[email protected] @NightshiftMag nightshift.oxfordmusic.net Free every month NIGHTSHIFT Issue 236 March Oxford’s Music Magazine 2015

“Sometimes we feel like people are almost disappointed when they meet us and realise we’re actually just nice people”

Oxford’s darkest doom-mongers talk bunnies, puppies, kittens and creating a doom metal masterpiece.

OXFORD DUPLICATION CENTRE [email protected] Also in this issue: Office: 01865 457000 Mobile: 07917 775477 Supporting Oxfordshire Bands with Introducing BUG PRENTICE Affordable Professional CD Duplication FANTASTIC BAND RATES GLASS ANIMALS talk fish-slapping ON ALL SERVICES Professional Thermal Printed CDs TRUCK / wilderness / WOOD Full Colour/Black & White line-ups announced Silver or White Discs Design Work Support plus Digital Printing Packaging Options All your Oxford music news, previews, Fulfilment Recommended by Matchbox Recordings Ltd, Poplar Jake, Undersmile, Desert Storm, Turan Audio Ltd, Nick Cope, Prospeckt, Paul Jeffries, Alvin reviews and five pages of local gigs. Roy, Pete The Temp, Evolution, Coozes, Blue Moon and many more...

NIGHTSHIFT: PO Box 312, Kidlington, OX5 1ZU. Phone: 01865 372255 NEWS Nightshift: PO Box 312, Kidlington, OX5 1ZU Phone: 01865 372255 email: [email protected] Online: nightshift.oxfordmusic.net

are on sale for £74 from Truck Store on Cowley Road, with kids under 12 going free. Visit woodfestival. tumblr.com for more news and ticket details.

CORNBURY FESTIVAL BJÖRK, GEORGE CLINTON AND BEN HOWARD will headline this announces its full line-up for summer’s Wilderness Festival. 2015 on Thursday 26th February. TUNNG, SONGHOY BLUES The music, arts, food and outdoor pursuits festival takes place over the Supertramp singer and chief weekend of the 6th-9th August at Cornbury Park, near Charlbury. AND TREETOP FLYERS headline songwriter Roger Hodgson has this year’s WOOD Festival. Bjӧrk is the real coup on this year’s line-up, the Icelandic musical genius already been announced as the making her Oxfordshire debut in the wake of her ninth studio album, Mali’s Songhoy Blues (pictured) headline act for the Sunday night have toured with Damon Albarn `Vulnicura’, released in January. Funk legend George Clinton will be of the festival which runs over the combining his Parliament and Funkadelic incarnations for a run through of throughout February and release th th weekend of the 10 -12 July at both acts’ pioneering 70s classics. their debut album, `Music In Exile’, Great Tew estate, near Chipping on Transgressive this month. As well as the headline acts, this year’s line-up includes Roisin Murphy, Norton. Last year’s event featured Nick Mulvey, Nils Frahm, Caravan Palace, Hercules & Love Affair, Ibibio WOOD takes place over the headline sets from Simple Minds, weekend of the 15th-17th May at Sound Machine, The Brandt Brauer Frick Ensemble and Will & the People. Gypsy Kings, and Jools Holland. Beyond the main stage there will be a travelling folk barn, while a Brazier’s Park, near Wallingford. Hear all the line-up news as it The eco-friendly event, run entirely late night Spiegel tent hosts The Tiger Lillies, Camille O’Sullivan and breaks on Nightshift’s Twitter (@ Ronnie Scott’s jazz club. Elsewhere there is Wilderness’ usual clamour on renewable energy, also features NightshiftMag), or visit of entertainment and activities, from theatre and circus, to banquets and sets from Spiro, Josienne Clarke & www.cornburyfestival.com for full cookery schools, to nature talks and trails, and myriad outdoor activities. Ben Walker, Duotone, John Jospeh festival info. Brill, Todd Dorigo, Hans Chew, The Last year’s sold-out event featured sets from Burt Bacharach, Metronomy and London Grammar. Dreaming Spires, Nick Cope, Knights ENTRIES FOR THIS YEAR’S Tickets for Wilderness are on sale now, priced £165.99 for adults, £80 for of Mentis, Natureboy, Oxford OXFORD PUNT close on Tuesday under-18s and £5 for under-10s. Get more info and line-up details at www. Ukuleles, Tamara Parsons-Baker, 10th March. The annual showcase of wildernessfestival.com. Brickwork Lizards and The Cooling new Oxford music talent takes place Pearls, with more names to be added. on Wednesday 13th May featuring As well as live music WOOD some 20 acts across five venues in experience and be over 18. A RECORD STORE DAY takes place features all manner of workshops the city centre. Venues this year are contact phone number is essential. on Saturday 18th April. The annual and activities with an environmental The Purple Turtle, The Cellar, The A limited number (100) of all-venue celebration of independent stores, theme. This WOOD has been Wheatsheaf, The Turl Street Kitchen Punt passes are on sale from Truck will as ever feature limited edition designated The Year Of The Bee, and The White Rabbit. Store on Cowley Road, Blackwell’s releases and live instores. Truck Store following on from last year’s badger- To enter, simply send us a link Music Shop on Broad Street an on Cowley Road, Blackwell’s Music friendly theme. Go along dressed as to your music to nightshift@ online from Wegottickets.com. Shop on Broad Street and Witney’s a bee, why not. oxfordmusic.net. Clearly mark The line-up will be announced on Rapture will all be taking part in Earlybird tickets for the festival are your mail Punt. Acts must be from the 15th March on the Oxford Punt the international event. Visit www. already sold out but weekend tickets Oxfordshire, have some gigging 2015 page on Facebook. recordstoreday.co.uk for details.

GLASS ANIMALS’ DAVE BAYLEY has been on Spotify was a shock. It still is actually. Who talking to Nightshift ahead of the band’s sold-out knows how far we can go in 2015 – up to 16 homecoming show at the O2 Academy and the maybe? 17 at a real push. As long as we make release of a new single this month. it to Glasgow on this tour. They have some The local heroes play a hometown headline awesome White Russians up there. We’re really show on Tuesday 3rd March as part of their excited about the Oxford show, though; it’s biggest UK tour so far, having just enjoyed always the most special one. There won’t be any an incredible 12 months that have seen them flame throwers this time; the Jericho Tavern fire tour throughout Europe, The United States and breathers were a one-off, sadly. Australia, reach over a million Youtube views “After that it’s just lots of touring for the rest of for `Hazey’ and see their single `Gooey’ become the year, seeing more amazing people and places, the second most shared track of 2014 on Spotify. and hopefully the beginning of new musical `Black Mambo’, from the band’s debut album adventures. Obviously you’ll be the first to know `ZABA’ is out on the 23rd March. when they’re ready!” “It’s been nuts cool. I think they are all doing Dave also explained the rather weird video well. Australia is hot. We played a travelling the band posted recently of Drew MacFarlane festival, which was cool, called Falls. Ed stripped naked and being slapped with fish by his (Irwin-Singer) got as close to fulfilling his bandmates. “It was a joke that got horribly out of lifelong dream of being in a circus as he has yet. control. We promised fans if we got in (Australian Highlights were the Mexican street food and station) Triple J’s Hot 100 Top 20 we’d strip Drew karaoke clubs in LA, and onion rings at the diner naked and slap him with fish. Twitter is a powerful that Frank Sinatra hung out at, at four in the mistress – I think our social media output should be morning in LA. That was a good night. monitored more closely from now on.” “`Gooey’ being the second most shared song Follow Glass Animals on Twitter @GlassAnimals. NEWS THE OXFORD FOLK as the roots grow deep it becomes WEEKEND returns in April with clear that Carnival has lasting headline sets from Chris Wood, benefits all the year round. It is great Lady Maisery and John Spiers. to have this recognition for all the The annual community-run festival support and effort that people in runs over the weekend of the 17th- the area have put into celebrating 19th April at The Old Fire Station. Oxford’s vibrant community.” Other acts confirmed so far include This year’s Carnival will be The Hut People, Boldwood, Patsy sponsored by Brookes University. Reid, Moore Moss Rutter, The To find out how to get involved, visit Askew Sisters, Threepenny Bit and www.cowleyroadcarnival.co.uk The Rheingans Siters. Adult weekend tickets are priced THE SWEATBOX IN WANTAGE BASEMENT JAXX are the first headline act to be announced for this £57, with discounts for under- hosts its third Rock The Park event year’s Truck Festival. The electronic dance hitmakers will be joined by 18s and under-12s. The festival this year. Running over the weekend Saint Raymond and Peter Hook and the Light over the weekend of the organisers are also looking to of the 11th-12th July in Wantage’s 17th-18th July at Hill Farm in Steventon. recruit volunteers to help run the Manor Road Recreation Ground, Other acts confirmed so far include Pulled Apart By Horses, Slaves, Rae weekend. More details on that and the event will showcase local Morris, Jawws, Honeyblood, Baby Godzilla, Blaenavon, The Academia, everything else at acts of all ages and genres. Event King Pleasure & the Biscuit Boys, and The ODC Drumline. Many more www.folkweekendoxford.co.uk organisers, made up of the youth acts to be confirmed. club’s young volunteers and social Adult weekend tickets are £79.50, with under-12s going free. For tickets COWLEY ROAD CARNIVAL workers, are looking for bands and and more details, visit www.truckfestival.com. was named Best Community Project artists wanting to play. Email Beth at at the Oxford Charity & Volunteer [email protected] with Awards last month. music links and info about your band. ASHER DUST has an album’s for acts wanting to play. Artists The Carnival, which last year Visit www.whitehartmusic.com worth of tracks available for wanting to appear should email attracted 45,000 people to Cowley for more details. streaming or download on a pay- [email protected]. The only Road, returns on Sunday 5th July what-you-like basis this month. stipulations are all acts must be from this year, and is the culmination to a JON OUIN has written the musical `Splendid Odds & Bloodclart Sods’ Oxfordshire or play here regularly, year-long programme of community soundtrack for a new production of features ten tracks recorded over the and no covers bands. events and planning. Mary Stuart at the Oxford Playhouse past few years that have never been Acts already confirmed include, Danielle Battigelli, Executive this month. Peter Oswald’s previously released. The maverick Auralcandy, Bewarethisboy, Director of Cowley Road Works, translation of Freidrich Schiller’s singer/producer’s highly eclectic Blackthorn, Firegazers, Gemma which organises the event, said: 1801 play runs from the 10th-14th mix of hip hop, electronica, dub, Moss, Goin’ Loud, Ian Woods, Last “We are over the moon. Not only is March. The Stornoway chap told trip-hop, punk, blues and jazz has Rites, Monkfish, The Pink Diamond Carnival a fantastic event celebrated Nightshift, “Essentially it’s about made him a mainstay of the local Revue, Reckless Sleepers, Rory by the many communities within the power struggle between Mary scene and one of the most inventive Evans, Tom Ivey Band, Tony Batey, Oxford, it is also the culmination of Queen of Scots and Elizabeth 1st. musicians in Oxford. A full new and Wednesday’s Wolves. a series of other events and a whole What with Wolf Hall on the telly, album is due for release in May, lot of hard work from the team and Tudors are all the rage right now. My but until then, get your dose of CLEARWATER STUDIOS have all our volunteers. To get this award score involves plenty of harpsichord experimental craziness, random upgraded to 16 simultaneous tracks is fantastic recognition of our work. and strings and roboticised choir. riddims and general brilliance at from this month, aiming to help We wouldn’t be able to organise It’s occasionally dark and evil, so I asherdust.bandcamp.com/album/ bands who bands who want to record Carnival without our wonderful team thought it might appeal to Nightshift splendid-odds-and-bloodclart-sods live. They are also offering local of volunteers, fundraisers, sponsors readers.” bands a discount rate of £150 for and supporters, and I want to thank Tickets for the play are available THE JAMES STREET TAVERN 10 hours for bookings in March. every one of them. We couldn’t do it from www.oxfordplayhouse.com. hosts a four-day live music festival Contact Mike on 07818 342173 without you. Stornoway’s third album, `Bonxie’, over the May Bank holiday Cowley Road Works trustee Paul meanwhile, is released on the 13th weekend. Mayfest runs from the 1st- AS EVER, don’t forget to tune into Wolf added: “Community projects April on Cooking Vinyl. Review next 4th May at the pub in James Street, BBC Oxford Introducing every need time to nurture and grow, and issue. east Oxford and they’re looking Saturday night between 8-9pm on 95.2fm. The dedicated local music show plays the best Oxford releases MARK GARDENER releases and demos as well as featuring the album he recorded with Robin interviews and sessions with local Guthrie this month. `Universal acts. The show is available to stream Road’ will be released on the 23rd or download as a podcast at March on Soleil Après Minuit bbc.co.uk/oxford. Records. The collaboration between Regularly updated local music news the Ride frontman and the former is available online at Cocteau Twins guitarist was www.musicinoxford.co.uk. The site recorded and mixed between 2013- also features interactive reviews, a 14 and comes just as Ride reform for photo gallery and gig guide. a series of shows over the summer. Anyone buying the album directly OXFORD GIGBOT provides a from robinguthrie.com or regular local gig listing update on markgardener.com will also get Twitter (@oxgigbot), bringing you a free limited edition CD of the new gigs as soon as they go live. 2012 track `The Places We Go’, They also provide a free weekly unavailable anywhere else. listings email. Follow them. A quiet word with have worked and played with all those darkest of horror films? integrity.” any other band from across the metal guys. For me, playing with Dylan Of course they are; they’ve not gone Taz: “We feel angry and also sad. You spectrum, which in itself brings Carson was pretty epic; someone soft on us yet. `Anhedonia’ is still a really wouldn’t expect it from what another form of incomprehension. who I’d read about in so many books, malevolent music ride beyond the are, relatively speaking, underground Didn’t one local metal band, who to be sharing a stage with him was wildest dreams of the most metal record labels. `Oh, you are two shall remain nameless to save their incredible. Justin was great to work bands. The snarling aggression that women, have you thought about using embarrassment, ask you if you were with – he co-produced and recorded punctuates the likes of `Song of your bodies to create more interest incapable of playing any faster? writing, at times feeling pretty bleak `Wood and Wire – he’s insanely Stones’ and `Emmenagogue’ jars in your music?’ It’s surprising, yet Hel: “One? Tons! Other people because of it. Taz and I were both talented and a good friend of the band. rather nicely against the reverie that not so. What a shitty attitude to have have complained about our live UNDERSMILEstuck in a writing haze for months Billy Anderson, again, somebody with surrounds it, but equally it feels towards women. And music.” performances, things like, ‘they were on end, unable to think clearly about a catalogue of work like his!? Crazy! almost caged, like there’s something Hel: “We’d rather not have the CD clearly mashed up on drugs’. We’re much else, so we’re pleased we have We have had to pinch ourselves a lot far worse lurking, waiting to get you sales of people buying our music generally stone cold sober, so I don’t come out the other side.” in the past six years...” if you peer too closely into the dark. purely on looks. Taz and I have always, even know what that is.” Tom: “We’re incapable of doing a Hel: “We really admire those Taz: “Yes, I think so. As a band and will always, retain our integrity. Taz: “Hopefully it wasn’t malicious, 40-minute album, even if we really guys, they’re all actual legends and we have always enjoyed surprising Unfortunately there are still some they just really didn’t get the kind try. I personally think `Anhedonia’ we immensely appreciate all the people with the unexpected. Even just pretty backwards views on women of music we make and assumed is a more interesting album than support and encouragement that aesthetically we’ve taken pleasure making music which is considered to it must’ve been because we tried `Narwhal’; Narwhal is kind of we’ve received. The thing that blew in lulling people into a false sense be ‘men’s music’ as it’s so filthy. playing fast but couldn’t!” `everything all of the time’ and can be us away the most was when Henry of security. We definitely wanted “It’s nonsense and I can’t see how Tom: “That was a complaint from pretty hard work to listen to, whereas Rollins ordered our record. We were to create that contrast between baring any flesh will help anything, a number of local metal bands who `Anhedonia’ is more mysterious and thinking ‘we know where you live sorrow and aggression. It’s possibly other than getting a different fan base obviously didn’t seem to appreciate dynamic.” now, Henry.’ He has featured us on an amplified version of what has for all the wrong reasons. In terms of that there are an insurmountable When you’ve made records as his radio show and a few fans have gone before; the sad sections more telling us to be more erotic, so many number of musical genres out there, extreme as you have (the band’s informed us we’ve been mentioned mournful and the screams and drawls funny things sprung to mind; on the in the wide world. Still, we had to last release, a split-EP with the band on his website on bands to watch out more desperate.” other side of being insulted/irritated, admire their single-minded dedication Bismuth last year, featured a single, for. We can’t understand it: Henry Hel: “We all appreciate the we were quite amused. We wanted to pugilistic metal posturing. If it’s 23-minute track, `Titanaboa’), is there Rollins!” any consolation to them, there’s a ever a question of `where do we go Tom: “Having all of those names moment in the new album where Hel from here?’ when it comes to making attached to our work has been “The thing that blew us away was when does some black metal strumming.” the next one? great, but the first person to give Hel: “We’re genuinely not concerned Undersmile a serious helping hand Henry Rollins ordered our record. We Undersmile, of course, about things like that. We’ve all was (local producer and Blindsight thought, we know where you live, Henry!” take it all in their stride. They are agreed that we should never limit Records honcho) Umair Chaudhry; singular in their determination to ourselves in any way. We tend to his patronage of the band in the early make the music they do without “We really are it sounds kind of ancient.” after a photo shoot in a nearby tennis write the music and then decide how days was really important to us and juxtaposition of loud/quiet, beautiful/ to send Tom and Olly into a topless compromise, living proof of our humourless and miserable,” says Hel: “Olly isn’t joking, he’s been court of all places (of which more it translates, rather than set guidelines helped get us in magazines. After that ugly, glory/tragedy. But my only real shoot.” favourite maxim that bands should Olly Corona-Brown,“we were going campaigning for that title for months!” later), and asks them first, how the and try to work to a brief. We have we’ve had the support of a couple intention was finding and getting into Olly: “We should have emulated one take their music seriously, but not to call the album `Buttfuck Surprise’ new album compares to `Narwhal’. done that before but it seems to stunt of labels such as Tartarus Records in a feeling, then working on translating of the Frankie Goes to Hollywood themselves. And such is their success, but `Anhedonia’ has more of a ring Truth is, you’d struggle Taz: “We approached the writing in the creative process. In this album Holland, and Shaman Recordings and it. I wrote `Song of Stones’, for photo shoots. They were pretty erotic. on a level well beyond that that most to it.” to meet a more affable bunch of a slightly different way, if only in as we were delighted to have the cello Future Noise in Manchester. It’s one example, after seeing Cormac It’s just annoying; you wouldn’t see a local bands could imagine, they barely people than Undersmile, which is much as trying to scale songs back accompaniment as it was something thing getting a big name endorsement, McCarthy’s The Road, which was also photograph of a bunch of beardy men have to contemplate the views of Olly, bassist with what makes the nature of their music a bit, strip them down. We intended Taz and I had longed for since we but it doesn’t mean much if there isn’t very similar to one of my favourite being told they had to be ‘sexy’.” those who simply don’t get it. The Oxfordshire’s sludge/doom uber- – an awesome, overpowering, oceanic the album to be far shorter than started writing in 2006, so I was someone willing to back you and post apocalyptic video games, Although Undersmile are well outside magnificent `Anhedonia’ will only beings Undersmile, is responding to tide of doom and sludge and haunting `Narwhal’, though it’s only ended up delighted to have had the opportunity release your record for you.” FallOut3. I like to go into ‘the zone’, of even the metal underground, do further their cause. Nightshift’s enquiry as to whether dual vocals – a spectral moan from five minutes shorter. We also made to write and arrange some cello parts as we call it, and from there just see they still experience the attitudes that So back to the original point of this the band reflect the title of their new the cellar of a haunted dolls house, as room for some more sombre sections, for `Emmenagogue’ as it takes the And following such what happens. `Emmenagogue’ was can still go with such a macho type conversation. If someone only knew album, `Anhedonia’. Nightshift once described it – all the clean guitars and sparse arrangements. depth of feeling to the next level.” ringing endorsements, Jon Davis comprised on a theme of regret and of music, and are there particular them from their music, what would be The dictionary defines the word more startling. We’ve always loved these elements Taz: “We’ve always agreed that from the band Conan is putting betrayal and the lyrics in part portray expectations of how women should the biggest surprise or shock for them as “the inability to experience And it is startling music. The first in the music of Earth, Codeine and 40 whatever comes out naturally during `Anhedonia’ out on his Black Bow a woman talking about her death, after present themselves? when they met Undersmile in person? pleasure.” There are those who, time we witnessed Undersmile live, Watt Sun, and Hel and myself have the writing process is where we label, further confirmation of the high she’s left her body. I felt like, this Taz: “Thankfully that’s not the normal Hel: “Sometimes I feel like people having experienced Undersmile’s at The Wheatsheaf many years ago, worked on similar pieces of music should go next. We try not to put regard Undersmile are regarded in. time, it was easier to communicate response from people we work and are almost disappointed when they music, and fled to a safe hiding we were gobsmacked at its sheer for nearly ten years so it doesn’t seem too many constraints on ourselves. Taz: “We’ve known Jon for a while emotional soundscapes through clean play with but, as you say, the sludge/ meet us and realise we’re actually place, or wondered at a bleakness naked power and uncompromising so starkly different to us as it will to Some parts of the album have actually through the doom/sludge circuit. He guitars. The addition of the mournful doom scene is a sub-sub-sector and just nice people. We are all more than they had not previously considered nature, and really, we’ve never lost some. Conversely, I think there is been around for a long time so we is putting out some really great stuff cellos gave a stark contrast between were we playing mainstream metal, happy to laugh at ourselves and be could exist on this plane of existence, that sense of awe. There is no band on more aggression in the louder sections sort of knew what was coming. On on Black Bow Records. We recorded the heavy guitars.” I don’t doubt we would encounter silly, and now and again I’m not sure probably think the album title is apt. earth – or beneath it – that sounds like than on our previous releases, and `Anhedonia’, we decided to add `Anhedonia’ at his studio Skyhammer And are you still watching those sexism a lot more frequently. The that goes down too well.” No other band in the county, bar the Undersmile. emotionally, as well as lyrically, it is cellos, which definitely create a with the brilliant Chris Fielding, who horror films? genre we play in is overwhelmingly If Undersmile could have a kitten or a indescribably brilliant Sextodecimo, This month they release their second heavy.” lamenting atmosphere in a different is also Conan’s bass player: and much Hel: “Taz, isn’t allowed to watch supportive and on the whole no issue puppy, which would it be? has polarised opinion to such a degree full-length album, the follow-up to Hel: “We were very strict with way to anything we’ve recorded to our delight also a Nirvana and those films; she goes wrong.” is made of our gender. Obviously you Tom: “What kind of sadist would as Undersmile. 2012’s debut behemoth `Narwhal’, ourselves in the arrangements this before. It also features Lee Riley who Alan Partridge aficionado. We fell get the odd douche. We have received make a person choose between the And yet, where some see horror, and we’d make so bold as to declare time. Our main goal was for the has contributed some Lynchian noise in love with it there, in the heart of Returning to that photo the occasional review that focuses two?” ugliness and brutality, the chosen it a masterpiece. Along with the shock album to actually fit onto the CD to `Labyrinths’ and `Knucklesucker’, the Cheshire countryside with rescue shoot with Nightshift snapper Sam more on our outfits than our music, Taz: “Arrgh! How. Could. You? few recognise beauty, sensuality and awe of those tectonic beats and this time. Poor Billy Anderson had a which have created a building sense chickens and bunnies roaming wild Shepherd in the tennis courts; as befits which is rather tiresome...” I love both pups and kits. I shall and melody, or at least enjoy being riffs comes graceful contemplation time splicing `Narwhal’ down: three of dread.” and free. Hel and I arrived with sore a band of Undersmile’s dark nature, it Hel: “As far as expectations of how likely be lynched by the kitty-loving hammered half to death in slow and a sense of majesty, a deathly times it wouldn’t burn. So with that throats and were greeted by Jon with took place after dark, but beyond that we should present ourselves, I think doomster scene but I come from a motion by riffs made of ghosts and siren’s call rather than a brutish punch in mind we were like ‘Yeah, we can On the doom AND sludge warm Himalayan pink salts, ginger you’d think nothing more of its nature we’re beyond caring what other long line of dog lovers. I’m going to girders. to the jaw, cello adding extra gravity just write a short album!’ So it was scene, Undersmile are rightly and honey. True gents.” or location. Sadly sexism continues to people think; we just do what we have to say, puppy!” So anyway, why the title? Is it a joke to the guitars, electronics, courtesy quite flabbergasting to learn that after regarded as one of the finest acts to raise its ugly head for the band from like to. We have had loads of harsh Hel: “Without question: kitten. If at the expense of people who think of friend and local drone master all our concerted efforts, it’s only five have come out of the UK. They have Bunnies? Chickens? some quarters – quarters that should criticisms and if we were going to there’s one thing that can make me Undersmile really are humourless and Lee Riley, ramping up the tension minutes shorter than Narwhal. been championed by and worked with Herbal remedies? Are these really know far better. Tom has previously worry about that we would have given melt spontaneously, it’s a kitten. miserable? “I’d like to say it was us and menace while all the while “We wanted `Anhedonia’ to be more the near-legendary Dylan Carson of the purveyors of sonic terror of the told us the band were asked to make a in, or killed ourselves, as was once Those little mews and all that crab- being arseholes,” says Taz Corona- downplaying the latent aggression in succinct in terms of impact and listen- Earth, as well as Billy Anderson and kind that once cleared an entire venue photo shoot `more erotic’. How do the suggested.” walking. Then again, I love puppies Brown, along with Hel Sterne singer the music. ability. There is more of a melancholic Justin Greaves. Friends in high places before their first song had finished band deal with that kind of attitude? too, bounding all over the place. Oh, and guitarist in the band, “but perhaps atmosphere going on throughout but are always good to have, but who’s at the Oxford Punt? A band who, Tom: “It was a PR person for a As well as being that why make us choose; WHY? you give us too much credit. We truly Nightshift talks to it wasn’t intentional, more a natural been the biggest help and influence of as we discovered the first time we fairly prominent metal record label in rarest of things, particularly locally – a are just humourless and miserable! Undersmile (Hel, Taz, Olly and progression. This time around I really everyone they’ve encountered? interviewed them, are powered by Europe. Me and Olly were tempted to female-led metal band – Undersmile’s `Anhedonia’ is released in April on Personally I like the feel of the word, drummer Tom McKibbin) shortly visualised and went into what I was Taz: “We are truly blown away to nightmares, night terrors and the get them out but we have far too much music lifts them far away and above Black Bow Records. Sponsored by TWISTED STATE OF MIND `Letting Go’ RELEASED (Toil) Last time we saw Twisted State of Mind, a trio UNDERSMILE TOLIESEL still in their early teens, live they were blowing `Anhedonia’ `Wilderness Blues’ all the grown up bands on the bill offstage in a display of classic thrash firepower and (Black