helps happy songs and you watch them make the live show special, and up on stage making their own fun when the crowd pick up on it and and you can feel that happiness get involved then it sets a great exuding from the stage. Their fun is atmosphere, you can see everyone’s infectious. Not like some fake having a good time.” forced fun wackiness, just the warm JAMES: “I see it as a trust issue. I glow of wellbeing and a clutch of know exactly what everyone else is sweet-natured pop songs full of going to do, so I can just relax and swirling Toytown synths, enjoy it a lot more.