nightshift @oxfordmusic.net nightshift .oxfordmusic.net Free every month NIGHTSHIFT Issue 204 July Oxford’s Music Magazine 2012

GunningGunning ForFor TamarTamar Sonic fi repower, wristwatches and keeping it indie - interview inside

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

CHARLBURY RIVERSIDE the club’s website, saying, he wanted FESTIVAL will take place over the to move closer to Oxford city centre. fi nal weekend of July after the original July’s line-up features Jim Suhler event in June was postponed due to & Monkeybeat on the 2nd, Bayou the risk of fl ooding. Brothers on the 9th, The Larry Miller The annual two-day free festival, Band on the 16th and Marcus Bonfanti FIXERS have released their debut album `We’ll Be The Moon’ on indie featuring a host of acts from across on the 23rd. label Dolphin Love after parting company with Mercury Records on the eve Oxfordshire, was due to take place on THE BULLINGDON will be of its intended release date. the 16th-17th June but days of heavy continuing to showcase the best blues The band had cancelled all dates on their UK tour, apart from their Oxford rain made the area alongside the sounds on a Monday however, with show at the O2 Academy, ahead of the announcement that they had left Evenlode river unsafe and further rain local blues-rock stalwart Tony Jezzard Mercury, prompting speculation about their future, but speaking to Nightshift threatened to fl ood the area. from Reservoir Cats, Bully landlord at the start of June, singer Jack Goldstein said, “The album is coming out The organisers moved quickly to Arron and gig regular Penny Lee on the 18th on Dolphin Love. We had a rocky journey with Mercury and it’s rearrange the event, which will now planning regular shows at the venue’s only a good thing that it has come to an end; we need all of our friends and take place on Saturday 28th and new Haven club night. The fi rst of supporters to go out and smother themselves all over our album. That said, Sunday 29th July, featuring pretty these is an appearance from rising UK it’s gonna blow the fucking people downtown! It’s take no prisoners time; much all of the original acts. Rockers singer and guitarist Chantel McGregor we are skipping on the second album and going straight to the tempestuous Smilex top Saturday’s main stage on Monday 9th July. As well as touring third. I want the next record to sound like Maggotron Crushing Crew meets bill and are joined by Black Hats, acts, the Haven Club is looking for Fleetwood Mac’s `Tusk’. Watch this space. Exciting times for real.” The DB Band, Deer Chicago, Secret local blues acts. Acts interested in Since its release, `We’ll Be The Moon’ has picked up rave reviews in The Rivals, Graceful Slicks and Tamara playing should contact Arron at the Guardian, The Observer, The Independent, and Q, as well as album of the & The Martyrs, while the second Bully on 01865 244516. week in The Sunday Times. Get your copy from Truck Store on Cowley Road stage is headed by Undersmile, along and keep it local. with Hot Hooves, Von Braun, The TRUCK STORE hosts a weekend Hawkhurst and Listing Ships. of live music as a warm-up to this Sunday’s main stage is headlined by month’s Truck Festival over the singer and performance artist known discount and a free hour’s rehearsal Alphabet Backwards, with support weekend of the 7th-8th July. Michelle for her experimental music and for bands booking a four-hour slot. from with The Epstein, Brickwork Stodart of the Magic Numbers, performance works, including setting Call Tom on 0788 256 9425 or email Lizards, The Mighty Redox, The Gunning For Tamar, Jess Hall the words of William Shakespeare [email protected]. Dirty Royals, The Infl atables and and Very Nice Harry are the acts to music, as well as working with Byronics, while the second stage confi rmed so far. There will be a Malcolm Middleton and Radiohead. AUDIOSCOPE and PINDROP features Superloose, Count Drachma, licensed bar for the weekend. Truck Nothing Is Set In Stone is part of are organising a local bands, venues Richard Walters and Flights of Helios. Festival takes place on the 20th-21st Secrets: Hidden London, a series of and promoters six-a-side football Visit www.riversidefestival. July at Hill Farm in Steventon – see cross-cultural events taking place in tournament this month to celebrate charlbury.com for line-up news and main preview in this issue. Visit www. little-known spaces across London. the end of the Euro 2012 tournament. hopefully a decent weather forecast. truckmusicstore.co.uk for more Visit www.ocmevents.org. The tournament, with the chance news of the instore weekender. to be crowned footie champions THE FAMOUS MONDAY BLUES TAD STUDIOS have opened a of the Oxford music scene, takes has moved to The Jericho Tavern as OXFORD CONTEMPORARY new rehearsal room at their studios place at Iffl ey Road Sport pitches of last month. The weekly local blues MUSIC makes its fi rst foray near Kidlington. The room includes on Saturday 7th July. Entry is club, which has been running for 28 outside of Oxford this month with Fender, Marshall and Ashdown £20 per team, with at least three years, originally at the Red Lion in an interactive sculpture and sound amplifi cation, Mapex drums, a 1kw members of each team having to Gloucester Green and then Jongleurs, exhibition by artists Mira Calix PA system and Shure mics. TAD be members of a local band, venue, before moving to the Bullingdon ten called Nothing Is Set In Stone, set offer a special `Introduce A Friend’ promoters or record label. Contact years ago, will continue to showcase in Fairlop Waters, a country park and deal, whereby any local bands who [email protected] to British, European and American blues nature reserve in the London borough introduce another band to the studio get involved. All profi ts will go to acts each Monday. Promoter Philip of Redbridge. can earn themselves a free session. homeless charities Shelter and The Guy Davis explained the move on Calix is an award-winning composer, They also offer student daytime Gatehouse.

RADIOHEAD have paid tribute to their drum technician Scott Johnson, who was killed when the roof of the stage collapsed ahead of the band’s fi nal north American tour date in Toronto on 15th June. Writing on the Radiohead website, drummer Phil Selway said, “We have all been shattered by the loss of Scott Johnson, our friend and colleague. He was a lovely man, always positive, supportive and funny; a highly skilled and valued member of our great road crew. We will miss him very much. Our thoughts and love are with Scott’s family and all those close to him.” Three other crew members were injured in the incident, including the band’s long- serving guitar technician Duncan Swift, from Oxford. Despite the tragic loss of life, it was only the fact that the band’s full soundcheck was running late that prevented potentially greater tragedy. Nightshift sends its sympathies to Scott’s family and friends and to all of the Radiohead touring party, and wishes a full and speedy recovery to everyone hurt in the incident. SONIC RISING have a new track, SUPERNORMAL FESTIVAL `High Tide’, released as part of the returns to Oxfordshire next month. `Summer Solstice’ compilation for The three-day experimental music American radio show Trip Under and arts festival takes place in the This House this month. You can fi nd picturesque surroundings of eco- it here: tripinsidethishouse.blogspot. community Braziers Park, near com. The local psych-rockers Wallingford, over the weekend of released their debut single, `Solar 10th-12th August. Eyes’ in May as part of National The artist-curated festival features Record Store Day. They play the a host of leftfi eld music treats, Wheatsheaf on Saturday 28th July including Seefeel (pictured), The as part of Gappy Tooth Industries’ Telescopes, DJ Scotch Bonnet, monthly club night. Ramesses, James Blackshaw, Bilge Pump, Joeyfat, Mary Hampton AS EVER, don’t forget to tune into Cotillion, One Vague Signal, BBC Oxford Introducing every Kogumaza, Hey Colossus, Trojan Sunday night at 9pm on 95.2fm. The Horse, Vents, Woolf, Stig Noise, dedicated local music show plays the Cosmic Dead and Oxford’s own SPECTOR (pictured), Jake Bugg, Bastille, Peace, Nina Nesbitt and Lewis best Oxford releases and demos as Undersmile. Watson are the latest acts to be confi rmed for Gathering this autumn. well as featuring interviews and live As well as the live music there are London-based folk-rockers Dry The River have already been announced sessions with local bands. The show experimental pop parties, a retro- as headliners for the one-day live music event, which takes place along the is available to download as a podcast futuristic disco, music-themed Cowley Road on Saturday 20th October. Venues confi rmed for Gathering at bbc.co.uk/oxford. cinema, art installations and myriad include The O2 Academy, The Bullingdon, East Oxford Community Centre, Regularly updated local music unusual goings-on. The Port Mahon and Cowley Road Methodist Church. news is available online at www. Tickets for the non-profi t weekend Tickets for the event are on sale now, priced £15, from wegottickets.com. musicinoxford.co.uk. The site are £65, on sale now from Visit www.gatheringfestival.co.uk for more acts to be announced, including also features interactive reviews, www.supernormalfestival.co.uk. one headline act whose name we can’t reveal at the time of going to press, interviews, podcasts, a photo gallery but we’d be liars if we said we weren’t very excited indeed. and occasional live sessions. Nightshift’s online forum also features breaking local news as ELLIOT FRESH releases his debut NIGHTSHIFT SCRIBE RUSSELL well as the chance to chat to other album this month. The local rapper and BARKER has self-published his Oxford musicians and gig-goers, producer releases `Now’ on Oxford debut novel this month. `Disc-O’ advertise for bandmates or simply label Illgotit. You can download it for has a strong musical theme running have a good old row about something free here at illgotitrecords.bandcamp. through it and is on sale now from and nothing. Visit nightshift. com/album/now. Review in next www.lulu.com as well as Truck Store oxfordmusic.net. month’s Nightshift. and the Albion Beatnik in Jericho. a quiet word with Gunning For Tamar