Bow) (Self released) unselfconscious showmanship that completely It’s fair to say that Undersmile are a band that Thankfully there is no Rolls Royce immersed belied their tender years. Since then the cherub- truly divides opinion, and not just locally. A quick in a swimming pool on the cover of ToLiesel’s faced threesome from Witney have toured the glance at the comments under the video for `Milk’ new EP but there’s plenty of rock and roll States, hooking up with Toil Radio along the way. on Youtube suggests that the band’s molasses- history’s grand sweep nonetheless. Images of A live recording of `Letting Go’ for the station slow brand of doom angers as many people as billowing hair, moustaches, cacti, cowboy boots here makes it out as the band’s debut single. it pleases. The fact that Undersmile generates and two lane blacktops assault the senses as While on the one hand a live recording helps such frothing at the mouth is to be applauded; the guitars scream in homage to the giants of BUG PRENTICE capture some of their energy and sense of fun, JORDAN O’SHEA / in getting such a reaction, positive or otherwise, the past while stand out cut ‘Bones’ could be there’s a little something lost in the production they’re clearly doing something right. booming out of a jukebox in downtown Little `Nicholas Ray’ / `Spoon’ that lessens its power to thrill somewhat, in the ROB BURR `Anhedonia’, their second full album, continues Rock, Arkansas. same way that live music television always feels along the path of righteousness, although the (Self released) What’s that got to do with Oxford, you Based on quotes from director Nicholas Ray’s reigned in compared to a proper gig. The song itself `Two Planes’ (Split EP) band has altered their sonic palette a little for may ask. That the answer is ‘about as much movies (you might remember him from such is solid enough, closer to the likes of Armoured (Bear on a Bicycle) this album. It is not as directly confrontational and when coupled with the roared vocal refrain Saint or Accept than Metallica’s full-throttle thrash; as Mount Rushmore’ is not enough to send films as Flying Leathernecks and Rebel Without Some things in life are certain: death, taxes and as their debut `Narwhal’; there’s more subtlety of “there’s no one else, I’m the only one,” it the opening blast beat salvo helps them out of the criticism the band’s way – after all, the A Cause), Bug Prentice’s latest single is every the likelihood that Jordan O’Shea’s new record to be found, and more in the way of nuance. The becomes genuinely unsettling. traps with enough vigour to slay initial doubts formula did quite well for the Rolling Stones, bit as edgy as you might expect. Musically, it’s won’t be a barrel of laughs. Jordan is not a man influence of Undersmile’s “unplugged” sister- Opening track `Labyrinths’ showcases the band’s before they settle into standard 80s riffage. Hawkwind, the Broken Family Band and a as far removed from main man Ally Craig’s solo to whom happiness comes easily, it seems. His act Coma Wall is noticeable across the album ability to write songs with carefully constructed Maybe not their best track by any means (we’re host of others and the familiar combination work as is possible to get. A raucous post-punk last album was titled `Desperation, My Dear’, as the band toys with dynamics to bring out the musical and emotional narratives. Starting life waiting for `Rock and Roll in Hell’ to see the light of sounds is pulled off here with considerable affair driven by Stephen Gilchrist’s pummelling and that sense of desolation continues into this full range of emotion buried within these songs. like a folk song as penned by Dylan Carlson, it of day), but still a remarkable slab of noise from aplomb. drumming and given a serious cutting edge by six-song split EP with Sier Pin Sky’s Rob Burr. `Aeris’ is perhaps the most obvious example, finds time to visit a haunting church service, and such a young band. Hopefully they’ll get the time But it’s that familiarity that is the problem Craig’s stabbing, serrated guitar, `Nicholas Ray’ But hey, if you want happy fun things in your with its delicately picked introduction sounding take a slow paced tour of hell conducted by the to grow into something seriously beastly. and if you are looking for experimentalism, is a song that constantly strains at the leash. life, go and buy a puppy; cheerful music is for like a desert blues and the careful application of Cenobites. It’s the band’s use of space and pacing Dale Kattack you won’t find it here. The lightness of touch Were it not for Ally’s pop-nous this could easily self-consciously wacky office `characters’ and strings as the song progresses. The twin chanted that makes it work, however. The emotional in evidence on previous tracks such as the be too discordant for its own good. As it is, some serial killers. vocals of Taz Corona-Brown and Hel Sterne, core of the song is established by mournful cello Nightshift Top 25 nominated ‘Whispered Half neat melodies, and a fine vocal performance add “My heart belongs to her / If only I could find the here at least, conjure up beautifully crafted and lines and Sterne and Corona-Brown’s almost Asleep’ is absent and while Neil Young is balance and ensure that no matter how angry the words / Is this my punishment for all the mistakes emotive melodies. It’d be a stretch to describe impressionistic vocals. The sledgehammer guitars an obvious debt, it’s the Canadian shorn of song sounds, it always has focus and a purpose. I’ve made?” sings Jordan on EP opener `Aviary’, `Aeris’ as Undersmile’s pop moment, but it is are only unleashed when the song demands it, but radicalism, be it musical or political. After the thorough shellacking given by partway between Year 11 bedroom poet and man the most accessible and perfectly crafted song when they hit, they are all the more effective for It’s passé to criticise guitar solos for guitar `Nicholas Ray’, `Spoons’ is a different beast seriously at the end of his tether, and it gets more they’ve done to date. Similarly, the conclusion to the band’s attention to their craft. solos’ sake but the wheeling riff on ‘An altogether. Here, the band is in far more despairing from here, mournful horns and minor `Emmenagogue’ sees the band utilising strings to This album represents a significant step Hour Later’ takes things up a further notch introspective mood as Ally celebrates his best key grief laid out like the red carpet into Purgatory add emotive weight to their sound – as if more forward for Undersmile in terms of sound and as if opener ‘The Light Part 2’ and the friend. A simplistic guitar and bass pattern on the shimmering, autumnal `Boketto’, from weight were needed. songwriting. They will continue to divide opinion, aforementioned ‘Bones’ were not bombastic mix with some aching cello (provided by Jon which that word `desperate’ once again emerges. Despite these flourishes, there’s still plenty of of that there’s no doubt, but `Anhedonia’ is an enough. To finish, the action reverts to the Clayton) to create an atmosphere shot through By the time he reaches `Farewell December’, a the thunderous and unsettling Undersmile to be assured and impressive album, that deserves its camp fire and log cabins of the Marston Road, with a palpable sense of love, and a little sadness barely-there, soft-as-snow blanket of melancholy, found too. Never has the band sounded so intense place (locally at least) alongside Sevenchurch’s the title track revealing itself as a slow burner too. As different as these songs are, they are both Jordan’s talking of “leaving this world behind” and crushing; they’ve harnessed a bottom end so doom masterpiece `Bleak Insight’. To paraphrase of a ballad straight out of Americana’s central capable of taking your breath away, albeit via as he declares “I will hear you in everyone,” like heavy that when the distorted guitars kick in, the one of those Youtube commenters: this is what musical casting before an extended bout of arm different methods. a living wraith whose love has been lost at sea ground shakes. `Sky Burial’ for example simply happens when you let women write music. waving and lighter lifting that exorcises the Sam Shepherd leaving him to wander the shore forever more. It’s rumbles when the main hook crashes down, Sam Shepherd ghost of Eric Clapton. not what’s commonly referred to as `a banger’. Only in the final few seconds does the Rob’s songs seem rather better adjusted to untrammelled wall of noise this reviewer craved Flamenco is the music of joyous sexuality and the concepts of summer, giddy kittens and not Short and sweet, the new release from ‘voodoo reveal itself, permeated by echoing vocals – if drunken revelry, right? Not in the hands of throwing yourself off a motorway bridge. Armed sci-fi blues’ duo Vienna Ditto is a single track the whole EP had displayed this kind of nerve, Charlie Cunningham it ain’t. Like Jose Gonzales with a reflective, whispery voice and an acoustic to whet the appetite for their forthcoming debut we might have more reason to be excited. For he conjures a cosy sense of melancholy out of it, guitar, he shares a sense of disconsolation with album. It starts traditionally enough, with an now, dust down that plaid shirt and your Levis. his voice rich and airy and reflective even as his Jordan but these songs could sit more easily in urgent blues guitar strum, but within seconds this Rob Langham fingers fly across his fret as if trying to conjure the company of a country tavern folk jam where tradition is subverted with odd synth sounds and the spirit of the Tarantella. He does it best on the audience could stare wistfully into their pints the warbling strength of Hatty Taylor’s vocals. the sweetly wistful `Less Leg’, which as the title without feeling the need for recourse to heroin or From here on, we can do nothing but submit might suggest is the polar opposite of a cheery loaded pistol. to an increasingly thrown-it-all-in production drinking song but manages to properly capture The ghost of Nick Drake hovers just over the style, as keyboards, organs, horns and chaotic your heart in its gentle web of sorrow. shoulder of songs like `Slither of Moon’, with its electronics wend their way through a frenetic Elsewhere `Long Grass’ sees Charlie making starlit sparseness, and if he doesn’t quite stand out song structure. It’s all expertly handled, and simple instrumentation and arrangements from a small army of similarly downbeat acoustic melodically it reminds of ‘House Of The Rising feel like so much more, though when you’ve troubadours, Rob’s purity of voice and lyrical Sun’, albeit through the dual lens of 19th century a voice that so comfortably cuts to the heart simplicity marks him out as a likable talent. bawdy French sing-songs and 21st century post- of romantic longing, who needs more. In fact Dale Kattack everything muso culture. Without the fantastic there’s a feeling he finds this all too easy, and in vocals, it could be slightly lessened as a piece, CHARLIE a crowded genre where too many earnest young but even on the merits of the music alone, it lays men sound like they’re straining every muscle to VIENNA DITTO out an increasingly idiosyncratic sound for a CUNNINGHAM squeeze some kind of genuine emotion into the band that seems hell-bent on doing things their music, it’s a rare treat to hear it done with such ‘Hammer And A Nail’ own way. Bring on the album! `Breather’ easy grace. (Self released) Simon Minter (Kissability) Sue Foreman acoustic pop, showtunes and Tex-Mex flavourings noise with Witney’s splenetic hardcore crew drawing comparisons with everyone from Labi Vera Grace up against Portsmouth’s metalcore Siffre, Jamie Cullum, Andrew Lloyd Webber and merchants Prolong the Agony and Abingdon’s Buddy Holly. Being Eugene, this month’s Nightshift Demo ZZ TOPS: Fat Lil’s, Witney – Tribute night. of the Monthers for their pummelling hardcore DISCO MUTANTES: The Library – Disco, assault. funk and acid house club night, tonight a special BLOODY KNUCKLES: The Bullingdon – GIG GUIDE tribute to disco godfather Larry Levan. Classic house at the student club night. THE MATT EDWARDS BAND + LEPER st ACOUSTIC THURSDAYS: Jude the Obscure SATURDAY 7th KING + SECRET KID: The Jericho Tavern SUNDAY 1 – Electric blues rocking from local guitarist and LOLA COLT: The Jericho Tavern – Noisy – New weekly acoustic open session at the POLICE DOG HOGAN: The Bullingdon – Jericho pub, with guest performers and all-comers Upbeat urban bluegrass, suburban country, fun singer Matt Edwards, plus stoner rocking from gothic drama from the rising London band – see Leper King. Wednesday 11th – Friday 27th main preview MARCH welcome. drinking songs, tales of failed barbecues and PETER KNIGHT’S GIGSPANNER: The BEARD OF DESTINY + MOON LEOPARD + ADAM LATIF BAND: Joe’s Bar & Grill, souvenir tea towels at tonight’s Empty Room touring their third album, `The Tree’, drawing Cornerstone, Didcot – The legendary former AUDIOGRAFT: DES BARKUS + SONG & SUPPER ROOMS: Summertown – Gypsy jazz quartet pays tribute show from the ever-touring septet, featuring comparisons to classic 70s pub rock acts like Steeleye Span fiddle player continues his virtuoso Donnington Community Centre (6pm) – Free to Django Reinhardt, plus jazz standards. Guardian columnist Tim Dowling on banjo, Ducks Deluxe, Brinsley Schwarz and Graham journey through the world’s musical traditions, Various venues early evening of acoustic music, hosted by Moon the band’s inclusive, feelgood vibes a neat Audiograft, to give it its full title is `A Parker & the Rumour. infusing his traditional English sounds with Leopard’s Jeremy Hughes and featuring bluesman th counterpoint to his dry, hangdog humour. contemporary experimental and sound art BILL KIRCHEN: The Jericho Tavern - The FRIDAY 6 elements of Balkan, French, Cajun, African and Beard of Destiny and rocker Des Barkus. THE LITTLE UNSAID + WALTZ IN THE festival’. Now an annual event curated by “Titan of the Telecaster” comes to the Famous SKYLARKIN’ SOUND SYSTEM: The Cellar Aborigine folk. MAD LARRY + TOMY IVEY + SPOON SHALLOW END: The Cellar – Dramatic, the Sonic Art Research Unit at Brookes, Monday Blues, showing no sign of giving up any – Celebrating fifteen years bringing dub and roots THE LOST ART: The Rock of Gibraltar, THEORY + ADY DAVEY & SHAKY LIPS cinematic, string-laden folktronica from West and co-promoted by Oxford Contemporary time soon as he continues to tour, some 45 years sounds to town, Skylarkin’ continues to be one Enslow + DES BARKUS + PURPLE MAY: The Yorkshire producer and multi-instrumentalist John Music, Audiograft aims to explore cutting after the success of `Lincoln Hotrod’, the hit he of Oxford’s essential club nights, tonight with THE PETE FRYER BAND: The Jolly Wheatsheaf (3.30-7pm) – Free afternoon of Elliot, inspired by Nick Cave and Jeff Buckley edge musical and visual experimentation in a led as guitarist with Commander Cody’s Lost Massive Attack’s Daddy G, fresh from rocking Postboys, Florence Park – first of a handful of unplugged live music courtesy of Giddyup Music. as well as the dark literary tradition of Lolita variety of venues around Oxford. This can be Planet Airmen. Adept at blues, boogie-woogie, the beach stage at Outlook 2014 and taking a trip shows this week from veteran local blues rocker and Dante’s Inferno, out on tour to promote his anything from sound frequencies