[email protected] @NightshiftMag NightshiftMag nightshiftmag.co.uk Free every month NIGHTSHIFT Issue 258 January Oxford’s Music Magazine 2017 “Making music and writing songs is the best way to deal with your anger and your sadness; it’s the best catharsis” photo by Ian Wallman

coldredlight A darker kind of blues with Oxford’s red hot duo Also in this issue: Introducing LOUD MOUNTAINS plus All your Oxford music news, reviews and previews, and three pages of local gigs for January. NIGHTSHIFT: PO Box 312, Kidlington, OX5 1ZU. Phone: 01865 372255 NEWS Nightshift: PO Box 312, Kidlington, OX5 1ZU Phone: 01865 372255 email: [email protected] Online: nightshiftmag.co.uk

week should be Independent Venue Week.

GAPPY TOOTH INDUSTRIES is adding an album length mix to Mixcloud each month, in the run up to the monthly live music club’s 15th anniversary in May. KRAFTWERK play their first Each mix will feature tracks Oxford show in 36 years when by acts that have performed they come to The New Theatre on over GTI’s long history. Have the 6th June – the same venue the a listen at www.mixcloud.com/ rd German electronic music legends gappytoothindustries, where the 3 performed at in 1981. Tickets for mix has just gone up. the show went on sale at midday Meanwhile GTI are on the lookout on the 9th December with almost all for local acts to play their shows. of them snapped up within an hour. Visit them at www.gappytooth.com, The Düsseldorf synth pioneers, still or email [email protected]. helmed by founder Ralf Hütter, are performing a 3-D show, described PMT is on the move. After twenty as a “Gesamtkunstwerk – a total years in the same location at the BRYAN ADAMS will headline the final ever Cornbury Festival. The work of art.” And yes, we are very heart of Cowley Road the music Canadian rocker will top the bill on the Saturday of the event, which excited. store is moving up the road to a runs over the weekend of the 7th-9th July at Great Tew Park. bigger site where Morrison’s was Organiser Hugh Phillimore announced this year’s Cornbury, the 14th INDEPENDENT VENUE previously situated. The move will annual music gathering, would be the last, having played host to the WEEK returns this month, take place in February with the likes of Bryan Ferry, Amy Winehouse, Blondie, Robert Plant and Paul with a host of gigs set to take new store almost five times the Simon over the years. Tickets for the Fabulous Finale are on sale now place across the UK to mark the size of the existing shop, which has at www.cornburyfestival.com annual celebration of small indie long been Oxford’s leading musical venues from the 23rd-29th January. instrument outlet. Charlatans singer Tim Burgess has been named as this year’s NIGHTSHIFT CONTRIBUTOR AS EVER, don’t forget to tune AND FINALLY: a very special IVW ambassador, following in the RUSS BARKER has a new fanzine into BBC Oxford Introducing bon voyage to Nightshift scribe footstepts of Colin Greenwood out, dedicated to 1980s alternative every Saturday night between Ben Woolhead who is moving to and Frank Turner, among others. music. Russ describes the zine, 8-9pm on 95.2fm. The dedicated Cardiff with his family this month. Lunchtime For The Wild Youth, The Cellar and The Bullingdon local music show plays the best Ben’s first review was of Emma as “a fanzine about the music you are the Oxford venues taking part Oxford releases and demos as Pollock at the Jericho Tavern in leave behind with your youth. The with The Cellar hosting Hudson well as featuring interviews and December 2007 and he’s been zine takes a personal look back at Scott, Catgod and Coldredlight sessions with local acts. The show a regular contributor ever since, albums I haven’t played for years on Saturday 28th, and The Bully is available to stream or as well as hosting the excellent and re-assesses them musically, featuring Black Peaks on Tuesday download as a podcast at Sounding Bored podcast with along with personal anecdotes as 24th; Chatham County Line on the bbc.co.uk/oxford. fellow Nightshifter Rob Langham to what the albums remind me of. 25th; Mr Scruff on the 27th and C and Niall Kennedy. We’ll miss As the music was all released in the Duncan on Sunday 29th. OXFORD GIGBOT provides a you, sir. 80s, it seemed fitting to type it up regular local gig listing update on Before the Cellar show on the on a typewriter and cut and paste it 28th, the venue will be hosting Twitter (@oxgigbot), old style. It was then illustrated by bringing a discussion session entitled my daughter Robyn, producing her `The Do’s and Don’ts of Playing you new artistic interpretations of the album gigs as soon Live,’ which will be free and - Newly refurbished control room & spacious 500 sq ft live room sleeves. Featuring acts from The as they open to all bands, promoters and Cult to The Mission and The Soup - State of the art Pro-Tools HDX system gig goers, with a panel featuring go live. Dragons to The Darling Buds, all - Wide range of Analogue gear and huge Microphone selection Chloe Brookes from Arts Council They also 80s life is here.” provide a - Range of services at attractive prices England; Steven Endersby from Lunchtime For The Wild Youth is Wegottickets; promoter Simon free weekly - Isolated location near Oxford (only 10 minutes from M40 Bicester) available for £1 at https://goo.gl/ listings Bailey from Future Perfect, and AASRST, while it will be available - Professional staff with 25 years experience in the industry email. Just Nightshift editor Ronan Munro. for free to everyone attending contact The session runs from 2-4pm at Gappy Tooth Industries’ gig at oxgigbot@ The Cellar. The Wheatsheaf on Saturday 28th datasalon. Here at Nightshift we say every January. com to join. A Quiet Word With in the classic sound of Howlin’ Wolf of stumbled upon when I was 14 or `Little Scorpion in particular channels BBC Introducing and the dedication and BB King but updated and taken 15. Everything about it: his voice, his those dark, insecure, hostile feelings of people that just want to see music to somewhere darker by way of melodies, his lyrics, all of those things into something astounding. that makes it all possible. Living in influences as diverse as Jeff Buckley, made me want to make music. Other GABY: “It was a song that just London all your life you kind of just Alice In Chains and Irish songsmith artists that really affected the way I sort of fell into place and came so don’t get the same thing. In London Hozier, whose `To Be Alone’ they write are bands like A Perfect Circle naturally, and then when we sat down you’re either the biggest band in the have covered. An early Nightshift and Alice In Chains; just the way the and worked on it in the studio we world or you’re no one.” review described the duo as “the songs are composed and the layers were pretty much limitless in terms of Studying Classics at Oxford g sound of Mazzy Starr meeting upon layers of soundscapes they the layers and sounds we could add. University does seem to conjure Ry Cooder at The Crossroads, incorporate really inspires me.” I’m not really sure what people like images of rarefied cloisters far coldredli ht at midnight,” and “creating a CASPER: “My dad has a massive about it so much. Maybe because it removed from the workaday realities wonderfully pensive atmosphere record collection and he was always is unapologetically angry and has a of the world; has it been like that? that suggests something lurking just playing music. And then when I bittersweet venom about it. It came GABY: “Oh dear, I was dreading a beyond the horizon.” started Year Three there was a list about when I felt like the choices I question about my studies. Classics GABY: “`Bloom’ was probably one of instruments you could learn at was making about my life were being is pretty much anything you want of the first songs we wrote together school and I just thought, `oh, I’ll try underestimated. Just because you it to be that involves ancient shit: and it had always been a favourite. drums.’ I remember my mum read are quiet and shy doesn’t mean your literature, philosophy, ancient history photo by Ian Wallman I think that it builds on `Little them out to me and it was the last one. opinion has no value and that you and archaeology etc. I love the Scorpion’ as it’s our first release that I started guitar the year after. My dad are not a powerful human in your literature side of it because it is just kind of establishes our sound as a full and primary school were the main own right. You have power in every storytelling and that’s something that band. It’s layered and incorporates influences; I had really great teachers choice you make. `Little Scorpion’ is is so intrinsic to songwriting. The different soundscapes, but it also has who always encouraged me.” basically me saying, `Hey, if you think Iliad is the oldest piece of Western a simplicity and soulfulness about it.” Gaby realised she could sing from I’m a bitch, it’s probably because I written literature we have, and it was an early age, a natural born talent that am, and that’s okay’.” actually sung and passed down orally Given the pair’s still she’s honed into a potent weapon. through generations before it was tender years – Gaby turned 20 last “It is just something I have always Like many before her eventually written down, so it just month, while Casper is 18 – the done. I think the first time I played Gaby uses music, and lyrics, as a way goes to show how sort of symbiotic sheer talent they display is little in front of an audience was when of channelling thoughts and feelings literature and music is from its very short of staggering, both in Casper’s origins. Why study something that polymath playing (when we say he seemingly has no relevance to the plays guitar and drums at the same “`Little Scorpion’ is basically me saying, present day world? What can I say: time, we mean at the same time – it’s `Hey, if you think I’m a bitch, it’s probably I value the writings of decrepit old quite a sight, though he’s keen to take men in togas more than anyone else things a step further: “I’ve only got because I am, and that’s okay’.” really.” two hands, but I’m working on it…”) Donna Tartt’s classic novel The and Gaby’s stark, beautiful voice, I was about 11 or 12. I had a black that an innate shyness otherwise holds Secret History involves a group stretching