[email protected] nightshift.oxfordmusic.net Free every month NIGHTSHIFT Issue 209 December Oxford’s Music Magazine 2012

All aboard for photo: Jamie Beeden

Raving, not drowning, with Oxford’s brightest electro-pop stars

plus The Top 25 Oxford songs of the year Introducing Phil McMinn and lashings of festive gigs, previews, reviews and releases. NIGHTSHIFT: PO Box 312, Kidlington, OX5 1ZU. Phone: 01865 372255 DHP Concerts Presents

TUE 27 NOV JUAN ZELADA £8 ADV | 18+ WED 06 FEB NEWS THE JERICHO LEDDRA CHAPMAN Nightshift: PO Box 312, Kidlington, OX5 1ZU Phone: 01865 372255 email: [email protected] TUE 29 NOV £7 ADV | 18+ O2 Academy2 MICHELE STODART THE JERICHO Oxford Online: nightshift.oxfordmusic.net £8 ADV | 18+ THU 14 (AVAILABLE) & FRI 15 FEB (SOLD OUT) SPRING OFFENSIVE were ALCOPOP! RECORDS release a THE JERICHO Friday 22nd named BBC Oxford’s Band Of new compilation album this month. STORNOWAY The Year for 2012 last month. `Alcopopular 5: A Hit Hiker’s Guide February Previous winners of the award To The UK’ is out on December FRI 30 NOV £15 ADV | ALL AGES th OXFORD TOWN HALL include Stornoway, Fixers and Little 10 and features 20 acts, including Fish. The award was announced Oxford’s Cellar Family. In typically THE MILK on the same night the band played inventive style the local label ALL AGES • £10 ADV £10 ADV | ALL AGES THU 21 FEB a sold-out show at East Oxford releases the album as a CD with an O 2 ACADEMY2 OXFORD ALT-TICKETS.CO.UK • 0844 871 8819 Conservative Club on James Street, ordnance survey map of Britain, so the location of the show having JAKE BUGG 'ALL OUR FAVOURITE STORIES' Debut album out now on iTunes & in all good record shops listeners can follow the tracklisting been made known to ticket-holders geographically, from Glasgow to FRI 30 NOV SOLD OUT | ALL AGES the day before. Brighton, via Dublin and Cardiff O 2 ACADEMY OXFORD THE REVIVAL HOUR Spring Offensive’s epic new single, and plenty of other towns and cities `Not Drowning But Waving’, is besides. Other acts featured include FOALS release a new single, `Inhaler’, this month. The single is the £9 ADV | 18+ FRI 22 FEB available on smart 7” vinyl from Summer Camp, The JCQ, Wild first track to be released from their forthcoming third album, `Holy Fire’, THE JERICHO Truck Store on Cowley Road right Mercury Sound, Fear of Men and which is out in February next year. The video for `Inhaler’ went online in DOG IS DEAD now. While you’re raiding your Ram’s Pocket Radio. More info at November with the song finding Foals heading into the harder, heavier £10 | ALL AGES piggy bank you can watch the ace www.ilovealcopop.co.uk. sound promised by Yannis in recent interviews. The band also aired a new SUN 02 DEC video for it at springoffensive. O 2 ACADEMY2 OXFORD song, `My Number’, on Later… with Jools Holland at the end of November. NATALIE DUNCAN co.uk BEARD MUSEUM host two nights Live dates are scheduled through December and also in march but no of music at St Alban’s Church in hometown show has been announced. See the video for `Inhaler’ at tinyurl. £8.50 ADV | 18+ TUE 26 FEB BELLOWHEAD play their east Oxford this month. Entitled com/c2vwe99 THE JERICHO biggest Oxford show to date when Two Nights Before Christmas, LINDI ORTEGA they headline The New Theatre the shows include a one-off set on Wednesday 13th February. The by Trophy Wife on Friday 21st is due to host occasional live bands Winter Warmer at the Wheatsheaf MON 03 DEC £8.50 | 18+ th THE JERICHO folk big band, formed by Oxford December accompanied by a and DJs. on Sunday 16 December. Go to musicians Jon Boden and John string quartet. They’ll be joined facebook.com/Undersmile for more THE OTHER TRIBE Spiers, released their new album on the night by Kill Murray. On WITCHES have posthumously details. £6 ADV | 18+ SUN 17 MAR `Broadside’, last month. Bellowhead the Saturday night, Aylesbury’s made their second album, `Final THE BULLINGDON have previously headlined Truck Mercury-nominated experimental Word’, available free to download on RECORD and CD fairs return to MARTIN HARLEY BAND Festival, but this will be their biggest folk-pop outfit Sweet Billy Pilgrim Bandcamp. Hear it at witchesband. Oxford Town Hall in January. The SOLD OUT show in Oxford itself. Tickets, priced bandcamp.com. long-running collectors fairs have £12.50 ADV | 18+ headline, supported by Phil McMinn THU 06 DEC from £18.50-£23.50, are on sale now and Adam Barnes. been absent in recent months, but THE JERICHO th by phone on 0844 871 3020 or at Looking further ahead, Beard UNDERSMILE have their are back on Saturday 5 January, ULTRASOUND £15 • ALL AGES • ALT-TICKETS.CO.UK & TRUCK STORE www.atgtickets.com/oxford. Museum host a special show `Narwhal’ album released in a from 10am to 3.30pm. Visit www. £8 ADV | 18+ WED 20 MAR by Patrick Wolf at St John the limited-edition cassette format usrfairs.co.uk for more details. THE JERICHO THIS TOWN NEEDS GUNS Evangelist church on Iffley Road, this month. 100 copies of the THE TRAVELLING BAND release their second album on 21st the singer performing accompanied cassette will be available through AS EVER, don’t forget to tune into January 2013. `13.0.0.0.0’ is the by piano and string quartet. Tickets Tartarus Records and come with BBC Oxford Introducing every TUE 11 DEC £8 ADV | 18+ an Undersmile sew-on patch for Sunday night between 9-10pm on THE JERICHO follow-up to 2008’s `Animals’ and for all Beard Museum shows are the first to feature new singer Henry on sale from www.wegottickets/ real authentic retro-metal appeal. 95.2fm. The dedicated local music ADMIRAL FALLOW Tremain, who replaced Stuart Smith beardmuseum. The band also release a new 12” show plays the best Oxford releases £9 ADV | 18+ FRI 22 MAR last year. The new album is released vinyl EP in February next year in and demos as well as featuring THE JERICHO on Sargent House; a teaser track, THE WHITE RABBIT officially their acoustic Coma Wall guise, interviews and sessions with local BASTILLE `Left Aligned’, is online now at opens this month. The new pub out on Shama Records. Undersmile acts. The show is available as a in full bulldozing electric mode podcast at bbc.co.uk/oxford. £10 ADV | ALL AGES soundcloud.com/sargent-house/ venue, on the site of the old TUE 29 JAN ttng-left-aligned. play at Gappy Tooth Industries’ Regularly updated local music O 2 ACADEMY OXFORD Gloucester Arms, in Friar’s Entry, news is available online at www. NADEAH musicinoxford.co.uk. The site also CHAD VALLEY AND TROPHY WIFE release a features interactive reviews, a photo £8.50 ADV | 18+ SAT 23 MAR split EP this month on Blessing Force Records. The gallery and gig guide. THE JERICHO EP features each band playing their own material, Nightshift’s online form is open to RUARRI JOSEPH followed by each covering the other’s song. Chad Valley all local music fans and musicians contributes `Tell All Your Friends’, while Trophy Wife 01 FEB £8.50 ADV | 18+ at nightshift.oxfordmusic.net, offer `Like No Other’. THE JERICHO while the new Oxfordshire Music The EP comes out as a 12” white vinyl with screen- JIM LOCKEY & THE SOLEMN SUN Scene quarterly magazine is printed sleeves by Double Suns, limited to 250 copies, O2 ACADEMY OXFORD available as a PDF online at www. £9 ADV | 18+ the first 100 of which come autographed by both acts. oxfordmusicscene.co.uk. THE JERICHO Smart. To order yourself a copy, go to blessingforce. FRIDAY 22ND MARCH Another locally-themed music tumblr.com. £10 • 14+ • ALT-TICKETS.CO.UK • 0844 871 8819 • GIGSINOXFORD.CO.UK podcast is From The Ladder Factory, Meanwhile, Trophy Wife are off on tour supporting which plays music from Oxfordshire Foals for the first half of December, followed by a and Wiltshire – get it at www. support slot to Bombay Bicycle Club at Koko in London fromtheladderfactory.com. W WW.GIGSINOXFORD.CO.UK on the 22nd.