morphed and country, swing and rockabilly, and with a well- underground to play a set of deep, dubby reggae, Pete Fryer and band. nd hip hop, soul, garage and block party gems that new album, `Fisher King’, produced by Oxford’s mutated by heat, as in the work of Japanese MONDAY 2 earned reputation as a consummate entertainer. Graeme Stewart, who has produced Jonny WINTER-WILSON: Tiddy Hall, Ascott-under- THE RIOTOUS BROTHERS: The Bullingdon hark back to his 80s soundsystem days with The Wychwood – Harmony-heavy trad folk from artist Minoru Satu, or speakers suspended Wild Bunch. The night is hosted by Tru Thoughts Greenwood’s recent film scores. from pendulums and helium balloons, courtesy – Raw, rocking r’n’b, blues and prog from the rd VERA GRACE + PROLONG THE AGONY + former-Ragtrade members Kip Winter and Dave south coast’s Riotous Brothers at tonight’s Haven TUESDAY 3 mic man Deemas J. Wilson, out on a national tour to promote their of Argentina’s Lucio Capece. It really is an GLASS ANIMALS: O2 Academy – Already BEING EUGENE: The Wheatsheaf – Quality Club show, the band, formed back in 2003, KIM CHURCHILL: The Bullingdon – sixth album, `Cutting Free’. international affair, with Mexican artist Mario sold-out show for the homecoming heroes, back Breathless, bluesy rock and soul from the barefoot THE MISSING PERSIANS: The Marsh De Vega challenging his audience to face on their own turf after touring the States, Europe Aussie songsmith, over in the UK to promote his Harrier, Temple Cowley – Easy blues rocking their fears with the use of gunpowder, bullets st and Australia, celebrating being the second most th Sunday 1 fourth album, `Silence/Win’. Wednesday 4 from the local regulars. and overheated microwaves in his music, shared act on Spotify in 2014 and set for a game- DR SYNTAX: The Bullingdon – Hip hop club EYE-CON: Fat Lil’s, Witney – Current and and France’s Arno Fabre, whose electro- changing appearance on Letterman. And they’re LOLA COLT: night with much-travelled Banbury rapper and AQUILO: classic mod covers. mechanically rotated bells bring rhythmic ours, all ours! – see main news feature producer Dr Syntax, who’s worked extensively HONOLULU COWBOYS: St Giles Church cohesion from randomness. Add in the likes of The Jericho Tavern JAZZ CLUB with GUITAR SUMMIT: The alongside Foreign Beggars, collaborated with The Bullingdon veteran electronic music experimenter Andy We wouldn’t call Lola Colt a goth band but Hall (6pm) – Hawaiian tea party. Bullingdon – Free weekly jazz club, with guests Rizzle Kicks and Del the Funky Homosapien While it hardly equals nearby Manchester Guhl and this is as far from tired old rock it wouldn’t be too much of a flight of fancy Guitar Summit playing live. and lately has been fronting Manchester hip hop as a musical hotbed, The Lake District does music as it’s possible to get. It’s music that to imagine the London sextet dressed head th BEN GOSLING + THE JULIA MEIJER collective Mouse Outfit. seem to keep producing excellent new bands SUNDAY 8 challenges, confounds, educates and opens to toe in black while thinking the darkest of BAND + ALL THINGS CONSIDERED: Old KLUB KAKOFANNEY with PEERLESS that seem to reflect the isolation and serenity STEAMROLLER: The Cellar – Rocking minds to all manner of possibilities, while dark thoughts. Their debut album, `Away Fire Station – Little Red multi-instrumentalist PIRATES + MAD LARRY + BEARD OF of their surroundings. On the heels of Wild 60s-style blues in the vein of Hendrix and Cream blurring boundaries between music, art and From The Water’, was produced by Bad Seed Ben Gosling plays solo, inspired by Billy Bragg, DESTINY + DECOVO: The Wheatsheaf – Beasts and Mozart Parties come Aquilo, from the local veterans, tonight playing in aid film. For a full festival programme, visit Jim Sclavunos, so the dark side definitely AA Bondy and Vic Ruggiero. He’s joined by Swashbuckling rockabilly, Tex-Mex and spaghetti a pair of young men from Silverdale with of autism charity Oasis and joined by a host www.audiograft.co.uk has them for its own. And by crikey they’re Oxford-based Swedish singer-songwriter Julia western fun from Smiths-inspired party starters sadness in their hearts and musical pasts of guests, including local blues stars Krissy serious fun in their adherence to heavily Meijer and her band, mixing atmospheric acoustic Peerless Pirates at tonight’s characteristically that involved rival thrash metal and grunge Matthews and Aaron Keylock. reverbed post-punk noise and emotional inspired by Hendrix, Freddy King, Albert Collins pop with folktronica, and Berkshire’s folk-fusion eclectic Klub Kak. They’re joined by veteran bands in their hometown. The duo’s dreamily WOMANITY: Modern Art Oxford – Return drama, singer Gun Overbye possessed of and Joe Bonamassa. outfit All Things Considered. blues and country fella Mad Larry Reddington, atmospheric electro-pop and ethereal r’n’b, of the annual one-day festival of music and a venom-and-velvet-laced voice pitched OPEN MIC SESSION: James Street Tavern one-man blues army Beard of Destiny and indie all lush, layered electronics, pianism and interactive talks with the emphasis on gender partway between Patti Smith, Anna Calvi th rockers Decovo. wistful choirboy-pure vocals, has seen them in music. Playing live is cello’n’loops maestro TUESDAY 10 and Grace Slick, while the band’s brooding th DAISY RODGERS MUSIC presents LOWWS compared to Mount Kimbie, James Blake and Duotone with his gorgeously melancholy JAZZ CLUB with BLAKE’S 7 FUNK psychedelia and gothic pop sounds like the WEDNESDAY 4 + LEADER + ORANGE VISION: The Jericho London Grammar, and earned them a well- electro-folk-pop; quirky, jaunty singer and PROJECT: The Bullingdon – Roj Blake, Kerr soundtrack to a bleakly trippy spaghetti AQUILO: The Bullingdon – Lake District lads Tavern – Triple bill of local indie rock at received slot on the BBC Introducing stage multi-instrumentalist Rainbow Reservoir; dark, Avon, Genna Stannis and Zen the onboard flight western orchestrated by The Doors, The Gun with a sweet disposition – see main preview tonight’s Daisy Rodgers Music show, with Lowws at Glastonbury. Following the frothy acclaim emotionally harrowing singer/songwriter Tamara computer battle the evil and decidedly ungroovy Club and Savages. Some cracking influences – the new name for The Sea The Sea – offering their early Soundcloud recording garnered, Parsons-Baker; musical storyteller IM Kalifa, Federation using only the power of funk at there, and Loa Colt are already building a th THURSDAY 5 lush, fidgety electro-tinged pop in the vein of an EP `Human’ came out in December, a soulful singer Mary James, plus songs and sets tonight’s jazz club. reputation for live ferocity, so enjoy tonight’s THE AUTUMN SAINTS + RUSSIAN Foals and Friendly Fires, alongside delicate musical incarnation of standing atop the Fells from young players from the Young Women’s INTRUSION: The Cellar – Goth, industrial and intimate setting. Just don’t let them have the COWBOYS + FLOURITE + KHAMASINA stadium pop from Witney’s Leader and heavier gazing down on Buttermere on a clear, frosty Music Project. Talks start at 2pm, with the music ebm club night with Doktor Joy and Bookhouse. key to the cutlery drawer. + MEGAN JOSEPHY: The Jericho Tavern indie rocking from Orange Vision. morning. from 7pm. OPEN MIC SESSION: James Street Tavern – It’s All About the Music showcase with REM LONELY THE BRAVE + HANNAH- RED BUTLER: The Jericho Tavern – Electric and Tom Petty-inspired Anglo-American rockers LOU CLARKE + LAKE ACCACIA: The blues-rocking from Sussex’s rising young band th Autumn Saints, and funk-pop crew Russian WEDNESDAY 11 Courtyard, Bicester – All-ages gig in aid of at The Famous Monday Blues, the band, centred Cowboys. AUDIOGRAFT LAUNCH: Ovada – Launching Oxfam at the Courtyard Youth Arts Centre, the around guitarist Alex Butler and singer Jane THE MIGHTY REDOX: The Wheatsheaf – three weeks of experimental music and art events show organised by the club’s gig committee, and Pearce drawing comparisons to Stevie Ray Free unplugged gig in the downstairs bar from the and exhibitions in venues across the city, curated featuring stars of last summer’s Truck Festival Vaughan, Gary Moore, Joe Bonamassa and Etta veteran local blues, swamp rock and psych-funk by the Sonic Art Research Unit at Brookes and Lonely The Brave, hailing from Cambridge James. faves. Oxford Contemporary Music, a free show by and whose epic, urgent alt.rocking recalls Pearl OSPREY + PURPLE MAY: The Wheatsheaf CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford Andy Guhl and Mario De Vega – see main Jam and Glasvegas at times; after tour supports (3.30-7pm) – Free afternoon of unplugged live Community Centre – Oxford’s longest running preview to Lower Than Atlantis, Marmozets and Deaf music courtesy of Giddyup Music. and best open club night continues to showcase SLEAFORD MODS: O2 Academy – The grim Havana, they’re off on tour as headliners. THE PETE FRYER BAND: The Bell, Wantage local singers, musicians, poets, storytellers and underbelly of modern life made musical flesh They’re joined by singer Hannah-Lou Clarke and more every week. from the Nottingham duo – see main preview Banbury’s teenrockers Lake Accacia. MONDAY 9th SUPERMARKET: The Cellar – Pop, disco, UK TRAGEDY: The Bullingdon – Another return to THE LOST ART: James Street Tavern – Local KRISSY MATTHEWS: The Bullingdon – garage and 90s house club night. town for the heavy metal tribute to The Bee Gees. duo Greg and Gordo take their acclaimed debut Bicester’s hotly-tipped young blues guitar talent OPEN MIC CLUB: The Half Moon THE MARK + MOMENTO + CARDBOARD album into the live arena, their sweet, soulful returns to the Haven Club, his electric style BLUES JAM: Ampleforth Arms, Risinghurst CASTLE + CLAIRE VIOLET HODGKIN: songstress Hannah Aldridge, daughter of Muscle SUNDAY 15th The Cellar – Rasta consciousness from lyrical action on the decks. Shoals legend Walt. chief Macka B, returning to the Cellar after his THE STRAYS + TOO MANY POETS + THE CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford show here last year, celebrating some 30 years GRAFHAM WATER SAILING CLUB + Community Centre MONDAY 16th making his reputation as one of the UK’s finest MOGMATIC: The Wheatsheaf – It’s All About OPEN MIC CLUB: The Half Moon STEPHEN DALE PETIT: The Bullingdon – ever dancehall toasters. Inspired by U-Roy, the Music local bands showcase. BLUES JAM: Ampleforth Arms, Risinghurst Return to town for the Californian blues guitarist I-Rot and Prince Far I, he’s toured the world THE BUCK CLAYTON LEGACY ACOUSTIC THURSDAYS: Jude the Obscure who has made it his mission to take blues to a with The Wailers, Burning Spear and Lee Perry BAND: St John the Evangelist – A tribute younger audience – notably his 2007 lecture and among others and tonight graces the intimate to Duke Ellington led by BBC Jazz Record FRIDAY 13th gig tour of UK universities – and an oddity in that confines of the Cellar backed by the Roots Ragga Requests host Alyn Shipton, directed by German RAGING SPEEDHORN + SEETHE + he’s an American bluesman inspired as much by Band. Heavyweight local reggae support from saxophonist Matthias Seuffert and featuring MUTAGENOCIDE + REVELLER: The the British blues explosion of the 60s and 70s as Desta*Nation and Cornerstonemusik, plus an pianist Martin Litton, the band revisits Duke Wednesday 11th Wheatsheaf – Death to false metal! Death to he is by traditional American blues greats like Oxford debut from MC/singer Chieftain Joseph. Ellington’s small band repertoire. Albert King. Having moved over here in the 80s THE ORIGINAL RABBIT FOOT SPASM everyone and everything! RARRRRRRRRR! – Saturday 14th SLEAFORD MODS: see main preview he made his cult reputation by busking in the BAND + HUCK & THE HANDSOME SATURDAY 21st CUTTING INTO THE CONTINUUM: The London Underground and has gone on to play FEE with TAMARA PARSONS-BAKER KNIGHTS OF MENTIS + BLACK ARTHUR BROWN: O2 Academy Holywell Music Room – Interpretations of with the likes of Eric Clapton and Dave Gilmour + ZEPPELIN CREW + VICARDS OF FEATHERS + THE SHAPES + TREVOR In an age where raw social commentary and experimental compositions by Jennifer Walsh, as well as touring alongside The Rolling Stones’ TWIDDLY DJs: The Jericho Tavern – Hot jazz, WILLIAMS: The Bullingdon (6pm) – Inventive, genuine anger in music is a rare-to-extinct Mick Taylor. swing and r’n’b heroes TORFSB host their own The Cellar Paul Newland, James Saunders, Matthew expansive Americana from Knights of Mentis; “I am the god of hellfire, and I bring you… thing, confined to the margins of conscious Vicar’s Tea Party, with a debauched, whisky and Shlorowitz and Paul Whitty & Felicity Ford as Irish, English and bluegrass folk from Black FIRE!” As far as opening lines go, Arthur hip hop and righteous hardcore, the column th gin-fuelled edge, the band kicking out their classic part of Audiograft – see main preview TUESDAY 17 Feathers; classic sounding r’n’b and 60s pop from Brown’s one and only chart hit takes some inches devoted to Sleaford Mods is a 30s speakeasy jazz in style and joined tonight by SIVU: The Bullingdon – Darkly repentant DUKE SPECIAL + PAUL COOK & THE The Shapes and emotive acoustic pop from Trevor beating. In fact almost half a century after it welcome reminder that some people are still gutter blues crew Huck & the Handsome Fee, plus electro-tinged pop from Cambridge singer James CHRONICLES: O2 Academy – Intimately Williams at tonight’s One Gig Closer to Wittstock reached Number 1, selling a million copies mightily pissed of about, well, everything. Zeppelin Crew, a steampunk a cappella group, Page, mining his past working in a call centre and orchestral pop ballads from Belfast’s dreadlocked fundraiser. in the process, Brown is still known as The The Nottingham duo of musician/beatmaker destroying popular hits from the last century. for a bailiff company for his sometimes bleak, troubadour, performing songs from his eighth SPACE HEROES OF THE PEOPLE + BARRY God Of Hellfire, while that line has been Andrew Robert Lindsay Fearn and gob-on- Crazy surf-rocker Vicars of Twiddly return to sometimes smoothly soulful songs. album, `Watch Out Machines!’