“WITHOUT WANTING TO BE them some more worldly experiences, on Oxford’s fertile music scene but on their cover mount CD. I’ve negative about the UK, we do get according to lead singer and guitarist the quartet were all individually genuinely found some of my favourite treated better in Europe. For a band Joe Wallis: “We went to a Nazi drawn to the city by the promise bands listening to that CD, so it was a our size at least there is a noticeable demonstration in Cologne, that was and opportunities our scene offered. real fanboy moment. It was also funny difference. When you are in the UK pretty weird... they were cordoned Drummer D’Arcy King came here to see a song we named after an in- there are so many bands who just off down a little street, hundreds of to study at Uni, while the others joke on the same track list as Lamb Of want to play and are happy to do it policemen protecting them from all – Joe, Dan and bassist Ben Green – God, Enter Shikari and Young Guns. for free or next to nothing, which is these other groups wanting to have it moved here “purely to be in a band,” It was great for raising awareness of fair enough. In a way though it does out with them. We had some pretty according to Joe. “It’s completely my the EP; we met quite a few people on devalue live music a bit and means funny times in Kortrijk on the last home now, and I think the others feel our last UK tour who had only heard that a touring band, who need to eat, night of tour, involving dice, alcohol, that way too, but Dan and I are from of us because of Rock Sound. One of put fuel in the van and fi nd somewhere a bucket of piss, a ‘rearranged’ hotel Cornwall originally and used to play them even let us stay at his house! to sleep, seem demanding. In our room and a 5am bicycle ride.” music together in college.” experience, when you are in Europe Regular gigging opportunities abroad After the usual round of local gigs GUNNING FOR TAMAR’S all those things are seen as minimum such as these are part and parcel Gunning For Tamar’s fi rst big break growing reputation has been built on a requirements and when we get all of a swift ascent up the local rock came with the release of the song `The style of music that fi ts, if at a suitably English and say thank you all the time hierarchy for the bandsince their debut Organs. The Senses. The Muscles. awkward tangent, alongside fellow they think we’re weird.” split-EP with fellow Oxford rockers The Memories’, which got picked up local acts like Spring Offensive and Phantom Theory back in 2010. Since by NME as their breakthrough track of This Town Needs Guns, exploring DAN POLLARD, GUITARIST, then they’ve been picked as one of the week. off-kilter song structures and time keyboard player and singer with NME’s Breakthrough bands; been DAN: “We still don’t really know structures, mixing math-rock textures Gunning For Tamar is refl ecting on acclaimed by Rocksound; played how that happened; an email arrived with a spangly pop sheen and the way bands – specifi cally new, The Oxford Punt; released a series one day from NME’s reviews editor moments of ferocious guitar riffage, young, unsigned bands – are treated of singles and EPs, including their asking for a promo shot to be used with Joe’s strong, emotive voice so much better on the continent than most recent `Time Trophies EP’ on the following week. We were pretty giving the band a dynamic melodic over here, where apathy bordering on renowned indie label Alcopop!, and convinced they’d got the wrong band kick. They once described themselves contempt is not an uncommon attitude this month they play the Barn stage at or were gonna slag us off until it came as “The sound of building something from promoters to bands. Truck Festival as part of Alcopop! and out. It defi nitely helped us get the new and beautiful from the wreckage Gunning For Tamar know all about Big Scary Monsters Records Saturday attention of other national press and of a destroyed Lego model.” the difference; Nightshift is talking takeover, with even bigger festival we had some gig offers off the back Such an oblique approach to rock to the quartet a week after they return appearances rumoured for later in the of it.” is something traceable locally from a tour of Germany – the band’s summer. Soon after Rocksound pitched the back to Radiohead, via the likes of second jaunt there in the past year. band as ones to watch in 2012. Youthmovies. Is there any feeling that As well as the generous hospitality GUNNING FOR TAMAR DAN: My favourite part of that was Gunning For Tamar fi t in to such a the tour afforded them, it also afforded formed and made their reputation getting our song ‘Chocolate Hooves’ lineage, or if not, how, if at all, do they feel the band fi ts into the local scene? Dan or I will have the genesis of an something. We try very hard to be or stupid at a festival, either as a DAN: “What I love about Radiohead idea and it’ll develop with us two to realistic though and are aware that it band or a punter? is how they are essentially a rock band a level we’re happy with. Then we can be harmful to work with anyone DAN: “Watched N-Dubz.” but they are obviously infl uenced by take it to the practice room and it gets that doesn’t ‘get’ our band or us as JOE: “I was there and yes, that was so many other types of music than ripped apart and put back together people.” a mistake.” what is typically associated with again as a full band for as many hours JOE: “Completely agree with Dan guitar, drums, bass and vocals. I think as it takes. It’s a hugely democratic to be honest. It’s all about working WITH THINGS BUILDING we approach making music from a process, a song will shift and change with the right people and people who so nicely for the band right now, similar angle. [BBC Introducing DJ] over the course of its growth so much understand what you want. We’d be Gunning For Tamar’s immediate Dave Gilyeat recently commented that and sometimes the original idea liars if we said we’d close the door future looks extremely bright. Should the piano parts in some of our songs you started with is long gone. But on any opportunity that could lead things suddenly collapse around them remind him of loops in electronic they all end up in their fi nal form as somewhere potentially positive.” though, perhaps they could go out music. I was really pleased he picked something we all 100% love. There’s As part of Gunning For Tamar’s in one fi nal mad blaze of glory – a up on that as I am a huge fan of no song map we follow.” ongoing relationship with Alcopop! little something to remember them by people like DJ Shadow, Clint Mansell they play Truck Festival this month forever. So, they’ve got their gun and and Apparat and enjoy marrying that AS WELL AS THEIR EVER- – the band’s second showing at the they’ve dispensed with Tamar; one sort of songwriting with the type of evolving sound, Gunning For Tamar’s festival in a row. How do they think bullet left, who gets it? raw and human performance that you fruitful partnership with local label this year’s event will pan out with the BEN: “Jeremy Kyle would get it; can only get from a live band.” Alcopop! has helped see the band’s new organisers and the plan to take it he’s a lovely chap I’m sure of it JOE: “I think we’ve found a circular rise continue. The label’s inventive back to its roots, and what particularly but I think he is single-handedly hole on the scene for our square peg. approach to releases saw G4T’s are they looking forward to from the responsible for most things wrong Fits real nice now.” `Time Trophies’ released as a bright BSM/Alcopop! takeover of the Barn? with our country. That’s quite Beyond Oxford, though, bands like orange wristwatch which came with a DAN: “I’m massively excited to bold and possibly unjustifi ed, well At The Drive-In, The Mars Volta or download code for the EP’s songs. have the Barn back. I saw Future Of actually pretty vicious, I take it back. Biffy Clyro seem to approach rock in DAN: “Making physical releases The Left in there a couple of years Can someone else please answer?” a similar fashion. interesting and tying in artwork for ago and it was one of the best things DAN: “The dickhead who stole my DAN: “Yeah, all those bands have people that still care about that sort of I witnessed anywhere that year. The bike seat.” had moments that inspired me at least. thing is important. MP3s are amazing BSM/Alcopop! takeover is gonna be D’ARCY: “David Guetta: to stop What really grabs me is when you can for sending music around the world in insane; the same stage at the Great him releasing the same bloody song feel the band’s personality bursting seconds but I love getting my hands Escape this year was basically a over and over again. I think we’re from within the songs. There’s an on real things and collecting stuff musical riot in a pub and the fact that going to need more bullets...” honesty in the best work of the bands so it’s cool to cater for that. Music + I get to play and then watch four of you’ve mentioned that you just can’t things and stuff = happiness!” my favourite bands almost feels too `Time Trophies’ is out now on fake.” JOE: “For `Time Trophies’, the good to be true. Alcopop! Records. Gunning For D’ARCY: “The thing with The Mars watch made sense completely but BEN: “I’m going to be up the whole Tamar play Truck Festival on Volta, Biffy and At The Drive-In is we’re not always going to be looking night before, like it’s a Christmas in Saturday 21st July. Visit www. that no song sounds like another just for the next ‘crazy’ way of releasing the summer.” facebook.com/gunningfortamar for played backwards but when you hear our music. We like to have different Ever done anything particularly mad news and tour dates. their tracks you know it’s that band. ideas available but only if they fi t the That’s what keeps me interested and release idea as a whole.” what inspires me. To play something D’ARCY: “We’re going to release a different and exciting every time and collection of tracks with spices. You still be us.” know, basil, thyme, oregano. That way it would be like cooking with INFLUENCES ASIDE, Gunning For Tamar.” Gunning For Tamar have become Is the relationship with Alcopop! a more assured – and noticeably more long-term thing? In what way are they melodic – with each new release, the best label for G4T to work with? while live they have developed a more Any plans for a full album? dynamic, tightly structured sound that JOE: “Everything about the way lifts them far above so many clever- Jack runs Alcopop! just makes you for-the-sake-of-it band. Have they want to work hard for him and the noticed the band becoming a more band really. He’s the nicest, most cohesive songwriting unit? hardworking man in music and JOE: “It takes a while for a band to I’m sure if you could measure that develop their songwriting and I think somehow, it’d be a certifi ed fact. Plus we’re beginning to learn how we he has a tremendous beard, the sign work best. We’re suckers for melody, of a powerful man. Like Zeus. And for better or worse. The more melodic we love being part of Alcopop! If we we get, the more of a surprise it will can take over the world together, all be when we put in a metal breakdown the better.” into one of our songs...” DAN: “We are currently working D’ARCY: “The truth is that we don’t towards an album; I guess we always all sit down together and decide `right, are but a lot of the pieces are falling this time lets write a love ballad so the into place now and it feels like a girls can swoon,’ or, ‘I think fl amenco more realistic goal than it ever has. is in, let’s give that a bash’. I think Hopefully it will surface at some point we’re just getting more comfortable next year but it’s a big project and we with each other and writing in a want to get it right.” similar direction rather than against Given what’s just happened to Fixers ourselves and Vertigo, would you fancy signing Do you have a conscious idea of to a bigger label if the chance ever where, in purely musical terms, you arose? see G4T going, or does it just take a DAN: “It’s hard to answer that natural path of evolution? theoretically; it’s very easy to get JOE: “We never fully know what fl attered when someone is interested the next song is going to sound like. in your music and wants to offer you RELEASED Sponsored by

THE CELLAR FAMILY MR FOGG `Jumbo `Eleven’ (Own label) (Kicking Ink) Ah, the 1990s were a simpler time: no internet, After the acclaim afforded his 2010 debut no mobiles, and the 80s still fresh enough in the album, `Moving Parts’, Mr Fogg has kept a mind to remember what a truly hideous decade relatively low profi le in recent times, emerging we’d just escaped from. Listening to The Cellar only for the occasionally gig, but 2012 has Family’s latest, it’s hard not to be reminded of found him stepping up a couple of gears – a that glorious period when the likes of Dischord full UK tour followed in May by an extensive and Touch And Go ruled the underground roost, European tour and the release of this, his pouring out a ceaseless procession of peerless second full-length album. angular guitar bands with an infl uence reaching While he exists predominantly in the electronic far beyond DC and Chicago. The lineage that music world, it’s really Mr Fogg’s voice that is brought ‘Jumbo’ to the world, whether directly the heart and soul of `Eleven’. or indirectly, might be quite obvious, and The Opening the album with a tattoo of bolshy, Cellar Family certainly aren’t doing anything hissing polemic brings up the acid snap of distorted electronic drums, `Make A Fuss’ remotely new, but when everything sounds as early McLusky, though lighter moments like carries a sizeable punch, horns and accordion big and evil as it does here, that criticism seems the supreme jolt of ‘Heaven’ even sound like adding a more organic edge to the electronics, churlish. Oxford’s pop heroes The Young Knives if they’d but you’re immediately drawn to his voice, What we have here is Oxford’s masterpiece chosen to pursue the Dark Side instead of the maintaining a delicate sense of detachment of clanging discord, staccato dynamism and Mercury Prize. Elsewhere, as on the almost ten- from the music. outright Jesus Lizard fi lth. There’s just enough minute ‘Leave The Light On, Mildred’, they’re And thus he continues through ten tracks sheen on the guitars and bass to make them sneer closer to squeezing the muscle of Unsane into that rarely edge above a gentle, almost while retaining the economy they need to work Unwound’s colossal ‘The Light At The End Of somnambulating pace with Fogg’s plaintive, properly, and everything is pieced together with The Tunnel Is A Train’. If you like your music almost keening voice forever at odds with the a precision and focus not often seen on display in nasty, The Cellar Family have assembled the clinical mechanics around him. `Headlock’ such outright thug rock. essential soundtrack to your next bad day. is a hypnotic mantra, all synthetic wows At their most straightforward, the record’s Stuart Fowkes and fl utters, a clockwork toy in a factory playground, while `Tightrope’ feels like a robotic heartbeat as synths hum with idle precision around the rhythm. VON BRAUN THE EMPTY VESSELS Sometimes you feel it’s all a bit too sleepy- headed, perfect soundtrack material for nature `Cat Dog EP’ `Waiting To Exhale’ doc footage of fl owers slowly blossoming, (Own label) (Stay In Touch) but then you fi nd yourself immersed in an A swift follow-up to their excellent `Folk Devil’ The Empty Vessels’ last offering was a monstrous inescapably pretty melody like `Black Eyes’, EP, and recorded during the same sessions, rolling thundercloud of psychedelic blues that while he can, very occasionally, up the pace, as `Cat Dog’ fi nds Von Braun continuing to married Hendrix with Blue Cheer, all fronted by on `Plant No Seeds’, with its light dusting of impress, with a spindly, tightly-wound sort the towering vocal talents of Matt Greenham. It dubstep. of ghost-grunge that tempers the explosive earned them a Demo of the Month and place on Best of the lot, though, is `Sprint’, which guitar maelstroms in favour of a more pensive the 2010 Oxford Punt and they’ve been a fi xture fi nds Mr Fogg at his most contemplative and mood throughout, the rage when it does come, on local rock bills ever since. emotive, closer to Elbow than to anything channelled through the singer’s hysterical vocal This new release fi nds the band more considered, from the electro-pop ouvre. Which kind of performances. losing some of that wild edge in favour of more sums `Eleven’ up: it’s intricately constructed Such storms are rare though; mostly Von fi nely-tuned musicianship, but maybe they’ve and clinically clean with its silicon surfaces, Braun hold themselves in with the studied lost a bit of that old spark along the way. EP but what really matters is the living, breathing concentration of middle-aged men in Speedos opener `Once A King’ repays repeated listening humanity at its core. trying to impress the ladies poolside. Opener and sounds oddly like Pearl Jam paying tribute to Dale Kattack `Black Saxon’ is a case in point. Hints of Pixies Roxy Music; it’s almost jazzy at times and more and Nirvana abound but it’s all a tease. The at home in a loung bar than a down-at-heel rock fl oodgates never open; cliché is avoided and an dive, while `Consolers Of The Lonely Night’ almost tantric tension prevails. kicks in with some sky-searching riffage and `Melanoma Head’ reminds us more of early tumbling drumming but never really lets its hair Radiohead – spitefully glum, wandering in down fully, hard and steady instead of untamed. tight circles, contemplating its abhorrence of `Aint Got The Time’ too tends to tip-toe around its fellow man, before lashing out with skinny you rather than stomp on your sensibilities, while elbows and bony fi sts. Von Braun have to avoid bonus track `Here Come The Empty Vessels’ making listeners wait too long for these moments might well be – whisper it – a reincarnated Reef. though and the best of the six songs here is title All’s not lost, though. `Stand In Line’ ups the track `Cat Dog’, which retains the more agitated ante several notches, a return to epic proportions mood of their previous EP, an almost hymnal and with hefty hints of Queens Of The Stone Age piece with a turbulently epic vocal and guitar in its hook-laden chorus. It’s what they do best. lead, but for the most part Von Braun’s handling Sometimes band maybe need to remember where of tension and release is patient and brooding their strengths lie, forget about trying anything too and all the more compelling for that. clever and just, well, rocking like fuck. Dale Kattack Ian Chesterton KOMRAD `March Of The Robot Men’ (Own label) The tricky, labyrinthine world of metal and your face”). `Blowing Up A Rubber Doll Does hardcore’s micro-genre offshoots is a perilous, Not Make You A Martyr’, by contrast, is frenetic ever-changing place; stick around long enough and staccato, James increasingly bullish as the in the same place and you’ll fi nd yourself sitting band up the ante, switching to Dillinger attack in a whole new pigeonhole, while all around mode, the friction between vocals and guitar lead you others strive to escape yesterday’s favoured adding an interesting frisson to proceedings. nesting place. It’s in the middle section of the album that Quite where Komrad fi t in with the scheme of all Komrad show glimpses of the limitations things heavy is wide open to debate as this, their ironically brought on by trying perhaps too hard full debut album, reveals by increments. Along not to become formulaic – `Here Come The Robot the way they’ll swerve into prog before lurching Men’ comes in all hammer and tongs before into something that might once have been grunge, shifting position frequently, like a fi dgety child pausing briefl y before hurtling further into post- (albeit a hulking great brute of a fi dgety child), Vedder, everything chugging sullenly before punk industrial noise and back out again into the vocals verging on overwrought, at least until dipping into an almost Pink Floyd-like reverie some hybrid of everything and something else the almost Spinal Tap-like breakdown. And it’s that defi es expectations by not exploding back besides. They’re restless and seemingly hellbent between these disparate bases they keep switching into life, preferring a resigned submission to the on keeping themselves and the listener on their over the next couple of tracks until you feel void. toes. Sometimes such an approach works, at you’re running an abstract obstacle course while It all ends with the serrated but considered others you wish they’d stop trying to be so damn a sadistic drill sergeant barks confl icting orders `Cowley Necktie’, the band again intent on clever and just kick off big time. at you. switching tempos and scenery whenever Album opener `Parking Restrictions’steers in at Thankfully Komrad make the change before the mood takes them. It’s their strength and an almost stately pace, Black Flag slowed down too much damage is done, slipping down a gear their weakness all at once: their intricacy and and mixing it with King Crimson, guitarist Jimmy for `Staring Through Leonard Nmoy’s Eyes’, inventiveness is beyond question, but sometimes Hetherington’s elaborate fretplay cloaking the with its almost Killing Joke-like guitar intro, a we wish they’d give freer rein to the all-out old-school hardcore violence inherent in James wholly darker piece with James coming on like a ferocity they’re more than capable of. Greene’s lyrics (“Find me a place, or I’ll smash doomier, more emotionally turbulent Eddie Dale Kattack