www.alt-tickets.co.uk / www.facebook.com/alttickets.co.uk / All shows 18+ unless stated otherwise a quiet word with who will have to quit their courses anointing ‘Echo’ as a single; it was Wild Swim, while never seeming overlap or is it a release for ideas that completely if the time comes to an auspicious moment when it all to fit in with any particular scene wouldn’t fit in with the band? do so. I’m the lucky one because I came together, and there was a or genre, do sound like a growing Jamie: Cubiq is essentially for can pretty much pick it all back up definite sense that we’d strayed into number of bands, from Wild Beasts Carlos and me to explore production, whenever I want.” new and beautiful waters.” to Alt.J, who aren’t afraid to be compositional and live techniques You’re managed by Jon Chapman a bit, for want of a better word, and technology. Over the last We kind of take it for now; how did that come about arty, to explore more flamboyant, three or four years, we somehow granted in Oxford that local bands and how has he helped the band exotic sounds; do they feel there’s developed a penchant for techno vocals; Carlos Posada on guitars, will be at university either here in get on, given his experience with a reaction against the sort of grey and the deeper end of house music. keyboards and backing vocals; the city or elsewhere, but really, Stornoway? landfill indie and rock of the past However, we hope that our remix Jacob Lively on bass and keys; look beyond these somewhat Jamie: “Jon got in touch with us in few years? of `Echo’ indicates our liberation Sam Robinson on drums, and Jamie rarefied environs and it’s really not April 2011 after listening to one of Richard: “We’re certainly not from strictly four-to-the-floor genres. Jay on guitars, keys and assorted that common. Why does Oxford, our demo CDs that Carlos had given writing our music as a reaction. Ideas have occasionally overlapped electronics), all grew up locally and even for a university city, produce him at one of his gigs at The Jericho We definitely have aspirations between Wild Swim and Cubiq, but have been playing in bands together so many brainy bands? Tavern. Jon has been a tremendous to be interesting though, and the general rule is to reserve most since they were all twelve (“most Jamie: “Perhaps because it’s a very asset. He always keeps us focussed with three members of the band of our ideas for the former. It was of them being utterly forgettable,” small city, yet there is a massive and organised, and everyone he studying music, it’s hard for us nice to remix ourselves, because admits Richard). world-renowned university in the has introduced us to are always so not to want our sound to be new we obviously knew the track inside In fact one of their earliest centre of it, so the intellect would lovely. He also provides a valuable and exciting. Unusual bands have out, which meant we could take full incarnations, Parachutes, ended up therefore be pervasive due to the perspective on our band as ‘the always been around, but one thing advantage of all the stems. in Nightshift’s Demo Dumper a few high concentration and small size of outsider looking in’. Plus, he gets I have noticed is the acts which are Aside from the various originals years back. Something they’re able this `tiny teacup’ city. But that only our rather niche sense of humour, more exotic seem to be seeping into Cubiq have released over the last to be sanguine about these days. accounts for there being ‘brainy’ which is helpful.” the mainstream again; I hope this year; we have provided remixes Jamie: “I remember us all being people in Oxford; I’ve no idea who The single is out on Believe continues. It would be great too if for Spring Offensive, Ollie Gibson, a bit cross about the review at the most intellectual band in Oxford Records; how did that come about? these new interesting bands could Adam Banks, and this summer we the time; my elder brother even would be. It’s hard to judge how Carlos: “They’re primarily a influence what’s out there at the finished one for Totally Enormous wrote a rather scathing onslaught intellectual a band is. Establishing digital distributor, and have been moment. Perhaps a current gathering Extinct Dinosaurs’ ‘Stronger’, which in response to said review, which I the criteria would be difficult; wonderfully supportive, enthusiastic wave of music from South-Korea may be coming out at some stage.” think he actually sent in! However, should one judge a band’s intellect I remember us all listening to that based on musical complexity, lyrics, Given the difficulty in old demo together a few summers affectations, tweed, or interview “I’m a useless swimmer. To a bystander it pinning Wild Swim’s sound down, ago, and it was pretty nebulous – citations? However, I’m sure the would look like I was drowning for an hour.” are there other bands around Oxford amongst other colourful words – so real Oxford intelligentsia have all they feel any kinship with? Glass now it seems we can agree on that. got better things to do than listen to Animals for example, now signed I guess we will never know whether bands... let alone play in one!” and encouraging in the whole will spark a new age for bands again to XL offshoot Kaya Kaya, seem we were always destined to move If Wild Swim had to go on release process. They’ve got a great in our rejection of it, once everything to share a similar affection for on from that early sound, or whether Mastermind, what would their roster of artists and it’s been a real has become just a bit silly.” understated moods and that easy the Demo Dumper review was the specialist subjects be? pleasure to work with them so far. fusion of guitars and electronics. photo: Jamie Beeden key influence on that front... that’s Richard: “Bespoke tailoring and I’d I think they were a bit surprised to There’s also a seamless Jacob: “I think it’s always great up to your take on fatalism.” probably lose.” discover that we’ve all bought our blending of pop, indie, dubstep and to have bands around that are “Wild swimming isn’t orchestrated blend and blur of styles all seems to be happy happenstance Sam: “Zen Buddhism.” own vinyl copies of ‘Echo’ already; electro in Wild Swim’s music; ask developing in similar ways to you. really our thing. It transpired that defies easy description, never that he’s so blessed. What is certain now is Carlos: “Eczema, I’m riddled with it.” apparently they were going to them if they believe genre boundaries We’ve known and been friends with recently on a band holiday that I’m mind categorisation. And anyway, Richard: “I can’t tell you how it that Wild Swim, still all in their Jacob: “I really don’t know...I could give us our own copies, so they’ve in music are now redundant and you Glass Animals for years and it’s great a useless swimmer. I sort of move in you’re far too busy losing yourself happened. I think it’s been a gradual late-teens, are one of the brightest probably reel off a fair few quotes already exceeded our expectations.” get an answer that suggests they’ve to see them doing so well. Oxford a pointless, hopeless jerking motion. in the exotic drifting mist of their development since I joined the band young bands around at the moment, from The Office.” already thought long and hard about is known for having these amazing I guess you could call it the front music to worry about what it all at 12. I didn’t copy anyone at the with 6Music and The Guardian Jamie: “Adult Swim’s Sealab 2021 For any band, reading the idea. support systems for bands, with the sprawl. To a bystander it would look means or where it comes from. time and didn’t have a style, though among the throng of national media US television show…due to my lack names of other acts that other people Sam: “Not redundant, though I current Blessing Force crowd being like I was drowning for an hour.” I had a ridiculous mockney accent catching on to their new single. of expertise in anything useful.” think you sound like can be an wouldn’t call them barriers any a perfect example of this, which Wild Swim’s debut demo in an attempt to be more British. As Given that four of them are currently unusual, occasionally bewildering, more; they remain important as is probably a big factor in all the Richard Sansom, octave- back in January of last year was one I got older though, I decided that I at uni and Richard is training to be Thoughts of singers often eye-opening experience, but porous membranes which serve success Oxford bands have had over wandering, angelically operatic- of the most startling and original wanted my voice to be powerful. a tailor, isn’t there pressure on the with PhDs in duck ecology, indie for a band of such tender years as to help identify cohesive styles, the years.” voiced singer with Wild Swim, has offerings we’ve heard in recent I learnt a fair bit about Greek band to balance studies with touring pop starlets with philosophy Wild Swim, comparisons to acts like techniques, particular social just shattered Nightshift’s possibly times. There was something of mythology at school and something and the like? doctorates and rapping law The Associates, Japan, even The roles, and varying differences To what level Wild Swim fantastical vision of the band as an air of otherworldliness about that always stuck with me from the Richard: “We’re all currently at graduates cast aside (all of which are Blue Nile, must feel strange. While and similarities so that we can take such success remains to be fearless action men. It’s a scandal. it as it flitted from what sounded stories we covered was the want in different stages of our education. academic achievements of Oxford beloved of journos of a certain age, may understand and talk seen, but right now, the world looks We imagined Richard to be ready almost like a lost Chinese opera, some characters to be remembered. Carlos and Jacob are in their final popsters, though we’ll leave it up such acts must be alien to a young about music in more interesting very much like their oyster. Not only and able to wrestle a shark at any through glitchy electronica and Jacob, our bassist, likes to joke years so pressure is obviously to you to work out who), `Echo’ is band these days. and diverse ways. Genres form is their music innovative and fresh moment. house, lysergic folk and hip hop. that this desire has made me a mounting. Jamie and Sam are in currently winning Wild Swim new Jacob: “We get these kind of the conceptual categories which sounding, a rare balance of intelligent “I’d only have colourful language Awarding it Demo Of The Month, megalomaniac, but actually I want second year, which is seemingly less fans across the board. As well as comparisons a lot – lots of 80s make our current musical landscape and accessible, it seems that the at hand, I’m afraid. It wouldn’t we declared that, “It’s always a that for all of us, especially him.” strenuous but far more challenging radio play and excellent reviews in bands, half of which we’ve never comprehensible. However, they climate has never been so ripe for a even be able to hear me through my genuine pleasure to dig something geographically; they’re at Leeds and the press for the single, the band heard of. It’s become quite a good are no longer blinkering, and do band like them. swallowing of water, though.” genuinely new and innovative Since that early Cardiff as opposed to Oxford, where have won the affections of Simon way for us to actually get into new not cause strident division and Turns out they might even have a Ah well, he may not be a dab hand out of the pile.” Central to the exposure, Nightshift has been lucky Carlos and Jacob are. My situation Raymonde, once of Cocteau Twins, music, though; we’ll get compared musical dogmatism. I see genres real life wild swimmer in their midst. with a harpoon gun, but it turns out band’s appeal was Richard’s voice, enough to catch a handful of Wild is completely up in the air as the who now runs Bella Union Records, to someone, if we haven’t heard as communal entities which all Richard: “Jamie is mad for Richard is more than adept with a gentle but highly-strung, capable Swim’s sporadic live shows, leading course recognises that students will and one of the music industry’s most them we’ll generally look them up musicians can explore, and indeed swimming. We all go to Ireland needle and thread. He’s training to of shifting up and down octaves up to the release last month of their drop out at any given moment to respected tastemakers, who declared just out of curiosity and a lot of the should, in order to create new and together and the sea there is made become a tailor, while his band-mates with startling ease, reminding us of debut single, `Echo’, on Believe take up placements; something I them his favourite new band of the time it’s actually pretty good so we exciting forms of music. black by the cold; he loves it.” are all off studying at university. David Sylvian, opera singer-turned- Records. may have to do for music-related year. keep listening. It’s a bit backwards Such exploration goes beyond Action heroes after all. weird-pop oddity Klaus Nomi, and The young quintet have been taken reasons. We are all prepared to put Sam: “We always had faith in really but it seems to work. the confines of Wild Swim for its Wild Swim are clever in particular, The Associates’ Billy under the wing of manager Jon everything on hold for the band. the song, but the sudden onset Ask the band who they have been members, with Jamie and Carlos `Echo’ is out now on Believe. Wild of positive media vibes definitely most directly influenced by, the list having a separate electronic dance Swim play at St. John the Evangelist sorts, the latest in a long and proud Mackenzie. Hallowed company Chapman, who also looks after Carlos and Jacob’s universities have th lineage of academically-enhanced indeed. Stornoway, and their reputation a good scheme whereby pupils can took us by surprise, and the love is altogether more contemporary. and remix project called Cubiq, who on Sunday 16 December as part of Oxford bands. And their music Talking to Richard about his voice, continues to grow and grow. leave for a year to pursue whatever from Simon Raymonde was a Sam: “Grizzly Bear, Radiohead, supply a remix of `Echo’ as an extra Pindrop performance’s Christmas doesn’t hide the fact, neither. It’s though, wondering if he’s ever had it may be and resume studies after serious win. If you can win at music, Arthur Russell, Four Tet, Flying track on the single. How does Cubiq show. Visit wildswimmusic.com to a densely textured, intricately vocal tutoring or sung in a choir, it Wild Swim (Richard on that. It’s harder for Sam and Jamie, that is. I don’t recall us immediately Lotus, Jeff Buckley, Fleet Foxes.” fit in with Wild Swim; do ideas hear the single and for gig dates. beginnings the song ramps up the as a garish orange wristwatch with 18. SECRET RIVALS 22. MOTHER tension to almost unbearable levels a download code included. Novelty by way of vicious electronics and aside, this was a frenetically beat- `Once More With Heart’ CORONA `Sunscope’ beats, singer HattieTaylor breathlessly driven pile-up of melodic post- Seemingly on a mission to save the It starts with a riff, and the riff gets holding her own in the face of the hardcore and twitchy math-rocking, true spirit of indie-pop, Secret Rivals bigger. Soon the riff is rolling across Tracks of our Year oncoming storm. coated with a yelping pop sheen, were the musical equivalent of a the ocean, growing and growing until The end of another year, and another year of fantastic music from Oxford bands and musicians. From 7. UNDERSMILE emotive and dynamic and putting playground snog and a closing-time it’s vast enough to consume an entire old favourites to bright young things, the quality bar remains set thrillingly high. FIXERS enjoyed lie to the idea that Oxford’s more punch-up in precarious proximity. continent. And so it rolls on. Black `Milk’ 11. JONQUIL `Run’ “I’ll tell you when you’ve had as night, hard and unforgiving as a (and sometimes endured) a strange old year but their debut album was an absolute joy and they To quote Beavis and Butthead, the musically awkward and esoteric Reining in some of their earlier enough,” chirps singer Clouds mountain range. Didcot’s thunderous remain one of the most thrilling and unpredictable live bands around. Even discounting those songs only thing cooler than bands who get types couldn’t rock out or have you “tropical pop” schtick, Jonquil’s latest sweetly but with just the right hint of psychedelic metallers ground from the album that have already featured in previous end of year lists, there was enough quality chicks, are band who scare chicks. humming along before bedtime. Not album, `Point Of Go’, moves the menace, while co-vocalist Jay yelps Stooges-like dirt under the fingernails Beavis and Butthead would probably that you’d be able to sleep anyway. for them to take top spot, though they were run incredibly close by GAZ COOMBES’ solo debut band ever forward, but never loses like an agitated puppy in response. of Sabbath’s relentless riffery and have called Hel and Taz from Not with this pocket-sized monster and THE CELLAR FAMILY’s nasty-as-we-want-to-be hardcore, while FOALS took everyone by touch of Hugo Manuel’s way with a Where Belle & Sebastian’s big- dropped a tab of acid in its pint. Then Undersmile “chicks” but they’d have clattering around in your head all surprise with a new single that made an instant impact on Nightshift scribes. Anyway, as is traditional, fantastically simple pop song. This hearted romance and The Cure’s they riffed some more. found themselves gutted and hung night. stand-out song from the album is lovelorn electro-pop gets clobbered we’ve voted and sorted and made difficult decisions. Tears were shed, angry words exchanged and from the nearest tree for their troubles. pure summer soul-pop fare, jaunty by Johnny Foreigner’s up-for-it some people’s favourites left on the cutting room floor. Here, then, is the crème de la crème. Eat up. Cos Undersmile scared pretty much piano flourishes and a sense if giddy 23. DALLAS DON’T 15. DREAMING fight-pop, you’ll find Secret Rivals, everyone. Timid wee beasties were romantic optimism driving all before doubtless breaking things, stealing `The Ballad of Phoebe of adventure.Taking what was best spotted sneaking out of their shows it. Chad Valley might get the national SPIRES `Just Can’t sweets and grinning from ear to ear. from Supergrass – the innate sense within the first song, while true press column inches, but Jonquil Keep This Feeling In’ Henderson’ of melody and a carefree glam-trash believers stood in awed wonder remain, if not quite a secret any An aptly-titled song from the Yet to officially release anything, energy – Gaz introduced his loves at the band’s Satanic doom-metal longer, one of Oxford’s best kept pop brothers Bennett, whose Dreaming 19. TIGER MENDOZA Dallas Don’t’s reputation was built for Krautrock and post-punk into the hymns. Sounding like a Gregorian treasures. Spires incarnation finds them on their often incendiary live shows, equation, the stomping electro beat Godflesh, `Milk’, the highlight of ever more firmly embedded in the feat. ASHER DUST sparks flying as Niall’s uptight of `Break The Silence’, sounding their `Narwhal’ album, was filled with great American folk landscape. Its & DEATH OF HI-FI Scottish burr rubbed up against like Giorgio Moroder inviting Bowie genuinely unsettling malevolence. 12. RICHARD exuberance is irresistible, fair bursting sheet-metal guitar noise, on this and Neu! round for a private rave, a Girls, as we’ve so often said, rock out of its host album, `Brothers In `Lovesick Vandal’ regular set highlight, making for WALTERS `Tomorrow Asher Dust seemed to be guesting disco shimmer punctured by shards of harder than boys. Brooklyn’, even Robin’s normally a feast of serrated post-hardcore or collaborating with pretty much serrated guitar, but at its core a heart- Begins Today’ plaintive vocals here feel awash with noise that variously reminded us of After the misfiring, over-produced everyone within a fifty-mile radius bursting pop anthem. starry-eyed delight as the band – more McLusky, Pixies, Idlewild and Arab 8. GLASS ANIMALS `Pacing’, the venerable Mr Walters of Oxford this year but this was the than ably augmented by drummer Loz Strap, if the latter came armed with got back to doing what he does best, song that showed both he and Tiger `Golden Antlers’ Colbert – rock it up like it’s party power tools, Marshall stacks and a 5. WILD SWIM `Echo’ simply and subtly soundtracking Mendoza’s strength and versatility, a Glass Animals’ debut for XL imprint time in the Catskill mountains. murderous angst instead of a hazy Still in their teens, Wild Swim have Kaya Kaya felt like the band were those mismatched twins of hope relentless thrum of harsh old-school sense of regret. been making music more complex intent on recreating a smoky jazz club and despair, here Rob Stevenson’s electronics and tumultuous beats and ambitious than bands with far ambience out of purely electronic twinkling piano circling beneath 16. COUNT over which Asher’s soulful hectoring more experience for a couple of 1. FIXERS `Pink Light’ instruments, woozy synth textures Richard’s gorgeous heartbroken holds court, a heady, abrasive 24. FAMILY It was a rollercoaster ride of a year for Fixers. 