. & THE BEACHCOMBERS + OSPREY & sampled by The Prodigy amongst other. While a-stick Jason Williamson are mining the lost BOSSAPHONIK: The Cellar – Dancefloor JAZZ CLUB with THE STUART THE OX4 ALLSTARS + THE HEADINGTON he’ll forever be known for `Fire’, Brown’s art of articulating the experience of life at the Latin, Balkan beats, Afrobeat, global grooves HENDERSON QUARTET: The Bullingdon – HILLBILLIES: The Wheatsheaf – Oxford’s musical career is long and varied, taking in coalface (or call centre, or job centre, or pretty th and nu-jazz dance club night, tonight featuring Free live jazz from trumpeter Stuart Henderson Friday 13 champion gig goer Leon `Dancingman’ Stiles collaborations with Hawkwind, Die Krupps much any scabby, dead-end place you care to a live set from seven-piece Edinburgh Afrobeat and band. celebrates his birthday in the company of electro- and Bruce Dickinson, while his outlandish imagine and wish you could unimagine) with outfit Pocion De Fe, infusing their sound with PERKELT + JESTERS + FIREGAZERS RAGING pop stars SHOTP, tonight launching their debut onstage performances, generally involving a vengeance. With a dedication to lo-fi sounds Caribbean rhythms, funk grooves and Cuban + THE SCOTT GORDON BAND + LUNA album `Loudspeaker’ and mixing OMD’s more nakedness, theatrical make-up and setting and scabrous wit, coupled with an oddly salsa. They’re joined by Bristol’s tropical DJ crew GHECKOS + SUPERLOOSE + PURPLE SPEEDHORN experimental synth adventures with a groovy himself on fire, set the template for Alice poetic eye for the nastier details, the pair Area Boys. MAY: The Wheatsheaf (6pm) – Free evening of Giorgio Moroder disco edge, plus punk freaks Cooper, Marilyn Manson and Kiss, as well make for brilliant if sometimes uncomfortable BROOKES BROTHERS: The Bullingdon – unplugged live music courtesy of Giddyup Music. / SEETHE / Barry & the Beachcombers; funky blues crew as getting him kicked out of Italy and off a listening, sounding like a seriously vexed Club night. OPEN MIC SESSION: James Street Tavern The OX4 Allstars, and Americana folks The tour support with Jimi Hendrix. Shock tactics John Cooper Clark manning the barricades SWITCH with FRIEND WITHIN: O2 MUTAGENOCIDE / Headington Hillbillies. aside, Brown’s four-octave vocals – verging with McLusky and Mike Skinner. Most of Academy – Classic 808-led house at the O2’s th FALLEN FROM GRACE + DEVIL INSIDE on the operatic – provided inspiration for their songs are far too potty-mouthed to get on WEDNESDAY 18 REVELLER: weekly electro night. + SEVERANCE + SILK ROAD + SUGAR metal singers the world over. Now in his 70s, the radio but `Divide & Exit’ featured highly BENEDICT BENJAMIN + MONUMENT DARLING: O2 Academy – Skeletor host a Arthur Brown remains musically prolific; in every decent end of year poll in 2014, VALLEY: Secret address, OX4 – Tigmus host a The Wheatsheaf th In the earliest days of the now legendary Club showcase of local metal and metalcore, including his world is still a crazy one, and the flaming while Williamson is an interviewer’s dream SATURDAY 14 special secret show in a to-be-disclosed location – That Cannot Be Named, Corby’s Raging headliners Fallen From Grace, rap-metal and headgear is still an essential part of the show. in an age of say-nothing rock stars. With a ARTHUR BROWN: The Cellar – Man on fire – you’ll need to visit their website to find out where Speedhorn were regular visitors to town, a hardcore crew Severance and angular hardcore He’s very much a one-off, and the world is tumultuous personal past to draw on, he’s see main preview exactly nearer the time – with former-Peggy Sue band fuelled by hate and hedonism and who types Sugar Darling. doubtless a safer, and less interesting, place realised his time is now and he’s not holding MARIA CHAVEZ + SALLY GOLDING + and Mariner’s Children man Ben Rubinstein left a trail of broken venues and bloodied BEDROCK: The Bullingdon – Skeletor’s for that fact. back. Thank God for Sleaford Mods. Unlike MINORU SATU + LUCIO CAPECE: The now going out in his Benedict Benjamin guise, noses behind them. They even boasted a song monthly rock club night plays metal classics the Yellow Pages, they really are here for the Story Museum – Audiograft experimental mixing brooding Americana, 50s harmony pop called `The Hate Song’, for which the word and the best new sounds from across the rock nasty things in life. concert – see main preview and sunshiny melodies. He’ll be joined by Ned rd virulent was almost certainly invented. With universe. MONDAY 23 BLOODSTOCK – METAL TO THE MASSES Younger’s atmospheric acoustic pop project, THE STRANGLERS: O2 Academy – The the sludgy riffage of Iron Monkey and dual THE PINK DIAMOND REVUE + SAM HEAT 4: The Bullingdon – Fourth heat in the Monument Valley. Men In Black’s annual visit to town, now down The Wheatsheaf – Heavyweight rock and metal vocal attack of Extreme Noise Terror or Hard MARTIN + ROBERT LANYON + EMMA band competition to win a slot at this summer’s to just JJ Burnell and Dave Greenfield from their from The Mark and genial Balkan and Middle To Swallow as primary influences, the band HUNTER: The Jericho Tavern – Very welcome Bloodstock, alongside Megadeth. th classic line-up, still kicking out punk classics Eastern-influenced folk from Momento at THURSDAY 19 breached the walls between metal, hardcore, return to town for Reading’s Pink Diamond BEN UFO: The Bullingdon – House, garage, from `Peaches’ and `No More Heroes’ to `Golden tonight’s It’s All About the Music showcase. JAMIE IRIE + CHESHIRE CAT & STICKY punk and all-out sonic violence, and we loved Revue, a deliciously scuzzy mash-up of classic dubstep and grime from the veteran DJ, co- Brown’ and `Something Better Change’. BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE: The Cellar JOE + ED ASHER + DANI + LEO B: The them dearly for it. They released five albums surf rock, acid house, psychedelia and electronica, founder of Rinse FM’s Hessle Audio. HUNTER & THE BEAR: O2 Academy – – 80s, new wave, disco, synth-pop and glam club Cellar – Reggae, dub and roots night hosted by before splitting in 2008, their legend growing partway between Dick Dale and Death In Vegas. THE PINK DIAMOND REVUE + DUCHESS Sweet, rustic folk-rock and Americana from the night. local reggae champ Leo Bowder, featuring an ever greater in their absence. But last year THE MIGHTY REDOX: James Street Tavern + GO ON, DO IT, JUMP + BEN PILSTON: Cornbury regulars, touring the UK ahead of a WOODY PINES: Three Horseshoes, Towersey Oxford debut for Midlands singer Jamie Irie, saw them reconvene for sets at Damnation HAIRFORCE 5: Fat Lil’s, Witney – Hair metal The Wheatsheaf – Ace acid house-infused second EP release, inspired by Lynyrd Skynyrd, – Stripped-down American roots music from the alongside Ranking Reggae DJ and producer and Sonisphere festivals and they seem to covers. surf rock and psychedelia from Reading’s Pink The Band and, in particular, Bruce Springsteen. North Carolina singer. Sticky Joe and Leftfield and Jungle Citizens have remembered just how much fun it all SCARECROW: The Swan Inn, Ascott-under- Diamond Revue, plus sunshiny township jive, NICO’ZZ: The Jericho Tavern – Funky blues vocalist Cheshire Cat, as well as local DJs. was as they now head off on a tour of the Wychwood samba and pure pop from Duchess. and soul from the French guitarist and singer at th DECOVO + VAGUEWORLD + WARDENS sort of venues where they truly belong. Great THURSDAY 12 MIKE PETERS: O2 Academy – Once more tonight’s Famous Monday Blues. + BLACK MIRRORS: The Jericho Tavern supporting cast too, including local tech/ nd DARREN COPELAND + DIEGO GARR: round the block for the Alarm singer, playing the – Indie rocking from Decovo at tonight’s It’s SUNDAY 22 Modern Art Oxford – Audiograft continues – see band’s `Strength’ album in its entirety. death/thrash monsters Mutagenocide and THE SELECTER + THE TUTS: O2 Academy All About the Music showcase, plus riff-heavy Milton Keynes thrash crew Seethe. And is TUESDAY 24th main preview TURF TOUR: The Cellar – Detroit techno, rocking in a QOTSA vein from Wardens. – Pauline Black and her ska warriors return to BUG PRENTICE: The Bullingdon – EP launch house and disco club night with scratching it any coincidence tonight’s gig takes place town – see main preview JAZZ CLUB with THE HUGH TURNER CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford th show for Ally Craig’s freak-rock band, making and beat maestro DJ Bone and Dekmantel on Friday 13 ? Course it isn’t. There will be LAIMA BITE + DAVE TOMLINSON + BAND: The Bullingdon – Funky jazz from Hugh Community Centre blood. Turner and band at the Bully’s long-running jazz music awkward in the vein of The Cardiacs, Sonic Soundsystem OPEN MIC CLUB: The Half Moon MOONSHINE MARTINIS + PUPPET Youth and Soft Machine – see Introducing feature YOLANDA BROWN: The Cornerstone, MECHANIC + LES CLOCHARDS: The club. BLUES JAM: Ampleforth Arms, Risinghurst LIBERATE MAE + CARVING A GIANT: The DJ PILGRIM & MC NOVELIST: The Didcot – MOBO-winning saxophonist Brown ACOUSTIC THURSDAYS: Jude the Obscure Wheatsheaf (3-7pm) – Free afternoon of Bullingdon – Grime, garage, techno and house comes to the Cornerstone, her smooth, pop- unplugged music in the Sheaf’s downstairs bar, Wheatsheaf from the Deep Cover residents. friendly style of jazz taking in elements of reggae hosted by Klub Kakofanney. OPEN MIC SESSION: James Street Tavern th THE PETE FRYER BAND: The Wheatsheaf and ska. FRIDAY 20 SUNDAY SESSIONS with KISMET + THE – Free gig in the downstairs bar from the local THE MISSING PERSIANS: The Rock of MACKA B & THE ROOTS BAND + DUBLINGS: Florence Park Community WEDNESDAY 25th bluesman. Gibraltar, Enslow – 60s-styled psychedelic folk DESTA*NATION + CORNERSTONEMUSIK Centre (2-5pm) – Family-friendly live music STIFF LITTLE FINGERS: O2 Academy – HANNAH ALDRIDGE: Fat Lil’s, Witney rocking. + JAH LAMBS & LIONS + ONE DROP session with trad-folkies Kismet and dub-pop Jake Burns’ enduring Belfast punk rockers come – Emotive traditional country from Nashville W.A.M: Fat Lil’s, Witney – Ska-punk covers. COLLECTIVE + CHIEFTAIN JOSEPH: crew The Dublings. back for another outing of classic hits `Alternative Ulster’, `Suspect Device’ and more, these days – Acoustic trance from the busking duo whose rejoined by original bass player Ali McMordie. interpretations of everything from `Bohemian CLOCKWORK + HASHTAG ALICE + THE Rhapsody’ and `Adagio for Strings’, to old school DEVIATED + LEPER KING: The Wheatsheaf trance classics and funky house tracks has earned THE LOST ART: Brewery Tap, Abingdon them appearances at Glastonbury and Secret Garden Party. THURSDAY 26th INTO THE JUNGLE: The Bullingdon – Jungle GOOD MOON DEER + M BAND + ESTHER club night. JOY LANE + AFTER THE THOUGHT: The WAY TOO GULLY: The Cellar – Drum&bass Bullingdon – Pindrop host Icelandic ambient club night with Phuzion Records’ DJ Nookie and electro / digital jazz experimenters Good Moon Warning’s MC Fivealive playing a 90-minut set, Deer with their disorientating blend of scrambled plus Rich Raw, Mark B, Rob C, Sandman MC, compositions, samples, electronic beats and live Wyatt Noise and more. drumming. ROCKSOC: The Wheatsheaf – Live rock and GOIN’ LOUD + JOHNNY’S SEXUAL metal from the Uni’s Rock Society. KITCHEN: The Cellar – New monthly blues THE POOZIES: The Cornerstone, Didcot – night from It’s All About the Music. Traditional folk songs and originals from Sally TOLIESEL + ROBOTS WITH SOULS + Barker’s all-female folk supergroup, whose th WALTZING IN THE SHALLOW END: The alumni includes Kate Rusby and Patsy Seddon. Monday 30 Library – Free gig courtesy of Smash Disco, AN EVENING OF CONTEMPORARY tonight with epic country-flavoured indie rockers COMPOSITION: St John the Evangelist CHARLI XCX: ToLiesel launching their new `Wilderness Blues’ – Compositions by Sarah Hughes, Joseph EP, alongside synthy indie popstrels Robots With Clayton Mills and Adam Sonderberg are among O2 Academy Someone somewhere has decided that Souls. those brought to life by a seven-strong group Charli XCX must be marketed as a crazy, CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford of musicians using electronics and objects at messed-up rebel rather than simply a decent Community Centre tonight’s concert. straight-up pop singer. For starters that name OPEN MIC CLUB: The Half Moon WHOLE LOTTA DC: Fat Lil’s, Witney – AC/ – Charli herself always said it was simply her BLUES JAM: Ampleforth Arms, Risinghurst DC tribute. Instagram moniker adopted when a promoter ACOUSTIC THURSDAYS: Jude the Obscure RACHEL EDDY: Three Horseshoes, Towersey – Old-time American folk from the West Virginian needed a stage name for her. Now we’re told fiddle, banjo and guitar player. it’s something very rude indeed. And then th FRIDAY 27 there’s all the interview features claiming THE SHOWHAWK DUO: The Bullingdon SATURDAY 28th she’s proper punk rock and a bit crazy and stuff, when really she sounds like Gwen GAPPY TOOTH INDUSTRIES with INDICA Stefani, Madonna, Britney and Avril Lavigne nd BLUES + BROMIDE + MOOGIEMAN & Sunday 22 sort of rolled into one. It doesn’t get much THE MASOCHISTS: The Wheatsheaf – more mainstream. This is the person who, THE SELECTER: GTI’s monthly mixed bag welcomes rising local back when she was a reclusive songwriter, riffmongers Indica Blues, previous Nightshift penned Icona Pop’s global hit `I Love It’ O2 Academy Demo of the Monthers for their big ol’ Sabbath- and co-wrote Iggy Azalia’s `Fancy’, which While the local gig calendar, particularly at the styled stoner grooves and sheer volume. They’re spent seven weeks atop the US charts, before larger venue end of the spectrum, continues joined by London’s alt.rockers, drawing noisy going on to enjoy hits under her own name, to host a rotating cast of heritage bands, it’s inspiration from The Lemonheads, Dinosaur Jr, including `Boom Clap’, which soundtracked sometimes worth stopping and reminding Guided By Voices and Husker Du, plus local The Fault In Our Stars. She’s a normal, yourself why some of them have endured caustic popster Moogieman and his wry, self- chart-friendly pop star with a neat line in for so long. The Selecter are a prime case in effacing songs. bombastic electro-pop. Nothing wrong with point. 36 years ago they emerged from the KNOCK OUT KAINE + DEAD CITY RUINS that. Sometimes pop music is nothing to be same multi-racial Coventry music scene as + BAD BEHAVIOUR: The Cellar – OxRox ashamed off, so just let it be what it wants to The Specials and helped make Two Tone one rock and metal night, with former Kerrang! Best be and let folks make their own minds up. of the greatest indie labels of all time, fusing Unsigned Act winners Knock Out Kaine out highly danceable Jamaican ska rhythms with on tour to promote second album `Rise of the social commentary at a particularly grim Electric Jester’, following tour supports to Status BEN POOLE: The Bullingdon – The Haven time in recent British history. If The Specials Quo, Steven Adler and WASP’s Chris Holmes. Club hosts the rising UK blues-rock guitarist, provided the soundtrack to the early-80s EXTRA CURRICULAR: The Cellar – Hip hop, drawing comparisons to Joe Satriani and Joe riots with `Ghost Town’, The Selecter were rap and grime club night, with Reejai and band, Bonamassa, winning fans in Bernie Torme and the alongside them with a host of now classic hit Ollie Mac and Legoman, Benoffocial, Severed late Gary Moore along the way. singles, from `Too Much Pressure’ and `Three Tongue and Three Faces of Death. Dr Erbz hosts. Minute Hero’ to `Missing Words’. Throughout WHITE MAGIC SOUND: The Bullingdon st their stop-start career, featuring a number DAMN GOOD REASON: Fat Lil’s, Witney – TUESDAY 31 of splits and reunions, and innumerable Classic rock covers, from Led Zep to Thin Lizzy. HERE COMES THE SUN: The Cellar – members, they’ve been helmed by the Sunshiny party night with groovy bossa-funkers formidable Pauline Black, a charismatic singer th Maracutaya, Hawaiian party band The Honolulu who now also hosts one of the most eclectic SUNDAY 29 Cowboys and The Suncats. shows on 6Music. She’s joined by fellow JAZZ CLUB with ALVIN ROY & REEDS th original member Arthur `Gaps’ Hendrickson, MONDAY 30 UNLIMITED: The Bullingdon – Trad jazz, bop and while on the one had it’ll be a trip down CHARLI XCX: O2 Academy – Anthemic and swing from veteran clarinettist Alvin Roy and Nostalgia Avenue for old fans, it’ll equally be electro popping from the major league hit-maker his Reeds Unlimited at tonight’s weekly jazz club. a reminder that music can be a potent unifying – see main preview OPEN MIC SESSION: James Street Tavern force.