from sleepy-eyed croon to acoustic guitar and played a cover in. Moving to Oxford to study at of Classics students who end up banshee howl. of a Demi Lovato song, I shudder to university, how did she, a quiet, shy, murdering one of their classmates. admit. As far as writing goes, I’ve person go about discovering the local Can you sympathise with that? Gaby and Casper met always written, ever since I was a music scene and becoming part of it? GABY: “I think I can empathise while studying at music school kid. I had diaries and would always GABY: “I think when I first moved with homicidal thoughts about one’s “Most of the characters caught sight of the young singer and and it was hot like a fucking sauna. sounds and feels the best on stage. together. (“We are both quite open be writing things down. I’m quite a here I was very much in a bubble classmates, although I have met a are quite awful really. I probably guitarist who formed Coldredlight But it was honestly one of the best Personally I’d love to see what we’d minded people and what made us shy and introverted person, so I think and didn’t know that Oxford had lot of really incredible people too. I have a similar shamelessness and with guitarist and drummer Casper shows I have ever played. When I sound like with a full backing band. click in the first place was liking singing was just a way of expressing any venues, let alone a music scene. would say our songs often include a narcissism to Cersei Lannister, Miles in London in 2015, but that think about it my memory is kind of When we have played with a bass each other’s music and also having the things I couldn’t find the voice to I think it’s great because coming lot of venom, purely because being and I make a lot of bad decisions night was performing solo and fuzzy because I was so pumped with player I feel a lot freer with my quite broad musical influences, so speak aloud.” from London it’s quite hard to find a angry is something that inspires me too,” says Gaby-Elise Monaghan, rapidly winning a small army of adrenaline. Never did I think that a playing and I think that would be the we kind of embrace our different While Coldredlight are a blues band specific music community to settle to write. I feel like making music and when Nightshift asks which Game devotees. scrawny little girl with a guitar and case even more so with more people. ways of doing things and it just of a kind, they exist in a different into, purely because it’s just such writing songs is the best way to deal of Thrones character she thinks she Last month Nightshift writers voted reverb pedal stuffed in a tiny sweaty Having said that, I love playing just works,” says Casper). Both grew universe to the clichéd “old guys a huge city. I struggled a lot in my with your anger and your sadness; would be. “But that being said,” she the band’s debut single, `Little room would get such a positive the two of us and it’s okay to play into music through their parents’ playing Stevie Ray Vaughan riffs” first year at university and having the it’s the best catharsis. Plus angry/sad continues, “I’d like to think I have Scorpion’, the second best local song reaction, but I am eternally grateful different gigs with different line record collections, which still exert a set-up of too many blues acts, and opportunity to play music, and have songs make the best songs.” the same loyalty and compassion as of the year, beaten only by Glass for having that opportunity.” ups because it keeps us interested driving influence. even the new wave of young British people actually appreciate it, is the Davos. He’s my favourite character.” Animals’ world-conquering `Life and doesn’t limit us to certain GABY: “My mum is a big Free blues acts that’s sprung up over the only thing that got me through to be If, as John Lydon said, Itself’, and beating Radiohead’s Since that fateful night, boundaries.” and Bowie fan, so I sort of grew up last few years. Their blues is more honest.” anger is an energy, it’s one that’s Back in May 2016 Gaby’s `Burn the Witch’ into third place. Not we’ve watched Coldredlight myriad “The great thing about recording in listening to 70s music, but I kind of personal, more vulnerable, riddled Have you got to know more local currently carrying Coldredlight along band, Coldredlight, were picked to bad for a first year’s work. times, and the magic shows no sign the studio is adding so many layers `rediscovered’ it when I was about 15 with uncertainty and no little anger. musicians or bands since you started on the crest of an unstoppable wave. play The Punt, Nightshift’s annual of diminishing. and sounds,” adds Gaby, “that’s or 16, alongside the great blues artists CASPER: “The reason I think gigging regularly? Their haunting black sun is rising showcase of the best new music in Even Gaby’s application With Gaby studying in Oxford and when you can get really creative like BB King and Howlin’ Wolf, our music stands out from other GABY: “Yeah, I go to quite a lot of and 2017 is set to be an even more Oxford. Asked to tell us a random to play The Punt, an event she Casper based in London, where with a song and so we are really just which is the reason why I wanted to blues orientated music is that it’s local gigs when I’m in town. Bands successful year for Gaby and Casper, fact about herself for the programme, previously knew nothing about, he’s studying for his A-Levels this experimenting as to how to bring play an ES-335 in the first place. Paul raw and natural, yet articulate and like Little Brother Eli and Slate Hearts who is putting thoughts of university Gaby admitted she could recite The happened by accident. summer, Coldredlight gigs can often that to a live setting. We don’t end Rodgers and Steve Marriott are huge refined at the same time, giving are pretty great, and I especially love after he finishes his A-Levels aside Nights Watch Oath from Game of “I remember coming back from a be solo shows for Gaby; when study up writing a song specifically so influences on me simply because they us a more unique approach to Esther Joy Lane. We’re also really to concentrate on his chosen path in Thrones by heart; it seems fitting for ska gig at the Cellar and finding a commitments allow, they play as that it can be played as a duo; we are just really fucking great singers the style and allowing for more fortunate to be good friends with music. someone studying Classics at the copy of Nightshift, which I had never a duo, with Casper on drums, or write songs the way we want them and masters of vocal melodies. Listen dynamic arrangements and harmonic Kanadia, who are just incredible; they With the promise of more musical university. seen before,” she recalls. “I think guitar, or sometimes both at the same to sound and don’t limit ourselves to any Humble Pie live performance endeavours. I call it Nu Blues.” just sound so huge and their live set is adventures in their sights, what Cameron A.G. was on the cover and time, while they’ve also played as creatively.” and every time it is different. Marriott GABY: “The blues is so raw and so tight. I think if anything watching darkness, if that ominous Nightshift Gaby’s decision to study flicking through I saw an ad for the a three-piece with a bassist. While truly was a master of his craft. natural, it was the first type of singer- other local bands is inspiring in that it review was correct, does lurk beyond in Oxford now seems serendipitous, Punt. I wasn’t really doing much this lends a feeling that Coldredlight The new fruits of this “As clichéd and embarrassing as songwriter music in a way; it was makes me want to get my shit together the horizon? as the local music scene has taken with my life at the time and all I are a band still forming and finding studio work and experimenting will it sounds I think watching a lot of based on experience and experience and actually learn how to play my “Songs that’ll make Lucifer himself to Coldredlight with an enthusiasm wanted to do was play music so I just what works best, it also adds variety be heard later this month with the Disney movies as a kid kind of alone. It wasn’t made for anyone instrument in tune.” crawl out of his cage for a listen.” no one could have foreseen this time thought fuck it, I probably won’t get and unpredictability to shows. Even release of Coldredlight’s new single, inspired me to play music; The Little except for the person playing and I CASPER: “For me it’s the entire Go see Coldredlight; you’ll be in last year. it but let’s at least try. The show itself they aren’t completely sure yet what the atmospheric, slow-burning Mermaid was always my favourite. think we take on a lot of that idea scene that I love. I like the fact that I good company. In fact this time last year few was a complete shock. I had trouble works best. `Bloom’, alongside `Little Scorpion’ I first picked up the electric guitar at when we write. I like the songs we don’t live there but I can sort of dip in beyond a handful of friends had even getting a few of my friends to come “For me it’s all about the sound,” an immediate highlight of their live eight or nine and messed about for a make to be honest and real, kind of and out of it, and even though I don’t Coldredlight launch `Bloom’ b/w heard of Coldredlight; Gaby’s Punt along, let alone an entire room full of explains Casper. “At the moment I set, both songs best displaying Gaby few years but I think what really hit like tearing your heart out of your live in Oxford I feel just as much a `Night’ on the 28th January at The performance, at Turl Street Kitchen, people. By the time I started playing feel like we’re experimenting with and Casper’s dark, emotional take me musically was when I first heard chest and splattering it onto a piece part of the scene as I would do if I did. Cellar as part of Independent Venue was the first time local gig goers had the room was crammed with people different line ups to see which one on post-grunge blues, with its roots `Grace’ by Jeff Buckley, who I kind of paper.” And it is things like Nightshift and Week. Sponsored by RELEASED WANDERING WIRES CATGOD `Departures’ `Ready When You Are’ (Self released) (Self released) If writing about music is indeed like dancing With Neverlnd on hiatus while various about architecture, then Wandering Wires members head off to university, guitarist