2012 began with them tipped years now, and this debut single SKYLARKIN & initially suggesting minimalist reflections, hope a small, shining electroclash of 65Daysofstatic, DJ as one of the bands to watch, and a slew of superlative reviews for their debut was them at their most bewitching, MACHINE arrangements before you find yourself beacon on the far side of his valley of HARVEY K-TEL `Dub Shadow, Tricky and Salem. album, `We’ll Be The Moon’. They promptly got dumped on by their record sounding like it came from a strange, trying to follow their myriad busy sorrows. But hope there is – love is `Quiet As a Mouse’ label, delaying its release. Then came that drunken, chaotic Truck Festival ghostly netherworld, a mist-shrouded of a Preacherman’ Sweet, tremulous and slightly diversions, the vocals occasionally lost but there’s always tomorrow. It’s debacle and the train looked like coming off the tracks. In typically crazed drift through delicately twinkling His monthly club nights and Disco 20. TOLIESEL sinister, The Family Machine’s reminiscent of Anthony Hegarty’s Richard’s particular blend of magic style, they followed up with arguably the gig of the year at Oxjam, and `We’ll guitars, softly shimmering synths Shed outings may have been the best ode to sneaking round someone’s breathless soulfulness amid a spooky, though, that can make a song of such `The Light’ Be The Moon’ stands alongside the very best albums of 2012, awash with and shuffling, barely-there beats, parties in town this year but Count house while they were out would trippy ambience and a musical world hope sound so completely devastating. While it’s fair to say you can barely euphoric psychedelic love. Much of it was already familiar to Oxford fans, but with singer Richard Sansom’s voice Skylarkin proved he could do more normally have responsible citizens of shifting shadows. move for vaguely country-tinged among the new songs, `Pink Light’ was a clarion call for positivity, a song that casting an almost operatic shadow than just spin great records; he could like ourselves calling the local 12. SEABUCKTHORN make them too. Alongside producer indie bands in Oxford in recent made it feel like it was Christmas day and the height of summer simultaneously. over proceedings – one small but times, the best of them are still an constabulary, but featuring guest If any song this year came with stars in its eyes and flowers in its hair, this was all-important step away from being 9. CHAD VALLEY Harvey K-Tel, `Dub…’ was a great, vocals from We Aeronauts’ Anna `It Swept Across The fun mash-up, reworking an old Trojan absolute joy. Case in point: ToLiesel, it. What it has coursing through its veins is possibly less wholesome. preposterous. With a deft touch they whose debut single, `The Light’, Log, it would have felt like turning draw a hazy line between 80s art-pop `Young Hunger’ Open’ 7” by The Gaylettes, adding a giddy, in a kitten for nicking a pot of Managing to balance helming Jonquil carrying an air of restrained euphoria experimenters The Associates and While Seabuckthorn – the musical playful mix of dancehall, drum&bass cream. The whole song teeters with his Chad Valley persona, Hugo about it, added a shoegaze shimmer of The Cellar Family’s `Jumbo’ EP, Japan and understated modern-day moniker of Andy Cartwright – are and acid house to the original and precariously on the slenderest 2. FOALS `Inhaler’ Manuel’s latter project produced a to the sort of haunted alt.country revelling in the trio’s masterclass in heroes like Foals and The xx. Sounds best appreciated across a whole setting it to an animated video that of acoustic guitar lines, sparse That `Inhaler’ made its way into this gem of a retro-pop album last month, balladry that Band Of Horses peddle clanging discord, staccato dynamism like the start of something beautiful. album, you can still pick out particular looked like a 60s acid trip prototype of handclaps the only rhythm track Top 25 at all is a surprise given its late featuring cameos from Fixers’ Jack so sweetly. Lighters aloft, it’s time to and outright Jesus Lizard filth. highlights, like this cut from his Spongebob Squarepants. In a parallel, and it sounded like Laura Marling arrival on the scene. That it’s placed Goldstein, Totally Enormous Extinct love thy fellow man. Furious, driven by disgust, and most recent `The Silence Woke and better, universe, this would have absent-mindedly singing `I Saw so high is testament to its immediacy Dinosaurs, Glasser and Twin Shadow just the right amount of downright 6. SPRING OFFENSIVE Me’ – his fifth album in total and the been a Christmas number 1. Mummy Kissing Santa Claus’, and sheer excellence. “Can’t get among others, but it was Hugo’s own sinister, at their best, as on the EP’s second for French label Bookmaker. 21. DEATH OF HI-FI while baking fairy cakes. enough space,” rasps Yannis as the `Worry Fill My Heart’ vocal performances that mostly stole stand-out track, The Cellar Family While they’re more than capable of A masterful composer, here Andy song’s claustrophobic atmosphere the show, both on the chilled `Upside 17. TOTALLY feat. HALF DECENT could be malicious and mischievous fourteen-minute, multi-part concept weaves a heavier rhythmic element inexorably builds, an ironic statement Down’ and this, the album’s title simultaneously, preferring the singles about the cycle of grief, as into his twelve-string explorations, the ENORMOUS 25. KILL MURRAY given the airy, spaciousness of `Total track, a perfect blend of neo-cheese `Until I Stop Breathing’ twisting knife rather than the blunt well as visceral bursts of agitated layered, rhythmic approach striking Witney production duo Death Of Life Forever’. It’s a lightness of and alterno-weirdosity, happy to EXTINCT `Superhuman’ instrument to hit home their point. noise, Spring Offensive also do a perfect balance between scarcity Hi-Fi’s `Anthropocene’ is already Emerging from the wreckage of touch they’ve mostly junked here for reference such uncool 80s references That it all came with a pitch black sweet, simple, skittish pop nuggets and bombast, the music creeping up DINOSAURS a contender for best hip hop album Dial F For Frankenstein, Phantom a nastier, grungier funk that sounds as A-Ha and Hall & Oates, alongside what Queens of the Stone-Age might sense of humour only added to the with a sense of drama such as this, on you in waves until you realise to come out of Oxford, featuring Theory and Fifty Foot Panda, you’d nastiness of it all. This was hardcore New Order’s silicon disco and Tears you’re in the centre of a storm of `Your Love’ have sounded like had they gone their single from back in March. Oxford not being a city renowned an array of rappers, local and imagine Kill Murray might have of the sort too often forgotten in the For Fear’s pop bombast. arppegiating guitars and reverb- head-to-head with George Clinton. With its fractured guitars, fidgety for creating striking dance anthems, international (including Ugly been a rugged old sandstorm of rush for macho posturing, and all the drenched notes. With a determination to move forever rhythms and almost conspiratorial Orlando Higginbottom, who is Duckling’s Dizzy Dustin) as well grungy noise, but not so, as their better for it. forwards musically, next year’s `Holy ambience, `Worry…’ was equally 10. VIENNA DITTO Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, as Andy Hill and Dan Clear’s mix debut `A Drug To Shake You Up’ EP Fire’ album is already shaping up to sparse and fulsome – deft use of `I Know His Blood 14. GUNNING FOR has single-handedly set out to change of electro, funk and industrial proved. Pumped up, fidgety, wired be a modern day classic. 4. GAZ COOMBES space deflecting attention from just TAMAR that perception this year, signing to instrumentation, but it was fellow and bordering on hysterical, EP how busy it all was. Most of all it Will Make Me Whole’ Polydor and releasing a succession of Witney-ite Half Decent who helped highlight `Superhuman’ carries the `Break The Silence’ was pretty, a colour-splashed palette Where primitive reverb-heavy voodoo `Time Trophies singles, culminating in this soulful, provide the album’s highlight with a edgy electro buzz of Radiohead’s 3. THE CELLAR With his solo debut album `Here st of pop’s poster paints, each subtle blues hits the 21 Century, creepy Suitably enough for a song called tripped-out sliver of 90s-flavoured smooth, rapid-fire delivery that’s as more pensive and rocking moments, Come The Bombs’, Gaz Coombes FAMILY `Pinhead’ shade forming a bigger picture that crawling into Cramps territory by `Time Trophies’, Gunning For house, alternately languid and party- breathless as it feels effortless. Local guitars, synths and harmonies sounded like a man who’d just “The soundtrack to your next bad only comes into focus once you step way of Portishead and Royal Trux, Tamar’s summer release on the hearty and pitched partway between hip hop continues to bloom, but this building to an oddly euphoric rediscovered his zest for life and sense day,” concluded Nightshift’s review back and take in its entirety. from its sparse, lo-fi slide guitar-based ever-inventive Alcopop! came out Hot Chip and classic Soul II Soul. took it to another level. climax. Sponsored by Sessions’ lives up to its backstory. BLACK HATS We set out on calm waters, `Alba Adriatica’ `Button Down Shirt’ cutting through ocean ripples with spangled guitar twitches and sparse rhythms, before a (Hoi Polloi) storm starts to grow on its starboard side. Listing After their `Austerity For The Hoi Polloi’ mini- Ships forever try to balance out their pensive and RELEASED album earlier this year, Black Hats seemed to cathartic sides. They’re far more engaging when have confirmed their place among Oxford’s they’re careering full on – the scouring, rise DEATH OF HI-FI HOT HOOVES most promising new bands, particularly the and fall of `Equus Ager’ provides the EP’s chief spiky lollop of `Kick In The Doors’ and the `Anthropocene’ `Fake Modern Art’ highlight, almost stately in its sonic violence. rolling, anthemic `Just Fall’. Here was a band Ditto the similarly orchestrated `100 Gun Ship’, (DB) (Rivet Gun) with both attitude and tunes you could whistle. which delivers the requisite broadside as serrated If locally produced hip hop still struggles to Hot Hooves don’t mess around. Last So why does this new single feel so guitars clash with coruscating synths. Less attract a crossover audience, you’d hope an year’s debut album `Avoid Being Filmed’ disappointing? Perhaps because it sounds like successful is the bulky, ponderous `American album of this quality might prove to be the game crammed ten songs into 23 minutes. This Black Hats are trying to play down the more Steam Company’. While the band avoid too changer we’ve been waiting for. The debut follow up clocks in at an impressive 25 visceral side of their sound – the one that much widdly fretplay of the sort that blots the work of Witney production team Andy Hill minutes. Short, sharp shocks are the order sounds like it’s on the verge of downing its post-rock landscape, it’s overlong and never gets and Dan Clear, `Anthropocene’ is, according to of the day rather than bilious pontificating. pint in one and kicking the crap out of you – in LISTING SHIPS up that full head of steam. the blurb, a concept album “based on the idea Johnny, Joey and Dee Dee would be proud. favour showing their more sensitive side. With The EP’s most curious interlude is `Nutcracker of aliens creating a musical interpretation of At their best Hot Hooves cram an a title like `Button Down Shirt’, this should be `The Hayling Island Six’, a cut-up patchwork of radio transmissions Earth, made up from hearing snatches of radio irresistible amount of energy, melody, wit ready to rumble, but it simply never kicks off, Sessions’ from the lifeboat station stitched together, which transmissions.” We love concept albums and we and cynicism into two and a bit minutes. pulling its punches and coming over as a bit of sounds like an offcut from OMD’s experimental love aliens even more, so let’s have it. Album opener `Youth Activator’ is a well- a lightweight. There’s no great chest-thumping (Idle Fret) While local instrumental explorers Listing 1983 classic `Dazzle Ships’. Employing the services of myriad local rappers, aimed pop grenade, singer Mac dryly chorus and the guitars are reined too far in, DOHF’s production is pretty much faultless, Ships’ decision to record their new EP at Like sailing the ocean, listening to Listing Ships Death Of Hi-Fi follow a standard enough hip puncturing modern age posturing and dominated by keyboards and what even sounds with a keen attention to mood and texture, at Hayling Island lifeboat station makes for good is far more fun when they’ve got all sails to the hop blueprint in the pursuit of keeping things protest (“We will take the nation, with like a steel band at one point. A temporary their very best on the doomy, industrial `Art Of interview material, as does the band’s wall-to- wind and all guns blazing; as long as they steer fresh, but while such an approach can leave any online information”) as the song cavorts blip hopefully. Here lads, have another pint of Sedition’ and swooning, swimming `Painted wall nautical obsession, it’s all worth nothing clear if the doldrums, it’s a voyage well worth album open to being uneven, such pitfalls never effusively with the spirit of 77. Stella, that bloke over there is trying it on with really surface here. The vocal performances Faces’, stealing snatches of old sci-fi TV `Uncomplicated Flow’ might be a decent without quality music to back it up. undertaking. themes to accentuate the ongoing themes of your missus. Go show him what for, and come are pretty much across the board impressive, description of much of Hot Hooves’ output Luckily, for the most part, `The Hayling Island William Bligh the album (notably cult 70s series The Changes back when you’ve written the soundtrack to the from N-Zyme’s steely-eyed delivery, akin to – an onward rush of effortless three-chord on `Ramona Ramona’). By the finale, `You Are ensuing bloodshed. Rakim even, on `Godssaveus’, and Chuckie and Here’, we’re in full trance mode, with echoes of ire and disdain with its tongue only slightly Dale Kattack Copywrite’s bullish rap on `Keep Me Down’, Jean Michel Jarre and Future Sound of London. in its cheek – but tracks like `Serious PHIL McMINN Third track, `That House You Built From The through Half Decent’s rapid-fire delivery at the The album could do to lose a couple of tracks, Business’ are spikier, channelling Wire’s Wreckage’, continues the isolated countryside album’s high point, `Until I Stop Breathing’, it must be said – the soulful but slightly sluggish frantic `Dot Dash’, while title track `Fake RAINBOW RESERVOIR `A Crystal / A Diamond / theme, both lyrically (“I heard you moved to to Asher Dust’s more soulful, contemplative `Keep Me Down’ is passable enough, but `So Modern Art’ is relatively languid, almost the mountains / Through the northern pass / narrative on `I Come To Rest In Jericho’ and AJ Over You’, despite its Numan-esque feel, is country-tinged. `Love Me EP’ An End / A Start’ Out near the shoreline”) and musically, with a Live’s invigorating shake-up `Manamals’. The It’s not all fun, mind. `Christ On A Bike’ delicate underlying piano riff complementing vocally clunky, lacking in flow. Those are (Own label) (Beard Museum) most commercial-sounding cut on the album minor gripes though about an excellent, varied is woefully clunky, a third-rate Buzzcocks Though Phil McMinn has been a consistent intense, soaring vocal sections. is `Bullspit’, perhaps unsurprising given guest debut from a team who sound equally at home pastiche that would have been lucky to find “Welcome to my weird little world / I am your The EP concludes with a pretty cover of John weird little girl,” chirps Angela Space in the presence on the Oxford music scene over the vocal showings for Thee Tom Hardy and Ugly exploring the worlds of MC Doom and Nas as itself opening for The Soup Dragons back last 10 years – as front man of Fell City Girl, McCusker’s `Lavender Hill’, which, after the they do Nine Inch Nails and Aphex Twin. And opening lines of this EP. The couplet pretty Duckling’s Dizzy Dustin; it’s a pithy put down in 1987, while `Too Fucked To Fix’ ends the and later The Winchell Riots – `A Crystal / A loneliness of the three preceding tracks, holds a `Anthropocene’ could make a reasonable claim much sums up what’s both endearing and of modern mainstream rap but with a chorus album on a whimper when Hot Hooves have Diamond / An End / A Start’ is his debut solo sense of hope about it: “We can scratch out our hook that would sit happily alongside the biggest to be one of, if not the, best hip hop albums to infuriating about the singer and pianist who enough bangs in their collective pockets, EP, released as a limited-edition numbered CD sunsets so we never feel sad,” he sings, “And American stars of the genre. come out of Oxford. records under the name Rainbow Reservoir. surely: the 68-second breathless rush for in one of four editions – either accompanied by we’ll play these chords and sing to these chords Throughout `Anthropocene’s sixteen tracks, Dale Kattack On the one hand there’s a sweet, girlish charm the door of `Bad Robot’ for example, or the a handwritten lyrics card, photo print, drawing, laughing”. snarling fuzzpop of `Can’t Back That Up’. about Space; she sounds impossibly chipper Simultaneously bleak and beautiful, even when she’s recounting tales of lost love or additional CD of unreleased material from a wee while afterwards, mind. Perhaps on a What sticks with you throughout the his vast back catalogue. `A Crystal / A Diamond / An End / A Start’ majority of album though, is both the and personal phobias; on the other, she can perfectly showcases McMinn’s songwriting particularly broody day the thinking man’s sound too self-consciously quirky, as if quietly In a recent interview, Phil revealed he wrote Titan might have conjured up a slab of music strength of melody, even when the band much of the EP while on a trip around the prowess on record, while promising an even seem to be trashing anything to hand, and screaming, “Look at me, I am eccentric!” more intense live show. not unlike this. when, as anyone knows, real eccentrics have Isle of Skye, and on listening to it, it’s hard to Tiger Mendoza’s `LIBRE’ EP earlier this year a sense of youthful abandon that’s rare and imagine music more evocative of bleak Scottish Caroline Corke wonderfully unbecoming of a band closer to no idea they’re a bit strange. found the band taking a downturn into darker Ironically that lead track is called `Normal countryside. Opener, `Chase Horses Down’, industrial hip hop, as close to Nine Inch Nails retirement age than their teens. sets the tone with layers of atmospheric, far If only more bands would grow up so Girl’. It coasts along on a relentlessly jaunty as DJ Shadow, and this new single is a further piano lead (Space’s musical background is in reaching vocals, which carry on to the wistful KILL MURRAY footstep closer to the Stygian abyss. Wholly disgracefully. `Sixteenth’, building reverb-laden guitars over a Dale Kattack classical music and her ability is undeniable), appropriate then that it features Half Rabbits’ sounding like `Big Yellow Taxi’ might have it driving drum roll and choral harmonies. `For The Kids’ Michael Weatherburn on vocals, his almost had been written by New York anti-folksters (Own label download) Stentorian delivery casting a gothic sense of Mouldy Peaches. It’s cloyingly whimsical, but This is a real deceptive bruiser of a song, a drama across the piece as it gravitates from such whimsy works far better for her on the teaser for the band’s new EP, due early in 2013. its initial scuffed-up Kraftwerk-like motoring EP’s highlight, `Scaredy Cat’, basically a list After the pensive, skinny-limbed near-hysteria to an altogether gloomier industrial clang that of everything she’s afraid of in the world, from of June’s `A Drug To Shake You Up’ EP, with reminds us of great lost 90s hip hop maverick spontaneous human combustion to falling off its taut excess of nervous energy, `For The Kids’ TIGER MENDOZA Hoodlum Priest. her bike or her drink being spiked. Coming is a confident cruise, a canter even, guitars The EP also features remixes from Space on like Jeffrey Lewis without his underlying striking out doomy chords as synthetic silicon `Prometheus Unbound’ Heroes of the People, Unit 27 and Death Of cynicism, it’s as difficult to dislike as a squiggles decorate the scenery, Gus Rogers’ (Own label download) Hi-Fi, providing variously more spaced-out and confused-looking kitten, and it feels genuinely vocals still high-wired but subsumed to the Being tied to a rock and having your liver eaten ethereal takes on the original and marking Tiger churlish to knock Rainbow Reservoir down for overall picture. It sound like what The Naked by an eagle every day for all eternity can’t be Mendoza, alongside DOH-F, local masters simply sounding so lacking in bitterness about & Famous might sound like if they ditched the top of many folk’s Christmas wish-list, so we of atmospheric electronica and hip hop. As the world. `Love Me’? We won’t go quite that happy pills and lived in Norway for the winter. guess Prometheus was pretty chuffed to be portentous as a Greek myth; tastier by far than far just yet, but we guess a hug isn’t out of the This, in case you’re confused, is A Good Thing. unbound eventually by Hercules. We imagine