`Laughing & Dancing’, a sweet, intimate duet MOIETY THE DREAMING between Robin and guest vocalist Cat Martino `The Waves’ SPIRES that’s almost hymnal in its solemnity, showcasing both singers’ wonderfully pure voices as they (Own label) wrap themselves around each other. Though Moiety remain a relatively unknown `Brothers In Brooklyn’ (Clubhouse) Less appealing is `Cathie (Carry On)’, which name on the Oxford scene, their members have we think might be an attempt to emulate After over a decade and a half playing in comprised such infl uential Oxford bands as Here Springsteen’s way with a blue collar love story bands together, getting signed and tasting Comes Everybody and local legends The Anyways. but just sounds all wrong in these hands, while some commercial success, while running the Though they’ve been playing together since 2007, `Brothers In Brooklyn’ itself just about manages pioneering Truck Festival, brothers Robin and `The Waves’ is Moiety’s debut release. to swagger along, hints even of Vampire Weekend Joe Bennett maybe fi nd themselves at a strange In the letter that accompanies this album, in some cursory funkiness, but it’s really not what crossroads. Goldrush has been and gone and the frontman Pete Lock writes of the diffi culty of The Dreaming Spires do best. pair have been forced to relinquish control of the categorising his band’s sound into a specifi c genre What they do do best – and always have – is festival after last year’s fi nancial tribulations. box, and indeed, slapping ‘indie folk’ on them cast a romantic eye over the myth of 60s and What’s left, though, is the brothers’ enduring feels rather inadequate a label. Certainly there are 70s American country rock and folk music and love for Americana, and more than ever before elements of traditional folk – pleasant, if at times transcribe the maize fi elds of south Oxfordshire you sense it’s where their hearts lie and wish to rather uninteresting acoustic guitar provides the to the Californian valleys and Catskill mountains, remain. Within the fi rst minute of album opener backbone of the album; intricate fl ute sections the duo completely immersed in that other world `Singing Sin City’ they’ve lyrically referenced grace the hauntingly melodic ‘Never Believe’, so the music they make is more than mere tribute. The Byrds and Teenage Fanclub. Two songs later while a harmonica weaves its way in and out Perhaps that crossroads Robin and Joe Bennett they name check The Mamas & Papas, while the of ‘City Fathers’. However, they appear to take fi nd themselves at isn’t part of a further journey, album’s title track mentions `The Last Waltz’, a infl uence from myriad genres – unsurprisingly simply a fi nal resting place. Somewhere to call reference to The Band’s legendary 1976 concert. given their collective amount of experience – and home. You suspect Robin and Joe, who are to all as a result, country-gothic is equally as accurate a Sue Foreman description. intents and purposes The Dreaming Spires – Lock’s vocals intertwine neatly with Deborah joined for this album by a cast of guests that Glass-Woodin’s (Moiety’s other vocalist) ensuring includes local luminaries Loz Colbert and Sam that harmonies are a focal point of many of their Williams as well as Original Rabbit Foot Spasm songs, notably on ‘Arc Weld’; these juxtapose band brass players Bunny and Westy – imagine nicely with the Afrobeat-infl uenced rhythm themselves happily ensconced in Laurel Canyon section. ‘Fractions’ uses the vocal melody from at some timeless moment, life and music set Dean Martin’s ‘Sway’ to great effect, and when never to change too much. Such desire infuses an accordion enters later in the song, the extent of every track here, from the effusively rustic their infl uences becomes even more evident. `Everything All The Time’, through the Dylan- Despite their vehement refusal to be gone-electric buzz of `Look At The Stars’ to the categorised, Moiety aren’t attempting anything stripped-down, plaintive lament of `Woman That groundbreaking; their motivations fi t fi rmly into You Are’. having fun “making music with friends”, which Album high points are the rocking `Just Can’t is as admirable a sentiment as any, and something Keep This Feeling In’, the epic dreampop surge of that they’ve evidently achieved with `The Waves’. Strength Of Strings’, which rises over six minutes Caroline Corke to an almost orchestral plateau, and in particular GIG GUIDE SUNDAY 1st FUNKY FRIDAY: The Bullingdon – Classic CORNBURY FESTIVAL: Great Tew – Third soul, funk and r’n’b every Friday. and fi nal day of the festival, with Jools Holland’s SKYLARKIN SOUNDSYSTEM: The Cellar – Rhythm & Blues Orchestra rounding things up in JULY Reggae, ska and dancehall from Count Skylarkin big band style, joined for the occasion by Marc and Sensible Dancehall, plus a live set from Birmingham’s fi fteen-strong Alternative Dubstep Almond and Ruby Turner. Also playing are Will blues mix. Interesting trivia: Suhler was married Orchestra collective, bringing latter-day low-end Young, Seasick Steve, Katzenjammer, Nerina by The Rev Willy G – ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, bangers to life with horns, strings, percussion, Pallot, Staxs and Nine Below Zero – see June’s who became ordained specifi cally to conduct the turntablism and double bass. Nightshift for full festival preview ceremony. WHO DO YOU LOVE?: The Duke, St Clement’s – Alt.rock, 60s garage, soul, new wave, nd rd MONDAY 2 TUESDAY 3 punk, surf and electropop DJ session with Jim, JIM SUHLER & THE MONKEY BEAT: The JAZZ CLUB: The Bullingdon – Free live jazz Jens and Grizilla. Jericho Tavern – The Famous Monday Blues every Tuesday night at the Bully, tonight featuring MIDDLENAMEKILL: The Swan, Wantage relocates to the Jericho Tavern, tonight hosting club regulars The New Jazz Collective. Texan guitarist Jim Suhler, a veteran of the FUNK FEVER: The Cellar – New club night th American blues scene and a member of George hosted by local funksters The Funk Jugglers, who SATURDAY 7 LET’S TALK DAGGERS + DARKSHAFT + Thorogood’s Destroyers since the 90s. He’s also also play live alongside Yellow Fever and Adogg LU BU: The Wheatsheaf – Melodic hardcore worked with Johnny Winter and Buddy Guy, and Bagul. Plus DJs playing indie, funk, house, punk from Eastbourne’s Let’s Talk Daggers, out while Joe Bonamassa and Buddy Whittington hip hop and drum&bass. on tour. contributed to his recent albums, mixing elements MECHANIC ORGANIC: The Old Fire THE DRIFTERS: The New Theatre – Doo-wop, of zydeco and classic rock’n’roll into his swampy Station – Oxford Improvisers present a new piece r’n’b and soul from the legendary vocal group, composed by Dan Goren, also featuring John who have employed some 65 different members in Grieve’s music machine and a set by saxophonist th their near-70 year history. Thursday 5 and electronics wizard Jon Seagroatt from Red TRANSFORMATION + TRASHY + ROOM Square. 101: O2 Academy – Weekly three-clubs-in-one INTRODUCING SPARKY’S FLYING CIRCUS: James Street extravaganza with classic and contemporary indie Tavern – Weekly open mic session. with WE ARE at Transformation, kitsch pop, glam and 80s at OPEN MIC SESSION: The Port Mahon Trashy and metal and alt.rock at Room 101. AUGUSTINES: THE MIGHTY REDOX + CREEPY UNCLE th WEDNESDAY 4 + BEARD OF DESTINY: James Street Tavern O2 Academy MOSHKA: The Wheatsheaf – Local bands – Swampy blues-rocking and funky psychedelia The O2’s monthly team-up with BBC Oxford showcase; acts to be confi rmed. from local stalwarts Mighty Redox and chums. Introducing takes a break from its traditional ASTEROX: The Bullingdon – It’s All About The BIG SOCIETY + SUPERLOOSE + Saturday slot in order to bring Brooklyn’s Music local bands night. RECKLESS SLEEPERS + THE SCOTT brilliant We Are Augustines to town. The trio, JAWLESS & FRIENDS: The Cellar – GORDON BAND: The Hollybush, Osney – Free who have lately been on tour with Band Of Drum&bass, hip hop and funk club night, tonight fundraising gig for Wittstock Festival, featuring Skulls in the US and played with Kaiser Chiefs, with Chinchiller and Flawless, plus a competition political folk-punksters Big Society and laidback as well as appearing at Coachella earlier this for local D&B DJs country-folksters Superloose. year, released their startling debut album, `Rise EXTRA CURRICULAR: The Cellar – Weekly Ye Sunken Ships’ in the UK earlier this year, a th dose of electronic and bass-heavy dance. raw, emotionally wracked affair based on singer THURSDAY 5 BATTSTOCK: Batt School, Witney (1pm) – a Billy McCarthy’s tragic family history which UPSTAIRS with WE ARE AUGUSTINES + full day of live music with sets from Navacross, saw fi rst his mother, then his brother die from DEER CHICAGO + HIGHWAY ALASKA The Lights, The Scholars, Sefton, Jess Hall and schizophrenia and drug abuse. The ghosts of + YELLOW FEVER + ARTCLASSSINK: Phousa. both haunt every corner of the album, which, O2 Academy – Epic soul-bearing rock from OLD SKOOL HOUSE & DRUM&BASS soundwise, channels Bruce Springsteen at his Brooklyn’s We Are Augustines at tonight’s NIGHT: The Bullingdon most emotive, through the epic, orchestral pop Introducing showcase show – see main preview ELECTRICHEAD: The Swan, Wantage – Rock of Arcade Fire and The Gaslight Anthem. The CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford covers. result is quite brilliant and manages to conjure Community Centre – Oxford’s oldest and something uplifting out of highly personal still best open-mic club night, showcasing th grief. A stunning band. And since tonight is local singers, musicians, poets, storytellers and SUNDAY 8 an Introducing show, there’s a great local performance artists every week. METRIC: O2 Academy – Toronto’s Metric supporting cast, including epic indie rockers OPEN MIC SESSION: The Half Moon return to town to plug new album `Synthetica’, and recent Punt stars Deer Chicago, hi-life BLUES JAM: The Jack Russell, Marston led by Emily Haines, a beautiful, intense and tinged indie-funksters Yellow Fever and eclectic charismatic fi zzing dynamo of enthusiasm, who newcomers Artclasssink. FRIDAY 6th can make even the most strident political clarion SOULFLY: O2 Academy – Max Cavalera call sound seductive, a woman seemingly born returns to town for more sweet-natured fl uff-pop to perform stadium-sized shows rather than the fannydangle – see main preview clubs Metric forever tour. They’ve supported The KLUB KAKOFANNEY with THE CELLAR Rolling Stones in the past and tonight’s show FAMILY + CREEPY UNCLE + RIGHT comes two nights after they play Wireless Festival HOOK: The Wheatsheaf – More eclectic goings in Hyde Park. `Monster Hospital’ was a deservedly on at the long-running live music club night, huge hit, while subsequently `Fantasies’ and tonight with a headline set from vicious hardcore glammy new album `Synthetica’ have continued crew The Cellar Family, recently declared “the the formula of wholesome cheerleader pep and most exciting band in town” by Nightshift after zeal, with rough edges inspired by Sonic Youth their set at the Punt. and riot grrl and shinier electro parts seemingly infl uenced by Goldfrapp. WEDNESDAY 11th DENNY ILETT Snr: The Bullingdon – Live MONDAY 9th jazz from the local veteran. CHANTEL McGREGOR: The Bullingdon – FREE RANGE: The Cellar – Drum&bass, hip Bradford’s virtuoso blues guitarist launches the hop and dubstep from the club residents. Bully’s new Haven Blues Club – see main preview I SEE HAWKS: The Three Horseshoes, THE BAYOU BROTHERS + LAZY LESTER Towersey – Soulful roots music from the JOHNSON: The Jericho Tavern – Foot- California outfi t. stomping Louisiana-style Cajun, zydeco and blues gumbo from San Diego’s Bayou Brothers at THURSDAY 12th tonight’s Famous Monday Blues. ED SCHLONG + MOTHER CORONA + CAHALEN MORRISON & ELI WEST: The REFUGEES OF CULTURE: The Cellar – Three Horseshoes, Towersey – Old-time country Progressive, sometimes hymnal tech-metal from folk from the Seattle duo. New Zealand-via-Berlin outfi t Ed Schlong at tonight’s Buried In Smoke show. Local support TUESDAY 10th from rifftastic groove-metallers Mother Corona, JAZZ CLUB: The Bullingdon – Live jazz from in the lineage of Black Sabbath and Electric Alvin Roy & Reeds Unlimited. Wizard. SPARKY’S FLYING CIRCUS: James Street NUCLEAR SKYLINE + BEAVER FUEL Tavern + MASIRO: The Bullingdon – Local rock at INTRUSION: The Cellar – Goth, industrial, tonight’s It’s All About The Music promotion. darkwave and ebm club night. REIGN UPONUS + KIELAND RIDGE + OPEN MIC SESSION: The Port Mahon GURP: The Bell, Bicester – Jambox rock and metal night with superheavyweights Reign UponUs mixing classic thrash with death-metal Friday 6th and industrial-duty punk. Monday 9th OLIVER COATES + TOM MUDDLE + SOULFLY: MIDNIGHT BLINK + ELLIE HANGER: The CHANTEL Wheatsheaf, Banbury – Jambox acoustic and O2 Academy open mic session. McGREGOR: There can’t be many people would argue that CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford Max Cavalera isn’t a modern-day metal legend, Community Centre The Bullingdon mainly due to his involvement with Brazilian OPEN MIC SESSION: The Half Moon With The Famous Monday Blues decamped death-thrash monsters Sepultura, but even the BLUES JAM: The Jack Russell, Marston to the Jericho, the Bully launches its new less inspired moments of certain subsequent blues night in style with the return to town of Soulfl y outings – notably `III’– can’t dim his th Bradford’s fast-rising guitar virtuoso Chantel FRIDAY 13 McGregor. Having played from the age of six, star rating too much. And anyway, with the EVE SELIS: The Bullingdon – Gutsy, fi ery she went to Leeds College Of Music, becoming release of 2008’s `Conquer’, and what we’ve country and blues from San Diego’s much-loved the fi rst student to graduate from the world- heard of new album `Enslaved’, including musical daughter Eve Selis, a powerful singer in renowned establishment with a 100% pass mark the brutal `World Scum’ – the man, and the the tradition of Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris and 18 distinctions. Since then she’s honed her band, are very much on form, sounding as and Shawn Colvin for both her emotionally taught skills, playing alongside Joe Bonnamassa as heavy and focussed as ever. The birth of delivery and her ability to move between styles, well as joining Jeff Beck, Keith Richards and Soulfl y was a turbulent one. It followed from roadhouse blues and country twang to r’n’b Albert Lee for a 60th anniversary celebration of Cavalera’s acrimonious departure from and gospel. She’s over in the UK to plug her latest the Fender Telecaster. She won Best Newcomer Sepultura and the death of his stepson, at album, the crowd-funded `Family Tree’, which at the 2011 British Blues Awards and was which point Max developed a more spiritual features Albert Lee on guitar, while live she mixes nominated for Best Female Singer at the 2012 outlook and lyricism. This doesn’t detract her own songs with gutsy covers of acts as diverse awards. Musically she’s inspired by everyone too much from his trademark guttural rasp as Leonard Cohen and Gram Parsons. from Hendrix to Robin Trower and Walter and frenzied showmanship though and he FUTURES + DONBROCO + NATIVES: Trout, while vocally she’s drawn comparisons remains a born rock and roll showman. For O2 Academy – Rearranged from April, to both Stevie Nicks and Bonnie Raitt. Steeped the fi rst few Soulfl y albums he maintained a Buckinghamshire’s Mercury-signed rockers in the blues tradition she even made it on to revolving door policy to musicians that has return to town, mixing up lightweight punk-pop Universal’s `Hundred Years Of The Blues’ seen members of bands like Machine Head, with sunshiney indie rock on debut album `The compendium as well as the `Blues Fury’ Fear Factory, Deftones, Dubwar, Slipknot and Holiday’. Support from Bedford’s soulless, showcase of the current swell of young British even Limp Bizkit, as well as Sean Lennon polished power-rockers Donbroco. blues acts on the rise. Her self-released `Like join Cavalera. More recently a core, including THE OLD GRINDING YOUNG + TOLIESEL: No Other’ debut album has drawn universal excellent young metal guitarist Marc Rizzo, has The Wheatsheaf – Turbulently emotive indie-folk praise from the blues press and right now it solidifi ed and brought greater innovation and from TOG at tonight’s Musicinoxford show, plus looks like the world is very much her oyster. stability. Soulfl y’s stock in trade remains full- epic indie rockers