Robin are well placed to provide an appropriate Christensen-Marriot is taking his nebulous soundtrack to such an abstract concept. band up a notch or two, changing their name This gem of a debut album is a successful from the unwieldy and increasingly irrelevant experiment in the unification of the polar Roberto y Amigos, to Catgod as their earlier ends of the jazz spectrum into a satisfying Latin influences are ditched in favour of a more white light. A corking example of this is the ambient jazz and electronica approach, a mix and opener, `What I Feel’; after a choppy dub match sound continuing Neverlnd’s studiedly rewind intro sets out a stabbing atonal piano eclectic approach to pop. riff and vocal loop foundation; it’s built on by Robin’s chief strength across these eleven tracks insistent Stax trumpet and on up fifty storeys is in calling on a number of different vocalists, with a florid sax solo from Ben Clapin. If High Places’. who either take the lead role or join him in you’re thinking Vincent Herring meets Blue As a counter to all the instrumentals and duets and close harmony pieces. Best of these States meets Paul Bley, then you’ve been going electronica, singer Olivia Williams drips is Morgan Dawe, whose sultry, soulful voice to some cool parties. her sultry Sade-like vocals over two tracks, brings warmth and delicacy to the mournful, This ghostly and clever cross-pollination goes `Boarding Alone’ and `Without You’, as if bluesy jazz of `Been Waiting’, with its rich, on throughout the album; the diverse spectres Thievery Corporation and Tycho had made an sombre horns, and a playfulness to the almost of Miles Davis and Jon Hopkins appear in `Sail’ angelic pact. Stax-y `Gonna Do’. She’s matched though by and `Our Shifting Lives’; the sweet depths Wandering Wires contain some serious young Somerset musician Evie Tarr on the delicate, of avant discord are plumbed in `(Reset) All talent, and calling this collection `Departures’ is jazzy lullaby that is `Blood’. Robin’s own voice Connections’, and if you hanker for a synthetic entirely apt; they soon will be going places. can be variable; his close harmony work with choral earworm, look no further than `To Those Paul Carrera his sister Cat on the album’s twinkling opener `Out on the Town’ works well, although the glitchy electro wanderings of `Edge Cheetah’, WILLIE J HEALEY SPINNER FALL with its wobbly, warped edge of euphoria and mildly disorientating atmosphere, is easily his `Hey, Big Moon’ `Permutations’ strongest solo performance. At times, though, he (National Anthem/Columbia) (Self released) can sound strangulated, like he’s trying too hard As his sold-out show at The Bullingdon just Fronted by former Skydrive and Callous guitarist to force a tune out, as on the funky Afro-pop before Christmas showed, Willie J Healey Tim Darch, and featuring From Light to Sound’s `Down in the Dumps’ and `Home In Your Heart’, has moved well beyond his acoustic singer- Andrew Thompson and Callous drummer which could do with a sense of urgency to match songwriter roots, becoming something of a rock Toby Coates, Spinner Fall have some excellent its bubbling Foals-y indie-funk temperament. showman in the process, at his best a grunged-up noise pedigree. This mini album is made up There’s a tendency to be a bit too eclectic Marc Bolan, with chunky slacker anthems like of recordings going back as far as 2011 and it at times, which we remember from the early `Pipedreams’ in his growing armoury of songs. shows how much the band has moved on in that Roberto demos; the album’s title track, for After a steady succession of singles that time, earlier songs like `Come Up Short’ and instance, has too many unconnected bits going earned him plenty of airplay and saw him draw `Out of Town’ more melodic, less aggressively on, including a completely pointless overwrought comparisons with Kurt Vile and Ariel Pink, he’s hardcore. The former in particular is an urgent, guitar solo, but you can’t accuse the band of gone back to his roots with this new six-song EP, trebly fuzz and frazzle reminiscent of early Wire, lacking ambition as they attempt to cover myriad stripping back to acoustic guitar and bare beats, with a strong melodic vocal lead. Saying that, musical bases while keeping things fresh, and in relying more on his voice in a supremely mellow `Blunt Instrument’ from that same session is a particular Robin’s ability to pick the right singer set that sounds like it’s lying on its back gazing move into more straight-up hardcore, though for the job on so many occasions make Catgod at the stars after a hefty toking session. ironically given its title, lacks power. worthy of exotic new pet band status in your life. `Satellite’ typifies that cool midnight vibe, By 2013’s `By Numbers’ the trio have lurched Dale Kattack Willie’s multi-tracked vocals adding a lysergic more readily into 80s American-style punk, all haze to a country-tinged guitar twang. `Hey Big rolling walls of guitar, sudden squalls, sheet Moon’ sounds like it’s just got out of bed, like metal serration and melodies, such as they are, The Velvet Underground’s `Sunday Morning’ buried in the onward tide, vocals now a hectoring stumbling through its waking moments in need bark. of caffeine and a reminder of what it did last What’s encouraging though is that the best night, while best of the bunch is the sleepy, song here, `Battle of Wills’, is also the most sorrowful love letter `Best Friend’s Sister’ which recent, although recorded back in 2014. The catches Willie’s way with both a simple tune call and response vocals add extra shades and and a lyrical edge that sounds strangely sarcastic you feel a more regular foil to Tim’s lead would even as it’s contemplating unrequited love. give the band a far sharper blade. Which would A brave move perhaps to follow those radio be great, because at a time when we most hits with such an understated EP, but as Willie J need some militant hardcore noise, Spinner Healey here sounds like he’s casting a dreamy Fall are one of very few Oxford acts sounding gaze at the year ahead, it’s a year that looks like they’re ready and willing to man those likely to see his star rise yet higher. barricades. Dale Kattack Ian Chesterton heavyweights Raised By Hypocrites and one- `Live At The Turf Club’. man doom army Repercussions of Yesterday. FRAU DJs present MILKSHAKE: The THURSDAY 19th Cellar – Club night celebrating female voices PATCHWORK: The Cellar – House and in r’n’b, soul and pop from the 90s onwards – techno club night. playing everything from Aaliyah to Whitney Houston, via Grimes, J-Lo, Lauryn Hill and th Sugababes. FRIDAY 20 GIG GUIDE MARGO PRICE: The Bullingdon – GEORGE MONBIOT & EWAN Nashville’s uncrowned queen of heartache ACOUSTIC THURSDAY: Jude the Obscure McLENNAN: The North Wall, Summertown – Journalist and campaigner George Monbiot tours her acclaimed debut `Midwest Farmer’s BLUES JAM: The Catherine Wheel, Sandford Daughter’ – see main preview KING TERRIBLE’S DISCO: The Cellar teams up with musician Ewan McLennan to JANUARY produce a concert/lecture/talk `Breaking the DISCO MA NON TROPPO: The Bullingdon Spell of Loneliness’ based on Monbiot’s article – House, disco, dub, afrobeat and cosmic ACOUSTIC THURSDAY: Jude the Obscure – th FRIDAY 13 about the age of loneliness, with the writer weirdness with DJ Closed Stack, Mallard Weekly unplugged open session. RAYZO + BROWN GLOVE + DESMOND narrating passages and McLennan putting the Hotlines, DJ Mangrove and Virtual DJ. KING TERRIBLE’S DISCO: The Cellar – Indie CHANCER & THE LONG MEMORIES + OLD ideas into song. ECHO4FOUR + MIKE LEE BAND + BAD and rock classics. ERNIE: The Wheatsheaf – Eclectic and unusual BLOOD RECOVERY + MY DIABLO: BLUES JAM: The Catherine Wheel, Sandford – array of musical mavericks tonight with folk, grunge, th The Wheatsheaf – Sabbath-inspired rockers th Open blues jam. blues, shoegaze and country-influenced singer- SATURDAY 14 Echo4four headline, with ex-Mother Corona Friday 20 songwriter Rayzo, alongside gothic/Weimar cabaret SILK ROAD + CRIMSON TUSK + GET groovers My Diablo and super-heavyweight FRIDAY 6th blues from Brown Glove, gutter drinking blues in LOOSE: The Wheatsheaf – Heavyweight rockers Bad Blood Recovery, featuring former THE MARGO PRICE triple bill with heavy rockers Silk Road; beastly KLUB KAKOFANNEY with NEVERLND + THE the vein of Tom Waits from Desmond Chancer, and members of Komrad and Domes of Silence. stoner/sludge riffmeisters Crimson Tusk, and SHAPES + MOON LEOPARD: The Wheatsheaf fractured, lo-fi doom and dirgecore from Old Ernie. SOUL SESSIONS: The Cellar – Classic soul, BAND: The Bullingdon heavy blues rocking from Get Loose. – Klub Kak head into another new year, hosting their LAST RITES + LEST WE FORGET + RAISED funk and disco club night. Just when you think Empty Room Promotions GENERACION SUICIDA + SCRAP BRAIN monthly party with a return to action for eclectic indie BY HYPOCRITES + REPERCUSSIONS OF THE HOWLIN’ TAILDRAGGERS: Red have reached the zenith of bringing cult + COWLEY CHAINSAW: The Library – stars Neverlnd, back in town from university, their YESTERDAY: The Bullingdon – Heavy-duty Hot Blues, Didcot – Classic blues covers. Americana performers to Oxford, they hit Smash Disco kick their 2017 off in suitably mix of electro-pop, dub, funk, blues and glitchy rock goings on at tonight’s Church of the Heavy with another peak. Tonight’s show is a real coup, DIY style with an Oxford debut from south always a treat. Support from 60s-styled r’n’b and New Blues-metallers Last Rites back in action alongside st with Nashville songstress Margo Price and her Los Angeles Latino street punks Generacion SATURDAY 21 wave crew The Shapes, inspired by Van Morrison and metalcore merchants Lest We Forget, Witney band over in the UK to tour her debut album Suicida, whose urgent, melodic style recalls BOSSAPHONIK with K.O.G. & THE Tom Petty as well as The Beautiful South and Elvis `Midwest Farmer’s Daughter’, whose title is The Ramones and Killed By Death. They’re ZONGO BRIGADE: The Bullingdon – Latin Costello. a succinct summary of its autobiographical th joined by lo-fi riot grrl acolytes Scrap Brain, and dancefloor, Balkan beats, world grooves and BOSSAPHONIK: The Cellar – Dancefloor Latin, Wednesday 25 content. And what an autobiography – from delinquent puke-punkers Cowley