raw liver. question. Now stop dancing and go get your gun. the emotional scars probably remained for Ian Chesterton Dale Kattack Sue Foreman Soundsystem night of 2012, taking vintage Jamaican at the monthly Upstairs showcase – see main preview rhythms into the 21st Century. On the decks Tenoshi PHIL McMINN + HALF RABBITS returns to town with a bag full of bass bangers, plus UNPLUGGED + JORDAN O’SHEA: The Phoenix club host Count Skylarkin. Picturehouse – Phil launches his debut solo EP in the BOOTLED ZEPPELIN: O2 Academy – Led Zep suitably intimate confines of the Phoenix’s bar venue, tribute. his new record awash with the intense but understated KLUB KAKOFANNEY with KNIGHTS emotion we’ve come to love him for. He’s joined by OF MENTIS + BIG SOCIETY + THE darkly-inclined indie rockers The Half Rabbits in GIG GUIDE INDESCRIBABLE UNKNOWN + ELEPHANT acoustic mode, plus recent Nightshift Demo of the SHAMPOO: The Wheatsheaf – More mixed bag Monthers Jordan O’Shea, renamed from Camena. SATURDAY 1st The New Jazz Collective. goodies from Klub Kak, including rootsy Americana, HEADCOUNT + SPACE HEROES OF THE OPEN MIC SESSION: James Street Tavern country and bluegrass from Knights of Mentis and PEOPLE + BEAVER FUEL + TRAPS + LAIMA ICEAGE + THULEBASEN + POLEDO: The th Cellar – Tinny, lo-fi spirit-of-76 punk noise from DECEMBER THE BLUEBIRD CLUB: The Oxford Blue – electronic dance from Elephant Shampoo, the solo BITE: The Wheatsheaf – Excellent local bill at Saturday 8 Copenhagen’s teen punks Iceage, whose 12-track, Sister club to Catweazle, offering a similarly eclectic project of Guillemots and former-Suitable Case For tonight’s Moshka club night, celebrating promoter contemporary jazz improvisation from the Anglo- 25-minute debut album captures the short, sharp showcase of local singers, musicians, poets and Treatment drummer Grieg Stewart. Jamess’s birthday. Veteran local punk titans UPSTAIRS with Scandinavian trio at tonight’s Oxford Contemporary shock attack of early punk, heavily inspired by the performance artists. MY GREY HORSE: Truck Store – Harmony-heavy Headcount make a welcome return to action, mixing Music show, alternating laidback grooves and spiky, likes of Wire, Richard Hell and Chelsea. Local grungy folk-pop from Stratford’s My Grey Horse. elements of Killing Joke and Siouxsie & The LEWIS WATSON: brittle bass-driven pieces, nodding towards Chick fretmanglers Poledo support. Followed by techno and th HOPE & GLORY: Cowley Workers Social Club – Banshees into their heavyweight sound. They’re Corea and Brad Mehldau. WEDNESDAY 5 house club night Extra Curricular. Two-Tone and ska tribute with covers of The Specials joined by techno-tinged electro-pop duo SHOTP, O2 Academy PROPAGANDA + JACK FM DJs + TRASHY: GUNNING FOR TAMAR + MY FIRST TOOTH: THE CRUSHING + CARAVAN OF WHORES and Madness, through to Skatalites and The Selecter. potty-mouthed indie-punks Beaver Fuel, feisty It’s been a hell of a year for 20-year-old O2 Academy – Indie and rock at Propaganda every The Cellar – Ace local label Alcopop! gets in early + PROSPERINA + SEA BASTARD + EYES OF FUNKY FRIDAYS: The Bullingdon – Funk, soul, punk-popsters Traps and wonderfully melancholic local singer-songwriter Lewis Watson, so it’s Saturday, plus kitsch pop, glam and 80s at Trashy, and with their Christmas party, featuring local math- EVE: The Wheatsheaf – Another great evening of r’n’b and house every Friday. songstress Laima. appropriate he rounds it off with his biggest party tunes from Jack FM DJs. groove monsters G4T, injecting a melodic heart and metal from Buried In Smoke, with theatrical, slightly BREEZE: The Duke’s Cut – Rock covers, Axl Rose TRAPS: Truck Store – Local punk-popsters launch hometown headline show to date. Having SIMPLE: The Bullingdon – House and techno club soul into Mars Volta-style noise. camp thrash from The Crushing; growly stoner-metal to ZZ Top. their debut single ahead of tonight’s show at the accumulated a series of Youtube videos of himself night with guests Huxley and Midland, plus resident ACOUSTIC LOUNGE: Fat Lil’s, Witney – Open from Caravan Of Whores; progressive noise in the STRANGE DOORS: Fat Lil’s, Witney – Doors Wheatsheaf. covering the likes of Tracy Chapman, Bombay DJs. acoustic session. vein of Kyuss, Tool and Pink Floyd from Swansea’s tribute THE GREAT BIG BARGAIN + EVERLASTING Bicycle Club and Bon Iver, he found his viewing OSPREY & THE OX4 ALLSTARS: The Swan, Prosperina; doomy stoner-metal from Brighton’s Sea WHO DO YOU LOVE? The Duke, St Clement’s - + REEDS: The Port Mahon – Ska-punk from figures go stratospheric and was soon writing Wantage th Bastard and epic thrash-core from Eyes Of Eve. THURSDAY 6 Alt.rock, surf-pop, 60s garage-rock, soul, new wave Banbury’s Great Big Bargain, plus the return of four- his own songs. The result of that was July’s self- NETSKY: O2 Academy – Liquid funk from the ULTRASOUND: The Jericho Tavern – The beast and electro sessions with DJs Jim, Jens and Grizilla. fifths of 80s indie heroes That Petrol Emotion under released `It’s Got Four Sad Songs On It BTW’ nd Belgian drum&bass man, inspired by High Contrast. SUNDAY 2 returneth! Praise the beast! – see main preview DISCO MUTANTE: The Library – Disco, cosmic their new name Everlasting. EP, which upped his profile still further, and a PHRONESIS: The North Wall – Imaginative DAWES: The Bullingdon – Authentically vintage- FOR THOSE ABOUT TO ROCK: O2 Academy – funk, electro boogie and acid house session. DONNINGTON COMMUNITY PARTY: mere four years after he first picked up a guitar, sounding Laurel Canyon-style folk-rock in the Rock tribute double with Livewire AC/DC and The Donnington Community Centre (2-10pm) – A Lewis found himself touring Australia and signing tradition of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young from LA’s ZZ Tops. th full day of live music, with sets from Beard of to Warners, for whom he’s currently recording th CHARLIE DORE & JULIAN LITTMAN: The SATURDAY 8 Destiny, The Ben Mowart Strings Project, Celeste, his debut album in the company of assorted Thursday 6 Dawes, back over in the UK to tour 2011’s Nothing Is UPSTAIRS with LEWIS WATSON + ADAM Bullingdon – Folk and country from the veteran Daisy, Green Children of the Wolf Pit, Little Drum, songwriters and producers. His appeal is obvious – Wrong’ album. BARNES + GAVROCHE + JASMINE HILL + singer and actress who enjoyed her sole hit, `Pilot Of Mike Abbott, Moon Rabbit, Oxford Ukuleles, The romantic of heart and plaintive of voice, his songs ULTRASOUND: THE SAW DOCTORS: O2 Academy – Ireland’s ALEX LANYON: O2 Academy – Local songsmith th The Airwaves’, back in 1979. Since then she’s written Riverside Voices, Superloose and Stem. are awash with longing and insecurity, which folk-rock superstars celebrate their 25 anniversary Lewis rounds off a successful year with a headline set The Jericho Tavern with a `Best Of’ album, having recently played a songs for Celine Dion, George Harrison and Sheena SONIC: The Bullingdon – House club night with pitches him comfortably close to Ed Sheeran and There was a time, back in the mid-to-late 90s 50,000-capacity homecoming show back in Galway. Easton as well as co-presenting Rainbow in the 70s. Paleman, Obliqka and Lonerose. Newton Faulkner. Two million Youtube hits don’t when Ultrasound were all set to be the biggest Rousing folk-stomping anthems and bittersweet Out on tour with her band The Hula Valley Orchestra, Friday 7th WHAT YOU CALL IT GARAGE: The Cellar – lie and you just have to hope the big, bad music band of the decade. The music press adored them balladry are the order of the day, alongside monster she’ll be playing tracks from her recent `Hula Valley UK garage, 2-step, 4x4 and bassline club night. industry doesn’t chew him up and spit him out as but in their case the hype was wholly justified hit `I Useta Lover’. Songbook’ and `Cheapskate Lullabyes’, as well as MARK MULCAHY: PROPAGANDA + JACK FM DJs + TRASHY: O2 it does so many budding young talents. Among as Ultrasound gigs took on titanic proportions, NATALIE DUNCAN: The Jericho Tavern – Big- that old hit, possibly. Academy a handful of similarly solo local acts supporting epic in every department, from frontman Tiny’s voiced blues and soul from Nottingham’s Natalie, JULIE MURPHY: Holywell Music Room – An The Jericho Tavern at tonight’s Upstairs showcase show are soulful imposing presence to Richard Green’s monstrous currently being touted as the latest pretender to Amy’s evening of sombre, plaintive songs from singer and If you can judge a person by their friends and SUNDAY 9th and emotive songsmith Adam Barnes and witchy, riffs and the band’s conveyor belt of anthemic pianist Murphy, best known as singer with Welsh folk oddball songstress Gavroche. vacant throne. Having come to attention on the TV fans, then Mark Mulcahy is a prince among men. OLI BROWN: The Bullingdon – Return to town for choruses. Oxford cottoned on to their charms early innovators Fernhill, as well as collaborations with show Goldie’s Band: By Royal Appointment, she’s When his wife Melissa tragically died in 2008, Norfolk’s rising blues singer and guitarist - see main on; in fact Ultrasound became honorary locals Robert Plant and John Cale, touring her first solo INTRUSION: The Cellar – Goth, cyberpunk, signed to Verve Records and just released her debut leaving him to bring up his twin daughters alone, preview. for a while, becoming the only non-Oxford band album in ten years, `A Quiet House’, joined live by darkwave, ebm and industrial sounds at the monthly album, `Devil In Me’, while live she gives the likes those who gathered round to record a tribute album OPEN MIC SESSION: The Jericho Tavern ever to play at the legendary Your Song parties, of The Rolling Stones and Grizzly Bear the treatment, Canadian cellist and harpist Ceri Owen Jones. of his songs to help him out financially included club night. where they condensed the entirety of The Who’s CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford Community alongside her own material. Michael Stipe, Thom Yorke, Frank Turner, Frank th Tommy into twenty minutes of irresistible rock Centre – Oxford’s longest-running and best open mic Black, The National, Dinosaur Jr, Mercury Rev MONDAY 10 th pantomime. They should have been a gigantic full club night showcases local singers, musicians, poets THE AYNSLEY LISTER BAND: The Jericho WEDNESDAY 12 rd and Juliana Hatfield. Thom’s contribution was DARREN HAYMAN + MY CROOKED TEETH stop in rock and roll evolution, but then it all went MONDAY 3 and more every week. Tavern – Heavy-duty blues-rock from the acclaimed a collaboration with his brother Andy, the only + TREVOR WILLIAMS: The Bullingdon – horribly wrong, recording sessions for their long- THE OTHER TRIBE: The Bullingdon – Euphoric DREAMCATCHER + SIX BULLET CHAMBER British guitarist, equally at home playing it raw time the pair have officially recorded together. Former Hefner frontman Darren Hayman comes to overdue debut album wrought with bitterness and big-haired, face-painted tribal disco and rave from the + THE MARK: The Bell, Bicester – Jambox metal and acoustic, or pumping it up Hendrix style on the Radiohead are long-time fans of the Connecticut town. Highly prolific, the man hailed by Stewart in-fighting and they split shortly after. Fans could recent Gathering stars. night. electric. singer, dedicating songs to Mulcahy in the past. Lee as “The thinking person’s indie pop legend”, never forget those glorious early shows though, ADAM BOMB + 1000 MILE HIGHWAY: The OPEN MIC SESSION: The Half Moon Having started his musical life in jangly 1980s continues to document the mundane, emotional and and when rumours of reconciliation surfaced and Jericho Tavern – Return to the Famous Monday BLUES JAM: The Jack Russell, Marston th alt.rockers Miracle Legion, Mulcahy enjoyed TUESDAY 11 embarrassing details of life in his delicately-crafted, a few low-key reunion shows took place, it looked Blues for LA’s big-haired glam-metal axe hero OSPREY & THE OX4 ALLSTARS: Fat Lil’s, critical acclaim but little commercial success ADMIRAL FALLOW + OLYMPIC SWIMMERS: dog-eared and highly personal songs, making a virtue like everything was as great and grand as before. who, as well as supporting Chuck Berry and Johnny Witney and the band split after protracted legal problems The Jericho Tavern – Expansive, uplifting folk- of under-achievement, while also documenting the The release of the band’s second album, `Play For Thunders during his career, has also auditioned for ROLL ON THURSDAYS: The Cellar – Cheesy with their label. Since then he’s retained his cult rock, infused with epic pathos from Glasgow’s decline of his native Essex new towns along the Today’, a mere thirteen years after its predecessor, Kiss, shared an apartment with Izzy Stradlin and dancefloor faves and party tunes every Thursday. status, a straggly troubadour armed with an arsenal Admiral Fallow – one of the highlights of 2011’s way. A quintessential English songwriter in the great proved the old magic was back, with interest. jammed with Eddie Van Halen. His is an old-school of fragile, stripped-back, highly personal songs Truck Festival, drawing comparisons with Mumford tradition of Ray Davies. If you saw the band first time round we expect form of heavy rocking, with nods to Hanoi Rocks and th brought often strikingly to life by his sweet, soulful & Sons, Arcade Fire and Broken Records. Fellow FREERANGE: The Cellar – Drum&bass, hip hop you’ve booked your ticket already. If not, and you The Sweet along the way. FRIDAY 7 MARK MULCAHY: The Jericho Tavern – voice. And thanks in part to that benefit album, Glaswegians Olympic Swimmers, meanwhile, breathe and dubstep. like your rock music overflowing with grandeur, FUNKE & THE TWO-TONE BABY: Truck Store Intimate, soul-bearing pop from the former-Miracle Mark is able to carry on plying his trade, and new life into classic indie jangle in the style of The bombast and hooks big enough to land a blue – One-man blues outfit utilising human beatboxing Legion cult hero – see main preview tonight he makes his first appearance in Oxford Sundays. th whale, make it your mission to discover Ultrasound and loops to update the classic blues sound. TRUCKFIGHTERS + DESERT STORM + since 2005. THE DAMNED + THE DICKIES: O2 Academy THURSDAY 13 now. ORBITAL + NATHAN FAKE: O2 Academy – 90s STEAK + MOTHER CORONA: The Bullingdon – – Panto punk time in the build-up to Christmas as th rave anthems from the brothers Hartnoll – see main TUESDAY 4 Quality night of groove-heavy stoner rocking courtesy original musical anarchists The Damned take another preview LUKE ROBERTS: The Jericho Tavern – of Buried In Smoke tonight with Swedish desert trip round the block, cranking out the old classics, FRANKIE’S WHISKY NIGHT: The Port Mahon Melancholic acoustic pop from the Berkshire singer- rockers Truckfighters dishing out wacked-out riffage from `New Rose’ and `Neat Neat Neat’ to `Smash – Francis Pugh & The Whisky Singers host their songwriter, in the vein of Elliot Smith and Iron & in the vein of Kyuss and Fu Manchu, while moving It Up’ and `Eloise’. The Dickies, meanwhile, will monthly malt-infused night of song and spirits with Wine. towards a more progressive metal sound. Great local doubtless be giving their frantic comedy punk take on their boozy Americana. They’re joined by Jamie and JON SEAGROATT & IAN STAPLES: The Old support from blues-infused stoner metallers Desert `The Banana Splits’, `Sound Of Silence’ and `Knights Ben from Dive Dive and their Xtra Mile labelmate Fire Station – Local experimental and improv heroes Storm and oceanic heavyweights Mother Corona. In White Satin’ one more airing. Ben Marwood. “Show me the way to the nexsht Jon and Ian preview their composition based on the SKYLARKIN SOUNDSYSTEM with THE JAZZ CLUB: The Bullingdon – With a live set from whishky bar / Oh don’t ashk why / Oh don’t ashk myth of the Minotaur as part of Oxford Improvisers’ RESONATORS + TENOSHI: The Cellar Heavy Dexters. why… hic” final show of the year. – Brighton’s deeply dubby eight-piece outfit OPEN MIC SESSION: James Street Tavern IN ZANADU + DAMN VANDALS + THE JAZZ CLUB: The Bullingdon – Free live jazz from The Resonators top the bill at the last Skylarkin THE BLUEBIRD CLUB: The Oxford Blue OMNIVIBES: The Cellar – Rock, blues and funk Afrobeat Orchestra, as well as guest DJ Cal Jader new line-up, still helmed by Julia Sophie’s exquisite else we could tell you what they’re like live. Probably A TRIBUTE TO LED ZEPPELIN: The (Movimientos). voice. Tomorrow’s show is similarly sold out. had some consumer product endorsement to film. Bullingdon – Tribute to the gods of rock, with Denny DIRECTORS OF SPACE + THE LOST ART + THE EPSTEIN + WILD SWIM + FLIGHTS OF WITNEY WINTER WARMER FESTIVAL: Fat Ilett, Jerry Soffe, Ady Davey, Andy Crowdy, Daisy MAPS: The Port Mahon HELIOS + HUCK + RAINBOW RESERVOIR Lil’s, Witney (5pm) – Witney gets into the pre- Palmer, Tony Batey and The Shapes. JALI FILY CISSOKHO + NAIROBI + + MARCUS CORBETH + UNTIL THE BIRD + Christmas rocking and rolling scheme of things with THE CELLAR FAMILY + AGNESS PIKE + X-1 DUCHESS: East Oxford Community Centre – A JESS HALL + BILLY T’RIVERS: St John The an afternoon and evening of bands, with sets from + BOX FACTORY: The Port Mahon – Virulent night of African food and music, with Witney-based Evangelist (4pm) – Pindrop Performances celebrate The Scholars, Very Nice Harry, Black Hats, Player2, local hardcore faves The Cellar Family reconvene for Senegalese kora player JFC, alongside local Afrobeat- the end of another great year of putting on brilliant, Yellow Fever, Robots With Soul and Matt Midgely. some serious angular rock punishment, channelling tinged rockers Nairobi and samba harmony group esoteric shows in unusual venues with an extended Fugazi, McLusky and At The Drive-In through a Duchess. evening session. The first part of the show is an th tunnel of pure rage. Hammer Horror thrash from the THE MIGHTY REDOX: The Red Lion, Eynsham acoustic session, including local types Jess Hall, MONDAY 17 mighty Agness Pike in support, alongside hardcore THE FAMOUS MONDAY BLUES CHRISTMAS th FUNKY FRIDAYS: The Bullingdon Huck, Rainbow Reservoir etc, before they go full- nasties X-1. st nd Sunday 9 PARTY: The Jericho Tavern – The Famous Monday Friday 21 / Saturday 22 on electric for the finale, with a headline set from WE ARE ELEMENTS: The Cellar - Cosmic funk, Blues hosts its traditional Christmas party with an local alt.country favourites The Epstein, this month’s boogie, house, beats and soul with Man Of Science, OLI BROWN th array of guests, including hosts for the evening, The TWO NIGHTS SATURDAY 15 Nightshift cover stars Wild Swim and spacey psych- Main Of Faith, plus residents. SKELETOR presents CHIMP SPANNER + Blue Bishops with their trademark rocking blues, pop types Flights of Helios. FUNKY FRIDAYS: The Bullingdon The Bullingdon PROSPEKT + CRYSIS + REIGN UPONUS + classic 60s-style rock and r’n’b. They’ll be joined by BEFORE CHRISTMAS: EMPTY WHITE CIRCLES: Truck Store – Truck’s DIRTY EARTH BAND: Fat Lil’s, Witney To be considered `young’ in the world of blues can ANNERO: O2 Academy – Skeletor’s final metal FMB regulars like Leburn and Cherry Lee Mewis, as final instore of the year, with rising local alt.folksters THE MIGHTY REDOX: The James Street Tavern sometimes mean being any age under about 50, extravaganza of 2012 brings progressive metal well as Jules and Lorna Fothergill, Claire Johnson, St. Alban’s Church Empty White Circles and more acts to be confirmed. Teaming up with rock-friendly restaurateurs but Norfolk’s Oli Brown really is young – still a machine Chimp Spanner to town for the first time, Jedson Davies and Laurence Jones. IRREGULAR FOLK CHRISTMAS SPECIAL: nd Oxfork, Beard Museum follow up last year’s tender 21 and already on to his third album. His the band fusing elements of jazz-rock and electronic LITTLE FISH + CANDY SAYS: The Rotunda, SATURDAY 22 The Cellar (3-9pm) – The Cellar’s new alternative superb Rotunda sessions with a brace of intimate first, `Open Road’, came out when he was just 17, soundscaping into their heavyweight explorations on Iffley – Second, sold-out show from the mighty Fish. SWEET BILLY PILGRIM + ADAM BARNES folk club night presents an afternoon and evening shows in the rarefied environs of St Alban’s marking him out early on as one of the UK’s new recent concept album `All Road Lead Here’, mixing KERFUFFLE: St Michael @ The Northgate – + PHIL McMINN + THE BEARD MUSEUM of Christmas songs reworked and reimagined by Church on Charles Street. The first, on the Friday, breed of blues heroes, while drawing admiring influences as diverse as Meshuggah, Dream Theatre, Traditional English, French and American tunes CHRISTMAS SINGERS: St. Alban’s Church – assorted local luminaries, including Phil McMinn. features TROPHY WIFE playing a set with a comparisons to Rory Gallagher and Steve Cropper. Toto and Vangelis. Local support comes from proggy brought up to date by the rootsy folk four-piece. Second of Beard Museum’s pre-Christmas shows, DAPPY: O2 Academy – Oh he’s a character ain’t string quartet, which should complement their Its 2010 follow-up, `Heads I Win, Tails You Lose’, heavyweights Prospekt, and Pantera-inclined thrash with experimental folk-pop stars Sweet Billy he, that Dappy. Whether he’s texting death threats airy, spectral electro-tinged pop perfectly. They’re featured regularly in end of year blues round-ups crew Crysis. th Christmas – see main preview to women who don’t like