Nightshift listings are free. Deadline for inclusion is the 20th of each mont - no exceptions. Email listings to [email protected]. All listings are copyright Nightshift Magazine and may not be reproduced without permission. PIXEL FIX / TREMORHEART / GUITAR / SONGWRITING TUITION LIVE BRIAN BRIGGS / ESTHER JOY LANE Most styles, acoustic and electric, and bass The Cellar Beginners welcome - full-time teacher Oxford might not be a city that needs Road You Didn’t Take’ are breath-taking; photo: Jonny Moto author of How to Write Songs on Guitar reminding as much as others, but the small, this is one of the most special performances independently run venues of Britain are I have ever seen. Wow. Simple as that. and many other guitar books beyond vital. Tonight we are celebrating The Tremorheart couldn’t be more different. Cellar as part of the now annual Independent Tonight is the band’s first ever gig and Venue Week with a stellar line-up of brand they are unbelievably slick. This a band www.rikkyrooksby.com new talent and some established names too. who have gone all in on one sound, and [email protected] First up is Esther Joy Lane; she plays guitar rehearsed until they got it down perfectly. Tel. 01865 765847 and accompanies herself with electronic If they had started their career 30 years beats. The obvious comparison would be ago you could imagine them having been Grimes, a strong feminine voice with R&B huge, but now an act that would be perfect beats and heavy bass. Esther’s vocals remind opening for Duran Duran or Huey Lewis us of Jessie Ware in their fragile power, seem a little out of place. I guess if you’re with the occasional cracking that equally gonna go in for a truly 80s sound, you makes us think of The Cranberries’ Dolores might as well jump two footed. O’Riordan. Her performance is engaging The night is rounded off by Pixel Fix. and dynamic; definitely one to watch out Their unusual brand of pop is thoroughly for. satisfying. Following in the footsteps of Three brand new state of the art Next up is a face everyone in the room Glass Animals and Wild Swim, utilising rehearsal rooms. recognises: Brian Briggs of Stornoway. His R&B beats, effected vocals and jangly Now taking bookings. band are building up to the release of their guitars they are an excellent example of Call Jamie on 07917685935 third album, so Brian has chosen tonight what a guitar band can be in the 2010s. to try out some new material. Stripped of The BBC Introducing team and the Storno- Oxfords newest rehearsal space. Kick arse PA and back line the band’s usual dense arrangements we boys, ambassadors for tonight’s show, put really get to see what makes Brian’s song together an excellent line-up that really so special. His vocals seem more delicate, show off music as it is today in Oxford. and the narratives more beguiling. After The Cellar has been part of Oxford music ‘Fuel Up’ Oli Steadman and Jon Ouin take for decades and hopefully events like this to the stage and the true magic begins. The will keep it that way for many more years. three-part harmonies on new single ‘The Matt Chapman-Jones BALLOON ASCENTS / DUOTONE melodies, Radiohead’s electro trickery wandering into King The Bullingdon Tubby-like dub or even bluesy jams. Watching Duotone live is much like as they’ve played their part. `Little `Cutout’ from the band’s new Maybe they need to reign in those STORYTELLER / AUTUMN SAINTS / the old cliché of observing a swan White Caravan’, from new album debut EP, a song that’s pure and occasional wandering a little but it’s gliding across a lake. On the surface `Let’s Get Low’ is simple, gorgeous bold, remarkably laidback with fun hearing neat, unexpected ideas LITTLE RED it’s all grace and stately calm, but heartache of the rarest kind, and its wandering funk bassline and emerge from jams you thought were The Wheatsheaf when he sits down with his cello his Thomas Roberts’ almost laconic heading elsewhere or nowhere. beneath it’s all furious paddling Just like tonight’s headline act name, each worded delivery of the vocals demands virtuosity and invention really shines vocals, but a song that lingers long Balloon Ascents’ early gigs were as Barney Morse-Brown switches performer in tonight’s gig has a story to tell. attention, much is show and no substance, through. in the memory with its “It wears me mostly populated by schoolmates, and fidgets between guitar, cello, Whether they succeed or not is debatable, and they need a proper rhythm section and Much of Duotone’s set is half out” refrain. Thomas himself has but their following is growing vocals and all manner of gadgetry but each act feels greater than the sum of its astute instrumental variation to reward our drowned by the excited chatter of instant pop idol appeal, somewhere exponentially, to the point tonight’s and loops. From such patchwork parts, and a defiant showcase all their own. patience. The Fender Rhodes-style guitar THE OXFORD RECORD Balloon Ascents’ small army of between Little Steven, Nick Cave gig, at the newly refurbished Bully, components he builds his songs “Defiant” isn’t a word you’d normally notes that dot the middle of the set bring the eager fans, but it’s quickly apparent and Harry Styles and an assured is sold out – no small feat for a still, DVD & CD FAIR – softly understated but heavily associate with the wispy songs of folk trio quality up a notch, as do moments where why they’re so excited. As has onstage presence as he glides as yet barely known band only just weighted with melancholy and Little Red, but tonight they are lacking a clarity over loudness gives the band the St ALDATES PARISH CENTRE been regularly pointed out, for a amongst his bandmates. releasing their first CD, and a crowd mystery – with such assuredness member in the delicately-voiced Hayley knowledge of what works and what doesn’t. 40 Pembroke St, St Aldates, OX1 1BP band so young – all still in their Anyone expecting simple, made up of teen fans and scene that if you shut your eyes you’d Bell. Narrowing their track selection (many They show promise, but we sometimes wish th teens – to display such musical throwaway indie pop will be veterans are united in excitement at Saturday 7 March swear there was a full band on of their tunes are built on interplay between they’d be autumn saints for real, not autumn accomplishment with simple almost confounded by the band’s shifting the prospect of one of Oxford’s most stage, not just one bloke scrabbling male and female vocals) frontman Ian leaves, blowing in the wind. 10am-4pm boy-band pop appeal is unusual. A sands dynamics, strung-out Pink promising young bands. to keep it all together, picking up Mitchell and producer/guitarist Ben Gosling Headliners Storyteller take to the stage with and discarding instruments as soon doomy, strung-out intro leads into Floyd epics melting into near-folky Dale Kattack Rock/pop/jazz/soul/reggae/indie/all other genres make the most out of a compacted message: a nippy blast of saxophone as the Sheaf Accessories/memoriabillia/books. more energy, playing to that well-worn upstairs reaches maximum capacity. Their Brand new and back catalogue/Rare Vinyl stereotype of male strength - and less of the intriguing mix of jazz, ska and punky pub www.usrfairs.co.uk HOZIER in the making. The faith-based background of both gospel and the feminine charm that dotted their warmly- rock starts out brilliantly, as does the turning Anúna congregational choral vocal sensibility underpins the night; blues received `Sticks And Stones’ LP from late of a Booker Prize novel. By the end though, O2 Academy is the other main reference point, most overtly in `To Be Alone’ and last year. As a result comparisons with Fink with a steal of almost the entire chorus of Irishman Andrew Hozier-Byrne’s career so far has been characterised by `Work Song’, with soul, folk and jazz interacting variously. The sexual and even Level 42 support The Mercurymen Nirvana’s `Smells Like Teen Spirit’ comes slow burn. A former member of the Irish choral group Anúna, he dropped and religious themes of his biggest hit so far pervade other songs, like on two of their new tracks bears more the catch. Like a story full of ideas, a novel out of a music degree at Trinity College Dublin to sign a development deal `Foreigner’s God’ and the lulling 5/4-time `From Eden’, sung from the weight, but if the over-talkative crowd could chock full of pages, there’s often a lot of with Universal Ireland, sang with the Trinity Orchestra (big on the festival devil’s point of view. shut up while they play so we could hear chaff that could be edited down. Storyteller circuit, apparently) and was also involved with an avant-garde bossa nova Hozier and his band – including a cellist – use dynamics and contrast them in their best light, that would be most sometimes pen too many sentences into their group and a soul-funk-rap group (aren’t we all). beautifully; delicate vocals float over a menacing rumble in tonight’s welcome. sonic diction, leaving you a little lost. They His ultimate aim, however, was to be a singer-songwriter, and he retreated opener, `Like Real People Do’, and the anguished tone of `Angel of “It’s all vaporous, my friend” is a lyric have all the elements to really go places, home to County Wicklow to write what became his eponymous album, Small Death’ and `The Codeine Scene’ works masterfully with its simple that can also barely be heard from second and a dab hand interplay between guitar with Rob Kirwan picking up his demos and co-producing. The title track backing. band Autumn Saints, and despite their and saxophonist. But like oversized books, of his debut EP, `Take Me To Church’, was released in September 2013 He does admittedly veer towards tired Commitments-esque arrangements set being fairly interesting, pretty much autumn leaves and even maybe a little red, and was nominated for the Song of the Year Grammy, it’s still in the UK at times, but Hozier’s strength lies in his contemporary interpretation of – sums them up. They improve as they go, the vapour needs condensing for the ideas to top ten tonight – the first night of his extensive 2015 tour. and obvious love of and respect for – blues, soul, folk and jazz formats. and although the majority here seem into fully blossom into something special. Hozier’s musical bases have been a slow burn too – hundreds of years Kirsten Etheridge it, and the Hawkwind/Jethro Tull-esque Mick Buckingham LIVE photo: Giulia Biasibetti

having first reviewed him fifteen LIU BEI years ago (a fact that probably The Cellar makes me feel much older than it Liu Bei look and sound pretty much sweeping, keening near-anthems debut single, tonight’s set opener, does him), it’s a pleasure to see how, perfect. In fact, almost suspiciously polished down to their essence. `Atlas World’, shows them as a band while his voice has changed little, so, as if the band have been Their not-so-secret weapon, as capable of mood swings too, all his songwriting has developed and grown in Petri dishes in a secret you might expect, is Richard lyrical devilry and hellfire. Just when his knack for spotting collaborators Bon Iver laboratory designed to Walters’ voice, which could break you think they might be getting a who can add substantially to his craft pump out a steady flow of earnest, your heart in two even if he was little one-paced and running out of remains intact. immaculately-attired young men singing the ingredients list off a ideas, up pops genuine shoegaze Closing track `Infatuation’ seals who look like they’ve been holed box of Cornflakes. Fortunately, royalty – Slowdive’s Rachel Goswell the deal with the type of simple, up in a log cabin crafting paeans to he’s got much stronger material to – to add a placid sheen of backing affecting lyric delivered with utter lost love for five years. That’s not to work with here. While `Goodness’ vocal to the celebration-turned- conviction that causes hearts to melt damn them with faint praise, as they is bursting with the kind of air- lament `Fields’. a little across the room. The main seem to have emerged practically punching chorus and winsome It’s clearly an emotional return to stage is ready and waiting. Glastonbury-ready with a set of charm you might expect from a his hometown for Richard and, Stuart Fowkes

ALEX LANYON / WILLIE J HEALEY / “Bruno Mars meets Ed Sheeran,” proclaims the gig poster about Birmingham’s Alex CAMERON AG Lanyon. I want to write, “but in a good way” on it. They are not wrong, but there lies his The Jericho Tavern conundrum: does he stay a troubadour, who at For such a dark room there are an awful lot of alone and proud is the happier place to be. his present best writes great ballads like `White bright futures on show here tonight at this Daisy If you stick around music through enough Horse’ or `Reverence’ (probably the finest song Rodgers Music show. generations you get some bizarre bedfellows I’ve heard written by a son for his father), or Scroll back a few years and Cameron A Grote filtering through the historical soundcloud. does he ditch the occasionally snare-happy rock was the backbone backbeat of Warhen and If, for example, I said there’s this young guy band sound slowing up his r&b potential, and Gunnbunny, so it’s a revelation to see him who sings like Jonathan Richman channeling go all out showbiz? I wish I was faced with own the stage, solo, with acoustic guitar and the Big Bopper, or a low-slung Elvis, you’d such talented dilemma, not to mention his hoard electric piano. There are mournful elements of be all, “shut up and take my money,” but of female fans, as he looks like a young, good Jake Bugg in his lone star approach, but shorn he’s here in the fresh-faced name of Willie J looking Milliband brother, one who escaped the of Bugg’s wearing grate, Cameron having Healey. Like his tousled red hair reminding over-earnest political household for a life on the instead the ethereal 80s FM nostalgia of a you of Jerry Lee Lewis’s wayward curls, it’s stage, enjoying himself and smiling. sugar-free Art Garfunkel, in the phrasing of all unintentional and wildly captivating, with So, with this line-up that sounds like a school `Save It For Winter’ and a David Grey `This the crowd, whooping and hollering his hip, off- register, and songwriting that stays with you, Year’s Love’ feeling around `Double Knot’. He the-beat timing. I for one hope he goes on to the cool kids of the class of 2015 are well and sings of loss and longing’s opened eyes with the seriously mine this vein of gold he’s up to his truly in session. wry resolution of knowing that sometimes being neck in. Paul Carrera August List a surprising choice for a party. But it’s particularly appropriate they come in THE LONG INSIDERS SKY:LARK / SCREEN WIVES / LIVE from their hillside in rural east Oxfordshire for The Bullingdon MASIRO this show as it was Truck’s support for their EP `Handsome Skin’, along with a Nightshift The Long Insiders have changed but anyone inclined to dismiss this The Cellar Demo of the Month, that was the start of the since last we saw them. Gone is as a novelty period drama would Depending on where you cast music is always impressive, like photo: Jonny Moto pair getting gigs and becoming established as co-singer Sarah Dodds, and with be floored by `Milkshake Baby’, a your gaze you can see any number a metal-flavoured Don Caballero, local favourites. her the sultry surf-soul edge the dark, dirty stray cat strut through of representations of underground and even like Primus without the That debut led onto their excellent album ‘Oh band sometimes had. Nick Kenny the bones of Jerry Lee Lewis. music in the media: glossy molls schoolyard japes, but they always Hinterland’ last year and they feature several is now the sole focus if the band, It doesn’t even seem to matter that swigging bottled lager and singing manage to bring in some melodic numbers from it in today’s set, including the armed with his trusty Gretsch, out Simon is playing with just three along with the next big thing; or textural originality to save us superb ‘High Town Crow’. With ‘Wooden under the spotlight living out every strings intact for the entirety of gorgeous soft-focus festival from mere academic cleverness. Trunk Blues’, an impressive number three in moment of rock’n’roll greatness he the set; this ain’t the kind of music folkies snapping each other on The set is like a spiderweb from Nightshift’s tracks of 2014, their penultimate must have devoured as a kid. In has prone to anything too clever or smart phones; rock-crazed ne’er- a fly’s point of view: intricate, number, followed by the storming traditional come a harder, more straightforward complicated – and what do you do-wells spiralling into drug beautiful, sludgy, and completely set closer ‘Forty-Rod of Lightnin’’, they finish classic rockabilly sound. need that high string for anyway? abuse; Swindon. But nothing sums deadly. as triumphantly as they began. Maybe it’s the Nick, along with brother Simon on They close on their early single, it up for us better than the sight of Intricate being one thing we intimacy of the setting and maybe we’ve got bass, and drummer Dan Goddard, `Midnight Man’, a rollicking, a man dressed only on his pants wouldn’t accuse Sky:Lark used to how their beautiful melodic hooks and have been through the mill of local Cramps-y roustabout, but the crawling round a basement stage, of trying for. Over a bed of rock and roll attitude disguise what The August bands together over the years, from real set highlight is a cover of trying to gaffer tape a bass drum unwavering feedback, the trio List’s lyrics are about, but the desolation of modish Britpop with Thurman Jody Reynolds’ `Endless Sleep’, back together. thrash through dense repetitious some of their songs seems more exposed than to rootsy alt.country as The Four a slowed-down counterpoint