Chainsaw. nu-jazz club night, hosted by DJ Dan Ofer and Afrobeat, global grooves, Balkan beats and nu-jazz family bankruptcy to the death, due to a heart ORGANISED FUN with MOXIE: The tonight featuring a live set from acclaimed club night with host Dan Ofer joined by Kwassa BLUE AEROPLANES: ailment, of her firstborn son and onto alcoholism Bullingdon – Dance club night with Kiss FM Ghanaian-via-Sheffield nine-piece ensemble Kwassa’s DJ Si on the decks. and a weekend spent in jail – Price’s life and Rinse DJ Moxie playing her trademark mix K.O.G. & the Zongo Brigade with their SPARKY’S SPONTANEOUS SHOWCASE & The Cellar would have finished lesser people, but as she of house, techno, disco and garage. energetic, horn-led fusion of Ghanaian hi-life, SPOTLIGHT JAM: James Street Tavern – Open Bristol’s Blue Aeroplanes are pretty much says herself, after hitting the absolute low, she the living embodiment of artful indie music. MAD FLEMENCO + PAPA NUI + hip hop, reggae and jazz. mic and jam night. GUTLOCKER + K-LACURA + emerged with greater focus than ever. Having Having been a going concern since 1981, the CORNWALLIS GOODTIME BAND: BLOODSHOT + VIOLENCE IS GOLDEN: moved from her native Illinois to Nashville, she band, helmed since their inception by singer/ Florence Park Community Centre – Benefit th The Wheatsheaf – Heavyweight charity formed a band with bassist and later husband SATURDAY 7 poet Gerard Langley and his drummer brother gig for next summer’s FloFest in Florence Park, fundraiser in aid of the Aboliçao Trust, helping Jeremy Ivey and they released three albums RATS EAT RATS + WOLFS + SOCIAL John, began life playing the King Street with live flamenco, funk-pop and high-energy young people in the poorest parts of the world, before her career revitalised and her solo debut DISCHARGE + COMPULSORY PRIMAL Art Gallery in their hometown, and have covers. RESPONSE: The Wheatsheaf – Quadruple bill of with a headline set from Woking’s groove/ emerged – Price financing the recordings by maintained an air of arty intellectualism over THE MIGHTY CADILLACS: The Old grunge and punk, including the excellently monikered sludge crew Gutlocker, plus Didcot’s ferocious pawning her wedding ring. Shunned by the the course of some 30 albums – including Anchor, Abingdon – Blues and rock’n’roll. Rats Eat Rats, and garage-pop duo Wolfs. thrash merchants K-Lacura, Witney’s groove Nashville country music establishment, despite various compilations and live albums that are FREERANGE: The Cellar – Underground grime, metallers Bloodshot and metal and southern the commercial and critical success of the album the result of a nomadic career that has found th UK garage and bassline club night. SUNDAY 15 rock starlets Violence is Golden. – released on Jack White’s Third Man label them signed to EMI and Chrysalis as well as MARK SOLLIS + DAWN RAISERS + THE MUDSLIDE MORRIS & THE REVELATORS: BARRY STEEL & FRIENDS: The New – Price has won fans well beyond traditional Fire and Beggar’s Banquet, among others. FIREGAZERS + LES CLOCHARDS: The The Brewery Tap, Abingdon – Rocking slide and Theatre – Big stage tribute to Roy Orbison. country circles, despite existing firmly in the Wheatsheaf (3.30-7pm) – Free afternoon of live harp-driven blues and boogie in the vein of Rory Such leaning have found them invited to OXFORD SOUL TRAIN: O2 Academy lineage of Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton; her music in the downstairs bar. Gallagher, RL Burnside and Jimi Hendrix. perform at the Hay on Wye Literary Festival, – Classic soul, funk, disco and Motown tune tales of sorrow are universal: good time songs PETE FRYER BAND: The Cricketers, Cowley although in case you’re worried they’re a across two rooms at the quarterly extravaganza. about bad times, and she’s one of the very bunch of bookish fops, they also managed MONDAY 16th MOVE: The Cellar – Bassline, house and brightest stars to come out of American roots to get themselves banned from the Rainbow SUNDAY 8th OPEN MIC SESSION: The Royal Blenheim garage club night. music in recent times. So make the most of her Lounge – Lemmy’s favourite hangout. Their RADIO DAYS BIG BAND: The BLOODSTOCK – MUSIC TO THE MASSES: company in such intimate surroundings. career highlight came in 1990 with the release th Cornerstone, Didcot – Sixteen-piece big band The Bullingdon – The first heat of the competition to TUESDAY 17 of `Swagger’, their most lauded and biggest swing from Radio Days in aid of The British win a place at this year’s Bloodstock festival. BETH ROWLEY: The Bullingdon – selling album, and they’ve been credited as an Heart Foundation, with classics from the 1930s st MOONTOWER + SONG & SUPPER ROOMS + Spiritual soul, gospel, jazz and blues from SUNDAY 1 influence on REM (who they toured with) and to 60s, including Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Come on, it can’t be worse than 2016. Can it? MARK ATHERTON & FRIENDS + BEARD OF the Bristolian singer-songwriter, out on tour Radiohead, while various members went off to Arte Shaw and Glenn Miller. DESTINY: Donnington Community Centre (6pm) ahead of the release of her long-awaited second play with Suede, Placebo, Massive Attack and THE MIGHTY REDOX: The Black Swan nd – Free evening of live acoustic music. album, a follow-up to BRIT-nominated, Top MONDAY 2 Goldfrapp over the years. Showing no sign of 10 debut `Little Dreamer’, the daughter of a MUDSLIDE MORRIS & THE OPEN MIC SESSION: The Royal Blenheim slowing down, 2016 found the band playing REVELATORS: The George Inn, Littlemore MONDAY 9th missionary couple drawing inspiration from the 6Music Festival and they’ve just released a Emmylou Harris, Ron Sexsmith and Mahalia rd OPEN MIC SESSION: The Royal Blenheim TUESDAY 3 new album, `Welcome, Stranger’, to coincide Jackson. SUNDAY 22nd THE OXFORD SPARK’S SIDE OF THE MOON: James Street with an extensive UK tour. If you know the GUN FINGERS: The Cellar – Grime, BLOODSTOCK – MUSIC TO THE th Tavern – Weekly open mic night. TUESDAY 10 band you’ll be here for this show; if you don’t drum&bass and bassline club night with DJ MASSES: The Bullingdon RECORD & CD FAIR INTRUSION: The Cellar – Goth, ebm and industrial but you like your indie on the arty and poetic Don Lou Lou and Femi Williams. St ALDATES PARISH CENTRE th club night. WEDNESDAY 4 side, come and discover the group that your SPARK’S SIDE OF THE MOON: James MONDAY 23rd 40 Pembroke St, St Aldates, OX1 1BP GET LIT: The Cellar – Bass and hip hop club night. SPARK’S SIDE: James Street Tavern favourite bands got their ideas from. Street Tavern OPEN MIC SESSION: The Royal Blenheim Saturday 7th January th th THURSDAY 5th WEDNESDAY 11 WEDNESDAY 18 th 10am-4pm GET LIT: The Cellar TUESDAY 24 CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford Community THE CACTUS BLOSSOMS: The BLACK PEAKS + TIGERCUB + Rock/pop/jazz/soul/reggae/indie/all other genres Centre – Oxford’s longest running open club night Bullingdon – Authentic early country and EMPLOYED TO SERVE: The Bullingdon th heads into another new year. THURSDAY 12 western swing from Minneapolis duo The – Back in the Shire after flying the flag for Accessories/memoriabillia/books. SPARKY’S FLYING CIRCUS: The Half Moon – CATWEAZLE: East Oxford Community Centre Cactus Blossoms – Jack Torrey and Page heaviosity at last summer’s Truck Festival, Brand new and back catalogue/Rare Vinyl Weekly open mic club. SPARKY’S FLYING CIRCUS: The Half Moon Burkum, over in the UK to tour new album Brighton’s Black Peaks bring progressive www.usrfairs.co.uk hardcore, post-rock and classic thrash metal, all joined by ebullient post-riot grrl pop crew Rainbow fronted by frontman Will Gardner’s harried screams Reservoir, coming in somewhere between Le Tigre and guttural growls. Raw and raucous nu-grunge and Moldy Peaches. support from Brighton’s Tigercub, heavily inspired by HOPE & SOCIAL: Old Fire Station – Uplifting Nirvana and Queens of the Stone-Age. blues, country and soul-rock from Yorkshire’s blue- REDFACES: The Cellar – Free show from Sheffield suited sextet, compared to The E Street Band. indie rockers Redfaces, out on a headline tour AGS CONNOLLY + BILLY LEVIN: Fat Lil’s, following supports to Courteeners and Strypes. Witney – Album launch show for the Witney PRESS: The Cellar – Acid, techno and Detroit house. Ameripolitan country roots man. SPARK’S SIDE OF THE MOON: James St Tav th FRIDAY 27 th WEDNESDAY 25th SKYLARKIN SOUNDSYSTEM with MUNGOS Sunday 29 THE HUNNA: O2 Academy – Sold-out show from HI-FI: The Cellar – Count Skylarkin’ hosts the post-grunge rockers on the rise – see main preview Glasgow’s global reggae and dancehall stars Mungo’s C DUNCAN: CHATHAM COUNTY LINE: The Bullingdon Hi-Fi at his monthly club night, the forward-thinking – Exuberant alt.country and bluegrass from North collective, inspired by King Tubby and Prince Jammy, The Bullingdon Carolina’s Chatham County Line, the Raleigh-based producing a slew of original albums over the last As far removed from the black painted walls and quartet over in Europe for sixth album `Tightrope’ and decade, including 2015’s `Serious Time’, as well as sticky-floored spirit of rock and roll mayhem as renowned for their spontaneity as they bring American collaborating with the likes of Sugar Minott, Ranking it’s possible to be without actually be a nun, you roots music up to date via Bob Dylan and REM. Joe and Major Lazer. can imagine Christopher Duncan’s music being THE BLUE AEROPLANES: The Cellar – Indie MR SCRUFF: The Bullingdon – A characteristically played in church. There’s an almost hymnal cult heroes continue to fly – see main preview marathon set from Manchester’s tea-drinking master quality about his warm, somnambulating dream BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE: The Cellar – of eclecticism and quirky mixology Andy Carthy, his pop that lends itself to ancient and elaborate 80s, new wave, disco, glam and synthpop club night. last studio album, `Friendly Bacteria’, bass-heavy architecture and the reverential hush of a place blend of deep house, electro-funk, afrobeat, soul, hip of worship. His complex choral arrangements THURSDAY 26th hop and dubstep, though he’s happy to delve into only add to the spiritual feel of his records: JONNY PAYNE & THE THUNDER: The Cellar whatever else takes his fancy, while retaining a sense 2015’s Mercury-nominated debut `Architect’, – Witney’s bluesy Americana storyteller and former of fun about his sets. and this year’s follow-up `Midnight Sun’. Deer Chicago frontman Jonny Payne launches his 31HOURS + SLEEPERS DOME + SELF HELP Unsurprising coming from a classically-trained new EP. + DAISY: The Wheatsheaf – Spangled electro-indie multi-instrumentalist who plays everything BLUE HOUSE + DEERFUL + RAINBOW from 31Hours, plus thrashy garage-pop from Self on his albums, self produces and even designs RESERVOIR: The Library – First Oxford show Help and emo-ish guitar pop from former Vagueworld the sleeve artwork. Perhaps this is what gives from London promoters Beautiful Freaks, bringing singer Luke Allmond’s new band Daisy. Duncan’s music its gentle, insularity, like dreamy/cutesy indie duo Blue House to town, SOFAR SOUNDS: The Ashmoleon – Oxford’s nothing in the real world imposed upon its alongside cute, sad synth-popper Deerful. They’re leading pop-up promoters host a music stage at the making. He’s been described as electro-pop, Ashmoleon’s free Linguamania festival. folk-pop and neo-classical, but none of those THE JOHNNY CASH ROADSHOW: The New th really fit with a sound that owes as much Wednesday 25 Theatre – Big stage tribute to The Man In Black. to Bach and Burt Bacharach as it does to HACKNEY COLLIERY BAND: The Cornerstone, Fleet Foxes, Air and The Cocteau Twins. It’s THE HUNNA: Didcot – Brass and beats from the east London hauntingly pretty and intricately arranged and collective, back after their show here in March, fusing best enjoyed with your eyes shut, imagining O2 Academy Balkan folk, contemporary jazz, soul, hip hop, rock Once upon a time rock bands were rock bands pristine glacial landscapes, idyllic meadows or and afrobeat to make for a lively concoction that’s floating among the stars with God and stuff. and boy bands were boy bands and never the seen them play alongside the late Amy Winehouse as twain should meet. You can put it down to Without a doubt this month’s gig least likely to well as the London 2012 Closing Ceremony. provoke a moshpit. the collapse of genre boundaries or record TRIBUTE TO DAVID BOWIE: Mad Hatter, Iffley company marketing execs getting smart, but Road – Local acts pay tribute to the Starman. ROBERT NESTA DUB: O2 Academy – Celebration half the acts that now describe themselves as of Bob Marley with a night of reggae, roots and dub indie these days sound like Syco auditionees SATURDAY 28th from Ras Keith; Zaia; Tom Dred; King Lloyd; Dan-I; who’ve been locked in a room with a pile of HUDSON SCOTT + CATGOD + Jah Paul and Tony Dread. Nirvana and Foals records and told they’re COLDREDLIGHT: The Cellar – The Cellar not allowed out until they’ve learned to play celebrates Independent Venue Week with a pocket th their guitars and work out some neat dance SUNDAY 29 battleship show featuring former-Youthmovies man C DUNCAN: The Bullingdon – Hush now, moves. All of which is doubtless unfair on and sometime Foals trumpeter Hudson Scott, with his Hertfordshire’s The Hunna, who formed at Christopher is singing – see main preview 80s funk-inspired indie, plus atmospheric electro-jazz SUPERLOOSE + MOJO DEMON + PURPLE college together and have been doing the from Catgod, and stark, dark blues from this month’s legwork of touring the nation’s provincial MAY + GLENDALE TRAIN + JULES PENZO: Nightshift cover stars Coldredlight, launching their The Wheatsheaf (3.30-8.30pm) – Free afternoon and venues on their unstoppable way to inevitable new single, `Bloom’. festival headline status, including a tour early evening of live music in the downstairs bar from SWITCH with SIGMA & NADIA ROLL: O2 Giddyup Music. support to Coasts. But go and watch their video Academy – London drum&bass duo Cameron SUNDAY SESSION with CATGOD + TIME IS for anthemic single `Bonfire’ and tell us no-one Edwards and Joseph Lenzie return to town, riding OF THE ESSENCE: Florence Park Community involved ever saw the vid for `Smells Like high on the back of a slew of big hits, including chart Centre (2-5pm) – Family friendly live music session, Teenage Spirit’, while singer Ryan Potter looks toppers `Nobody to Love’ and `Changing’, featuring with jazzy electro-pop ensemble Catgod, plus like a prettified Kurt Cobain (not that Kurt Paloma Faith, plus more recent chart hits `Cry’ – with Hammond-led jazz groovers Time is of the Essence. needed any prettifying). Anyway, they’ve got Take That – and `Find Me’, featuring Birdy, as well as the tats and ripped jeans and a bit of the Kings remixing Ellie Goulding, Groove Armada and Skepta. th of Leon about them in parts, but they also have RAWDIO: The Bullingdon – Jungle and drum&bass MONDAY 30 nice clean harmonies and an unthreatening way soundsystem. OPEN MIC SESSION: The Royal Blenheim with a post-grunge tune and if Potter is heard GAPPY TOOTH INDUSTRIES with HOLY to sing `”We don’t know which way is home,” MOMENTS + LE PUB + FREDDY LE CRAGG: TUESDAY 31st tonight’s long-since sold-out show suggests The Wheatsheaf – As they head towards their 15th SUNNY AFTERNOON: The New Theatre – there’s only one way they’re going – up. anniversary in May, GTI host their first monthly show Opening night of the Kinks musical, penned by Ray of 2017, tonight’s characteristic mixed bag topped Davies himself and directed by Edward Hall, featuring by punky, grunge-spattered power-pop newcomers all the band’s classics, from `Waterloo Sunset’ and Holy Moments, taking in the influence of Sebadoh `Days’ to `Sunny Afternoon’ and `You Really Got and Sugar. They’re joined by no-nonsense boozy pub- Me’. Runs until the 4th February. rockers Le Pub, and stripped-down blues, ballads and TWO DOORS DOWN: The Cellar rock’n’roll from Freddy le Cragg. SPARK’S SIDE OF THE MOON: James St.Tavern photo: Marc West add tothe feelingyou’rewatching picture /Iwantto beatenpinbowl” Lyrics like“I wanttobeamotion almost honkytonk feel. on the Wrong Day’,withitsstrange, like onthemeandering`I Was Born that soundlikethey’redrowning, queasy guitartuningsandmelodies Captain Beefheartterritory, all veer off atoddanglesintoalmost push hergrowingfanbase,assongs she’s testingtoseehowfarshecan and therearetimeswewonderif Tim Presley, hersupporttonight– Drinks album,hercollaborationwith album –andreacheditspeakonthe towards awkwardnesswitheach That balancehasshiftedfurther from thegods. and makeitsoundlikealoveletter she couldsingthe Welsh phonebook unearthly asasirensong.Seriously, as ahearth,butsimultaneously It canbeaswarm,richandhomely moments withmusicalfairydust. sprinkles evenhermostoddball in itself,themagicingredientthat her voice,athingofstrangewonder sweetest melodiesyoucanimagine, bordering onramshackle,andthe a balancebetweenawkwardness Cate leBon’s musichasalwaysbeen The Bullingdon CATE LEBON LIVE Dale Kattack be aprizeworthhaving. journey, youknowattheendthere’ll knows, buthowever challengingthe from hereissomethingonlyshe wayward execution. Where shegoes admit, borderlinegeniusinits playful andjarringand,youhave Underground’s `SisterRay’,equally like a Toytown takeon The Velvet Bells’ andmore,whilesounding detours throughsnatchesof`Jingle of Wham’s `LastChristmas’ that the closeoftonight’s setisacover The whollyunexpectedtreatat that tunemightsometimesbe. and no-oneelse’s, howeverdeviant musician whoplaystoherowntune career with,butit’s obviousshe’s a language songsshebeganher `Me OhMy’,andanyofthe Welsh from hergorgeous debutalbum, she’s nowabandonedallthesongs You With Me Now’.It’s ashame sugar sweetclarioncallthatis`Are Can’t Help You’ forstarters,orthe together. The joyousbounceof`I and piecesthatshouldn’t reallyfit irresistible popgemsoutofbits all that,LeBoncan’t helpconjuring run alongeverydaytracks,butfor someone whosethoughttrainsdon’t Gillispie does very little to dissuade Gillispie doesverylittletodissuade mess insomeGlasgowatticand picture ofabloated,balding,wrinkly Indeed, it’s temptingtothinkthere’s a his trans-Atlanticyelpstillintact. out MickJagger-style bowlcut,with clinging ontothemic-stand,grown all shinysilverjacket,pipe-likelimbs inch theclassicstick-thinfrontman, He isseeminglyindestructible,every to imaginehimeverbeingreplaced. Team’s heartandsoul,it’s hard Bobby GillespieisstilltheScream travelling surelytakesitstoll) the constanttouringandlatenight perhaps alittleblearyeyed,with clean and serene these days (although, grizzled SimoneButler). Apparently replaced in2012bytheratherless brothers The StoneRoses,tobe having sincere-joinedhisbaggy member (longtermbassistMani tracks inthesetandanewishband Scream, despitethepresenceofnew `Give Out...’’s` and crashingtoaraggedclosewith `Screamadelica’’s `MovingonUp’, Startingwithtraditionalopener: age. whatever thatmeansinthisdayand revitalising powerofrock’n’roll, with faithstrangelyrenewedinthe deafened, coveredinbeerandyet you leaveperspiring,partially been toaPrimalScreamgigunless It’s anunwrittenrulethatyouhaven’t The Bullingdon CIARAN LAVERY LANTERNS ON THE LAKE/ beautifully euphorictrack taken a set with`OfDust &Matter’, Lanterns ontheLake leadtonight’s 2015 album`Beings’, Newcastle’s Out on tour inthe wakeoftheir brilliance. radiates warmthandexceptional on hisshoulders,yetperformance he iscarryingtheweightofworld Lavery soundsalmostdefeated,as if emotional maturity. When hesings, enticing atmosphere,withadashof Red Fist’,meanwhile,haveahazy, them. `ReturntoForm’ and`Blood all overtheaudienceandenvelop husky vocalsandletsthemswarm Lavery showcaseshiscomfortingly but sweepspeopleoff theirfeetas `All Apologies’ comesasasurprise song isfinished. A coverofNirvana’s lingering inourheartslongafterthe when I’mburningout?”tenderly Really setmeonfire/ Andbethere its lyric,“Would youlightmeup/ includes theradio-favourite`Shame’, acutely intimateperformance.Hisset a bothemotionallystirringand songwriter CiaranLaverydelivers and strikingvoiceIrishsinger- Armed withasingleacousticguitar O2 Academy PRIMAL SCREAM Rocks’, this is vintage Rocks’, thisisvintage Leo Bowder Leo Bowder taeym…”. Indeed. weee’re heeeere…;togie’ yeagoo’ finally comeson.“Cuzthaht’s whaey stand beforethemagnificent‘Loaded’ blankly, swayingbehindthemic havan agoo’ taeym?”Bobbydrawls that wasnevertheirpurpose.