his music, or calling for joined by KILL MURRAY, whose excellent new and found Oli winning Best Male Singer and THE WINTER WARMER: The Wheatsheaf – First TUESDAY 18 BIG RED SKY RECORDS CHRISTMAS PARTY: convicted murderers to be released, he’s always worth JAZZ CLUB: The Bullingdon – With live guests single, `For The Kids’, finds them aiming for a Best Young Artist at the British Blues Awards. night of Gappy Tooth Industries’ annual snowbound The Wheatsheaf - The local label gets into the a laugh. What a lad, eh, what a bleedin’ character. The Hugh Turner Band. heavier electronic sound. Since then his reputation has continued to grow, musical wonderland, running over two evenings at festive spirit in the company of grungy indie rockers STOOSHE: O2 Academy – Lush, Motown-styled SOUL TRAIN: The Cellar – 60s and 70s Motown, Sunday’s show brings the potential high point winning Best Album at last year’s Blues Awards the Sheaf, with four bands on each night. Tonight it’s Von Braun; Parisian café-folk-cum-rock’n’rollers soul and r’n’b from the London girl group, who’ve funk and soul night. of the weekend with Aylesbury’s folktronica and another Best Young Artist gong, while his the turn of 60s-styled psychedelic garage rockers The Les Clochards; trippy electro drifters Stem; acoustic hit the Top 5 with `Love Me’ and `Black Heart’ so far, outfit SWEET BILLY PILGRIM (pictured), latest album, `Here I Am’, features cameos from Graceful Slicks; frantic warped blues rockers Ulysses folk-pop types Welcome To Peepworld and Beard Of as well as being invited to support Nicki Minaj and th riding high on the acclaim afforded their new Paul Jones and Dani Wilde among others. Brown Storm, inspired by Jon Spencer’s Blues Explosion WEDNESDAY 19 Destiny. Jennifer Lopez on their UK tours. They also didn’t album, `Gown & Treaty’, the follow-up to 2009’s also achieved that blues seal of approval when he and Captain Beefheart; afrofunk-tinged indie types DREAMING SPIRES + LAST SHOP STANDING: FRESH OUT THE BOX: The Cellar – House, bother turning up to Cornbury Festival in the summer, Mercury Prize nominated `Twice Born Men’, briefly replaced Rocky Athos in John Mayall’s Yellow Fever and rockers Very Nice Harry. Fat Lil’s, Witney – Local Americana faves Dreaming disco, old skool dance and more. now joined by new singer Jana Carpenter to add band. Praise from the venerable likes of Johnny MR FOGG + DEATH OF HI-FI + SIER PIN SKY Spires play a special live set alongside a screening of PROPAGANDA + JACK FM DJs + TRASHY: O2 th to Tim Elseburg’s vocal lead, the band conjuring Winter, Walter Trout and Joe Bonamassa attest + AFTER THE THOUGHT: The Cellar – Daisy Thursday 13 the film Last Shop Standing, documenting the decline Academy a complex, emotional blend of lo-fi electronica, to his still growing talent, which mostly avoids Rodgers Music’s second show of the weekend, and resilience of independent record stores in the UK. HODGE PODGE: The Bullingdon – Funk sparse folk arrangements and brooding melodies, the pitfall of displaying clever fret technique over featuring a hometown show for electro-pop chap Mr ORBITAL: Graham Jones, author of the book the film was based club night with live sets from Funk Jugglers and at their most intimate reminiscent of Elbow and real blues soul, instead relying on simple riffs and Fogg, plus rising local electro, industrial and hip hop on, will also be holding a Q&A session on the night. Funktional, plus DJs sets from Bastados and Oozat. Elliott Smith, while in their more epic moments, rolling grooves to get his music across. duo Death Of Hi-Fi and autumnal, misty-eyed indie- O2 Academy FLUID Vs CALLIGRAPHY: The Cellar – FUSED: Fat Lil’s, Witney – Rock covers. closer to `Bends’-era Radiohead, but very much folksters Sier Pin Sky. Born of the M25 rave scene that gave them Drum&bass, dubstep and jungle club night with THE PETE FRYER BAND: Cricketers, Cowley their band name, Orbital were true titans of 90s their own band and one of the most understated from Banbury’s In Zanadu at tonight’s It’s All About SIMPLE: The Bullingdon – House and techno with Masp, Swings & Spangle and Neon Concept. dance, their high point undoubtedly their 1994 success stories of recent years. They’re joined The Music show, plus dark, dramatic blues-rock resident DJs. rd Galstonbury set that will live long in the memory SUNDAY 23 for the evening by PHIL McMINN and ADAM from former Nightshift Demo Of The Month winners PROPAGANDA + JACK FM DJs + TRASHY: O2 th of anyone who experienced it. Brothers Phil THURSDAY 20 PLACE ABOVE + HOT HOOVES + JIM BARNES, as well as the BEARD MUSEUM Damn Vandals, leaning towards the Nick Cave and Academy and Paul Hartnoll’s secret weapons that took LISTING SHIPS + SPACE HEROES OF THE GERRARD: The Port Mahon – One-off reunion CHRISTMAS SINGERS. Godfathers scheme of things. THE MIGHTY REDOX + BIG SOCIETY: The them from the underground to regular Top 5 PEOPLE: The Cellar – Following on from last show for grungy indie rockers Place Above, supported IT’S ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC ACOUSTIC James Street Tavern – Swampy blues-rocking from appearances and festival headline sets wasn’t just month’s Nightshift front cover feature and an epic by fuzzgun rockers Hot Hooves. th CLUB CHRISTMAS GATHERING: The local faves The Mighty Redox. FRIDAY 28 a way with a big, pretty melody, although they showing at Audioscope, Listing Ships turn their Bullingdon – Osprey and friends keep it live and WHAT YOU HEAR IS WHAT YOU GET + FUNKY FRIDAYS: The Bullingdon had many – from debut single `Chime’, through 100 gun post-rock broadside on the Cellar. Support th unplugged. CHANGELING + GREEN CHILDREN OF THE MONDAY 24 HQ: The Cellar – Drum&bass club night. hits like `Satan’, `The Box’ and a reworking of comes in the guise of a very welcome return to live PILGRIM’S WAY: Unicorn Theatre, Abingdon – WOLFPIT + MARK NOBLE + LOST DOGS: MACKATING + DJ WRONGTOM + COUNT The Saint theme – as much as their appearance action for acid-tinged synth-pop duo Space Heroes. Traditional English folk in the style of Fairport and The Hollybush, Osney – One gig closer to Wittstock SKYLARKIN + PIEMAN + SULTAN: O2 th as a live spectacle, their sets an energetic and Followed by Roll On Thursdays. SATURDAY 29 Steeleye Span from Stockport’s Pilgrim’s Way. fundraiser for the annual free festival. Academy – Mackating host and headline their very human display of live improvisation and OX4 ALL-STARS: The Bullingdon – Local musical SKITTLE ALLEY CHRISTMAS PARTY: The THE MIGHTY REDOX UNPLUGGED: The THE HI-LO CHRISTMAS HI-FI: The Hi-Lo traditional Christmas Eve reggae party – a tradition movement as well as a euphoric come-together luminaries kick out the party tunes in celebration of Crown & Thistle, Abingdon – The Mighty Redox Wheatsheaf – Acoustic set from the local blues- Jamaican Eating House – DJ Derek and Count that goes way back to the 90s, the expansive local clarion call. Fun, in other words. The sort of fun Bully landlord Arron’s ten years in charge. and more keep the festive spirit going. rockers in the Sheaf’s downstairs bar. Skylarkin spin reggae, dancehall and ska classics. collective kicking out a heady brew of roots, dub and the Criminal Justice Bill was designed to put down GNARWOLVES + CAMERA LUCIDA + BEAR BLUNTED: The Cellar – Hip hop, funk, raga and CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford Community more. A select team of DJs spin reggae, dancehall and which Orbital mocked in their silent track of TRAP: The Wheatsheaf – 100% Mosh club night drum&bass. Centre th and ska classics into Christmas Day, bringing a little SUNDAY 16 the same name. The duo outlived that folly, even with Brighton’s spindly, frenetic punkers Gnarwolves. OPEN MIC SESSION: The Half Moon Jamaican sunshine to the bleak English midwinter. THE WINTER WARMER: The Wheatsheaf – if their musical output later on fell away – notably CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford Community th BLUES JAM: The Jack Russell, Marston Night number two of Gappy Tooth Industries annual Centre SUNDAY 30 the poor `The Altogether’ – but 2009’s reunion at th BLUES JAM: Fat Lil’s, Witney (3pm) warmer mini-fest, tonight featuring ghostly doom- The Big Chill was as triumphant as anyone hoped THE PETE FRYER BAND UNPLUGGED: The TUESDAY 25 th metallers Undersmile, spiky, Pixies-inspired noise Wheatsheaf – DR WHO CHRISTMAS SPECIAL: Nightshift FRIDAY 14 for and the duo’s new album, `Wonky’ is anything st ELECTRIC SIX: O2 Academy – If it’s nearly urchins Dallas Don’t; industrial hip hop and electro but – a real return to form. Whether an Orbital gig OPEN MIC SESSION: The Half Moon Towers – Sorry, you’re not invited. Bloody oiks. MONDAY 31 Christmas it must be time for another Electric Six outfit Tiger Mendoza and atmospheric songsmith D in the O2 in 2012 could ever recreate the freedom BLUES JAM: The Jack Russell, Marston HOUSE OF ROOTS presents THE DUBLINGS: tour, Dick Valentine’s garage-glam crew celebrating Gwalia – wall to wall quality and no mistake. and anarchic spirit of those secretive outings th The Cellar – Feelgood reggae and dub tunes from CHRIS PADMORE + LAURIE WALTON + WEDNESDAY 26 The Dublings at Dub Politics and House of Roots’ the tenth anniversary of their biggest hits, `Gay Bar’ around the M25 in the early-90s, particularly with st THE PETE FRYER BAND: The Seacourt Bridge TOMMO + MEGAN JOSEPHY + TWIZZ FRIDAY 21 joint NYE party. and `Danger! High Voltage’, so they’ll be playing an audience more likely to be heading home to pay THE ORIGINAL RABBIT FOOT SPASM BAND Inn TWANGLE + RAGDOLL: The Wheatsheaf – PROPAGANDA + JACK FM DJs + TRASHY: O2 the album in its entirety, playing it deliberately dumb the babysitter as greet the new dawn `on one’, is CHRISTMAS KNEES-UP: O2 Academy – Of with their tongue-in-cheek rock disco bombast. Klub Kakofanney unplugged session downstairs in Academy – New Year’s Eve party with weekly indie unlikely, but musically they’re timeless. all the pre-Christmas party gigs, this will be the one th the Sheaf. club night Propaganda, plus party tunes from Jack TOLIESEL + THE YARNS + EMPTY WHITE not to miss, given the mighty Rabbit Foot Band’s THURSDAY 27 LITTLE FISH + CANDY SAYS: The Rotunda, THE FRIDGE & BUNGLES CHRISTMAS FM DJs and kitsch pop thrills at Trashy. CIRCLES: The Jericho Tavern – Euphoric country- propensity for onstage jazz carnage, living every Iffley (3pm) – Already sold-out show from the local CRACKER: The Cellar – Hip hop, 80s boogie, old NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY: The Bullingdon – tinged rocking meets shimmering shoegaze noise night like it’s the height of prohibition-era speakeasy favourites, playing a brace of pre-Christmas gigs school garage, jungle and rave. Soul, r’n’b and raga tunes into 2013. in ToLiesel’s supremely melodic world, tonight culture, their New Orleans hot jazz sound authentic at the fantastic Rotunda venue in Iffley where they headlining Daisy Rodgers’ music club and joined by and kicked out with punk spirit. We’ll raise a glass to supported Gaz Coombes last year. Today’s afternoon fluffy 80s-styled indie types The Yarns and rising alt. that. Then head to the bar for a refill. show is a family-friendly affair with kids welcome folksters Empty White Circles. TROPHY WIFE + KILL MURRAY: St. Alban’s Nightshift listings are free. Deadline for inclusion in the gig guide is 6pm on the 20th of each and mince pies and mulled wine provided as a bonus BOSSAPHONIK: The Cellar – Dancefloor Church – First of Beard Museum’s Two Nights to the band’s powerful, emotive blend of soulful post- month - no exceptions (not even for you). Call 01865 372255 (10am-6pm), or email listings to Latin, Balkan beat, afrobeat, global grooves and Before Christmas shows in a church – see main punk and increasingly intimate folk-leaning sound, [email protected]. All listings are copyright of Nightshift and may not be reproduced nu-jazz club night, tonight with a live set from preview Fela Kuti keyboard player Dele Sosimi and his with many of their old favourites reworked to suit the without permission Arbouretum photo by Ben Lyford. More Audioscope photos at benlyfordphotography.co.uk pretty before diving back into darker pretty before divingbackinto darker becoming periodically pastoraland over whichfurtive melodiesdrift, of jaggedelectronic spikesandshards ominous rumblesbuildingtoarange their self-createdmusicalshadows, FLEET rarelyventurebeyond Ship’, whileLiverpool’s BALTIC for thelatter, ason`The100Gun at theirbestwhenthey’reaiming are equallyintricateandbruising, them. OpenersLISTINGSHIPS count notasinglevocalistbetween surprise thatthefirstthreeactson or Krautrock-inspired,it’s little leaning towardsallthingsleftfield With Audioscope’scharacteristic Bacchanalian revelry. while we’reindulginginsuch we canevenfeelgoodaboutourselves in aidofhomelesscharityShelter, so on theirphones.Ohyeah,andit’s all photos ofthemselvesandtheirmates incessantly, probablywhiletaking other localcrowdswouldgibber quietest ofsets,wheretoomany respectfully quietduringeventhe the musiconshowthattheyremain packed crowdaresoenthusedby pretty muchallday. And thatthe there’s thefactvenueispacked is almostuniversallyexcellent. Then starters, themusicacrosstenhours to spendanentiredayinthepub.For it’s nothing todowiththeopportunity warming feelabouttoday’s gig,and There’s anoverwhelminglyheart- Jericho TavernThe AUDIOSCOPE LIVE instrument in inventive ways. instrument ininventiveways. witchy fashionas sheattacksher and caterwauling in disconcertingly create oddrhythms, oryodelling hitting herfacewithbowto than agirlwithcello,variously Elysian Quartet,she’s somuchmore proposition. Onequarterof The pleasantly soporific. after acoupleofmid-afternoonpints, music isdeceptivelyenvelopingand, electronica andminimalistclassical wispy, barely-therefusionoffolk, silence throughouttheirset. The entire crowdarestoodinnear-rapt unforgiving pubsetting,but the MESSAGE TOBEARSinan We’d normallybeloathetowatch to referenceFugazi. Weather Reportbutknowit’s cooler they’d secretlyliketohavebeenin as withmanybandsofthisilk,that ago, andthere’s asneakingsuspicion, something similaralmosttwentyyears now –BillyMahonieweredoing burn, butitfeelsslightlyoldhat visceral spectacle,allclatterand shredded hardcoremakesforamore and evenabitfunky. Their staccato, CAPTAIN arefrantic,fractured BystarkcontrastALRIGHT THE picture. adding tothehypnoticshiftingsound reaches ofOchreRecords’ 90soutput Sound OfLondon, Air andtheouter waters, fleetingechoesofFuture LAURA MOODYisamorestriking tattoo over whichDamo’s barely circle worksupa steady Afrodelic Graeme Murray. A five-mandrum one-time Youthmovies sticksman are theODCDRUMLINE,ledby sound carriers. Today’s backingband with assortedcastsofwhatheterms feature onthelocalscene,performing although he’s becomeasemi-regular his second Audioscope appearance, legend Today’s headlineactisformer-Can decent ideasofabout20-to-one. guitar witharatioofeffects pedals to chief disappointment:oneblokeanda OBSERVATIONS providestheday’s which, After a senseofsoul. comes overlike The Mars Volta with band dishoutandtheirvibrantset can survivetheoutrightpounding also havetunes.Big,bigtunesthat hardcore, butunlikethatbandthey and aslightlyfunked-uptakeon Captain they’vegotawkwardshapes back therock.Like Alright The FOR TAMARGUNNING bring The day’s ambientinterludeover, than halfthestory. a chef;it’s correct,buttellsyouless like describingHestonBlumenthalas In fact,callingheracellistisbit compositions inafleetofhelicopters. woman whorecordsstringquartet you’d expectnothingelsefroma She’s patentlymadasagoatbut , making DAMO SUZUKI,making LAND LAND Dale Kattack heart-warming. the pleasuretoput on.Nowthatis they’re alsothenicest bandhe’s had And thenthepromoterinformsus hands, canwield. of thepowerrockmusic,inright and notalittledeaf,remindedagain Horses. We’re leftalmostspeechless Sabbath, CrazyHorseandBandOf for sonicsupremacybetweenBlack Loop, oraneternal,infernalbattle bulldozed by80sdronemeisters Convention’s finestsongbookbeing sonic lavathatsoundslikeFairport ooze andrumbleofgrunge-adelic are simplystunning. A dark,dirty Baltimore’swho Arbouretum, Butit’s betteredimmediatelyby witnessed allyear. most exciting,upliftingshowswe’ve fantastical starship.It’s oneofthe Brothers andgiventhekeystosome Neu! re-imaginedbyChemical wash ofpuremusicaleuphoria, duo, areahypnogogickraut-rave trans-Pennine electronicsanddrum ARBOURETUM. The former, a glories are Instead today’s twocrowning novelty. familiarity hassimplywornawaythe than we’veseenhimbefore;maybe but Damohimselfislessengaging the drummersreallymakeset, It’s fun enoughforhalfanhourand fall. decipherable incantationsriseand WARM DIGITS and atmosphere is wonderful, too: some of atmosphere iswonderful,too: someof Nigella soundlike DotCotton. The comfortingly indulgent they’dmake talking toyou,murmuring secretsso so natural,you’dswearitwas range socreamyandrich,thephrasing Aidan O’Rourke’s fiddle,themid- The playingisimpeccable,especially And, toagreatextent,theysucceed. excess ofgloopycrossoversyrup. arteries ofalivingtraditionwithan museum pieceandcloggingthe of preservingfolkasataxidermied hard towalkbetweenthetwinevils pigeonhole aneclectictriothatfights comparisons aside,it’s quitehardto point ofviewacuttlefish.Crazy probably lookslikeapumafromthe but onlyinthesensethatashrew You! BlackEmperor, whichtheydo, them assoundinglikeGodspeed band. The gig’s promotersdescribe Which makesLauaninteresting no eulogies,afterall. admitting itsdemise-thelivingneed something, you’reeffectively as youstartactivelycelebrating inch, andthat’s theparadox:assoon vinylphilia, andhalfinchatwelve sorely temptedtoindulgesomeproper much asactuallyplayingit. We’re we think;followedby, well,notas What agreatwaytocelebratevinyl, records displayedroundthewalls. Gardener’s Arms, weadmiretheold Enjoying apre-gigpintinthenearby Jericho TavernThe LAU entirely devotedtoGaz’s solo While tonight’s setisalmost gorgeously pastoral. and spangleslikeanacidlullaby, the latter`WhiteNoise’ bubbles on hysteriaasithitsitspeak;in former camp`Simulator’ borders if everything’s beensetfree.Inthe more lysergic andlanguorous,as the moreintrospectivesongseven numbers soundharderandsharper, anywhere), butnowthebigger recognise Gaz’s yelpandyowl set (notablyinthevocals–you’d echoes ofhisoldbandpermeatethe airy, atmospheric`SubDivider’, with atrashysenseofglam,tothe `Hot Fruit’,rockedtothemax enthusiasm andinvention.From Their rewardisasetawashwith acceptance thisisGazMkII. favourites, insteadanenthusiastic part too–nolazydemandsforold The capacitycrowdplaytheir crowd-pleasing bluster. natural enoughtobemorethan playing tohishometownaudience the effusive proclamationsabout him asfreshwecanremember, a manreborn. Tonight’s showfinds Coombes increasinglysoundslike Cut loosefromSupergrass, Gaz O2 Academy GAZ COOMBES David Murphy swipe thatold Warp EP. barman attheGardener’s whilstwe wide enoughtastes todistractthe band withaloveofBritishfolk,and perfect, then,butstillgreattoseea Lal Waterson’s `MidnightFeast’. Not Kris Drever’s lovely, straighttakeon with itslivelyScottishrhythms,and the piecesthattransportusare`Torsa’, they are,themorewelikethem,and It’s justthat,ingeneral,themorefolk playing oozesfromthemusicians. as thehonestloveofwhatthey’re It wouldalsobedownrightwrong, bred theirmusictomakeitpalatable. assume thatLauhavecynicallycross- storage space,soitwouldbeeasyto the Jericho,orrequiremuchaward Folktriosdon’t normallysell out atmospherically ataRhodes. spry accordionlinestotinklefaux- watch MartinGreenleaveoff the to Four Tet, andit’s frustratingto fuzzy laptopsnufflessomewhatakin departures fromthefolkpath,like Papa M. There arealsolesssuccessful coda thatremindsusunexpectedlyof `Far FromPortland’ astatelyplucked associate withMessage To Bears,and the clockworksugarlocalsmight to discover, `Horizontigo’ displaying There areimpressivemusicaltwists too salonpoliteorrockpompous. aired, buttheystopthegiggetting the apparentadlibsareprobablywell Dale Kattack his futurelooksjustasbright. music history, buttonightproves, a hugepartofOxford’s enviable he shouldforeverbeproudof,and Gaz’s musicalpastissomething Lines’ slottedintothebreakdown. A RollingStone’ andeven`White hints of`BlueMonday’,`Papa Was friendly Krautrockwithteasing Ziggy Stardustglamandrave- of Giorgio Moroder-style disco, magnificent, aeuphoricexplosion `Break The Silence’ isjust slightly redundant. The Silence’,theyfeelhackedout, tonight’s crowningglory, `Break coming astheydostraightafter they breakthesetuptoomuchand in ascrowdpleasersbuttruth Straight’ mighthavebeenslotted numbers. `Moving’ and`SittingUp a coupleofobligatorySupergrass attitude andcomingasitdoesafter particular joy, kickedoutwithreal indulgence. The latterisa from hisandDanny’s HotRats Four’s `DamagedGoods’,heldover and aclosingtakeonGangOf The Beat’s `MirrorI The Bathroom’, punctuated byacoupleofcovers– debut, `HereCome The Bombs’,it’s DECEMBER LivE SHowTiMonTH 9pm-3am /£5advmotd CounT SKYLARKin’ tenoshi + the resonators + hip hop reggae /dancehall SoundSYSTEM SKYLARKin’ fRi 7TH 7.30pm /£5 TBC mY firsttooth+ for tamar + gunning Goth /IndustrialEBMClub Fuckin’ INDIE PoTAC CHRiSTMAS RECod’S xfod ALCoPP! wEd 5TH ate_15263A.html alttickets/event_ www.alt-tickets.co.uk/ 7pm /£7adv PoLEdo thulebasen + iceage + SAT home ofxford’scutting edge musicscene oxford’s BestindependentLiveMusicv THE CELLAR 1ST uLAR www.cellaroxford.co.uk •www.wegottickets.com The Cellar, Frewin Court(OffSt),Oxford, Cornmarket OX13HZ