to Either side of this dose of literal snarling grooves something like I’ve ever heard. In between songs Kerraleigh Storeys, but it’s in this incarnation their more bullish rockabilly, but DIY music, in a necessarily Motorhead with a krautrock and Martin are so sweet and engaging you’re they sound most comfortable, Nick possessed of a languid power all curtailed set, London’s Screen fixation. The best moments of the left wondering how such a charming couple part Elvis, part Lux Interior as the of its own, particularly in Dan’s Wives twist out an angular, set are when the vocals bawl and could come up with such disturbing images. band let loose their bass-heavy almost casual drum tattoo. Fugazoid hardcore that kicks like screech over two note unriffs like Surrounded by mic’s, guitars, percussion, rockabilly rumble, all freight train Afterwards Nick worries the a hoof to the solar plexus, but Finnish minimalists Circle crossed pedals and of course a cello, Barney Morse- rhythms and swamp-thing twang, in set, part of a One Gig Closer to has room for cheeky, witty little with Megadeth, and the worst Brown claims he’s nervous. It’s likely anyone the newly refurbished, and suitably Wittstock fundraiser, was a “a bit trills and paradiddles. The songs moments are when they stop. would be when performing alone all the black-clad Bully backroom. rough.” Of course it was – and are brief, the band hissing short There’s the odd snatch of fuzzy instrumentation that he uses in the studio. If `Infected’ is pure Sun Sessions that’s exactly how this kind of bursts of noise into the venue like melody, but in essence theirs is In the event Barney – who is Duotone – turns Elvis, `Shades’ is a louche, Roy music has to be. Always was, a demented Glad Plugin. a brief onslaught of brash noise, in a superbly polished performance, switching Orbison lounge surf shimmer. always should be. Rough, tough Before that, Oxford’s Masiro had to finish a night of intriguing, between instruments, feeding them and his Songs are about women, the Devil and impossible to kill. treated us to one of their displays exciting music... and not an iPad vocals into the looper to build his beautiful, and Hell, often all at the same time, Dale Kattack of sonic science. The twitchy, or a crackpipe in sight. evocative sound world. The performance multi-part structure of their David Murphy of ‘You Don’t Need Church’ is even more poignant than on CD, and on this showing ‘Lets SLOW CLUB Get Low’, the title song of Barney’s imminent third album, with its lilting melody contrasting The Bullingdon with its dark subject matter, and particularly The pub may still be a building site too precious to work as a pop ‘Little White Caravan’, with its hypnotic hook, but a side entrance leads us to the song. In years to come it will be already seem destined to be contenders to be Bully’s back room, pretty much as seen as a good example of this standout tracks of the year. we remember, except the mixing time: angst-ridden, reflective and DUOTONE / THE AUGUST LIST It’s striking how well Barney’s voice and desk has found its way back to the featuring a bloke with a neat, thick overall sound blend. Also for this listener, while original location against the rear beard. Yet they seem determined Truck Store previously it was the instrumental sound that wall. Sheffield’s Slow Club have to throw off the folk-pop tag, This, the latest in an ever lengthening line of invited two of Oxfordshire’s finest, both recent tended to predominate, now Barney is letting packed the place out, everyone Taylor’s shirt boldly proclaiming much-loved in-store gigs, is Truck Store’s Nightshift cover stars, to help them celebrate. his lyrics fly too and in this set there’s a fresh eager to see how they’ve faired ‘I Defy Your Labels’. Switching fourth birthday party, and it is characteristic of The bleakness of their American gothic lyrics harmonious balance between words and music. expanding from a duo to a four- between poignant solo ballads and the vital role they play for local acts that they might seem to make husband and wife duo The Colin May piece band. From humble origins bombastic barnstormers works in open mic nights ten years ago, better in a live setting than on through a deal with Moshi Moshi record, new bassist David Glover to touring with Mumford And adding some extra substance to ALVVAYS / MOON KING Sons, their rise is best described as proceedings. Charles Watson has steady rather than meteoric. This toned down the fuzz guitar to O2 Academy being the first night of a tour a few fit in with their new sound, the The reach and influence of mid-80s British indie pop continues far `Your Type’ heading straight into the delirious, dreamy `Next of Kin’, nerves are on display, though their last album heavy on strings and beyond its commercial success at the time. The likes of The Shop and before the set is even 15 minutes old they’re onto the glorious, giddy self-deprecating northern humour complex arrangements. Taylor is Assistants or The Primitives would have struggled to play venues `Archie, Marry Me’, one of the most thrilling slices of pure pop sunshine and Rebecca Taylor’s captivating a great drummer but the crowd’s anything like this size and yet tonight we have two bands from Canada, to have exploded like a confetti bomb in the last few years. stage presence, not to mention her attention perceptibly wanders owing a massive debt to those acts, packing the place out. Of course, having played their aces so early, the rest of the set could feel extraordinary voice, soon dispels when she settles behind the kit for Toronto’s Moon King initially snuggle comfortably between a Sundays- like a letdown, but then there’s the wide-eyed longing of `Atop A Cake, a them. a while, revealing how much of a inspired groove of pretty indie jangle and summery vocals from Maddie transatlantic cousin to Camera Obscura, before they barrel to a close after The title track from third LP focal point she has become. Wilde and a more ethereal Cocteaus Twins-like shimmer. In fact even short and sweet 30 minutes. ‘Complete Surrender’ warms the For the final encore the four when singing partner Daniel Benjamin take over the mic, you might An encore of The Primitives’ `Out Of Reach’ is an unexpected treat and crowd up with its prominent 60s take to the centre of the crowd to guess he was female if you couldn’t see him. It’s all very pleasant but proof if any were needed where Alvvays are coming from. Whereas the influences and Motown-style deliver an unamplified number in threatens to drift into generic jangle as the set progresses. Until, that is, bands that made this music first time round were wonderfully shambolic beat, though its joyous abandon a circle, just as Spring Offensive they hit their final number, `Roswell’, lock into an almost Krautrock-like and all the more loveable for it, Alvvays have polish and a pop finesse sits in contrast with the more used to. Despite all the pitch groove and kick out sugar-coated sonic thunder not a million miles from about them that means they stand a better chance of mainstream success typical introspective songs, rich perfect talent on show, this band is Th’Faith Healers. And when it comes to an end, we want them to carry than those 80s heroes could ever dream of. in emotion and veiled meaning. very much of their time, and in pop on for another hour at least. Sue Foreman ‘Wander Wandering’ is touched music time never stands still. Alvvays waste no time getting into top gear, the Shop Assistants-like with gentle beauty, but it’s almost Art Lagun LIVE CH-CH-CH-CHANGES?CH-CH-CH-CHANGES? Shortly before we went photo: Jonny Moto to press with this issue of @NightshiftMag Nightshift we learned our web and email hosting company, Oxfordmusic.net, is closing down at the end of March. Given such short notice we are doing everything we can to find a new host in time for the April issue. Obviously this means some things will be changing, including our email address but we don’t exactly know what and how much right now. As soon as everything’s sorted we’ll let you know. In the meantime follow us on

deathly incantations in front of a Twitter(@NightshiftMag) DESECRATION / NECROSIS / SODOMISED CADAVER tightly choreographed display of hair for updates. / MUTAGENOCIDE swirling and metal horns. Desecration of course are proper The Wheatsheaf daddies of the death/grind scene, There are, it seems, three while behind him the riffage veers titles like `Martyrdom’, `Torture’ upsetting public morals since the unbreakable rules for death metal: from Meshuggah to Iron Maiden and `Cannibal Butcher’, with a soft early 90s and showing little sign hair (long); song titles (nasty), and with fluid brutality. They’re clever underbelly of his native welsh accent of mellowing since. But when the band name logos (unreadable). As but recognise the importance of creeping in, and struggling to stifle template you’ve set works perfectly, such a night of death/grind bands can brevity. a smile, you know they’re in on the why change it – 300mph blast beats, get a bit samey, but those willing and With such provocative name, and joke. They’re also bloody brilliant, a dual death growl vocals and riffs like able to mess even slightly with the an album, `Vorarephilia’, named study in frenetic, unfettered musical heavy machinery cutting through formula can be a treat. after a sexual fantasy about being hell. What metal was born to be, and flesh; the distillation of Carcass’ Mutagenocide don’t fit comfortably eaten, you’d hope Sodomised just the right kind of silly. original gore-grind. It hurts; it works. in with any particular sub-genre, Cadaver have their tongues at least By contrast Necrosis seem to take So much so we even think about mixing both death and grind with slightly in cheek, and it doesn’t themselves very seriously indeed, buying one of the myriad t-shirts on a heavy tech edge and lingering take long to realise they have. Just even the bassist who spends the sale. Problem is, try as we might, echoes of the late-70s Brit-metal guitar, drums and voice, they’re entire set comically grimacing like we can’t quite make out what most renaissance. Singer Jay Taylor is stripped of even the barest of he desperately needs the loo. Their of them actually say, so thorny and now so guttural his voice amounts fripperies, reduced to a sense of scrawny, beardy singer looks like a convoluted are the fonts. Nothing to little more than a series of purpose that’s Terminator-like. But backwoods psycho, one as suited to nice though, of that we can be sure. staccato barks, growls and belches, as the singer bellows out song skinning rabbits as he is rasping Ian Chesterton RAE MORRIS “Dear Music God, please make O2 Academy all the Punt demos be really Blackpool native Rae Morris has a beautiful voice; reminiscent of lot more poppy, while retaining the smoothness and glassiness of her style Emiliana Torrini, Ellie Goulding and sometimes even Björk (especially on – even when, in songs like `Don’t Go’, the instrumentation is sparse. Rae good and not anything like Ed `Skin’) in tone, its apparent ethereal vulnerability and emotion belies its does however apparently credit Fryars – her support act tonight, and with fucking Sheeran, and please strength and confidence. Now 22, she signed to Atlantic at 18, and she’s whom she co-wrote and duets on the oddly autotuney `Cold’ – for guiding make bands remember to in- her from being an acoustic piano singer-songwriter to her current, more been crafting her life experiences into her debut album, `Unguarded’, since clude their phone number and an then. electronic incarnation. She’s even written and recorded with Clean Bandit, She has been widely compared to Kate Bush, given her effortlessly versatile though the unexpected dubsteppy drumming in her rendition of their actual link to their music, unlike voice and piano playing and the `Running Up That Hill’-like heartbeat collaboration, `Up Again’, jars a bit. some of the quarterwits so far. throughout `Under the Shadows’, though I get more of a Fleetwood Mac It’s a shame that the apparent concentration on instrumentation and Oh, and some chocolate-based production has taken the focus away from the interaction between Rae’s vibe from it. In general, she’s more soulful; `Do You Even Know?’ reminds bribes would be nice too.” me bit of Lena Fiagbe, and there are shades of Sade in `Closer’. voice and her piano; she has enough songcrafting talent and imagination Rae recorded most of her album with the American producer Ariel to be more like Tori Amos in this respect. However, her strongest songs Rechtshaid, who has recently worked with HAIM, Charli XCX, Vampire are the faster, more anthemic ones like `Love Again’ and `Under the Weekend and Madonna. Even just on the basis of tonight, it sounds like Shadows’, and I end up wishing for more of these. Deadline for Punt entries is the 10th March he’s taken Rae’s voice–piano formula and invigorated it into something a Kirsten Etheridge DR SHOTOVER: Sly & The Firmly Stoned T H E W H E A T S H E A F Psst… PSST… I’m over here! Yes, I know I’m not on my usual stool at the bar, th INTRODUCING.... Friday 6 March – KLUB KAKOFANNEY and I know I am speaking – very uncharacteristically - in a whisper, but there’s a Nightshift’s monthly guide to the best local music bubbling under good reason for all of that. Bedingfield the East Indies Club Steward is on holiday, PEERLESS PIRATES MAD LARRY + BEARD OF DESTINY + DECOVO 8pm/£5 and I cannot, CANNOT, be held responsible for my actions if I have any more Saturday 7th March – BLACK BULLET LIVE dealings with the substitute bar manager. A ghastly little oik with suspiciously over-styled hair who claims to be a DJ on BBC Oxford Interfering, but apparently VERA GRACE PROLONG THE AGONY + BEING EUGENE 8pm/£5 Adv really works part-time pulling pints at The Eau Too Enormous. Talking of generic Bug Prentice Wednesday 11th March – IT’S ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC pissy lager, I swear he is ‘taking the Carling’ every time I order a drink. Here’s an Who are they? example: Bug Prentice is the band formed by local singer and guitarist Ally Craig. THE MARK MOMENTO + CLAIRE HOGKIN 8pm/£6 Shotover: Evening, barkeep. Usual please. Friday 13th March – BURIED IN SMOKE Barman [sniggering]: Orroight moi Ducklington? What do you Wantage to drink? Ally started playing in Oxford as a solo artist ten years ago, but “eventually You can bet I Woodstock your favourite beers if only I knew Witney were…! got sick of being alone on stage.” Subsequently he formed Bug Prentice RAGING SPEEDHORN Shotover: Bah! PAH! HARRUMPH [retreats to table near the Gents, mine-sweeps with London-based drummer Stephen Gilchrist and bassist Ruth Goller. The SEETHE + MUTAGENOCIDE + REVELLER 7:30pm/£12 or £10 Adv a half-finished pint and starts throwing darts at signed photos of the East Indies band have played several festivals including Liberty Festival (a celebration th Saturday 14 March – MD PROMOTIONS Club Ice Hockey First XI on the wall] of the Paralympics in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park) and Glastonbury. It can’t go on. I have strong reason to believe that the man may at worst be a They recently finished work on debut album, `The Way It Crumbles’; the PINK DIAMOND REVUE police ‘nark’. At the very least, he obviously fancies himself to be a hilarious wit first taste of this is a download single, `Nicholas Ray’/`Spoons’ through DUCHESS + GO ON DO IT JUMP + BEN PILSTON 8pm/£5 Friday 20th March – IT’S ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC and surrealist, a modern-day Oxonian Soundcloud this month. Professor Stanley Unwin. Whereas What do they sound like? THE STRAYS he is in fact a blabbermouth, a biter, Warped and fractured avant-punk. Ally manages the rare feat of mixing TOO MANY POETS + THE GRAFHAM WATER SAILING CLUB + MOGMATIC 8pm/£6 a chiseller and an all-round slimy disarming vulnerability – almost frailty – with virulent abrasiveness, Saturday 21st March MOTHERF… what’s that? He’s my as if someone had opened a chest of sweet lullabies and taken a sonic If they could only keep one album in the world, what would it be?* NEPHEW? How did that happen? [Dr sledgehammer to them. Or maybe Robert Wyatt locked in musical battle “Does everyone else get to keep all of their albums? Or will they be SPACE HEROES OF THE PEOPLE S removes a crumpled parchment with with Sonic Youth. Or, in Ally’s own words, “Silly words with pretty tunes, pounding on my door demanding to hear The Album? I just don’t know if BARRY & THE BEACHCOMBERS + OSPREY + HEADINGTON HILLIBILIES 8pm/£5 Family Tree scrawled at the top and th or vice versa. Dissonant chords, irregular time signatures, contrasting I could take that kind of responsibility. I’ll keep `Pony Express Record’ by Tuesday 24 March – BLACK BULLET LIVE begins to study it myopically while dynamics, spartan production... and hopefully quite catchy.” Shudder To Think.” taking surreptitious sips from a dented What inspires them? When is their next local gig and what can newcomers expect? LIBERATE MAE CARVING A GIANT 7:45pm /£5 Adv hip-flask … meanwhile The Family Wednesday 25th March – MD PROMOTIONS Machine strike up It’s a Family Affair by “If it amuses me and there’s not already a song about it, I’ll probably at “At the Bullingdon in early March to coincide with the release of our Sly and the Family Stone in the corner least try to write one. There’s a song on the forthcoming album inspired single. Newcomers can expect songs with loud bits and quiet bits.” CLOCKWORK HASHTAG ALICE + THE DEVIATED + LEPER KING 8pm/£5 of the bar and everyone starts ‘gitting by a famous clip of a drunken Orson Welles trying to make a champagne Their favourite and least favourite things about Oxford music are: Friday 27th March down’… lighters are held aloft… various commercial. “Ahhh, the French...” “Favourite thing: All the artists are genuinely friendly and supportive. Nightshift hacks stop playing ‘Grumpy Career highlight so far: Least favourite thing: Not enough venues have disabled access. I’ve missed ROCKSOC UNIVERSITY ROCK SOCIETY CLUB NIGHT 8pm Roadies’ on their smart phones and “Being able to say I’ve played Glastonbury.” out on a lot of great gigs over the years, and I can’t be the only one.” th GAPPY TOOTH INDUSTRIES Saturday 28 March – commence twerking wildly… even Our And the lowlight: You might love them if you love: Stern-Yet-Fair Esteemed Editor is seen “Having to get into Glastonbury.” Shellac; Shudder to Think; Sonic Youth; XTC; Cardiacs; Deerhoof; Robert INDICA BLUES to crack a brief smile…] Their favourite other Oxfordshire act is: Wyatt. BROMIDE + MOOGIEMAN & THE MASOCHISTS 8pm/£4.50 Next month: The Star is, like, SO last YOUNG BARMAN: ‘Kraaaaftwerk? Is that a “Rebecca Mosley (and her Cogwheel Dogs). She’s one of my best friends, Hear them here: The Wheatsheaf 129 High Street, Oxford OX1 4DF / www.facebook.com/wheatsheaf.oxford year type o’ German laaaager?’ and an exceptionally gifted songwriter.” soundcloud.com/bugprentice