“Areye breaking newgroundsonically, but Scream arenotinanyrealdangerof their fourthdecadetogether, Primal classics, but give them time. Now into the sameanthemicqualityoftheirold `Chaosmosis’ don’t, perhaps,have style synthsounds. The tracksfrom songs displayanactiveinterestin80s for ‘SwastikaEyes’,whilethenew own, dippingintoelectrodance musical directionverymuchtheir But theyhavealwaysmadeeach pounding pianoanddronedvocals. is fullof Velvet Underground-style guitar, and‘ShootSpeed,KillLight’ Virginia’ speededupandwithpunkier is reallyjusttheStones’s ‘Sweet gloriously ramshackle‘CountryGirl’ wear theirinfluencesproudly, the Than The Sun’. Always happyto reassuringly psychedelic‘Higher wistful `CryMyselfBlind’ anda numbers, withtheexceptionofa Tonight’s setisfullofup-tempo best poetswereScots. today, hewasScottishandthatallthe us thatit’s JimMorrison’s birthday such wistfulassociations,informing Edit Paksi captivated. stand theredumbfounded, utterly with theaudience whocanonly establishes astrongconnection members’ uniquequalities,and complements eachoftheband Lake deliveraperformancethat untouchable. Lanternsonthe presence onthestageseemalmost commanding vocalsmakeher are onthealbum,while Wilde’s as mysteriouslyfragilethey `The Crawl’,whichremainjust songs, including`Faultlines’ and They alsoplaysomeoftheirnewest life.” wanna fight/ We wantthequiet the closing,stirringlines;“We don’t meditative trancewhenwhispering high energy beforeleavingusina bopping toasolothatispackedwith the bandhavewholeaudience From Another English Town’, where things upabitwith`Another Tale the kitchenfloor”. Thingslighten croons “LastnightIpassedout/On vocals floatingthroughtheairasshe is sittingbythepiano,vulnerable from thealbum.SingerHazel Wilde The Cellar SLATE HEARTS UTE /LUCY LEAVE / Nettlebed FolkClub STEVE TILSTON AND JEZLOWE clattering drumfill, atickly`EightMiles each songtoecstatic heights–asudden the bandiswaiting toseewhatwilllift jazz andpsychfallsbackon.It’s asif carousel ofsolosthatthemajority of but withoutslippingintotheclunky slide leaving plentyofroomforimprovisation, even reggae)andmelodicmicro-mantras, vintage popstyles(psychedelia, garage, band buildssongsfromsnatches of LucyLeavegigsarealwaysexciting. first appear. but ratherlessrough-hewnthantheyat sculpture: huge,monumentalandweighty, SlateHeartsareasonicRichardSerra songwriting. there’s properpopnousevidentinthe downtime wrestlin’ swinefornickels,but of themdressasiftheyspendtheir of beingslapdashstoners,andtwo-thirds mumbling, thebandgivesimpression throughout). Lord Fader, isnoddingapprovingly but imaginethatJimmyEvil,theresident room (andtheengineer–wecan’t see just seemingtofitthelowceilinged at theCellar, theirdenseslabsofgrunge immersive experienceshavebeenhere number oftimesin2016,butthetwomost click together. We’ve seenSlateHeartsa Sometimes, abandandvenuejust written songs,themostimpressive songs. When itcomestothenew, jointly of thesingersongwritergenreswapping to listeninwhilethesetwounsungheroes Muchoftonight’s gigislikebeinginvited hauntingly. with guitarmaestro Tilston bendingnotes moon onthetides`Sovereignof Tides’, all thewaytomysteriouseffect ofthe decline ofsteelmaking(`Wagga Moon’), shipbuilding (`Taking OnMen’)andthe (`Jack Common’s Anthem’), theendof Geordie inexile Welwyn GardenCity Together theirsongsrangefroma writing ismuchthemorepoetic. songs atamoreindividuallevel,andhis and cultureofthearea. Tilston pitcheshis writing songsabouttheindustrialhistory his nativeCountyDurham,knownfor written jointly. Loweisakintoagriotfor released togetheraresaidtohavebeen songs onthealbumtheyhaverecently very individualtalents,eventhoughthe comes overtonightisthepresenceoftwo themselves intoaduothough,aswhat The pairhavenotgoneandtransformed event. scene gettogetheritissomethingofan songwriter talentsfromthefolk/acoustic when twosuchsingularsolosinger collaborations intheirfortyyearcareers, and JezLowehavebeeninvolvedinother feature ofthefolkscene,andSteve Tilston While collaborationsareaconsistent

With lackadaisicalinter-song The Colin May are pleasedtheydid. crossroads devil”alongtimeago,butwe for having“sold(their)soul(s)tothe never gettherecognitiontheydeserve Steve Tilston andJezLowewillprobably guitar technique. Tilston todisplayhisstunningearlyblues cover of`A FoolSuch As I’,whichallows Guitar That Whizz OnceStrummed’,anda folk scenestalwart Whizz Jones:`The very muchaLowesong;tributetofellow the musichall-influenced`MrsEinstein’, present, therearelightermomentstoowith social injusticeanddarktimespast Eventhoughthisisagigprimarilyabout powerful. somehow makesthelyricsevenmore Tilston’s guitaron`LittleSami’,which dancing anelegantpasdedeuxwith Lowe’s mandolin(orpossiblyacittern?) the mostbeguilingtunesandplaying,like often thedarkestlyricsareaccompaniedby Itisdisconcerting,butinagoodway, that better opportunitieselsewhere. woman leavingBlackpool,hopingfor in `LeavingforSpain’ Tilston hasayoung not ingoodshape.Nosurprisethenthat state ofthenationsongabouthowweare religious war, and`Torn and Tattered’, a Crescents andStars’,takingaswipeat about astrandedchildrefugee;`Crosses, contemporary issues:`LuckySami’, are thoseboldlytacklingthebiggest David Murphy It’s verygood. going onanymore, exceptthatit’s good. a glittercannon,wedon’t knowwhat’s medieval bascinettakestheirplace with pissed-up policesirensandaman ina Innocent Tailor’ andthecrowdhowlslike when thebandrunoffstage during`An set thatreducesustogrinningputty, but and thehilariousraffle thatprecedesthe the boozyBakhtiniancarnivalatmosphere before. Perhapsit’s thecrammedroom, tube, Uteknockussidewayslikenever they’re thelastsmearoftoothpastein Ifthevocalssoundoversqueezed,like the backdoor. funk andaproperfatrockbassknockson drums stutteroutaninventivedesiccated with hi-lifeandcalypsoguitar, whilethe Radiohead’s lessbombasticsongsdusted five years,andtheystillsoundlike haven’t playedagiginOxfordfor Ignoringalittleacousticsession,Ute krautrock skinnydip. a Teardrop Explodesmudslidetowardsa Tonight it’s `40 Years’, kickingusdown moments ofglorysurpriseeverytime. without catchingfire,butalsomeansthat and occasionallywholegigs,cangoby stretch. High’ guitarscribble,anultra-rubatovocal This meansthatsometracks, FICKLE FRIENDS / HUNTAR / MINOR VICTORIES / ULRIKA HONEYBLOOD 31 HOURS SPACEK The Bullingdon It still amazes me how much to cut the show short. Luckily for The Bullingdon O2 Academy noise two people can make. Since us she doesn’t, even though they Local hopefuls 31Hours are very worth it when a band like Fickle Ulrika Spacek know that the twin From the dense, elegant opener Honeyblood last played Oxford, would’ve been more than right to young, clearly inexperienced and Friends comes along. A relentless sonic weapons of volume and `Give Up the Ghost’, through the two years ago, a lot has changed; walk away; so-called rock stars have apparently under-rehearsed, which work ethic has seen the Brighton repetition never lose their burnish. pulsing John Carpenter-inspired drummer Shona McVicar has been done it for far less. In yet another can sometimes be a good thing. The five-piece plough through the last From their opening three-guitar `A Hundred Ropes’, with Justin replaced by Cat Myers, the new act of verbal abuse, another bloke rather introverted singer, hunched three years, playing fifty-three salvo, recalling Loop’s late-80s Lockey’s synth to the fore, and duo have released a second album, from the crowd demands the duo over his mic, picks at his guitar festivals in just two, the reward psych-drone trip, they excel when onto the stately, intense `Scattered `Babes Never Die’, and generally “speak English” in response to their as if to convince us this is all very finally coming with a Polydor deal they simply groove it out bass heavy Ashes’, the band’s pedigree shines Honeyblood’s star has been rising. discussion of selkies, creatures from personal and confessional, but and a forthcoming album produced and unflinchingly loud. When Kurt- through. Goswell’s voice has But the most important things have Scottish folklore. And no, this isn’t the various elements clatter away in LA by Mike Crossey (The alike singer Rhys Edwards takes changed somewhat from her early- stayed the same; they’re still playing just one guy, and yes, they are all without really coming together. The 1975, Wolf Alice). What sets them to the mic he takes the music to a 90s Slowdive days, although maybe edgy, angry garage pop tunes with guys. With that kind of atmosphere African influences in the guitar and apart is the infectiously upbeat, lighter, prettier place and while it’s Minor Victories simply gives her fury and vigour. it’s unsurprising there are almost song structures, blended with maybe summery vibe and solid song not an unpleasant place, it lacks more space to manoeuvre. Her star Tonight is no exception. The pair no women here. What’s the point a hint of Gomez, are (for now) too writing, with singer Natti Shiner’s the sheer black hole gravity and turn comes on `Higher Hopes’, open strongly with new banger of `Babes Never Die’ (the band’s ambitious and they earn no points emotive vocals and energetic stage metronomic insistency of their best with an imperious performance run `Ready For the Magic’ and old hit unofficial slogan as well as the with that tired trick of finishing presence leading them on. The moments, like the extended spiralling through with tenderness, worthy `Choker’, after which they venture album title) then? It’s on us, who songs with two lines sung a capella. unashamedly 80s influence works finale. of Julee Cruise’s work on David into lesser-known territory, playing come to these shows, to create an Cambridge boy Huntar is beautifully, succeeding where so Supergroups can go any which Lynch’s Blue Velvet, that shows the the entirety of the new album; it’s environment that’s welcoming to accompanied by nothing more than many current bands fall flat on their way, more often than not into the band’s softer, more atmospheric side. an admirable gamble, but the sheer everyone. So please, next time you’re a backing track, so we’re fortunate faces; more Blow Monkeys and big bin marked `self-indulgent toss’. At least until a molten coda when strength of their songwriting makes it standing next to someone shouting that he’s a reasonably competent less Kajagoogoo. To prove the point But that was never going to be an everything gets whacked up to eleven work out well. abuse, call them out, or let a member dancer. Simply constructed, their glorious anthem ‘Swim’ is option for a band who draw their