ToLiesel. throttle metal, but elements of Brazilian tribal BOSSAPHONIK: The Cellar – Jazz dance, music as well as everything from reggae to afrobeat, dancefl oor Latin and Balkan beats at the Frail, fractured chamber pop and piano ballads in Siberian folk music play a part. Max has been monthly club night, tonight featuring a live set the vein of Sufjan Stevens and Alex Chilton from much imitated but rarely bettered and tonight from Molotov Jukebox, self-styled gyp-step six- Seattle’s Mike Hadreas, over in the UK to plug his should be a riot. piece, taking infl uences from Balkan gypsy dance, second album, `Put Your Back N2 It’, released on ska, samba, swing and dubstep. Matador Records, fresh from supporting Beirut YELLOW FEVER: The Swan, Wantage – on tour. Funked-up indie-dance and hi-life-tinged pop from DEAD RAT ORCHESTRA: Modern Art the local hopefuls. Oxford – Atmospheric, semi-improvised FUNKY FRIDAY: The Bullingdon orchestral folk music, recalling the timeless music of the Hebrides from the three-piece ensemble, SATURDAY 14th who scored the BBC’s recent The Guga Hunters ALAJANDRO ESCOVEDO: The Bullingdon Of Ness documentary, capturing much of the – Intimate UK show for the cult Texan songsmith isolation and bleakness of those islands. and chum of Springsteen – see main preview DESERT STORM + SONS OF MERRICK PERFUME GENIUS: The Jericho Tavern – + STEAK + BEARD OF ZEUS + EMPTY VESSELS: The Wheatsheaf – Buried In Smoke MISSING NOTES + MAVE & IAN + GLENDA Crysis and tech-metallers Mutagenocide. HUISH: The Wheatsheaf – An afternoon of free FUNKY FRIDAY: The Bullingdon acoustic music hosted by Klub Kakofanney’s Phil THE RACKET: The Swan, Wantage & Sue, including classic olde world folk music from Green Children of the Wolf Pit. SATURDAY 21st TRUCK FESTIVAL: Hill Farm, Steventon – MONDAY 16th More great stuff. In a fi eld. Including Alcopop! UNEVEN STRUCTURE + NO and BSM Record’s Barn takeover – see main CONSEQUENCE + MUTAGENOCIDE + preview AETHARA: The Wheatsheaf – Double metal THE LONG INSIDERS: Head Of The River headline tour with France’s Uneven Structure – Free riverside gig from the local rock’n’roll, alongside atmospheric UK tech-metallers garage rock and surf stars. No Consequence, local support courtesy of TRANSFORMATION + TRASHY + ROOM Friday 13th Witney’s technically-minded classic thrash crew 101: O2 Academy Mutagenocide and death metallers Aethara. CAKEHOLE PRESLEY + SWINDLESTOCK: CHARLOTTE THE LARRY MILLER BAND: The Jericho The Jericho Tavern – Rocking 60s-style blues Tavern – Rocking blues from the UK guitarist, from Cakehole Presley, alongside local Americana CHURCH: inspired by the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughan and outfi t Swindlestock. Gary Moore. MAN MAKE FIRE: The Swan, Wantage – The Jericho Tavern Rock covers. That’s right, Charlotte Church. At the Jericho TUESDAY 17th 1980S BACK TO SCHOOL: The Bullingdon – Tavern. We thought someone was having a JAZZ CLUB: The Bullingdon – Live jazz from Retro club night. laugh at our expense when the press release The New Jazz Collective. WHAT YOU CALL IT, GARAGE?: The Cellar came in, but seems our chums at DHP have SPARKY’S FLYING CIRCUS: James Street – First birthday party from the UK garage, 2-step, pulled of a bit of an A-List celeb coupe here. Tavern grime and bassline club night, with Charris & Fresh from giving evidence at the Leveson OPEN MIC SESSION: The Port Mahon Inquiry, the former child star, who sold over 10 million albums and released a Best Of before her th th Saturday 14 16th birthday, a singer more used to performing WEDNESDAY 18 at Cardiff Arms Park and The Royal Albert Hall, IN ZANADU + PIONEER GIGIANT: The ALEJANDRO and who has sung for the Queen, the Pope and Bullingdon – It’s All About The Music local Bill Clinton, comes to the 160-capacity Tavern bands showcase, with Banbury’s soulful posters In ESCOVEDO: in front a of a snug, select few. It’s all part of Zanada. her musical re-invention, though. Having left The Bullingdon arias, sacred songs and Christmas carols behind THURSDAY 19th The world of music is awash with “cult artists”, back in the mid-Noughties, Church has fi rmly DEAD GIRL PARK + THE WRECK SCENE: the majority of whom are unlikely to, or simply thrown her hat into the pop ring, with variable The Bullingdon – It’s All About The Music night undeserving of, selling more than a few hundred success. `Tissues & Issues’ did okay in the UK with grungy local faves Harry Angel reincarnated records in their time. But then there are the likes but failed to continue her global success, with as Dead Girl Park, alongside Banbury’s punk, ska of San Antonio’s Alejandro Escovedo, who, 2010’s `Back To Scratch’ moving further into and country outfi t The Wreck Scene. you feel, has forever been one big breakthrough confessional, autobiographical territory. Given MOTHER CORONA + ZERO HOUR + single away from becoming a major-league her childhood success, and the attendant tabloid BEAVER FUEL: The Bell, Bicester – Jambox rock star. If nothing else, judge his reputation by frenzy about her weight / marriage / cigarette rock night with groove-metallers Mother Corona those who contributed to a benefi t album for him smoking / occasional off-the-cuff proclamations and potty-mouthed indie-punks Beaver Fuel. when, in 2003, he nearly died from Hepatitis-C: on other celebs, it’s understandable she CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford Steve Earl, Son Volt, Lucinda Williams, John might want to get a few things off her chest. Community Centre Cale, Ian Hunter and The Jayhawks. Or the Promotional blurb for tonight’s show promises it OPEN MIC SESSION: The Half Moon fact that Bruce Springsteen was only too keen will showcase Church’s “ bold and unique new BLUES JAM: The Jack Russell, Marston to join Escovedo onstage for a few numbers at sound, creating vast musical landscapes with big the Austin Music Awards back in March this drums, big guitars, and a voice that sold over th year. Like sometime co-writer Chuck Prophet, 10 million records.” Whatever, it’s gonna be a FRIDAY 20 Escovedo, son of Mexican immigrants, started unique event. Next month: Aled Jones rocks the TRUCK FESTIVAL: Hill Farm, Steventon off playing in punk bands before moving into Port Mahon. – It’s zipping up its boots, going back to its rootsier folk-rock and alt.country territory, roots. Truck returns under the stewardship of starting with 1992’s solo debut, `Gravity’, Derbyshire’s Y Not Festival, with two days of through to his recent eleventh studio album, metal night with local stoner-metallers Desert national and local bands –and the return of the `Big Station’. He was named Artist Of The Storm; London’s groove-metallers Sons Of Barn! – see main preview 90s’ by alt.country bible No Depression and Merrick; stoner-rockers Steak, from London, plus THE BIG TEN INCH with THE ORIGINAL along the way has also worked with everyone local stoner-metal ogres Beard Of Zeuss and epic RABIT FOOT SPASM BAND: The Cellar - from Tony Visconti to Whiskeytown without proto-metal heavyweights Empty Vessels, rocking Count Skylarkin’s monthly celebration of classic ever breaking through into the mainstream. It’s it up big time in the spirit of Led Zep and Blue rockabilly, jump blues and swing, tonight featuring unlikely that will ever happen now but as he Cheer. a live set from New Orleans-style hot jazz combo passes his 60th birthday, Escovedo simply keeps TRANSFORMATION + TRASHY + ROOM TORFSB. on doing what he does best, rocking every bar 101: O2 Academy REEDS + SHATTERED DREAMS + that will host him, and living on the enduring EXTRA CURRICULAR: The Cellar GREEN CHILDREN OF THE WOLF PIT: love of that select group who recognise his THE PETE FRYER BAND: The Strickland The Wheatsheaf – Moshka club night with talents. Arms, Ducklington – Blues rocking. local grungy punk-pop outfi t Shattered Dreams WAM: The Swan, Wantage – Ska-punk covers. returning to action, plus trad folkies Green Children Of The Wolfpit. SUNDAY 15th TRUCKER DIABLO + THE REAPER + DAWES: The Bullingdon – Authentically rustic CRYSIS + MUTAGENOCIDE: Fat Lil’s, Laurel Canyon-style country and folk-rocking in Witney – Northern Ireland’s old school heavy the style of Crosby, Stills & Nash and Neil Young rockers make it over to Witney ahead of a support from Los Angeles quartet Dawes, over in the slot with Foo Fighters in August. They’ve also UK to promote their second album, `Nothing Is played Download and supported Black Stone Wrong’. Cherry on tour. Witney’s young teenage metallers GREEN CHILDREN OF THE WOLF PIT + The Reaper support, along with thrash merchants B-Ill, DJ Risky, Naughty Nath, DJ Ramsay and a month after the forced cancellation of its original hosted by MC Macular. June date, because of fl ooding fears. The original line-up remains pretty much intact, with today’s SUNDAY 22nd proceedings headed by the ever-entertaining Smilex, with their high-octane blend of punk, glam and hard rocking. They’re joined by Black Hats, rd MONDAY 23 Mick Quinn’s DB Band, Deer Chicago, Secret MARCUS BONFANTI: The Jericho Tavern Rivals, Tamara & The Martyrs, Undersmile, Hot – Rearranged from June, the rising star of the Hooves, Von Braun and Listing Ships. UK blues scene returns to town, having been D-FEST: The Red Lion, Drayton – The annual nominated for two British Blues Awards and post-Truck mini-festival, hosted by Drayton’s st drawing praise for his rich, earthy voice and own Dead Jerichos. This year’s event, across two Tuesday 31 versatile guitar playing that ranges from Jimmy stages in the Red Lion, features alt.country rockers Page-inspired electric riffery to more considered The Dreaming Spires; effusive electro-popsters SAVAGES / acoustic folk and country picking. Alphabet Backwards; twisted hardcore punkers The Cellar Family; psychedelic garage rockers PALMA VIOLETS: TUESDAY 24th The Graceful Slicks; punky power-pop outfi t Hot Hooves and plenty more. The Jericho Tavern JAZZ CLUB: The Bullingdon – With The Hugh A joint headline tour from two bands formed SKELETOR presents FEI COMODO + WAYS Turner Band. less than a year ago, but potentially one of ACROSS + DESERT STORM + EYES OF SPARKY’S FLYING CIRCUS: James Street those gigs you’ll swear you were at this time EVE + MOTHER CORONA: O2 Academy – Tavern next year. London’s Palma Violets have been Essex’s metalcore cult heroes Fei Comodo bow OPEN MIC SESSION: The Port Mahon soliciting excitable reviews for their warehouse out with a fi nal farewell tour after a decade of and house party shows, counting Nick Cave, high octane shows and a series of self-released th Bernard Butler and Geoff Travis amongst their WEDNESDAY 25 EPs. Support for tonight’s Skeletor and Room 101 fans, the latter signing the band to his Rough MOSHKA: The Wheatsheaf – Local bands team-up include Paramore-style rockers Ways Trade label, reputedly after hearing one song. showcase; acts to be confi rmed. Across; groove-heavy stoner-metallers Desert So furious has been the hype storm surrounding FREE RANGE: The Cellar Storm; epic thrash merchants Eyes Of Eve and them one major label fl ew a scout up to Scotland monstrous riffmongers Mother Corona. to see them, only to realise it was the wrong th GAPPY TOOTH INDUSTRIES with SONIC THURSDAY 26 (Parma) Palma Violets. Newly bastardised name RISING + TURNPIKE GLOW + BETHANY MOOGIEMAN + LEWIS NEWCOMBE aside, this Palma Violets’ psychedelic take on WEIMERS: The Wheatsheaf – Characteristically JONES: The Bullingdon – It’s All About The classic garage rock follows in the lineage of mixed bill from the long-running GTI club night, Music acoustic night, including recent Nightshift The Doors, Velvet Underground, Bunnymen tonight featuring Loop and Spacemen 3-inspired Demo Of The Month winner Lewis Newcombe and Spiritualized but makes up in some sort of psych-rockers Sonic Rising, plus London’s Jones with his starry-eyed rustic folk in the vein of ragged glory what it currently lacks in fi nesse, Pavement and Phoenix-infl uenced indie rockers Nick Drake, Bert Jansch and Ralph McTell. and to their credit, they seem to be working hard Turnpike Glow and haunting, soulful acoustic GRACES COLLIDE + SWITCH ZERO to avoid all the over-excitement surrounding songstress Bethany Weimers. HOUR + DELIVERENCE: The Bell, Bicester – them. It’s fellow Londoners Savages though THAMESFEST: The Talbot Inn, Eynsham Jambox rock night. who might be this year’s most exciting new (3pm) – A full afternoon and evening of live CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford guitar band. The quartet’s dark, urgent post- music, including country-folksters Country For Community Centre punk, with its gothic undertow, carries shades Old Men; surf-rockers Vicars Of Twiddly and OPEN MIC SESSION: The Half Moon of Liars and The Slits, while singer Jehnny heavyweight blues-rockers Steamroller, plus BLUES JAM: The Jack Russell, Marston Beth has the compelling intensity of Ian Curtis. sets from Beard Of Detiny, The New Moon, Whether either or both bands go the distance or Experimentals and Davey Johnson & Friends. FRIDAY 27th burn out in a short, sharp blaze of glory, tonight TRANSFORMATION + TRASHY + ROOM THE CHEESEGRATERS: The Wheatsheaf – should be a gig to remember. 101: O2 Academy The drunken funksters return to action after a two- EXTRA CURRICULAR: The Cellar year hiatus, armed with a new line-up and a fresh VIENNA DITTO: The Port Mahon – EP selection of tunes to butcher. The Bully’s new Haven club night hosts two local launch show for the Oxford-Reading-London SWINDLESTOCK + AGS CONNOLLY: acts – long-standing blues-rock, boogie and dance trio, conjuring a misty trip hop atmosphere with a The Bullingdon – Good-time Americana from faves King B, plus folk-rock and pop combo The delicate surf-pop edge. Swindlestock, plus campfi re country vibes from Shapes. Ags Connolly in support. THE CLARE FREE BAND: The Jericho HQ: The Cellar – Cutting edge drum&bass. SUNDAY 29th Tavern – Electric blue-rock in the vein of Bonnie FUNKY FRIDAY: The Bullingdon CHARLBURY RIVERSIDE FESTIVAL: Raitt from the local singer and guitarist. Charlbury – Alphabet Backwards top today’s OPEN MIC SESSION: The Swan, Wantage SATURDAY 28th bill, alongside The Epstein, Brickwork Lizards, The Infl atables, Dirty Royals, Superloose, Count st BRUTAL PUNISHMENT FEST: The TUESDAY 31 Drachma, Flights of Helios and more. Bullingdon (2pm) – A full day and night of intense SAVAGES + PALMA VIOLETS: The Jericho DEBBY McCLATCHY: The Three Horseshoes, metal, with the emphasis on extreme death-metal Tavern – Super-hot double headline tour from Towersey - Original and old-time songs and banjo and grindcore. Gore-obsessed, serial-killer- two of London’s rising indie starlets – see main music with infl uences from the songs of Charlie worshipping grindcore crew Basement Torture preview Poole and the California gold rush era from the Killings headline and are joined by Newcastle’s JAZZ CLUB: The Bullingdon – With The New veteran performer. Today The Sun Dies; old-school thrashers Jazz Collective. Necrotize; Bristol’s unrelenting grindcore types SPARKY’S FLYING CIRCUS: James Street Merciless precision, plus a local cast that includes MONDAY 30th Tavern Zaos, Aethara, A Trust Unclean and Black Skies KING B + THE SHAPES: The Bullingdon – OPEN MIC SESSION: The Port Mahon Burn. While this weekend’s re-arranged Charlbury Riverside festival offers the chance of some family-friendly musical fun in the picturesque outdoors, Brutal Punishment does exactly what it says on the tin and creates its own corner of hell in a room where the sun don’t dare shows its face. Nightshift listings are free. Deadline for inclusion in the gig guide is 6pm on the 20th of each Enjoy. month - no exceptions (not even for you). Call 01865 372255 (10am-6pm), or email listings to CHARLBURY RIVERSIDE FESTIVAL: [email protected]. All listings are copyright of Nightshift and may not be reproduced Charlbury – The annual free festival moves back without permission THE TEMPER TRAP Friday 20th - Saturday 21st TRUCK FESTIVAL Hill Farm, Steventon Having previously survived a mad cow disease scare and a devastating fl ood that wiped out the entire site, Truck looked like it had fi nally had its chips last year when the organisers went into administration. But, like Gloria Gaynor, it has survived, and will do battle once again. Popping up to save the day are the organisers of Derbyshire’s Y Not Festival, winners of Best Grassroots Festival at last year’s UK Festival Awards. Their mission statement has been to take Truck back to its roots.