www.facebook.com/TheCellar.oxford £5 otd 7.30pm /£3(+Free vote)/ thought AfTER THE sier PinkY+ death ofhi-fi+ mr fogg+ Daisy Rogerspresents… SAT £7 otd (wegottickests.com) / on at11pm/£6adv 10pm -3am,band oRCHESTRA AfRoBEAT LivE: dELESoiM grooves/nujazz bizniz Balkan beats/global rdance floorlatin/afrobeat/ BoSSAPHoniK fRi 14TH 7.30pm /£5 + omniVibes THE dAMnv in Zanadu+ Music Presents… All AboutThe THuRS 13TH 15TH AndALS 9pm-3am /£9adv/motd guests vERY SPECiAL (liVe @10Pm)+ the dublings Reggae /DubDubstep PRESEnT… And duBPoLiTCS HouSE ofRooTS Mon 31ST 8pm /£5 MoRE TBC of thePeoPle+ SPACE HERoES listing shiPs+ electronica krautrock /instrumental PRESEnTS... STEAM CoMPA AMERiCAn THuRS 20 £3 otdandadv 3pm –9pmapprox / beyond. covers, carols and artists playChristmas talented altfolkand A selectcrop oflocal Acoustic Alt Folk/Christmassy SPECiAL ALL irregular folk– Sun 16TH EST 1999 dAY CHRiSTMAS @Cellaroxford enue nY photo: Sam Shepherd have to kill at least thirty salivating men to get have tokill atleastthirtysalivating mento get the frontforKatzenjammer. It’s hard-going, andI After thedust settles,Iattempttomakemyway to superlatives. suite with Aslan asmymidwife deservesbetter anyone whocansendmebackto thebirthing That’s not‘experimental,’ that’s justmad,and FROM WHICH WE CAN ALL BEREBORN!”. scream untilwehave“CREATED A VAGINA exhorts therathertimidOxfordaudience to “experimental artistry”. This isthemanwho and bangsthefinalnailinwithwords website describeshimratherlimplyas“terrific” and roarsitseemsinconceivablethathisown acoustic guitar. When heshakeshismane with hisvoiceandtheremainingbitsof Ben Caplanproceedstoripthevenueapart “beardy Canadian”andnotbeingKatzenjammer, After apologisingunnecessarilyforbeinga their ownperformingman-liontoOxford. It makesperfectsensethatKatzenjammerbring O2 Academy KATZENJAMMER /BENCAPLAN pepped uponradiation,pissand reference toamightyJapaneselizard Despite theheadliners’ namebeinga O2 Academy GORJIRA /KLONE TREPALIUM that theonlymonster hail fromFrance. We’re prettysure vinegar, allthreeoftonight’s bands minutes of theirbrilliance beforeIamdesperately feminine charms but inrealityitonlytakesfive Foolishly, Iexpecttoremainimmune to their trumpet solo. with afitofthevapours,particularly duringthe blooded man,andInoticeafairfew comedown It’s aheadymixture,particularly ifyouareared- probably deliveryourChristmaspresents too. are verybeautifulandcomefrom Norway, so me inforgrievous,letaddthat Katzenjammer just incaseyouarestillcontemplatingturning is grindingyourorgan inthebackground. And through thesafetyproceduresandDollyParton a foghorn.BjӧrkandPJHarveyaretalkingyou in frontofyou,and Tom Waits behindyouwith fairground ridewith The PoguesandMadnessjust you needtoimagineKatzenjammerasabonkers to justifythiswantondestructionoflife,then a smallpricetopay. Forthoseofyoustruggling own husband,butthetrailoftwitchingcorpsesis get anywhereclosetothestage,includingmy sweets. However, clearlysomething advert, andhewasplacatedwith attacked FrancewasinaChewits Claire Howard-Saunders we headhome. promise himthe same. Normalrelationsresumed, that hewon’t runoff withKatzenjammer andI renewal ofourweddingvows,he promises me Inafaintlysurreal,butprobablynecessary, he agreestoleave. brief andslightlyundignifiedscuffle withHans, and stickingittohispantsasamemento. After a revived, peelingmoistgaffer tapeoff thedrumkit I gobackupstairstofindhubbiemiraculously has beenleftfordeadonthefloorofvenue. person technicallycapableofdrivingthecarhome a bitofdazebeforeIrememberthattheonly down thestairsandontoCowleyRoadin rendition of‘God’s GreatDustStorm’,Istagger After abrilliantencore,includingtranscendent manfully onstageanduntiethemfromeachother. Swedish (apparentlythisisimportant),hastoleap an extremelyluckymancalledHans,whois duties. It’s allsodynamicthateveryoften between themandalltakingturnsonleadvocal me, despiteplayingatleasttwentyinstruments the band.Needlesstosay, theycarryonwithout searching forwaystobecomethefifthmemberof Sam Shepherd Tokyo. As isGorjira’s usualwont. that threatenedtoflattenOxfordlike age, andistheonlylowpointinaset set seemslikearelicfromanother Duplantier towardstheendof stage. The drumsolofromMario frenzy asthebandhurtleacross driving thecrowdintoarapturous the venue. The pacerarelyletsup, that threatenstobreakeveryneckin blows. `Explosia’ isawhitehotblast metal isdevastatingwhenitlandsits their intelligentspinondeath/thrash around today. Tight andaggressive, one ofthemostreveredmetalbands level andprovejustwhythey’re Gorjirataketheeveningtoanother what’s goingon. it’s almostimpossibletoworkout themselves arefiringonallcylinders ball ofthrum,andalthoughtheband Dynamics aresquashedintoamushy sound tonighthampersthemterribly. Deftones, butspongier),the adventurous theymightbe(think lack theirincisiveedge.More and murkierthan Trepalium but who areconsiderablynoisier The samecan’t besaidforKlone, fire drumming. quick-fire riffs andevenmorequick- made itinearlytreatedtoablazeof the evening,smallcrowdthat Regardless, theyareagoodstartto covering `Subtraction’ from`Arise’. one pointthatitsoundsasifthey’re close tomid-periodSepulturaat them intosubmission. They sailso new feverishshapesandbatter of oldthrashriffs, twisttheminto the historybooks,dustoff abunch who seemsquitehappytodredge Firstupare Trepalium, aband incomprehensible) brutality. lesson ininspired(andoccasionally channel becausetonightisafrantic evil andtwistedlurksoverthe www.fineguitars.co.uk [email protected] CHRISTMAS SALENOWCHRISTMAS ON!! 24 Stert Street Abingdon, OX14 3JP Open Monday ( 2 HRS( FREE PARKING) Tel:01235 530673 - Saturday 10am