and some way beyond. It’s a formula What’s up with the crowd, though? of staff know. And if that guy was undemanding electronic pop with kept back to the end, and it’s hard members from Mogwai, Slowdive they successfully repeat on set closer After a lukewarm response to the you: fuck off and never attend an early 90s feel and a strong to think of an indie single in the and Editors (and on record, The `The Thief’, starting off glacial and first few songs guitarist/singer Stina another gig. vocal delivery makes for a mildly last five years that beats it for pure Gaslight Anthem). Mogwai guitarist expansive in a similar landscape to Marie even comments that we’re Honeyblood end the gig with a run entertaining half-hour, though he innocent exuberance. Though it’s Stuart Braithwiate in particular has Sigur Ros, before fires are lit and always so polite in Oxford (“It’s of amazing songs: a fiery rendition resorts to another modern cliché: heartening to see a queue outside a keen inbuilt bullshit detector, and the volume swells once again. There because of the dictionary,” replies of old-timer `All Dragged Up’; an the hushed vocal, a second or two before the doors even opened, let’s the band – formed online before are a couple of moments when the Myers). Turns out we’re not polite improvised serenade to merchandise of silence then delivery of the big, hope Polydor have the foresight to the members had ever met – is set threatens to become a jammed- after all. The first time some guy seller Hazel; the infectious album bombastic hook. stick with them if the album doesn’t pretty much a perfect triangulation out mess, lacking form, but they’re shouts “shut up and play songs” – title track, and `Super Rat’ and Endless evenings spent in rooms go platinum on week one. They of their composite parts, from soon forgotten in a giddy headrush after an admittedly rehearsed bit of `Killer Bangs’ to close, the two painted black, watching bands really are worth it. Editors’ glowering, electro-heavy of punishingly beautiful noise that band banter – Stina decides to let it highlights from their debut. By now troop on and off stage is all made Art Lagun 80s indie, through Rachel Goswell’s sounds like it’s attempting escape slide, even though her face reveals everyone’s convinced: Honeyblood alternately ethereal and strident vocal velocity while leaving absolute her fury. The second time though she will never die. performance, to Braithwaite’s searing carnage in its wake. calls out the rudeness, pretending Caspar Jacobs crescendos and fx-heavy firestorms. Dale Kattack MUTUAL BENEFIT THE AUGUST LIST / LITTLE RED The Bullingdon The Library The last Friday in November and are four band members in total, th In fairytales, fantasy and folklore, something almost cuddly – a beast Oxford’s already entirely mulled: each with their own style but all 13 the Christmas lights are up, the very much in place, and while Lee YEAR! forests are where bad things lurk, well worth your time and your love. where every shadow carries a threat. From the forest into the wide-open tinsel’s out, and people move where is their originator, Mutual Benefit The things that lurk in Little Red’s dustbowl, and The August List’s the tide of drink is flowing. It’s this make too much sense as a group forest – Mr Wolf; a black dog – pure, stark country folk. At the time of year where the thank-God- to be a result of just one person’s are menaces of the mind though, forefront of all things Americana in its-Friday-let’s-get-pissed feeling vision. metaphors for depression that hound Oxfordshire for the last few years, is more urgent than the ambulances `Let’s Play’/`Statue of a Man’ songwriter Ian Mitchell – Little Kerraleigh and Martin Childs can trying to get through the streets. stands out from the moment it Red guitarist and the man behind still spring surprises on their new Mutual Benefit remind us, with begins. Where “On a train from All Will Be Well Records – at every songs, like the huge, balletic duet pride, that they’re what’s standing the mid-West, (Lee) was trying turn. But taken on face value, the of `Old Rip’, or a cover of Kevin between us and a riotous club night. to get reborn”, Lee’s understated songs are dark but playful tales Morby’s `I Have Been To The Lead singer Jordan Lee speaks climax exposes how truly trivial Now running... couched in the warm, harmony- Mountain’ that is a tour de force delicately and with consideration, the human psyche can be. This idea heavy folk of the 1960s and right from Kerraleigh, whose powerful, a stark contrast to the drum&bass translates nicely in `Passenger’, st friday of rd weekend of back to the sounds of 19th Century high-pitched voice, akin to Loretta DJ to come. Tonight is the last where “people seem so ordinary every month @ every other month @ taverns. Vocals are shared three Lynn or a young Dolly Parton, stop on Mutual Benefit’s European viewed from a fast speed”, but less 1 tour and, boy, has a lot happened so when drummer Dillan hovers for 3 ways, but it’s Hayley Bell who is stands at odds with her sweetly The Cellar the band’s magic ingredient, the measured speaking voice between since they left Brooklyn. As you’d thirty seconds to change the tempo Fri 6th Jan @ The Cellar £4 adv/£5 door way her voice plays off Ian’s and songs. A glorious `Wooden Trunk expect, their tone is completive. by 5BMP. Despite this, the pace of Start the New Year dancing to the sweetest fellow guitarist Ben Gosling’s Blues’ makes way for the drones and They’re giving away merch for “as night is, for the most part, perfect. jazz-dance and most colourful global beats! creates an almost childlike feeling of pretty harmonies of `Wilderness’ much as you can pay” and a Black Mutual Benefit prove that Friday Sat 21st Jan @ The Bullingdon £10 adv/£12 door innocence about songs even as she’s and for forty minutes you forget Lives Matter banner hangs limply nights can be more satisfying when warning “don’t go into the woods,” you’re in a basement bar on Cowley over an amp. we slow down our personal clocks More than merely starting and and contemplate. Instead of it being Explosive 9 piece Afro-fusion delivered with hip hop attitude via Sheffield and “that’s what they say; the couple Road as you’re transported to the were never seen again.” Dig even a wide open skies of Appalachia or a finishing songs, Mutual Benefit the blowout end to a fast week, a Fri 3rd Feb @ The Cellar £7 adv/£8 door build a landscape with their climax can, and sometimes actually Sun drenched soulful Afro-folk through little way into the words and you’re moonshine shack bar on the banks a line up of cello and clarinet backed by a lost in a crepuscular mist of haunted of the Mississippi. Oxford’s most sound. `Fire Escape’s’ shimmering should be, a far more subtle thing. hip-shaking rhythm section hopelessness (“This black dog is unassuming musical couple have the cymbals and flute set the scene: a It can feel like the beginning to a everywhere I go”), but Little Red magic. serene garden, where all the birds new day. have turned their black dog into Dale Kattack are beginning to wake up. There Eva Hibbs “Countryfile Live at INTRODUCING.... Blenheim was something Nightshift’s monthly guide to the best local music bubbling under else. We were so thankful that BBC Introducing had asked us to play, but it was slightly awkward Loud Mountains playing to a crowd of people more interested in Who are they? watching sheep shearing Loud Mountains are an Americana band from Connecticut, living in Oxford. on the stage next to ours.” Brothers Sean and Kevin Duggan (both vocals and guitars) began writing Their favourite other songs in their parents’ basement before moving to Oxford in 2011 and playing Oxfordshire act is: in a band called Empty White Circles. When they split up, the pair formed “We’ve had the pleasure Loud Mountains, joined by Fish Thompson (drums); David Thompson of working with and (guitar/keyboard) and Craig Doran (bass). “It’s more in the direction of the listening to Jonny Payne music that we listened to growing up,” says Sean. Meeting DJ Bob Harris and the Thunder over the at one of their early gigs opened up opportunities to get on board the UK’s years. His unapologetic burgeoning Americana scene, including a set at Country2Country at the O2 in songwriting and London, which in turn helped us to gain exposure to book shows with bands cutting guitar skills are like Danny & the Champions of the World; Cale Tyson; The Stray Birds and something we still hold a showcase at the Americana Music Association Awards. Last month they onto in our sound.” released their debut EP, `Love One Another’, on Clubhouse Records. If they could only keep What do they sound like? one album in the world, it would be: Authentic rootsy Americana, as you’d hope from two brothers raised in “Bright Eyes: `I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning’. Connecticut. The band’s full-on roadhouse country-blues blast, all big When is their next gig and what can newcomers expect? harmonies and harmonica, comes packed with good vibes, while more “February 10th at the O2 Academy. Newcomers can expect an energetic live considered moments, like EP highlight `Eloise’ carries a down-home show, a big-ass ruckus, and a few soft spots.” weariness reminiscent of Conor Oberst. Their favourite and least favourite things about Oxford music are: What inspires them? “Favourite: there’s plenty of talent around the city. Least favourite: There’s “When it comes to songwriting, we tend to be inspired by our relationships not much we can complain about; we guess one area we could maybe work with those around us, reckless behaviour and anything that Jason Isbell or on is an integration between artists and genres. From our experience of music Tom Petty have ever released.” scenes in the States, it feels like all good music scenes begin with everyone Career highlight so far: coming together to play gigs and share ideas.” “Truck Festival last year was our all-time favourite moment. Playing our You might love them if you love: songs in a hot, sweaty wooden box packed to the brim with people singing Ryan Adams; Drive-By Truckers; Bright Eyes; Whiskeytown; Bob Dylan. along to our songs. It was short and sweet.” Hear them here: And the lowlight: `Love One Another’ is available on iTunes, Spotify and Soudcloud.