As such, the festival is back to two days, with a full Friday and Saturday of music giving everyone a chance to rest and recuperate on seeing the band returning to the form that saw along with The Low Anthem, sandwiches Sunday. their `Through The Windowpane’ shortlisted for the mighty electro-noise beast that is The ticket price, too, has been reduced, down the Mercury Prize. 65DAYSOFSTATIC on the main stage. to £69 this year, making it one of the most They’re joined by LITTLE COMETS, Authentic bluesgrass rumblers KILL IT KID affordable of the summer’s festivals. Newcastle’s guerrilla-gigging “kitchen sink indie” and rising local afrobeat-inspired indie rockers It’s the quality of the music on show, though, rockers and London’s much-touted post-punk YELLOW FEVER are among the other main upon which any festival will be judged, and funk-rockers THEME PARK, while a strong stage acts. on this score, there should be few complaints, local contingent on the second stage includes with a very decent mix of established indie Robin and Joe Bennett’s THE DREAMING Glasgow’s “celtic-emo” crew FRIGHTENED names and local acts mixed up over three stages, SPIRES, which will at least keep the brothers, RABBIT top the second stage on Saturday, including the rejuvenated barn stage. who started and ran Truck from 1998, involved in their blend of melancholic folk, bluegrass, indie the event; grungy indie posters KILL MURRAY, and even grunge having drawn comparisons Heading Friday’s bill on the main stage are emotionally turbulent alt.folksters THE OLD to REM, Arcade Fire and The Reindeer MYSTERY JETS, a band who have a bit of GRINDING YOUNG and sweet folk-pop Section, while KING CHARLES’ whimsical local history, Blaine Harrison having previously songstress JESS HALL, all three acts having psychedelic root-pop is closer to Syd Barrett or lived near Abingdon and Mystery Jets’ fi rst ever performed at this year’s Oxford Punt. Donovan. TREVOR MOSS AND HANNAH recordings being a Nightshift Demo Of The LOU will doubtless be getting all lovey-dovey Month. The band made their name as part of the Obviously we’re chuffed to see the return of the over a single microphone, while perennial local Eel Pie Island set, with a quirky, almost proggy barn stage, despite its characteristic odour, and Truck faves THIS TOWN NEEDS GUNS will take on harmony-heavy guitar pop, although even more chuffed to see that long-term friends bring the necessary all-action element. they relocated to Texas to record new album of Truck THE FUTURE OF THE LEFT are `Radlands’ with a resulting more countrifi ed playing here, the Welsh outfi t’s twisted, venomous Local labels ALCOPOP! and BIG SCARY sound. mix of hardcore racket, caustic lyricism and MONSTERS are teaming up for a barn stage Perhaps the biggest surprise – and biggest general don’t-give-a-shit brilliance always takeover on the Saturday, bringing with them coupe – on the this year’s bill is Anglo-Aussie unmissable. Adrenalised psychedelic rock’n’roll the cream of their respective rosters, including musical comedian TIM MINCHIN, almost monsters TURBOWOLF should give them a Birmingham’s dynamic fi ght-pop urchins certainly the only Olivier Award winner ever to run for their money, while epic instrumental JOHNNY FOREIGNER, Get Up Kids-style perform at Truck (he won it for his music for soundscapists BRONTIDE bring a bit of almost punk-pop sweeties TELLISON, off-kilter, soul- Matilda: The Musical). What his show on the classical fi nesse to proceedings. cleansing post-industrialist progsters THREE main stage will entail isn’t entirely certain – The barn’s local contingent includes nimble- TRAPPED TIGERS and Brighton’s TALL he’s been on tour with the Heritage Orchestra footed rockers SPRING OFFENSIVE and SHIPS, whose mix of mathsy rock and indie- recently – but a mix of oddball humour, poetry previous Nightshift Demo Of The Monthers funk pitches them somewhere between Foals, and songs should be the order of the day, with a POLEDO, but it’ll be DEAD JERICHOS’ Battles and Futureheads. sharply anti-religious core in evidence. farewell set that should bring the house down; And the of course there’s this month’s maybe even literally if their last, riotous, Truck set Nightshift cover stars GUNNING FOR Elsewhere on the main stage on Friday are new is anything to go by. TAMAR, who add the necessary local quota wave folkster VILLAGERS; electro-popster alongside electro-psychedelic ensemble Sam Duckworth’s GET CAPE, WEAR CAPE, Moving on to Saturday, and a main stage headline FLIGHTS OF HELIOS, dub and reggae FLY! mixing the personal and political with set from fl owery, post-Coldplay soft-rockers THE veterans DUBWISER and 80s-styled indie genially effusive style, and of course FIXERS, TEMPER TRAP, who should get some serious rockers VERY NICE HARRY. whose performance at last year’s Truck will go lighters-aloft action going when they play `Sweet down in history as one of the great local festival Disposition’, although if it’s serious epic rock Of course, despite the change in organisational sets – a full-on psychedelic rave, replete with action you want then BRITISH SEA POWER matters and the return to a more measured scale, daft fancy dress and cosmic showmanship. They are the masters of such shows of force, possessed much about Truck will remain reassuringly may have had record label problems but live of both an enchanting theatrical edge and an familiar, from the Rotary Club burger stall, they are close to peerless. ability to squeeze some serious noise out of their to the organic brewery bar and the emphasis amps when duty calls. on local food and drink. Hopefully Truck can Another band with a strong local connection Power and noise aren’t words you’d ever use regain its reputation as one of the UK’s best are GUILLEMOTS, who top the bill on the to describe THE LOW ANTHEM, a band so small-scale DIY festivals. Whatever the bad second stage on Friday. Featuring Grieg Stewart, delicately proportioned you worry a gentle breeze taste left in many people’s mouths after last year, formerly of Suitable Case For Treatment, Fyfe might carry them aloft, but a band capable of it remains at the very heart of Oxfordshire’s Dangerfi eld’s folk-rockers play it big and epic, exquisite beauty, as their sublime `Oh My God, music calendar; long may it keep on trucking. which tends to work just right in a festival Charlie Darwin’ proved. Really, really lovely setting, the soaring harmonies and shimmering stuff. Visit WWW.TRUCKFESTIVAL.COM for full guitars of most recent album `Walk The River’ As is folkstress EMMY THE GREAT, who, line-up and ticket details