- 5pm

TIGRAN HAMASYAN Even more arresting is his use of it with a toy and this short tour to promote debut album ALT-J / STEALING SHEEP xylophone and wireless static to create an ‘And That’ has targeted small venues in a The North Wall eerie sound for what Hamasyan explains is an back-to-basics approach. Anyone expecting a O2 Academy Armenian pagan lullaby. recognizable hybrid of the duo’s previous bands Armenian born, but now a New York and Rock’n’roll abandon ain’t what it used come next, post-Mercury. Not everything works. He uses a beat box too would be disappointed, but neither is it any kind Paris resident, Tigran Hamasyan is billed as a to be. After winning the Mercury Prize That may not be as critical a point as it much, so electronic beats become a boring of radical departure. There’s less of the obvious jazz pianist but, it turns out it would be more in 1992, Primal Scream famously lost seems - they’re fantastically well received, distraction from what is generally an intriguing debt to UK garage, with a more bouncy, upbeat accurate to announce him as pianist, singer, and the cheque for their winnings during an flawless performers, and at several points mix of music and soundscapes and of the pop sensibility, the two voices working together electronics manipulator and much else besides, evening of mayhem; twenty years later, a captivating combination of pure rhythm traditional and the very new. well. without such genre confines. The 25-year-old Alt-J politely inform us that we’re ‘lovely’ and melody. But the threat of breaking Colin May Whippet-thin Harvey, half hidden under sometimes calls his music “alternative math folk” and play a well-behaved and free of their self-imposed uptightness - a a hoodie, takes on most of the vocals and but as well as the rhythmic complexity of math meticulously-controlled run-through of possibility hinted at on `An Awesome contributes occasional guitar while Skinner rock it draws in other contemporary influences. their Mercury-winning `An Awesome Wave’ - is never carried through. This, fiddles with boxes and plays bits of keyboards. The folk element is the inspiration Hamasyan Wave’ album. rather than creating a growing sense of The set begins with catchy album opener ‘And takes from Armenian roots, including its literary THE D.O.T. / GET Prior to this, Liverpudlian three-piece tension and drama, results in feelings A Hero’ and it soon becomes clear that Skinner traditions; he is inspired by Armenian storytellers Stealing Sheep fail to steal the show alternating between repetitive boredom wants the attention to fall more on his bandmate, and poets and his debut solo CD is titled ‘A PEOPLE (see what we did there?). It’s difficult to and the sad thought that a low common Fable’. The Bullingdon despite the cameras thrust in his face. In a pinpoint whether this is due to their music denominator is being settled upon. Tonight’s North Wall set reflects this mix of comic moment someone hands him their phone, or because of the atmosphere. Musically, What on record sounds like inventive influences. So `Le Petit Experience’ is shaped by London three-piece Get People gambol through asking him to film his friends and, amazingly, they call themselves ‘psychedelic autumnal indie jittering seems - at least in a traditional Armenian musical form restricting a multi-instrument landscape of guitars, he agrees. folktronica’; one feels that a ‘lite’ tag the atmosphere here tonight - frustratingly the musician to exploring what can be done with electronics and African drums like a low-budget In their inexperience The D.O.T. don’t should be added to this. They tick several noncommittal; an ADHD/Spotify-track- a limited range of notes, which is quite a lot in Hot Chip, and for a while it’s all quite engaging. know quite where to put themselves onstage, hip contemporary boxes (quirky? mobile- skipping band that can’t decide upon at THE JERICHO TAVERN Hamasyan’s case. With ‘Cherokee’ he shows he But the over-emoted singing and whiny Edge-y ploughing through the set with few pauses, phone-ad-folky? melodically simple and or flesh out any one of scores of their 56 WALTON STREET, OXFORD, OX2 6AE can play an elegant, straight ahead version of a guitars soon start to grate on the nerves and we though this is a refreshing contrast to The slightly jaunty? check, check, check) but rhythmic, melodic and tonal sketches. In a 01865 311775 classic jazz standard, but transforms ‘Someday start to look forward to something a little more Streets’ latter tendency towards arrogant fail to progress beyond a rather awkward small, dank venue, with band and audience My Prince Will Come’ into a gothic Armenian substantial. swagger. and shambling mix of alt-folk and indie- members less separated, this music could folk tale, with the prince probably the Prince of There’s a general consensus that Mike Skinner Overall the new project succeeds quite nicely, pop. The atmosphere is odd for their be spooky, skeletal and repay thoughtful December Darkness. ended up running out of ideas and overstaying though Skinner can’t prevent a familiar set, though: combine bizarre, unhelpful analysis. rd (USA) For someone billed as a jazz pianist, his opening his welcome with The Streets, though ticket mawkish sentimentality creeping in amongst the acoustics with a muttering, burbling Tonight, there isn’t enough anger, 3 ADAM BOMB number is certainly a surprise and even a little and record sales may indicate otherwise. His urban grit and grime, and this may prove to be crowd who seem mostly to be awaiting the aggression, weirdness, confidence or just plus support from 1000 mile highway disorientating, since he doesn’t touch the dryly sardonic, introspective songs may have a consistency with his previous venture. Well headline act, and it’s not really a canvas something to really hold the attention. th piano keys at all, instead chanting and singing lacked cheer but they had the knack of making known for flashes of bad temper, one emerges for introspection. It’s not that every band - or even every 10 THE AYNSLEY LISTER a wordless vocal which he multi-tracks and you want to hear more: like all the best rappers at the end when someone shouts for ‘Too Much So, to Alt-J, with their ridiculous name, Mercury Prize winner - need to embrace loops for what seems to be an ancient Armenian BAND his voice works by being interesting rather than Brandy’ once too often. The strength of his careful branding and shiny new Mercury the void like Primal Scream once did. incantation. He also frequently uses the effects technically impressive. angry retort shows us that book has been firmly Prize. `An Awesome Wave’ is a rather good Never forget, M People also feature in the th panel with the piano to bend, loop and re-mix the 17 Famous Monday Blues Christmas The D.O.T. is his collaboration with Rob shut. album, dredging the sparseness of The XX previous winners’ list. There just seems to notes and invent shimmering soundscapes. Harvey from defunct Leeds rockers The Music, Art Lagun into a more mainstream and hummable be too little commitment to chaos, too few Party. Hosted by format, with pleasingly odd vocals tortured souls wrenching music out of their (UK) and a twisting, turning sense of song darkest places, in much of recent modern THE BLUE BISHOPS with special guests Leburn, Jules & Lorna Fothergill, construction. This is what Alt-J deliver, music. If Alt-J are prizewinners because Claire Johnson, Jedson Davis and Cherry Lee Mewis and that’s what 95% of the audience seem they represent the best of something, it’s to want: a completely adequate reading difficult to know what that thing actually of the album, with little to extend it into a is, and that’s a strange situation. Check our website for info gigs, photos etc richer experience or to hint at what might Simon Minter www.famousmondayblues.co.uk

BRIGHT LIGHT BRIGHT LIGHT The Jericho Tavern Every so often a musical act comes along mellow song. The drops and peaks are with all the right characteristics for it carefully paced, enveloping and carrying to become your new favourite but fails you on the song’s journey. in some way, be it execution, tone or Rod sings (beautifully) like he’s saying sheer lack of tunes. For me, Bright Light what he wants to say the way he wants Bright Light is not one of those musical to say it, not worrying about cynicism acts. In fact, he – singer/drummer/sample or conforming to any sort of expectation triggerer Rod Thomas – takes those of what people want to hear. And it’s characteristics and conjures them into heartfelt and poignant. `Disco Moment’ something glorious. brilliantly captures a moment it’s hard A love of both the sweeping synths and to describe and one you might not even soundscapes of the Pet Shop Boys and admit acknowledging to yourself; `Cry At 90s piano house is evident; in places, Films’ laments the difference between the THE OXFORD RECORD I even get a whiff of Sybil (of Stock, perfection of celluloid relationships and DVD & CD FAIR Aitken & Waterman fame). `Moves’ veers reality, and the anthemic refrain of `Love into the dreamy territory of the wonderful Part II’ – “I’m in love again” – seems OXFORD TOWN HALL Swedish synthpop duo The Sound of simultaneously euphoric and vulnerable. th Arrows, and latest single `Feel It’ even Sometimes all the analysis you can muster Saturday 5 January has an amazing Carol Kenyon/Loleatta can’t describe the emotion something Holloway bit. provokes in you. “I’m in love again”; 10am - 3.30pm New song `In Your Care’ is probably quite. Rock/pop/jazz/soul/reggae/indie/all other genres most representative of the songwriting Bright Light Bright Light is utter pop Accessories/memoriabillia/books. craft on display; atmospheric but with magnificence and the world needs to Brand new and back catalogue/Rare Vinyl a pounding bass, it sounds like a dance know. www.usrfairs.co.uk remix of a much more delicate and Kirsten Etheridge DR SHOTOVER: Slight Entertainment photo: Jonny Pugsley Ah, there you are - pull up a pew. Stiffeners all round, what? Don’t mind if I INTRODUCING.... do, old boy. Make mine a quintuple brandy-and-cocaine, with a DLT sandwich Nightshift’s monthly guide to the best local music bubbling under on the side. I need hardly tell you that all of us here at the East Indies Club are still reeling. (Well, yes, point taken – we are always reeling, especially after the sun has hit the yard-arm in Kowloon)… No, it’s this terrible news from the world of Light Entertainment… particularly the business with our late chum Phil McMinn Quimby-Saddleworth… yes, the popular and zany presenter of Quimbers Who is he? Plays Pop, Quim’ll Fix It and (going back a few years) Saddle’s Travels. The Phil McMinn should really need little introduction to local music fans. Over revelations, the cover-ups, the simply frightful frightfulness! Who’d have the past ten years he’s fronted both Fell City Girl and The Winchell Riots thought when he judged Hospital Radio ‘Rear of The Year’ in 1983 that he – both big local favourites and in the case of FCG, the first (and only) band was taking such a, erm, hands-on approach? As for the stories emerging from ever to top Nightshift’s end of year Top 20 two years running. “I got bored the dressing room at Top of the Gropes… well, I don’t mind telling you that of compromise and democracy so I split them up,” he says of his previous we’re all really REALLY shocked. [Solemn nods along the length of the East bands. After Winchell Riots split, Phil took some time off from playing music Indies Club bar]. Thing DECEMBER before returning under his own name, having played solo shows in the past. is – and I think I speak Every Tuesday He has regularly played at Beard Museum Records nights, recently supported for all of us here - we Sea Of Bees, and this month releases his debut four-track EP, ‘A Crystal / A THE OXFORD JAZZ CLUB were all convinced he Diamond / An End / A Start’ on the label. His favourite other Oxfordshire act is: Free live jazz plus DJs playing r’n’b, funk and soul until 2am was as gay as George What does he sound like? “Gunning For Tamar. I’d like to make toy dolls out of all of them (with th Boy-Michael-George. 4 NEW JAZZ COLLECTIVE Possessed of one of the most striking voices of any local singer, Phil’s songs accessories) and have a different favourite depending on what day it was.” Hwagh HWAGHHHH 11th HEAVY DEXTERS are sparse, hushed affairs, as close to arias as typical pop songs at times and If he could only keep one album in the world, it would be: [Dr S breaks into th infused with intense but understated emotion. Tender piano runs and a middle “‘Hope Is Important’ and/or ‘100 Broken Windows’ by Idlewild. Sorry it’s 18 THE HUGH TURNER BAND wheezy laughter, which distance swirl and swell of electronics allow his voice centre stage. Asked to not one but there’s a double disc available, I think.” spreads along the describe his own music, Phil says, “Andrew Mears from Pet Moon once took When is his next gig and what can newcomers expect? bar]… What’s that? The the piss out of my music for being `too sad’. That’ll do nicely.” “December 16th at the Cellar as part of a new night called Irregular Folk. It’s Wednesdays net is tightening on all th What inspires him? like they made the name up just for me.” 12 DARREN HAYMAN / MY CROOKED TEETH / those who consorted “A particular place on the east coast of England; my dad’s paintings; David His favourite and least favourite things about Oxford music are: with Old Quimbers? TREV WILLIAMS (Prince’s Trust Benefit). £8.50 adv / Grossman; John Martyn; Kieran Hebden.” “Best things: There are a handful of people who are literally dedicating their Quimby WHO? Never £10 door Career highlight so far: lives to keeping the scene alive – Jimmy at the Cellar, Joal at the Wheatsheaf, heard of him. No “I sent copies of my music to Dave Eggers at McSweeney’s who wrote back Nightshift. Worst thing: The loss of the Zodiac. If you weren’t there you don’t photos! [Dr S leaps surprisingly nimbly over saying he loved it and it was `soundtracking’ the writing of his new book. know Oxford.” Thursdays Graham Swift also sent me a long letter and a copy of his collected essays You might like him if you like: 6th CHARLIE DORE the bar and legs it out of the back door of the with one of my lyrics inscribed in the front of it. For me that was as big as it Bon Iver; James Vincent McMorrow; John Martyn; Roddy Woomble; Elliot th 13 IT’S ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC ACOUSTIC East Indies Club]. So gets.” Smith. And the lowlight Hear him here: CLUB CHRISTMAS GATHERING – With Osprey long, suckers! ‘Can you show me on the puppet exactly where old “Working with people with local ambitions.” philmcminn.bandcamp.com and friends. Next month: Noel’s Quimbers touched you, Dr S… preferably without th Louse Party saying “Gottle o’ geer”?’ 20 OX4 ALL-STARS THIS MONTH IN OXFORD ALL OUR YESTERDAYS MUSIC HISTORY