THIS MONTH IN OXFORD ALL OUR YESTERDAYS MUSIC HISTORY 20 YEARS AGO 10 YEARS AGO now helmed by Dave Gilyeat, is an essential part March 1995 will go down as one of the most In a neat piece of symmetry, just as news reaches of the local scene. important months in Oxford music history. While us that local pop-punk legends Dive Dive are the local gig scene continued to try and regroup preparing to record a new album, March 2005’s 5 YEARS AGO after the closure of its core venues and Curfew edition of Nightshift featured the band on the And to celebrate its fifth anniversary on the magazine, a bunch of young lads called Radiohead cover, celebrating their newly revitalised fortunes airwaves, and coinciding with the 15th anniversary released an album called `The Bends’ and music as they prepared to release what has become their of `The Bends’ Introducing released `Round would never be the same again. Despite its modest signature tune, `5-5-5 For Filmstars’ on Diablo The Bends’, Radiohead’s classic album covered initial commercial success – it went top 5 in the Records. Dive Dive, who formed from the ashes by myriad local stars, including Winchell Riots, UK but never reached higher than 88 in the States of Dustball, were the band who first inspired a Borderville, The Epstein, Little Fish, Witches – `The Bends’ was critically far better received young Yannis Phillipakis to pick up a guitar, and Xmas Lights, as well as a star turn from The than `Pablo Honey’ and would eventually go on to and three quarters of whom went on to become Evenings, turning `Street Spirit’ into a major key achieve triple platinum status, spawning five chart Frank Turner’s backing band. Recruiting ex- anthem. Introducing hosts Tim Bearder and Dave singles along the way, including classics `Fake Unbelievable Truth drummer Nigel Powell into Gilyeat declared the show “proper public service Plastic Trees’, `Just’ and `Street Spirit (Fade Out)’. their ranks had set them on a more determined broadcasting, exactly what the BBC should be In the last two decades it’s regularly and rightly path (“Nigel is the dictator of the band,” claimed about.” Amen to that. been hailed as one of – sometimes the – greatest singer Jamie Stuart, “he `helped’ me give up and most influential albums of all time, occasionally smoking. My voice has got better but I’ve lost In less celebratory news, Stornoway, The pipped by its sequel, `OK Computer’, with some good friends.”), playing over a hundred gigs Candyskins and Richard Walters played a Radiohead themselves recognised as one of music’s each year as well as releasing half a dozen singles special instore show at Videosyncratic, which genuine game changers. Not bad for a group of on different indie labels. The band now found was shutting its doors for the final time. The video schoolmates who started out playing to a few dozen themselves a major influence on a new generation rental shop had become a hub for the local scene fans in the Jericho Tavern. You see, people, small of local bands and sang the praises of their new when it started selling local bands’ CDs, and pub venues are where all tomorrow’s stars are born. local favourites – Youthmovies, The Edmund while we mourned its closure (and its legendary Beyond this epoch-making moment, local Fitzgerald, Fell City Girl and Young Knives, customer service) it paved the way for Truck experimental `earth music’ trio The Aquabats while declaring that “Oxford is blessed.” Store to open in its place. were pushing their own aural envelope this month, And blessed it was this month with the launch of Leaving us too were Youthmovies, who bowed performing at The Mill in Banbury with over 500 a new BBC Oxford radio show dedicated to local out with a farewell show at The O2 Academy. different instruments on stage. The band – Tim music – The Download, hosted by Tim Bearder, “We are miles apart and it’s time for something Turan, Sue Smith and Phil Freizinger – also played first aired on March 4th and featured an interview new, “ declared singer Andrew Mears, revealing a gig in Wookie Hole, 600ft beneath the ground. with Supergrass. The show would later be renamed plans for his new band, Pet Moon. “The best Giant gongs and microphones wrapped in condoms Introducing as the Beeb stepped up its support things about the past years have been all the travel, were involved, as was some seriously fevered for grassroots music, but, as is so often the case, playing with people like Foals and Adam Gnade imagination. Oxford led the way, and a decade on the show, and getting paid to be antagonistic vagrants.” and in no hurry to go anyplace there might properly to see where in the vast openness be the risk of one, instead taking a decidedly of space Mars actually is. Oh, sure, this isn’t downbeat venture down tree-lined paths terrible as such – it’s proficient, polished, that lead from Wytham Woods to a Bedouin well-produced and given their short time DEMOS encampment via a gypsy funeral, chants and together, professional sounding, but since Sponsored by laments wandering off seemingly at random when did words like that elicit anything Demo of the Month wins a free half day at to visit isolated pools of airy contemplation. resembling excitement? The accompanying Silver Street Studios in Reading, courtesy Sometimes it feels like a lot of different email suggests Buried By Bears are inspired of Umair Chaudhry. musical styles trying – but not too hard – to by Lower Than Atlantis. Copied note for note Visit www.silverstreetstudios.co.uk/ coalesce into something coherent, but in might be a closer description. They fit neatly nightshift-demo-of-the-month/ the end no-one seems particularly bothered into that less than seething morass of near if it doesn’t happen. In fact the only thing identikit bands that are laughably labelled at Nightshift. On opener `Get Soaked’ they puncturing the general air of slightly post-hardcore (so, hardcore with all the good, sound like shards of noise swept up from 01865 240250 DEMO OF hippyish geniality is the odd pinging sound angry bits taken out in case the church youth a factory floor and brought to life by stray throughout `Heaven Has An Outline’ that has club congregation get scared) but seem to keep sparks from the grinder. But that voice – us constantly checking the dishwasher to see reproducing like bacteria on a warm Petri dish. THE MONTH doleful doesn’t even start to describe the flat if its finished its cycle. Boys, if those online options are so important, sense of ennui it conveys. We’re really not maybe use them to download a couple of sure these two sides were ever intended to Black Flag albums, or something by Big BEING EUGENE meet and become one. And maybe that’s the Any band can be loud and fast, but if they DANNY JEFFRIES Black or Fucked Up or The Minutemen, or… point. Once such disassociation starts to wear “I know it’s not your sort of thing,” says haven’t got the trousers to match the mouth, anything nasty and noisy and angry and dirty thin, the band switch singers but the new Danny Jeffries of his demo. Not sure how all that’s going to happen is we get to trip that hasn’t been buffed and polished to a point vocalist, Celina, sounds even more detached he knows what is or isn’t Nightshift’s sort of them up and laugh as they rampage noisily of anonymity. Then go and wash a couple of from life’s joys and the whole thing ends up thing without sifting in great detail through down the street with their pants on show. tabs of acid down with a 3 litre bottle of cheap sounding a bit like an uncompromisingly the tens of thousands of records, CDs and Abingdon’s Being Eugene have got a serious scrumpy and write something that will break messy, lo-fi post-punk imagining of a downloads of each and every contributors’ pair of trousers on. With guns in the pockets the internet into a trillion tiny pieces. Then particularly pessimistic Arab Strap track. collection, but we’ll take his word for it. For and held up by a big fuck-off spiky belt send us a copy; we’d love to hear it. And if you can’t see that as a good thing then who knows our tastes better than Danny? that’s got half a dozen grenades hanging really, you are no longer welcome round here. And you know what, beloved readers? from it. This is fucking great pummelling, Incidentally, this demo is presented as an EP Danny’s dead right. This isn’t our sort of nagging, stomping groove-core beastliness titled `Write Drunk, Record Drunk, Listen thing. Well, in as much as “sort of thing” of a particularly fine vintage. There’s a THE DEMO Drunk’; admirable sentiments for bands and means the sort of thing we might enjoy subtle, supple tech-metal edge to the way reviewers alike. Cheers! listening to or recommending to friends as they bend those riffs and grooves, but such is TURAN AUDIO.co.uk something worthy of their precious time, DUMPER the singular purpose of their assault, you’re Professional, independent CD mastering rather than the “sort of thing” we carefully too busy ducking killer blows to notice the WARDENS avoid stepping in on the pavement or neat, fancy stuff going on underneath. That’s The industrial feel continues with Wardens, MATTY BINGHAM removing from the bottom of the bin with Maybe we shouldn’t have judged Buried By Artists mastered in the studio last month include; not to downplay the pin-tight orchestration albeit with the machinery switched on to the aid of a pair of Marigolds and lots of Bears so harshly so quickly. At least they’re of the band; there are moments of guile here maximum power and the gravitational field CLAUDIUS ENGLAND AND KISKADEE, BALLOON bleach. Idle acoustic guitar strumming and obviously capable of clicking some buttons that are just great, it’s just they never sit still ramped up five-fold. If we describe Wardens ASCENTS, MARK CORBETT, PEARL JAM, THE vocal noises that emerge as odd squawks and on a computer screen and playing most of waiting for you to appreciate them – they’re as solid, we don’t mean it in that staid, safe MISSION, EYELESS IN GAZA, THE CHAMELEONS, bleats or flat, toneless wailing don’t seem to the notes in the right order. Matty here seems already off the other end of the field picking pub-rock kind of way, more that if you drove GRATEFUL DEAD, HAWKWIND, YOUNG ROMANCE, be high on the “my sort of thing” of anyone to struggle with basic concepts like writing a new fight. The twin-vocal metalcore a bus into them the bus would crumple like a SYRENNE, TOLIESEL, CHRIS REARDON, BERLINER in close proximity when we conduct a quick a short, simple letter with rudimentary vocal thing feels like it was done to death delicate sponge cake on impact. This is dirty, PHILHARMONIKER, BLAZE, ROCK CHALLENGE UK. straw poll. “I’m no good,” he opines wearily punctuation or supplying a tracklisting for his sometime in the 16th Century but the two nasty and noisy. And did we mention heavy? at the end of the nominally flamenco- CD, so it’s probably no surprise he doesn’t guys here mix and match effectively without Yes, it’s heavy. The guitar alone could scour flavoured `Split In Two’; Danny’s sense of seem to have any kind of online presence 01865 716466 [email protected] letting the intensity of the music drop down the paint from an oncoming Panzer division awareness obviously knows no bounds. we can investigate (purely for the purpose of even half a notch at any point and by the without breaking a sweat and the whole thing hunting him down like a fugitive heifer from time you’ve reached the end of these five is propelled forward through sheer brute force a slaughterhouse – a heifer being something tracks you realise you’ve turned the volume and an unstoppable sense of purpose. They BURIED BY BEARS his voice occasionally reminds us of, notably COURTYARD dial to the point where local environmental sound like Queens of the Stone Age at their Buried By Bears have their own slick Youtube when he’s declaring his love for a no-doubt health officers are being summoned by folks gnarliest, but with a serious stoner groove RECORDING STUDIO channel, Instagram and Facebook pages slightly terrified young lady who’s already 2 Tracking Rooms. Superb Control Room with: three streets away and your heart’s pounding carrying everything onwards at an almost and a Twitter account. All well and good changed her phone number three times since NEVE 5106 32 Channel Console. ProTools HD3 like a cornered gazelle but all ready to go stately pace. They might not be as lithe as of course, but they only played their first that encounter in the college bar in Freshers’ MTR 90 2” 24 Track Tape Machine. Vintage EMT Plate Reverb again. Being Eugene: they’re loud and fast Being Eugene and they don’t move fast but Loads of Brilliant Outboard Gear gig three months ago and this is their first Week). So, looks like we’ll have to name the and they’ve come to kill you. If we were when Wardens do move you best get out Loads of Great Mics, Vintage and Modern demo. At what point did band’s priorities songs ourselves. The first track will be called Old School Akai/Roland Synth Modules you, we’d move house immediately. the way. Not unless you fancy a future as a get so spectacularly skewed that having a `Self-Pitying Heap of Sub-Bob Dylan Shite’; Upright Piano, Fender Rhodes, Amps and great vibes. puddle of something sticky. shiny online prolife was more important the second can go under the title `Wretched, Residential recording studio in Sutton Courtenay. than writing a decent fucking song? It makes Churning Waste of Everyone’s Time’, while www.courtyardrecordingstudio.co.uk AMORAL COMPASS us cry, people, it really does. Call us old the closing number goes under the succinct In-house producer: Ian Davenport www.ian-davenport.co.uk MOMENTO fashioned, called us dinosaurs if you will, moniker `Aren’t You Dead Yet?’. Oh Hell, Email: [email protected] As we shall see later, dear reader, slick A sharp change of mood now after all that but we’re not exactly calling for the return that’s it. Poor old Matty is actually dead. Phone: Richard or Kate on 01235 845800 professionalism is a seriously overrated virtue clanging and fuzzing and general uppityness. of skiffle and the abandonment of fancy He choked on his own vomit after downing in music; give us ramshackle amateurism any Momento have got a harp. Can’t remember electronic instruments here, just that maybe the quadruple gin and tonic he bought for day. It’s more fun and doesn’t immediately the last time we had a harp in the demo pile. musicians (the clue’s in the title) concentrate that poor young lady who said she was just make us think you’re only doing this to Harps are cool; they remind us of a better on giving the world something worth hearing popping to the loo and never came back, market your new line in fashion. If Amoral place we might end up going to if we do before providing a smorgasbord of platforms having emigrated to Jupiter just in case he Compass launched a line of clothing it’d all our chores and rid the world of rubbish on which to hear it, comment on it, like it, came after her. And someone recorded the doubtless involve scraps of cloth held music before bedtime. Momento also have follow it, share it and, oh, dunno, stuff a jam final gurgling moments and presented it to us together by safety pins and an oily residue a djemba and, according to their line-up doughnut up its backside. It’s like sending a as a music demo. And we laughed at it. How of indeterminate origin and have weird details, a bouzouki. All of which suggests rocket to Mars before you’ve even checked damned insensitive. appendages that didn’t really have anything there’ll be precious little essence of Noel to do with the main bit of the clothes at all. Gallagher involved. And so it turns out, with So it is with the jarring incongruity of the the band wavering between a multitude of Send demos for review to: Nightshift, PO Box 312, Kidlington, OX5 1ZU, or email links trio’s music and vocals. Based on a dead- worldy folky styles – from English to Middle to [email protected], clearly marked Demos. IMPORTANT: no review without eyed drum machine thump, the guitars are Eastern and onto Balkan – with a hazy a contact address and phone number; no more than four tracks on a demo please. If you a nasty, spindly industrial rumble and clang lack of purpose. In stark contrast to Being can’t handle criticism, please don’t send us your demo. And don’t fucking whine about your of the kind we are complete suckers for here Eugene they aren’t up for any kind of fight review on Twitter either, else we’ll print a screenshot and make you look like a prize tit. thevenuecollective PRESENTS

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