Spring Offensive photo: Paul Hayday - Hayzphotos

SPRING OFFENSIVE / COUNT DRACHMA / clockwork eeriness where once they thumped a bold tattoo. If evidence ALL WE ARE were needed that this is a band at the height of their powers, check the St Barnabas Church arrangements, subtle alterations to The priest at St Barnabas gets Are’s sound fi ts a beautiful church; afl ame. the songs that use the natural reverb birthday cards made from cereal it’s not just their sepulchral elegance, Unlike Spring Offensive, whose of the church to magnify every facet. boxes. Not the sort of thing we but because all these smiles and music is as heart-wrangling and A band of vision and hard graft, fi nd out at most gigs, but the parish handclaps make them look like emotionally wrought as it is possible Spring Offensive look as though they magazine keeps us diverted in trendy 80s vicars. for pop music to be. Always an can achieve anything after tonight’s St Barnabas’ whilst we wait for Count Drachma, a Stornoway spin excellent band, in the past our celebration of beautifully controlled, Liverpool’s All We Are to locate the off, present their take on traditional criticism has been that they push twitchy romanticism. There are light venue. Ironically for a band who Zulu songs. The fi ddle licks and their climaxes too hard, forcing their boxes everywhere, broadcasting aren’t on time, they’re painfully excellent cajon rhythms give the set a songs to one more crescendo. But couplets like some Barbara Kruger “now”, laying well brought up swinging zydeco air, whilst the vocal not any more. Tonight, even in older rip off, but it’s the piles of books on Beach Boys vocal lines over quietly lines have the apparently effortless songs, each sonic pinnacle is entirely the fl oor that intrigue us. We pick malleted toms and light guitar noise waft of much great folk music. earned, each huge chorus blossoming one up, and out falls a newspaper in an introverted indie style, like Perhaps the band could do with more naturally. Part of this is down to the clipping from 1825, which we Fleet Foxes having a go at being bite, and the vocals more authority, guitar parts, which now seem to owe slip into our pocket. That’s Spring Sigur Ros, or a grown up version but for a recently formed, extra- more to Stars Of The Lid or Mogwai Offensive for you: they make big of Fixers sipping carrot juice at a curricular outfi t, it’s rather good. In than Youthmovies, slowly burning, gestures, but it’s the tiny surprises farmers’ market, instead of a heady fact, it’s precisely rather good, and then crashing in fi zzing waves. The that you take away with you. cocktail of LSD and reverb. All We probably not destined to set anyone drums, too, have a haunted David Murphy

TENNIS / TRAPS evening of blood, sweat and tears, but you can’t help but feel that it is all The Jericho Tavern a little too cute and dainty. Of course the more popular numbers, such as Tonight’s gig gets off to an unexpected start; unexpected because support ‘Marathon’ and ‘Origins’, are well received, but tonight it appears ‘well band Traps very quickly make it clear that their rock is as loud as it is epic received’ amounts perhaps to the three crowd members at the front bobbing and because the band that they are supporting, Tennis, could not be further their heads maybe just a little more than they did previously and not a whole away from loud and/or epic. In fact I’m not sure their twee surf-pop could lot more. As a result the performance massively lacks any sort of atmosphere. even be classifi ed as rock. What’s worse is that the band seem to be in no hurry to do anything about Despite playing to a crowd whose ears most likely aren’t used to having this; sure, lead guitarist Patrick Riley is initially fairly energetic (or as such an amount of decibels thrown at them, there is no denying that Traps energetic as one can be whilst playing surf pop) but even he starts to fade give it their all. Credit has got to be given where credit is due – the bassist towards the latter stages of the set, be it out of boredom or because he does his thing, the drummer drums ferociously, the lead guitarist holds it all realises he’s singlehandedly used up the tiny amount of enthusiasm a band together and the frontwoman... well, with a voice as big as that they were as seemingly cool as his are allowed to expend on a night’s performance. It’s always going to be producing loud, epic rock. It’s just a real shame that their telling that the biggest cheer of the night comes from drummer James Barone craft falls on, fi guratively, deaf ears. accidentally knocking over a bunch of beers upon exiting the stage. Given how cute and dainty Tennis’ style is, tonight’s never going to be an Nick Beaver TINDERBOX FESTIVAL Cropredy Old Wharf Tinderbox describes itself as “a celebration It turns out there’s an Italian storm coming of the wired, the weird and the wonderful,” in the form of Sylvia Kastel’s piercing voice to which the organisers could add “anything work and electronica and Ninni Morgia’s goes, as long as it’s freeform.” intense guitar. They’re all violence and pain, After only getting lost once, I arrive at the and not having earplugs I fi nd they’re best designated fi eld, somewhere in northern- experienced well to the rear of the fi eld. most Oxfordshire, in time to catch the last Tinderbox hosts and free form veterans Red number from three students of composition Square play at such hyperfast speed it’s a at Birmingham Conservatoire, Ostrich Box. marvel that they’re in synch throughout their Their combination of folk banjo and ambient set; this must be what decades of experience laptop electronica make for a sweetly gentle does for you. Today is their fi rst gig with introduction to the day. Lost Harbours, a their new drummer, whom Red Square mainly guitar and reeds duo, continue in followers inform us is more rock infl uenced a similar gentle vein with a set of ambient than his predecessor and that this is refl ected electro-centric folk which just happens to fi t in the band’s sound. perfectly with the bucolic surroundings. With the air turning even colder as night With a band member in a wrestling mask approaches, the John Zorn and Tim Berne- and others dressed in kaftans, things take infl uenced Shatner’s Bassoon, a young fi ve a turn for the weirder with the entry of piece from Leeds, warm the gathered throng Bolide, up from Brighton for their second with a set that’s as absorbing to watch as to Tinderbox. Their anarchic approach to music listen to, with the band showing how much is exemplifi ed by having so many hand they enjoy responding to each other. They percussion instruments you’d run out of play accessible, improvised free-form jazz, if fi ngers and toes attempting to count them. there is such a genre, ranging from handing Their set turns out to be one long number, short fragments back and forth between with somewhere in the middle a passage their instruments to full-on freeform blasts, which features the mbira, the thumb piano to echoes of the Pink Panther theme and from Zimbabwe said to have the sound of calypso. Easily the best band of the day. rain falling on rock, and my fi rst personal By the end of their set the cold has got too THE OXFORD RECORD highlight of the day much even for a seasoned festival-goer like London duo Temperatures also return myself, which unfortunately means missing DVD & CD FAIR for a second visit to the mini-festival. With out on fi nal band Space F!ght. Tinderbox their drums again wired to a vintage synth is small, very friendly, intimate and OXFORD TOWN HALL and spiky electric bass guitar, theirs is an defi nitely different, and if you want to seek st engrossing elemental sound akin to Japanese out something seriously different from the SATURDAY 21 JULY ceremonial drummers meeting rolling mainstream, both as an event and musically, thunder, which has me searching the grey mark next year’s event in your calendar now. 10am - 3.30pm cold sky to see if a storm is coming. Colin May Rock/pop/jazz/soul/reggae/indie/all other genres Accessories/memoriabillia/books. Brand new and back catalogue/Rare Vinyl HALF MAN HALF BISCUIT www.usrfairs.co.uk O2 Academy If you mentioned Half Man Half Biscuit testament to Blackwell’s sharpened wit and not so long ago the average response would skill as a songwriter. It also points to the fall between two camps. The fi rst would signifi cant change in the band’s fortunes over be “who?” and the second, “didn’t they do the last ten years, suggesting that eventually, `Trumpton Riots’?” It seemed that HMHB if you write enough quality songs, they will would be forever tarred with the novelty get noticed. brush thanks to their association with BBC It’s pleasing that Nigel Blackwell’s genius children’s programming. is getting fully recognised, and it’s in When they last played in Oxford some considerable evidence tonight. There’s years ago (a Cornbury Festival appearance the rampant singalong folk of `When The not withstanding) it was to a handful of Evening Sun Goes Down’, the brilliantly obsessive fans in the backroom at The observed `Running Order Squabble Fest’ Bully, but since then quite a lot has changed. (with its classic line, “You’re going on after HMHB have undergone something of a Crispy Ambulance”), the old classics of renaissance. `All I Want For Christmas Is A Dukla Prague With 2002’s `Cammell Laird Social Club’, Away Kit’ and `99% Of Gargoyles Look VENUE PHONE NUMBERS the band started to attract new fans who Like Bob Todd’, plus a smattering of new O2 Academy: 0844 477 2000 (ticketweb) appreciated Nigel Blackwell’s uncanny tunes from `90 Bisodol (Crimond)’. Each knack of splicing together popular culture, one is fi nely honed, Blackwell’s ear for a The Bullingdon: 01865 244516 everyday life and biting sarcasm. When melody matches his phenomenal command The Wheatsheaf: 01865 790380 `Achtung Bono’ appeared in 2005 (complete of language. Even when he’s in spoken word The Cellar: 01865 244761 with the majestic `Joy Division Oven mode he’s in top form and tonight’s twisting The Jericho Tavern: 01865 311775 Gloves’) the band leapt forward again in version of `24 Hour Garage People’ is a The New Theatre: 0844 847 1585 popularity and were seemingly rediscovered particular highlight. The Port Mahon: 01865 790970 by the music press and consequently, a host Tonight is proof, if any were needed, that of new fans. Half Man, Half Biscuit are no longer a East Oxford Community Centre: 01865 Tonight fi nds HMHB playing to a packed novelty band, but are slowly edging towards 792168 O2 with a set that stretches to nearly 30 becoming a national institution. Fat Lil’s: 01993 703385 songs and each and every one of them is Sam Shepherd DJANGO DJANGO photo: Harriet Lee O2 Academy With their rather good eponymous debut album, Django Django sound like they want to carve themselves a niche that sits somewhere between Guardian-reader-friendly pop-electro familiarity and the more outré work of acts like Black Dice or Hot Chip. Similarly to the painfully where-are- they-now CSS, although erring more on the side of moody early Human League-esque pieces, they sound constantly in thrall to rhythm, as if under the infl uence of unnamed (yet safely legal) psychoactive substances. It’s this clash between danceable music and reassuring song-like structure that is perhaps key to their growing popularity, which manifests itself tonight with an eager and responsive full house. It may also be their Achilles’ heel, as tonight’s set rapidly displays a repetitive approach to song construction and an inability - intentional or not - for the band to completely lose themselves in the music. Throughout their set, which wends through much of their album with the backing-tape accuracy it’s sometimes hard to avoid when music is this heavily centred around keyboards and sequencers, Django Django are undeniably vibrant and entertaining. At their core, they seem to have a love of simple and honest pop music, and when this works (on higher-energy tracks like ‘Default’ and ‘Zumm Zumm’) it neatly skims the surface of Krautrock, with one eye on normality. The cracks tend to expose themselves when what is, on record, a tidy interplay between synthesised and ‘traditional’ instrumentation slightly drifts apart: this results in what can seem like clunky transitions and changes that can’t help but rein in the rhythmic abandon with a more pedestrian approach to songwriting. A reliance on echo all over the vocals wears thin, meaning one that can keep an often-motionless Oxford crowd moving - it’s not yet that the times that it is actually effective - on more rockabilly-like songs such unique enough to mark out Django Django as something beyond a slightly as ‘Life’s A Beach’ - are subsumed into a homogenous overall sound. awkward combination of genres. Despite it being an attractive and, at times, enthralling sound - and certainly Simon Minter