Every Friday party featured a now legendarily drunken set from names in town included Gomez up at Brookes and Saturday 1st December 20 YEARS AGO FUNKY FRIDAY Fuzzgun slouched disinterestedly on the front cover Radiohead (playing `Money’, `Rhinestone Cowboy’ Add N To (X) at the Zodiac. Funk, soul, boogie, house and R&B. 11pm-2.30am; £3 of December 1992’s issue of Curfew magazine. and `Hooked On Classics’), who were joined for The indie-metallers were interviewed in “a tiny pub a night of mayhem by The Jennifers, Death By before 12; £4 after. CARAVAN OF WHORES + PROSPERINA + SEA BASTARD + EYES OF EVE 8pm /£5 Crimpers (a mighty `Are Friends Electric?’), The 5 YEARS AGO Friday 7th December in an even tinier village where the local teenagers An enigmatic front cover of Sharron Kraus graced entertain themselves by standing in the middle of Candyskins and The Bigger The God, among others. Hangovers were had. the cover of Nightshift’s December 2007 issue, the Early Friday shows the road. Not doing anything; just sanding in the local folkstress a far more successful artist over in th road.” “They used to stand outside our garage when Among local band names lost to history were 7 BURIED IN SMOKE presents TRUCKFIGHTERS BIG SOCIETY + THE INDESCRIBABLE UNKNOWN + ELEPHANT SHAMPOO 8pm/£5 Vicar’s New Mistress, Love Like Us, Wendy the States than she was in her adopted home city, / DESERT STORM / STEAK / MOTHER CORONA Saturday 8th December we rehearsed,” revealed Fuzzgun, “until they got despite a numerous rave reviews of her myriad bored. It was like having a fanclub.” Apparently Falls, Temple Dogs and Sunfly. 21st A TRIBUTE TO LED ZEPPELIN with Ady albums in Nightshift. You just don’t take any notice, someone from Fuzzgun had once thrown a pint of do you? Her songs drew on traditional English and beer at the Curfew editor after he told a member of Davey, Denny Ilett, Jerry Soffe, Tony Batey, The Shapes, SPACE HEROES OF THE PEOPLE + BEAVER FUEL + TRAPS + LAIMA BITE 8pm/£5 10 YEARS AGO Appalachian murder ballads. “I don’t sleep with my Andy Crowdy and Daisy Palmer. Friday 14th December The Daisies at a gigs that he thought they were great The Young Knives, who still had a The in their brother or sit in a tower waiting to murder potential and the member of The Daisies told Fuzzgun he’d name back then, topped Nightshift’s end of year suitors, but on some level what I’m writing about said they were shit. Thrill a minute stuff. Top 20 in December 2002 with their timeless classic is true. Probably in the same way the Bible is true,” Saturdays CHILDREN OF THE SUN 8pm/£5 Radiohead’s `Creep’ and Ride’s `Chrome Waves’ Saturday 15th December `Walking On The Autobahn’. “While the world declared Sharron of the gothic horror nature of her 1st SIMPLE – House & techno – with HUXLEY / topped Curfew’s Top 20 Songs of The Year, which and his dog relived late-60s Detroit, they sneaked dark, rootsy music, slipping a sleeping draft into our also featured tracks by The Anyways (`Wider’); a sack of post-punk screwballs under the wire and pint of lager. Her `Right Wantonly-A-Mumming’ MIDLAND / residents Arthur Turner’s Lovechild (`Lucy House’); th doused them in hysterical Pixies-inspired pop. album was out this month, an album of traditional 8 SONIC – House ULYSSES STORM + YELLOW FEVER + VERY NICE HARRY 8pm/£5 Death By Crimpers (`Nameless’) and The th Blindin’ stuff,” ran the editorial tribute. Runner up songs recorded with fellow local folk luminaries Sunday 16 December 15th SIMPLE – Residents night. Jennifers (`Tomorrow’s Rain’). was Supergrass’s `Grace’, while Goldrush (`Same including John Spiers, Ian Giles, Fay Hield and 22nd HODGE PODGE – Christmas funk night feat. Arthur Turner’s Lovechild were also that month’s Picture’), Winnebago Deal (`Whisky Business’), Claire Lloyd. Demo Of The Month, sharing the accolade with Coma Kai (`Fury’) and Dustball (`Name & Foals topped Nightshift’s traditional end of year FUNKTIONAL / FUNK JUGGLERS / DJs Bastados Banbury metallers Five Alarm Panic, while the DALLAS DON’T + TIGER MENDOZA + D GWALIA 8pm/£5 Number’) also featured at the top of the list, though Top 20 with their anthemic `Hummer’, the band’s / Oozat Thursday 20th December simply-monikered Y were bottom of the pile, we have no idea where the likes of Firebrand or growing reputation helped along by an appearance prompting the exasperated reviewer to ask “why Cactus are nowadays, their moment of glory being at a special Skins party and a riotous set at Truck does every rock band feel the need to write a bright but brief. Festival earlier in the year. Little Fish’s `Devil’s Sundays fucking ballad?” A question we still ask ourselves CAMERA LUCIDA + BEAR TRAP 8pm/£5 Little by way of local music news this month Eyes’ was runner up, while Radiohead’s `House Of Haven Club – live blues Saturday 22nd December twenty years on. other than that Fusion FM’s local music show The Cards’, Mr Shaodow’s `Look Out, There’s A Black 9th OLI BROWN Top gigs this month included the mighty Shonen Fortnightly Fix, presented by Smilex frontman Lee Man Coming’, Jonquil’s `Lions’ and A Silent Knife and Therapy? at the Oxford Venue and Christian, was in doubt as the station rescheduled Film’s `Chromatic Eyes’ also featured. Boltthrower at the Jericho Tavern – still regarded its programming. After a timetable change, it was Supergrass played a two-night stint at Oxford Monday 31st NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY – 90s soul, LES CLOCHARDS + STEM + BEARD OF DESTINY as the loudest gig ever in Oxford, based mainly on WELCOME TO PEEPWORLD 8pm/£5 eventually saved. Town Hall, while CSS, Metronomy, Olafur the fact that it made the normally steel-stomached modern r’n’b & ragga. 10-3am; £5adv The Wheatsheaf, 129 High Street, Oxford, OX1 4DF The National headlined The Cellar as part of Arnalds and Minus The Bear were among other [email protected] / www.facebook.com/wheatsheaf.oxford Mac vomit afterwards. The second Your Song Vacuous Pop’s monthly club night, while other highlights of the gigging month in Oxford. are – will know that singer Leigh tends managing to convey plenty of emotion towards the cynical and potty-mouthed (mostly, it has to be said, the emotions of side of lyric writing. So this one-song deep hurt and reflective sorrow) without demo, seasonally entitled `Santa’s Ruined even having to try too hard – always a sign DEMOS Christmas’, will come as no surprise. Nor of a good singer. `The Wolves’ marks her Sponsored by Demo of the Month wins a free half day at will the dubious quality. “I went Christmas out as the sort of dreamy, slightly kooky Silver Street Studios in Reading, courtesy shopping with my mummy / She made me singer that might end up soundtracking a of Trojan Horse Recordings. Visit www. sit on some bad bloke’s knee,” is his opening mobile phone advert; there’s a bit of the trojanhorserecordings.co.uk gambit of a determinedly trashy one-chord Eliza Doolittle about her without a doubt. musical grumble, that relives various The problem is the song’s been and gone years’ Yuletide traumas, always ending up before it’s really properly started. Better DR DUB & THE with Leigh discovering Santa shagging* is `And So Much For Them’, even more DEMO OF some member of his family – his mum, minimal in its arrangement – just some stark 01865 240250 his missus, and finally his dog. It’s almost acoustic strumming to augment her voice – UPSETS heroic in its puerility, but dig beneath the and reminiscent of Camera Obscura’s most We get some weird old stuff through for surface profanity and it’s a metaphor for the reflective moments. It’s all too timid to make THE MONTH review purposes here at Nightshift but we’re emptiness of the festive season and a critique a sizeable impression just yet and she’ll need not sure we’ve ever had a cover version of how the true spirit of Christmas has been to up her game a fair bit to compete in an of The Turtles’ 1967 hit `Happy Together’ SEBASTIAN lost amid rampant commercialism and… overcrowded marketplace, but Harriet here’s remade by a prominent member of the local oh sod it; it’s a song about Santa shagging a got the essential building blocks to make a go REYNOLDS improv community, accompanied by a video dog. Buy your gran a copy and stick it in her of it, which is more than most singers of this By God the evenings are drawing in. Hell, featuring various people wearing David stocking. Fnar fnar. sort have. the bloody afternoons are pretty much pitch- Cameron, Rebekah Brookes and Rupert (* - not his word usage – but this is a family black. So we need something fittingly sad Murdoch masks. Because, let’s face it, that’s magazine) and autumnal to soundtrack our epic cabin kind of a niche market, isn’t it? Anyway, this fever wine consumption, and this seems to is the work of local musical veteran Malcolm do the job. Seb Reynolds has probably been Atkins, a stretched-out psychedelic electro- THE DEMO in more bands than we’ve had bottles of D’KARCC folk take on the song, with his masked chums The name sounds like the sound a parrot cheap Shiraz (and that’s a lot), from Sexy doing their performance art thing in the might make if it was throwing up the Breakfast and The Evenings through improv DUMPER setting of a Cotswold country house. Dave morning after a heavy vodka and sunflower outfit Holiday In Vietnam to his current and Rebekah are seen texting each other while seed session and the scrappy accompanying involvement in The Epstein and Flights Of Rupert humps an inflatable globe (not exactly note looks like it was scrawled by a maniac Helios. Not busy enough with all that and MILLION FACES subtle in the metaphor stakes, you have to toddler in a hurry, but despite this, there’s In a sort of reverse scenario to the two running his own music PR and management TURAN AUDIO.co.uk agree), before the trio are seen sharing a cosy something about d’Karcc we quite like. previous demos, Million Faces seem to business, he’s recording a solo album, from Professional, independent CD mastering supper together – a Cornish pasty, obviously. We think the first track here is called `Pin have their act all sorted, from the big, lush which the two songs on this demo are taken. The final scene features the delightful Ms Insamountable Effort’, but your guess is as production, to the sky-searching guitar solos Artists mastered in the studio last month include; From starlit twinkling and spaced-out hums Brookes behind bars. We live in hope. good as ours, and you can’t even see the and chest-beating choruses. But unlike those and bleeps, to pulses of jagged noise, his SHAKER HEIGHTS, SYMPHONY OF PAIN, MOSCOW DRUG paper it’s written on. Whatever it’s called previous two demos, this sounds emotionally gloomy but deftly lightweight electronica and CLUB, HOT HOOVES, FELLA, HEADCOUNT, DB BAND, it’s a churning lo-fi rap number, ultra- stunted, any character it once possessed piano parts pitch and yaw between Eno, Steve RED ENEMY, SAM WILLIAMS, JONA OVERGROUND, MIKE SIERPINSKY minimalist beats mixed with middle-distance polished away to a bland sheen to avoid Reich and even Boards Of Canada, by way Sierpinsky are named, we presume, after the BLOW AND CAMILLE BAZIADOLY, RAMONES, NIDINGR, guitar dissonance over which the monotone offending anyone whose idea of musical of assorted Warp Records alumni, soundtrack Polish mathematician Wacław Sierpinsky, JOSH SHIRES, VALERYAN, DAVID PEARCE, PETER MOORE, monologue is performed. It borders on innovation is yet another cover of a Rihanna music for lo-fi sci-fi movies that rely on which we guess makes a change from naming NICK COPE, THE BIG SUN, G SOUL, PASSION PLAY, THE industrial but in the end it’s too pedestrian song on X-Factor. It starts off well enough, shadows and hints of things rather than CGI your band after the title of an old Oasis or PARTRIDGE FAMILY, GO ON DO IT JUMP, to pack a real killer punch. And that’s kind all echo-laden guitar and a vaguely funky monsters and laser guns. Actually, thinking Stereophonics song. They probably are a of the criticism we could level at the rest of undertow, the sort of thing U2 did very early about it, much of this sounds like Vangelis’ pretty highbrow bunch since they credit the demo – some neat ideas and a way with on before Bono’s ego developed its own 01865 716466 [email protected] soundtrack to Carl Sagan’s classic Cosmos Mahler as an influence, alongside The an atmosphere but no ability or inclination gravity field – all hollowed-out stadium rock series. Yep, that’ll do us just fine. More wine Beatles and Pink Floyd, and claim that “the to move things along. `The Box, The Box’ and big, heroic backing vocal chants. Lyrically anyone? We could be here some time. modern commercial crap we’ve grown up is nasty and electronic but meanders too though it’s more than a little suspect: “The with has turned our brains to mulch, only THE COURTYARD STUDIO long in the same murky pool of factory sex is on fire / The temperature in the room capable of recycling the same old tunes,” noise, while `Something Goa Neva Wanted’ is going higher and higher,” and it all sounds PROTOOLS HD2, MTA 980 CONSOLE 32/24/24, before adding, “please don’t put us in the is growly, doom-laden industrial hip hop, like it’s taking itself way too seriously. From OTARI MTR90 MK2 24 TRACK TAPE MACHINE, GAVROCHE Demo Dumper.” Little chance of that, since hereon in things go all to pot. `Pictures’ has “I write songs for insomniacs, ne’er-do- primitive in a good way but too basic to fully at their best Sierpinsky capture a little of more Edgy guitar (edgy as in it sounds like 2 TRACKING ROOMS, SUPERB CONTROL ROOM wells, lonely souls and those with misery engage. Reservations aside, there’s enough Stornoway’s autumnal folk ambience, notably The Edge, rather than, “Whoo, that’s a bit WITH GOOD SELECTION OF MICS & OUTBOARD in their guts,” writes Lucie Norton, who here to suggest d’Karcc (or Daniel from demo highlight `The Dusky Lindens’, a out there, ennit?”) but is ultimately sterile GEAR + MIDI FACILITIES (Inc LOGIC AUDIO, AKAI appears to be Gavroche. We think at least Wallingford as we’ll call him) can take these misty-eyed folk-pop reflection that’s all stadium-friendly Christian guitar pop. An three of those apply to Nightshift. Possibly basic ideas to a higher level next time. And S1000, OLD SKOOL ROLAND etc.) twinkling acoustic guitar and handclap acoustic `Words For Her’ is what faux- all four on those nights we’re forced to go Dan, work on that handwriting too while rhythms, reminiscent in parts of Jonquil’s Cockney footie hooligan types might rightly and review gigs on our own, which is quite you’re about it – it’s shocking. Residential facilities included. early songs. It’s got a bit of drama about it describe as soppy bollocks and they’ve often. So anyway, Gavroche is seemingly www.courtyardrecordings.com too even if they lose sight of the central core gone down the bland boyband route, which music created bespoke for us. It’s not as dark PHONE PIPPA FOR DETAILS on 01235 845800 of the song by trying to be a bit too clever means they’ll probably sell a million albums. as we’re hoping for, we must confess, though HARRIET at timers. `Raging Rams’ is a sweet lament, One thing that does puzzle us about Million Lucie’s got a playful musical imagination, tinged with bitterness that rouses itself to a Faces is their description of themselves as which manifests itself as slightly wayward AINSCOUGH swashbuckling shanty towards the end, but Like d’Karcc, Harriet Ainscough has more “the biggest musical accident to come out piano-led jazz with a leaning towards the final track `Us Onwards’ finds them dropping than a germ of something special about her of Witney since they decided to form in Joanna Newsome school of avoiding too the ball somewhat, sounding strained when, but maybe doesn’t have the full package yet. 2010.” Which not only means they consider many obvious rules. Her voice is warmly as they’ve just shown, they’re at their best Not that she sounds even remotely like old themselves an accident (perhaps of the sort soulful but slightly girlie, the piano dancing when it sounds like they’re not making too Karccy boy. Instead she’s a rather wistful an untrained dog might deposit), but one that around the melody, everything bizarrely much of an effort. acoustic singer-songwriter of the questing is comparable to themselves. Makes no sense interrupted by an alarm clock going off and confessional variety. She’s got a lovely to us, but then neither does the appeal of this halfway through. “The Devil has my soul voice – very slightly cracked and plaintive, kind of wishy washy soft rock syrup. / And the worms have my flesh / But you LEIGH have my heart,” she croons on the comically morbid `Vena Cava’, suggesting she’s the BEAVERFUEL Send demos for review to: Nightshift, PO Box 312, Kidlington, OX5 1ZU, or email links sort of girl you’d like around at Christmas to Anyone even vaguely aware of local to [email protected], clearly marked Demos. IMPORTANT: no review without recount ghastly gothic ghost stories to the kids noisemakers Beaverfuel – and there must a contact address and phone number; no more than four tracks on a demo please. If you in front of the fire. She’s probably a witch. be at least twelve or thirteen of you who can’t handle criticism, please don’t send us your demo. Sun 16th Dec • £15 adv Fri 22nd Feb 2013 • £10 adv EVERY SATURDAY NIGHT 7pm - 10pm • Rescheduled from 28/9/12 7pm - 10pm £5 adv / NUS / members, £4 NHS • original tickets valid Dog Is Dead 10.30pm - 3am • over 18s only Dappy Sun 24th Feb 2013 • £20 adv Sun 16th Dec • £12.50 adv 7.30pm Stooshe U.F.O.

Fri 21st Dec • £8 adv Fri 1st Mar 2013 8pm - 12 midnight The Original Of Monsters and Men Rabbit Foot Spasm Band Christmas Knees-Up Sun 3rd Mar 2013 • £14 adv ft. The Original Rabbit Foot Funeral For Spasm Band (Live), A Friend Count Skylarkin’ & more Thurs 7th Mar 2013 • £15 adv

Mon 24th Dec • £8 adv The Alarm 10pm - 2am • over 18s only A Reggae Christmas Sat 9th Mar 2013 • £17.50 adv 7pm - 10pm ft. Makating Rescheduled show • original tickets valid + Count Skylarkin’ Space + Wrongtom + House of Roots Mon 11th Mar 2013 • £14 adv

Sat 1st Dec • £11.50 adv Mon 31st Dec • £10 adv Jessie Ware 7pm - 10pm 10.30pm - 3am • over 18s only Netsky Live Sat 16th Mar 2013 • £14 adv Propaganda 7pm - 10pm New Years Eve Sun 2nd Dec • £21.50 adv Lawson The Saw Doctors Party Animal Chapman Square Tour with Jack FM & Trashy Mon 18th Mar 2013 • £23 adv Thurs 6th Dec • £17.50 adv includes Propaganda Wristband giving you FREE The Stranglers For Those About to Rock entry to every Propaganda with Livewire AC/DC and ZZ Tops across the country in January! Thurs 21st Mar 2013 • £9 adv 7pm - 10pm Fri 7th Dec • £12 adv Sat 19th Jan 2013 • £6 adv 7pm - 10pm 7pm - 11.30pm Dizraeli & Boot Led Zeppelin Upstairs The Small Gods

Sat 8th Dec • £6 adv ft. Tall Ships Fri 22nd Mar 2013 • £10 adv in association with BBC Introducing 7pm - 10pm Upstairs Bastille ft. Lewis Watson Sun 10th Feb 2013 • £12 adv in association with BBC Introducing Modestep Fri 22nd Mar 2013 • £12.50 adv + Adam Barnes + Jasmine Hill 7pm - 10pm + Gavroche + Alex Lanyon Thurs 14th Feb 2013 • £14 adv David Ford

Tues 11th Dec • £18 adv Everything Fri 5th Apr 2013 • £8.50 adv The Damned Everything 7pm - 10pm + The Dickies Janet Devlin Fri 15th Feb 2013 • £10 adv Fri 19th Apr 2013 • £22.50 adv Thurs 13th Dec • £24 adv CASH 7pm - 10pm Orbital Johnny Cash Tribute Michael Schenker’s + Nathan Fake Thurs 21st Feb 2013 Temple Of Rock Fri 14th Dec • £12.50 adv Jake Bugg Thurs 9th May 2013 • £20 adv Seated show • unreserved seating Electric Six Fri 22nd Feb 2013 • £8.50 adv 10th Anniversary Tour, 11pm • over 18s only Colin Hay performing FIRE in its entirety Off Ya Rocka ft. Slipmatt, Brandon Block, Sat 1st June 2013 • £10 adv Sat 15th Dec • £7 adv Delite, John Bond, 7pm - 10pm Skeletor Andy Armstrong, Steely Dan Senses Fail

Tickets for Saturday night shows INCLUDE FREE ENTRY to Propaganda / Trashy (or £6, £5 NUS / members, £4 NHS on the door)

facebook.com/o2academyoxford 190 Cowley Road, Oxford, OX4 1UE • Doors 7pm unless stated twitter.com/o2academyoxford Venue box office opening hours: Mon-Sat 12pm-4pm youtube.com/o2academytv ticketweb.co.uk • wegottickets.com • seetickets.com • gigantic.com