PETER HOOK & THE LIGHT THE HANDSOME FAMILY O2 Academy The Bullingdon Tonight’s gig is billed as ‘A Joy playing kept in reserve for special “Can you make this microphone banjo and miniature acoustic bass, Division Celebration’ and I suppose effect while the hired bass player takes a little brighter please,” asks a picture of sleepy-eyed serenity, no-one deserves the opportunity to lead care of duties. This is not a minor Brett Sparks of the Bully’s sound Brett leads on guitar, his voice either it more than their bass player and now gripe; his approach to playing the bass, engineer, “it’s a little bit dark.” With an oddly adenoidal drawl or a bold ex-member of New Order, Peter Hook. part rhythm, part lead, is absolutely perfect comic timing and a look baritone, an avuncular fi gure with My own connection with the band unique and peerless; only Lemmy of almost childlike glee, his wife an occasional look that suggests goes back to October 1979 and a has achieved something similar. As Rennie adds, “I’d like a kitten.” he’d kill you and skin you as soon wander round town with their singer no effort is made to replicate the Maybe you had to be there, but as buy you a beer. Once in a while Ian Curtis, trying to get his guitar album’s unusual treated drum sounds such an exchange is a big part of that baritone is overdone, to almost strap mended before a gig at the New the gig starts to take on the air of what makes The Handsome Family comic effect, and the band lose their Theatre. He was polite and shy, and a post-punk cabaret performance, such a wonderfully engaging and edge, wallowing in that whimsy, nothing like the brooding, intense everyone watching his hands to see inclusive experience. The couple or drifting into lackadaisical fi gure of legend. when he’s going to let loose some of (augmented by a discreet drummer) country-rock. But then they’ll up Back in the present a resurgent New the old magic. It also becomes clear constantly trade gently barbed the mood – an almost honky tonk Order are spending the summer that he’s not a born singer, and seems blows, Brett playing the perennially number about an octopus, or an headlining festivals, and recently to be missing more notes than he hits, bemused teddy bear to Rennie’s oblique story about an Illinois giant played two sold out nights at the fl uffi ng the odd line despite cue sheets. genially catty wit. (“I showed him and a window-smashing widow. Brixton Academy where they seemed It’s almost a relief to get ‘Unknown the internet once,” she chirps at one Tonight’s highlight though, is `My relaxed and actually enjoying Pleasures’ over and interest picks up point, “he didn’t sleep all night”). Sister’s Tiny Hands’, from their themselves, a world away from the with three songs off ‘Closer’ played But when they get down to playing 1998 masterpiece `Through The bad-tempered gigs before the fi nal with increasing vigour and focus. their songs, the mood shifts into far Trees’, a soul-scouring story of a split with Hooky in ’06. ‘Twenty Four Hours’ sounds great darker territory. man haunted by the death of his Tonight he greets a half-full Academy and ‘Isolation’ remains a tantalising Set opener `Weightless Again’ is twin sister from a snake bite, driven with a competent four-piece band and glimpse of where Joy Division were beautiful, sad and surreal, moving to drink and fi nally madness, who a well-constructed ninety-minute set. heading before Curtis’ suicide threw from a coffee stop at a backwoods eventually sets light to the forest Where once he would cajole and wind the band into a forced reinvention. diner through lost Indian tribes to a that reminds him of the happy up the audience he now thanks us with The predictable fi nale of singles does woozy meditation on love and death. childhood days he spent with her. uncharacteristic humility. First come more to rescue what was threatening Further in, `The Bottomless Hole’ Brett sings it with such understated early numbers like ‘Leaders Of Men’ to become a disaster: ‘Love Will Tear is more whimsical but similarly emotion it’s a particularly hard and ‘Digital’ before they tackle the Us Apart’ is a particular triumph and bleak and existential, the story of hearted person who isn’t left whole of ‘Unknown Pleasures’. But the only point when he beats New a man who discovers a seemingly struggling with a lump in their something so obvious is amiss that Order’s version hands down. There’s bottomless hole in his backyard into throat. it takes a while to register; he’s not no real prospect of this gig failing to which he tips his rubbish for years Comedy and tragedy then, uneasy actually playing his bass. The shiny disappoint though; these songs are until he’s overcome with a desire twins themselves, but two themes red Gibson SG familiar to any New too good to leave untouched and we to enter the hole himself. The story that weave themselves through The Order fan hangs around his neck but ought to admire Hooky’s gall in even leaves him hanging, literally, an Handsome Family’s set tonight, to it’s only during ‘Insight’, nine songs attempting it. But, though it hurts me unresolved ending that typifi es the create something that is, like the in, that he starts to actually engage to say it, the memory of Joy Division’s mystery of The Handsome Family’s subject of so many of their songs, with it. Most of the gig is spent with music deserves a bit better than this. best songs. quite magical. his right arm punching the air, his Art Lagun As Rennie switches between Dale Kattack DAVID THOMAS BROUGHTON/ JONQUIL / BLEEDING HEART RM HUBBERT NARRATIVE The Jericho Tavern O2 Academy RM Hubbert is a beautifully rape alarm in his mouth as he puts Due to my excitement, I gallop an audience, every single one of us understated and weighty soul, who, the scratching of his beard as another up the stairs that take me to the is nonetheless hooked right until the with his idiosyncratic acoustic guitar, found sound layer on his loop delay, Academy’s upstairs venue. I enter the last. has been collaborating with the or wanders off and on stage, setting up room and bang! something hits me. While their support opted for a deep, cream of Scottish indie talent in his antiquated electronic gadgets during The venue is virtually empty. heavy, atmospheric sound, headliners home town of Glasgow, since 1993. `Onward We Trudge’ and fi nger Thankfully it appears someone Jonquil are quite the opposite. Their These days he’s exploring music squeaking the cellophane wrapping on forget to tell openers Bleeding Heart distinctive light, poppy brand of as a way of reacquainting himself his rider of six spring water bottles Narrative; the London six-piece open rock could not be more appropriate, with these old friends, as well as to augment the ocean swell rhythm proceedings tonight as if they were given that the earlier afternoon was a working out his long-term mental of `The Weight Of Your Love’. playing to thousands in an arena, real scorcher (no surprises that lead issues. So we get superbly executed, Ultimately, all this yawning, such is the evident confi dence in their singer Hugo Manuel is gallivanting and anecdoted, classical and Spanish- affecting ennui and inserting a stream slightly experimental material. They around the stage in shorts). tinged instrumentals inspired by his of consciousness in place of his very quickly make up for the lack of Whether it’s because we’ve all failed marriage ‘For Maria’, the loss lyrics could quickly become irritating, attendance with noise. Lots and lots fi nally got good reason to wear shorts of his beloved father-in-law ‘For but on this one evening it’s coalesced of noise. ourselves or whether it’s because Joe’, and documenting his dealings magnifi cently by Oxford’s own sonic In no time at all the band have Jonquil’s tunes are ingrained with with his 20 years of depression, all wizard Seb Reynolds, who sits stage assigned three of their six to optimism (you would think covering without feeling sorry for himself, left of DTB and counterpoints and drumming duties and chaos a band as gloomy as causing us in turn to refl ect on our envelopes all this eccentricity in a unsurprisingly ensues. But this is The xx would dampen the spirit own passing years. stunningly adroit cocoon of spaciness, constructed chaos and is utterly somewhat, wouldn’t you?) is beside He’s at his best though, when he using nothing much more than his enthralling to witness. As if to prove the point; the fact of the matter covers Aiden Moffet’s `Cars’, and if iPhone and a Thumbjam App. they are not only merchants of noise, is Jonquil sound great. While Mr RM could add his own poetic musings This digital and analogue the band throw a few more intimate Manuel reaches notes that surely to his guitar work in the same spoken freeform circus is of course, numbers into the mix – one revolves only he can reach, the one-man brass way, it would make his set bloom compelling and a joy to watch, yet entirely around a menacing sounding section occasionally fl its in and out and be quite something. frustrating when it comes to thinking cello, whilst another employs perfectly, making their sound that Talking of quite something, Otley’s of buying EPs and albums. I look intricate fi ngerwork to recreate more richer. David Thomas Broughton is about as forward to the coming day when a sound not far off that which is As they fi nish with ‘Mexico’, a much of a one-off as you are going every gig we go to is fi lmed and prominent on fellow math-rockers song which the audience rightly sees to get on this island. I’m talking Viv recorded, and is instantly available Foals’ ‘Total Life Forever’. As as perfect to have a bop around to, Stanshall one off. Think Noel Coward to plug in and buy at the door as a their set comes to a close, it speaks it’s like we’re at a fi esta all of our on lithium, or Jake Thackery with downloadable fi le. volumes about BHN that although own. dementia, sitting a fl ashing, screeling, Paul Carrera there might not have been much of Nick Beaver JULY Mondays THE HAVEN CLUB The best international and local blues acts 9th LAUNCH PARTY with CHANTEL McGREGOR 30th KING B / THE SHAPES

Every Tuesday THE OXFORD JAZZ CLUB Free live jazz plus DJs playing r’n’b, funk and soul until 2am 3rd / 17th / 31st NEW JAZZ COLLECTIVE 10th ALVIN ROY & REEDS UNLIMITED 24th THE HUGH TURNER BAND

Wednesdays 11th DENNY ILETT Snr – Jazz night. 18th IN ZANADU / PIONEER GIGIANT

Thursdays It’s All About The Music Presents 4th ASTEROX th 12 NUCLEAR SKYLINE / BEAVER FUEL / MASIRO 19th DEAD GIRL PARK / THE WRECK SCENE th 26th MOOGIEMAN / LEWIS NEWCOMBE-JONES –acoustic Friday 6 July night.

Every Friday RIGHT HOOKS + CREEPY UNCLE 8pm/£5 th FUNKY FRIDAY Saturday 7 July Funk, soul, boogie and R&B. 11pm-2.30am; £3.

DARKSHAFT + LU BU 8pm/£6 Friday early shows th Friday 13 July 13th EVE SELIS 20th X-1 / COCAINE COWBOYS 27th SWINDLESTOCK / AGS CONNOLLY TOLIESEL 8pm/£5 th Saturdays Monday 16 July 7th OLD SKOOL HOUSE & DRUM’N’BASS. 10-3am 14th ALAJANDRO ESCOVEDO st NO CONSEQUENCE + MUTAGENOCIDE + AETHARA 7:45pm/£5 21 80S BACK TO SCHOOL – 10.30-3am: £3 / £2 with school th uniform Friday 20 July 28th BRUTAL PUNISHMENT FEST 2012 FEATURING BASEMENT TORTURE KILLINGS / TODAY THE SUN DIES / MERCILESS PRECISION / NECROTISE GREEN CHILDREN OF WOLFPIT + REEDS 8pm/£5 Friday 27th July / ZAOS / A TRUST UNCLEAN / AETHARA / STRIKE OFFENSIVE / MADE TO WASTE / BLOOD LOSS. 8pm/£5 2pm- 3am; £10adv th Saturday 28 June Sundays th 15 DAWES TURNPIKE GLOW + BETHANY WEIMERS 8pm/£4.50

Join us on Facebook: Backroom @ The Bully The Wheatsheaf, 129 High Street, Oxford, OX1 4DF [email protected] INTRODUCING.... NightshiŌ ’s monthly guide to the best local music bubbling under Komrad

Who are they? Technical/progressive hardcore outfi t Komrad were originally formed by Jimmy ‘Evil’ Hetherington and Rex Diablo under the name Eduard SoundingBlock after the demise of Suitable Case For Treatment, with the idea of “creating something musically different and unfeasibly heavy”. The pair were joined by James ‘Mouth’ Green, formerly of Underbelly and Mindsurfer, on vocals, Lance on drums, Jimmy ‘Disco’ on keys and Disasterrus on guitar. Over the course of the next couple of years they were joined by Dave ‘Spanish’ on bass and James ‘Happy Jumper’ on drums. They have played regularly in Oxford and London, released an eponymous EP, and this month release their debut album, `March Of The Robot Men’. What do they sound like? Their favourite other Oxfordshire act is: On the one hand, raw, explosive and aggressive, on the other, convoluted, “We had a few shows early on with the mighty Undersmile and have really technically adept and contrary, fusing hardcore and extreme metal’s ferocity enjoyed watching them destroy gigs since then.” with odd time signatures, post-rock ideas and full-on prog-rock expansiveness If they could only keep one album in the world, it would be: to create a hellish old racket that’s equally visceral and cerebral. “If Jimmy’s “The soundtrack to Clockwork Orange, brings any occasion or get together to amp went up to 11, he’d fi nd a way to get it up to 12,” they say. life. It also makes for some great gig intro music.” What inspires them? When is their next gig and what can newcomers expect? “Music, in all its divergent shapes and forms. With Jimmy’s ‘odd’ sense of “The Wheatsheaf on August 4th and the O2 Academy on September timing and the differing infl uences of the band members it’s enjoyable to write 29th. Newcomers will be warmly welcomed and are advised to bring ear plugs. songs that are all so different and yet retain a certain ‘Komradness’ about them.” James will also probably buy them a Jagerbomb.” Career highlight so far: Their favourite and least favourite things about Oxford music are: “Playing Charlbury festival last summer and unleashing our brand of “Favourite thing has to be the diversity of the Oxford music scene. Every weirdness on an unsuspecting daytime audience.” type of music is represented and it’s a veritable melting pot of sound. Least And the lowlight: Favourite would be the decline in attendance numbers at gigs but to be honest “In the early days of Eduard SoundingBlock we played a small warehouse this has seen a noticeable improvement recently.” party in Tottenham. We turned up to fi nd out we would be on after some You might love them if you love: dubstep DJs at around 2am. We started our show in front of 200 people but Dillinger Escape Plan; King Crimson; Big Black; Mr Bungle; Killing Joke. within the fi rst song had whittled that down to approximately fi ve. We learnt Hear the here: the importance of choosing the right gigs to play that night.” www.facebook.com/komradband

THIS MONTH IN OXFORD ALL OUR YESTERDAYS MUSIC HISTORY 20 YEARS AGO 10 YEARS AGO 5 YEARS AGO Sevenchurch glowered moodily out from the front Psychid were the featured band in Nightshift’s A Silent Film were caught mid-leap on the cover cover of July 1992’s issue of Curfew Magazine, July 2002 issue. The band, who had supported of July 2007’s Nightshift. They’d just played but then what else would you expect from a band Radiohead in South Park the previous summer Glastonbury, handpicked by Emily Eavis and Radio whose only album, `Bleak Insight’, was hailed by under their old name Hester Thrale had just fi nished 1’s Steve Lamacq, and were set to perform at Truck Terrorizer Magazine as the third greatest doom- recording their debut album, `They Come Out At Festival a year on from their set there being curtailed metal album of all time? Back then the quintet, Night’, with Chris Hughes (Merrick out of Adam & by a biblical downpour. ASF had recently signed to fronted by Martin Spear, now of Agness Pike, were The Ants), were signed to db Records and looking Xtra Mile Records and chose to launch their debut being raved about in Metal Hammer and Metal set for bigger things. “Beck’s girlfriend gave us a EP at the Ultimate Picture Palace. Forces for their debut demo, while being pursued by macrobiotic carrot!” they enthused, referring to their Set to join ASF at Truck were Idlewild, The Brian a dozen or so record labels (they eventually signed backstage adventures at the South Park show. They Jonestown Massacre, Glenn Tilbrook and Hot to Noise International). “I just want to make music were less positive about Oxford University, where Club De Paris; little did we know the deluge that that’s as extreme as possible,” stated guitarist and they were all studying: “The music scene there would put paid to the event, fl ooding the Steventon chief songwriter Dave Smart. And he did. “Since is very competitive – only the very fastest rugby site as well as much of the rest of Oxfordshire, Martin joined, we seem to appeal to more weirdoes,” players are permitted to do karaoke versions of and almost putting paid to Truck for good. In true he added. Martin, meanwhile, sang the praises of `Hotel California’ in the college bars, before making blitz spirit the organisers (whose family house was Morrissey, Howard Devoto and Scott Walker. women drink their piss.” also fl ooded) relocated as many of the main acts as Violinist Ed Alleyne-Johnson was also In local music news Seafood, The Handsome possible to Brookes University Union for two nights interviewed, talking about the freedom of Family and McLusky were added to the bill for of undercover fun with collection buckets passed abandoning the rules of classical music, as well as Truck Festival; local rockers Vade Mecum returned round to try and ease the fi nancial pain, while Frank being recruited by New Model Army. from their Stateside exile to play a hometown show Turner played an impromptu benefi t show at the Elsewhere this month, Gaz Coombes and Danny at the Zodiac. A typically quiet July gig guide was Port Mahon. Goffey’s fi rst band The Jennifers released their debut headed by Truck Festival, while Bad Manners, The Cornbury Festival fared rather better with Blondie, EP, `Just Got Back Today’ on Nude Records, while Tender Trap, The Icarus Line and Rival Schools David Gray, Suzanne Vega, Echo & The Oxford scene godfathers Heavenly released their were all in town. Local names gigging in town Bunnymen and Seth Lakeman all performing. album `Le Jardin de Heavenly’ on Sarah Records. included Winnebago Deal, JOR, Sexy Breakfast, Nightshift’s reporter on site was slightly perturbed Coming to town this month were a sprightly young The Half Rabbits and Headcount. to fi nd himself standing next to an as-yet not prime psychedelic indie band called Verve, yet to add a Halfmoon & Pig were Demo Of The Month, a minister David Cameron for the Bunnymen’s set and The to their name. Local bands treading the boards lesson for all musicians that “you can rehearse noted that he was actually dancing, albeit badly. included Fuzzgun, The Human Torches, Squid, as much as you like, but if you haven’t got the A new young band in town Little Fish made Grey Lady Down and Bosley, while over in the imagination or hint of madness you’ll never produce themselves known with their Demo Of The demo pages Death By Crimpers topped the pile: anything as much fun as this.” At the other end, Month debut (“a full-blooded balancing act “the sound of thunder and lightning and even a Jamie Lawson “exists in a world where David Gray between garage-rock aggression and meticulously- rainbow to cheer us up when the storm is over”. is prime minister and king of the known universe.” constructed melody”). DEMOSDemo of the Month wins a free half day at Sponsored by Silver Street Studios in Reading, courtesy of Trojan Horse Recordings. Visit www. trojanhorserecordings.co.uk

a little in the overlong, recorded live `All DEMO OF At Sea’, which feels hazy and disjointed, rambling and lacking the clarity of the other songs. Never mind, it’s mostly lovely THE MONTH stuff and we look forward to catching them love sometime soon and maybe working LEFT OF MANILA out which one’s which. Jess And Ness: Even if summer has decided to stay in the they’re a bit like Jedward, except not shit. pub for the duration, we can still dream we’re sitting in a sundrenched beach-front bar in Ibiza while gazing at the small EMPTY WHITE river fl owing down what was once our street. And so Left Of Manila feel like an CIRCLES One-song demos can go one of two ways: appropriate soundtrack to such reveries, either leaving you wanting to hear more, super-chilled dreampop and ambient but worrying the band in question has no electro of a seductively melodic vintage. more to offer, or thanking the Lord above `At Your Side’ seems to go nowhere in that the musical torture is over so soon. particular and with precious little haste, Empty White Circles, thankfully, fall but it looks very pretty while it’s about into the former camp, but this is merely a it – like a baby koala sipping a cocktail up snapshot of the band, giving us barely a a eucalyptus tree – recalling some of Brian chance to make our minds up fully as to Eno’s studio dabbling with Robert Fripp, their potential merits. `Adventures’ falls or Orbital’s most spaced-out trips. `Asleep neatly into the post-Stornoway school of In Stone’ is hypnotic and somnambulant, local bands, all hushed harmonies and a spacey and spacious, the distorted, clacking more modern electronic take on classic electro beats discreet enough for the folk music, not far from King Creosote and drifting electronics to breathe, echoes of John Hopkins’ last album. It’s a pleasant, Boards of Canada beneath the singer’s well executed reverie, but whether this is frankly gorgeous voice. Onward they roam, all they can do, we’ll have to wait to fi nd no reason to hurry; you’re under their spell out. and, like fi nding yourself in the land of the lotus eaters, it’s all too easy to stretch out, cast out all thoughts and simply while the THE TROPHY rest of your life away. Oh dear, it’s started to rain again. Never mind. Wake us up CABINET when tea’s ready. The Trophy Cabinet’s demo comes steeped in the sounds of classic 1980s indie. Which turns out to be no surprise since the band originally formed at Uni back in the late- JESS AND NESS 80s before taking a 20-year hiatus and Folk music of an almost timeless variety reforming last year. Fans of Aztec Camera, from the local female vocal duo, relying Lloyd Cole and particularly The House Of musically on nothing more than sparse Love will happily discover that they’re not piano, acoustic guitar and accordion the only people for whom the unsullied backing to allow their voices to take centre spirit of jangly guitar pop music lives stage. They do this best when they work on. `Great Escape’ is almost stately in its together. On `Shelter’ Jess – or maybe approach, while `Rant & Rave’ is anything Ness – plays lead, a hushed, lispy presence but – in fact it’s positively coy, like the over the minimalist backing, before Ness musical equivalent of a shy lad at a party – or maybe Jess; we guess such details are gazing at a pretty girl from the safety of unimportant at this stage – joins her, the another room. `Trust’ is a gentle, romantic two weaving closely around each other lilt, but the band fi nds its confi dence to take the song to another level, much growing with `No Vote’, the vocalist like The Unthanks, or even This Mortal verging on hysteria in the mould of James’ Coil contributors Deirdrie and Louise Tim Booth at its peak and really, if you Rutkowski. The leaning towards traditional unearthed this on an old 7” vinyl with the northern English folk tradition continues Postcard label stamped on it, you wouldn’t on the accordion-led `Heimweih’, Jess (or be surprised or disappointed. Ness – sorry, stick with us, we’re new to all this) possessed of a wonderfully pure voice that you feel could carry the piece a NEURAL GROOVE cappella if it wished. `Blankets’ is bolder Neural Groove inform us this demo is and more abrasive but still a warm, sweet entitled `The Embryonic Disc’, which is shanty, but the pair maybe lose their way apparently an embryology reference and potentially a joke, though our meagre play regularly at the Jambox nights in brains had already melted into a greyish Bicester and Banbury so we’ll let them in puddle at the mere mention of a word like this time. And like good fi rst time visitors embryology. Something to do with the they’re awfully polite. Too polite for the new Alien fi lm, right? See what a month sort of metalcore they’re pedalling. It’s like of watching Euro 2012 has done to us? We they read the rulebook and promised not to used to read books, goddamit. Anyway, deviate from it at any point, or use any bad here the duo run the gamut from growly language or leave a mess on the furniture. club-friendly dubstep and soulful house There are sheet metal guitars on tracks like (`Morphine’) to lighter piano-led Italian- `The Depths’ but the beat is pedestrian, the fl avoured house, all twinkly piano and vocals sounding almost tutored into the sultry vocals (`Mercury’). In between they ways of the genre. Even the breakdown get down and dark with a cover of Fever comes exactly where and when you’re Ray’s `Triangle Walks’, perhaps revealing expecting it. It’s decent stuff but formulaic their true musical love. They’re best at and overlong. `A Great Many Of Things’ the darker, heavier stuff, the lighter touch (eh?) bustles in with a sizeable fl ourish but doesn’t suit them, lacking either dancefl oor quickly sinks into gruffl y generic chugging. oomph or suffi cient chill factor, and with `Flies’ beefs things up for a while but by apparent infl uences from Royksopp, the time they get to `Previously Unknown’ Basement Jaxx and Lady Gaga running they’ve gone all nasally and half-arsed and through the demo as well as a keen ear sound like any one of a zillion Lostprophets for production, maybe they’ll even get to tribute bands. Lads, you’re welcome back ditch those wordy learnin’ books and get any time, but remember: we have very high themselves a few club smashes. Before standards in this house, so next time at least giving it all up to present BBC programmes try and vomit on the carpet, eh? For now, about the history of the universe or not so much Burgundy as beige. something, like Brian Cox. SONUS TTHEHE DDEMOEMO Sometimes we get a demo that we sit and play over and over again and still TURAN AUDIO.co.uk can’t think of anything to write about. DDUMPERUMPER Professional, independent CD mastering And then we realise there maybe isn’t anything to write about in the fi rst place. THE SPITEFULS Artists mastered in the studio last month include; Didcot’s Sonus seem to be a case in point. One song into this demo The Spitefuls ELLIE JAMISON, DAVID CASSIDY, THE CRAMATICS, SUNIL, Initially they sound like the sort of vaguely are looking like contenders for Demo Of BAUER, DIABLO SWING ORCHESTRA, PEERLESS PIRATES, contemporary Californian punk-pop band The Month – opener `Depot’ is a yobbish RUSSELL SWALLOW AND THE WOLF, THE BOYS, ANNA MARIA LA SPINA, GREEN DAY, RAMONES, NIRVANA, FELLA, that seemed to sprout like an unstoppable tale of some crazed psycho chopping up bodies in the depot where he works, THE URBAN DOGS, PHIL MCMINN, BOB DYLAN, RY COODER, fungus on labels like Victory a few years TOM WAITS, THE ALLMAN BROTHERS, SAM SEMPLE, THE cranked out in the style of The Ramones, back, one eye on an old Husker Du album WALK UPRIGHTS, MUNGO JERRY, BUMPSHKIN, JUST AN for a bit of credibility, the other on a multi- Johnny Thunders and Aussie punks The ILLUSION, WINTERFYLLETH. million dollar merchandising deal. It’s Saints. The singer is called Andi Social, the bassist Tommy Ignorant. It’s like 1977 reasonable if slightly bland stuff, but once 01865 716466 [email protected] they try and get a bit more considered they all over again. 15 tracks later they’re stuck lose even that meagre element of vim and in the dumper. How did that happen? Well vigour, along with much semblance of there’s a clue in the track count. Instead of THE COURTYARD STUDIO character, attitude or anything resembling a short, sharp shock and awe assault, they end up trundling through two-chord chug a tune. The longer they go on the more it PROTOOLS HD2, MTA 980 CONSOLE 32/24/24, feels like they want to be a rock band but and bluster with decreasing energy levels, OTARI MTR90 MK2 24 TRACK TAPE MACHINE, are scared to play anything too hard or their decidedly un-PC sense of humour fast lest they wake up their parents in the reaping diminishing returns with each 2 TRACKING ROOMS, SUPERB CONTROL ROOM next room. Sure there’s the odd elongated pastiche of punk (they doctor everything WITH GOOD SELECTION OF MICS & OUTBOARD guitar solo and a fair bit of bluster, even from `All My Loving’ to `Roadrunner and GEAR + MIDI FACILITIES (Inc LOGIC AUDIO, AKAI the occasional hint of a decent hook, but `Should I Stay Or Should I Go’, usually S1000, OLD SKOOL ROLAND etc.) mostly they just chug along with scant involving lyrics about anal sex). The fi rst conviction, you forget it even exists even of those provokes guilty grins; by the Residential facilities included. as you’re listening to it and... sorry, what’s time we get to the last, we’re sat head in www.courtyardrecordings.com that you say? More rain? I think we’ve had hands, wondering whatever happened to PHONE PIPPA FOR DETAILS on 01235 845800 quite enough wet, grey nothingness for The Macc Lads. Soon we’re simply fast now, thanks. forwarding through tracks hoping for a glimpse of that initial air of ham-fi sted fun, to no avail. Seems The Spitefuls forgot BURGUNDY the golden rule of punk: it can revolt, This month’s obligatory metal demo. revolutionise, thrill or terrify. But it should Burgundy aren’t actually local but they never, ever be boring.

Send demos for review to: Nightshift, PO Box 312, Kidlington, OX5 1ZU, or email links to [email protected], clearly marked Demos. IMPORTANT: no review without a contact address and phone number; no more than four tracks on a demo please. If you can’t handle criticism, please don’t send us your demo.