THIS MONTH IN OXFORD Dr Shotover: Space Hopper/Chopper Crash T H E W H E A T S H E A F Wotcher, Mush. Welcome to the Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club. ALL OUR YESTERDAYS MUSIC HISTORY Friday 6th January – KLUB KAKOFANNEY And, while we’re at it, welcome back to the 1970s. Adopt a manly stance at debut single due out shortly. Any information on Tehrani went on to helm The Young Women’s the bar in your best flared jeans (unless you’d rather pull up a floral settee 20 YEARS AGO their current whereabouts gratefully received. Music Project, while singer Iona Roisin now N E V E R L N D or a pouffe), buy us all a pint of Watney’s Red Barrel and let’s have a game January 1997 saw the build-up to Radio 1 Sound releases tripped-out electro-soul under the guise THE SHAPES + MOON LEOPARD 7:45pm of darts, bar billiards or possibly KerPlunk. Once we get ‘pie-eyed’ we can City begin in earnest with a debut Oxford gig th Vernahark. Saturday 7 January – TWO FACE PROMOTIONS start leering at the ladies in hot pants in the saloon bar, saying ‘I would’ from ex-Ride guitarist Andy Bell’s new band 10 YEARS AGO and/or ‘Don’t fancy yours much’ while nudging each other. Yes, it’s a Man’s Hurricane #1 (just called Hurricane back then), Funny who you find turning up in your local R A T S E A T R A T S World in the 1970s. What’s that, Spalding? Why all the 1970s references? Andy having teamed up with Scottish singer venue. Back in January 2007 Robyn Hitchcock 5 YEARS AGO WOLFS + SOCIAL DISCHARGE + COMPULSORY PRIMAL RESPONSE 7:45pm Well, it’s obvious, innit? Just look around you. We’ve got the strikes. We’ve Alex Lowe and already signed to Creation and was back in town – a frequent visitor over the In a vaguely traditional sort of fashion January th Friday 13 January – GET IN THE BOX got the Rolling Stones releasing a new album. Cold War with Russia. Elton set to release their first single, `Step Into My years – this time at The Zodiac, backed by his 2012 found Nightshift asking around myriad local John on tour. Snooker still over-running and wrecking the TV schedules, just World’ in April. The band played a Sound City band The Venus 3, featuring Peter Buck. The promoters for their tips on which acts to look out O L D E R N I E like it always did. We’ve got the facial hair. We’ve got the ongoing Star Wars launch gig at a sold-out Zodiac, with support REM guitarist was happy to play second fiddle to for in the months ahead. Yoof! host Marc West DESMOND CHANCER & THE LONG MEMORIES phenomenon. (Including Mr Spira’s marvellous Elstree 1976). We’ve got the from Unbelievable Truth. With two of Oxford’s the former Soft Boys singer, but come the encore plumped for Glass Animals and Wild Swim, most-likely-to bands on the same bill, the venue RAYZO + BROWN GLOVE 7:45pm dodgy US President Elect with a criminal past. We’ve got The 1975. (Actually, and up from the audience popped Michael Stipe putting him closest to hitting the nail firmly on the Saturday 14th January – JAM CITY scrub that – they’re shite, and bear about as much resemblance to the 1970s was awash with fellow local musicians, the review and Mike Mills, who joined in on a version of head, while other top picks included Kill Murray as Boris Johnson does to a real statesman). We’ve got the Enoch Powell declaring that “if you dropped a bomb on the their own `Electrolite’ and `I’m Gonna DJ’, as (Joal from The Wheatsheaf); The Cellar Family S I L K R O A D apologists in the red-tops still promoting casual racism and writing ‘Crikey, Zodiac tonight, bang goes half the local music well as Hitchcock’s cult classic `Listening to the (Simon Minter from Audioscope); Overlord, forget those left-wing poofters… just look at this posh bird in her swimsuit!’ scene, along with Alan McGee”. On the plus side, CRIMSON TUSK + GET LOOSE 7:45pm Higsons’, finishing with The Byrds’ `Eight Miles Refugees of Culture and Blasted (Elliot and Ryan Friday 20th January – IT’S ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC We’ve got… What’s that? Oh come ON, Spalding, you total WALLY – it’s your we’d never have had to hear the second Hurricane High’, while assorted members of Radiohead from Buried in Smoke); Document One (Aidan round. Mine’s a light and bitter, and what about a half of lager and lime #1 album. cheered them on in the front row. An unsuspecting `Count’ Skylarkin); Lewis Watson (Isla Miskelly for the lady? Meanwhile, Dustball were packing out HMV on half-capacity crowd naturally went wild and now from DHP); Jess Hall (Autumn Neagle from Coo E C H O 4 F O U R Cheers! Down Cornmarket for the launch of their debut single, have a tale to tell their grandchildren. Promotions) and Luke Keegan, Matt Chanarin MIKE LEE BAND + BAD BLOOD RECOVERY 7:45pm the hatch, then `Senor Nachos’, and the start of Shifty Disco’s Saturday 21st January – ABOLITION 2017 In other local music news Dive Dive announced and Laura Theis (Matt Sage off of Catweazle). it’s all back monthly singles club. Later in the evening they the release of their second album, `Revenge of The new generation of rock and metal stars were to mine with played another sold out gig, this time at The Point. the Mechanical Dog’, while the future of music at showcased by an compilation album released by G U T L O C K E R some take-outs Another local classic came out this month: The The Wheatsheaf was seemingly assured with the Skeletor, `City of Screaming Spires’ featuring K-LACURA + BLOODSHOT + VIOLENCE IS GOLDEN 8pm for The Old Candyskins’ `Monday Morning’, which saw the purchase of the pub by Admiral Taverns. Sadly contributions from Aethara; Taste My Eyes; Friday 27th January Grey Whistle band break into the Top 40 for the first and only Cowley Road lost Polar Bear Records, which Desert Storm; K-Lacura; Mother Corona; Test! Who’s time before the death of a certain princess put paid meant there was no dedicated record store on the Unknown Flow; A Trust Unclean; Prospekt; 31 H O U R S on? Why, the to their rise to pop glory in the summer. road until Truck Store arrived in 2011. Dedlok and Mutagenocide, among others. SLEEPERS DOME + SELF HELP + DAISY 7:45pm Rolling Stones While Pavement and Mad Professor’s visits to Gracing this month’s Nightshift front cover While there was no main cover star feature this th Saturday 28 January – GAPPY TOOTH INDUSTRIES and Elton John The Zodiac were the big gig draws of the month, were Baby Gravy: “part dog’s dinner, part month, Tiger Mendoza were our Introducing of course! another local band, The Nicotines, were signing a dog’s bollocks; a sound engineer’s nightmare,” act, while coming to town this month were The H O L Y M O M E N T S Next month: record deal, with Jealous, a subsidiary of London according to the description given of the band, all Horrors, M83 and Babybird (all at the O2 LE PUB + FREDDY LE GRAGG 7:45pm Absolute Berks Records. The local indie rockers headed off on still in their mid-teens and set to release their debut Academy); Dopefight at The Cellar and Maria The Wheatsheaf 129 High Street, Oxford OX1 4DF / www.facebook.com/wheatsheaf.oxford in Berkshire Dr Shotover: ‘Actually, I rather LIKE the 1970s’ tour with feloow Britpoppers Mansun with their single, `I Hate Your Girlfriend’. Drummer Zahra & the Mirrors at Modern Art. guitarist Nat Jones and chums, and where Potter, alongside local prince of musical The Aureate Act are (were?) a clever and darkness Mark Bosley, who John tells us convoluted journey into the court of the he’s forced to play cheerful music. And a Crimson King, via Talk Talk, Radiohead cajon player, which is basically a Peruvian DEMOS and Boards of Canada, this is simpler wooden box. Rewind a bit there and you’ll Sponsored by Demo of the Month wins a free half day and sadly more pedestrian fare, an untidy notice we said “singer and ukulele player”. at Soundworks studio in Oxford, conglomeration of Ash, The View and (gulp) Yes, Song & Supper Rooms are the spiritual courtesy of Umair Chaudhry. Visit The Wanted, with `Ringin’ Ears’ a standard heirs to George Formby, but George Formby www.umairchaudhry.co.uk/nightshift slab of teenage angst/party regret, while the if he wrote self-consciously wry ditties more palatable `Dirty Shoes’ is a light-footed about Emperor Claudius’ wayward wife, skitter and spangle that promises to be pretty WWII planes flying into mountainsides and Leather’, a prog odyssey-length five-minutes but fails to exert enough character to take prostitutes in 19th Century cinemas. There’s DEMO OF of psych-noise that at its best could be a it beyond wallflower status. Not entirely a faint whiff of student footlights revue 01865 240250 loose-limbed cousin of The Perfect Disaster, unlikeable but hard to really love; please can about it, and we can imagine them going but blots its copybook by wandering off on we all get back to making imperious electro- down a storm on Radio 2’s Whimsy Hour, THE MONTH an aimless guitar solo for half its length. Such prog epics again soon? if that’s even something Radio 2 plays host indulgence done, they’re back at what they to, alongside The Organist Entertains and R.O.W.A.N. do best with `Vera 3’, another one-minute Jim Thirlwell’s Fireside Favourites. Yeah, Conscious rap and poetry from South African garage-thrash blunderbuss, before singing STEVE ADEY we’re sure someone will like it, but maybe, born and raised but Oxford resident MC off with the yobbish surf-punk twang of `The Now here’s an idea that’s just perfect for just maybe, Nightshift is not Song & Supper Rowan Groom, whose debut album `Social Best Way of Life’: a respectable two minutes. 2016 with all its tragedies and traumas: Rooms’ target audience. For starters, our Anxiety’ a couple of years back showed a That’s the way to do it: don’t think too hard take a bunch of songs by music’s most idea of a song is less an airily good-natured fledgling talent starting to grow his wings. about it, just get the job done and then off notable misery guts, and perform them in recreation of Brief Encounter and more an This new collection finds him laying his down the pub and let some other bugger a fashion that makes the originals sounds oppressive hour-long industrial hardcore rhymes over a purely acoustic backing – worry if it all falls down in the night. like right party bangers. That seems to be dirge, and round our gaff supper involves drums, acoustic guitar and wandering sax, Steve Adey’s modus operandi across these rather less tea and fancy cakes and more which adds warmth and a jazzy vibe to his ten covers of acts like Morrissey, Nick supermarket own brand vodka than you social commentary (Syria; terrorism; global HOLY MOMENTS Cave, Low, Smog and Portishead. And just could drown a Kraken in. poverty; human trafficking all come under More punk rock, though of a more to make sure there’s no chance of any light his gaze, alongside plenty of self analysis), considered persuasion, from local creeping into proceedings, he’s employed which is delivered in a downbeat, almost newcomers Holy Moments, a trio who a six-strong choir to back him up in almost conversational style, his strong, clipped seem to have a bit more variety in their Gregorian fashion. By all that’s holy this THE DEMO accent lending him a sense of bullish sonic armoury, while perhaps sometimes is a miserable trawl. But that, dear reader, TURAN AUDIO.co.uk authority without sounding like he’s pushing sounding unsure whether they’re really cut doesn’t mean it’s an unpleasant experience. DUMPER Professional, independent CD mastering too hard. He does, as before, have a tendency out for this noise making lark. Things start Far from it. For starters, Steve has a pretty to try and fit too many words into each line, off in reasonable style with `Soft Hands’ decent voice for someone who sounds like Artists mastered in the studio last month include; meaning some get lost along the way, which and its opening line, “I’ve got the softest their glass isn’t so much half empty as down SOM VINTER RUSSELL SWALLOW AND THE WOLF, DEMON, is a shame since he’s saying things worth hands you’ve ever seen / A feather bed’s to the dregs and someone else got to drink Som Vinter’s name sounds like a cross LEONARD COHEN, MICHAEL JACKSON, NICK hearing (best lines come in the marginally got nothing on me,” before launching into it before he had the chance. He sounds a bit between a Viking warrior king and someone COPE, WILLIE J HEALEY, GUNS N ROSES, more upbeat `Reflection’: “Another a bellicose chorus of “I’ve never done a like This Mortal Coil contributor Dominic who makes wine for a living, which basically BLACKFOOT, MADONNA, BEACH BOYS, ALANIS MORISETTE, AC/DC, MILES DAVIS, THE conscious rap”, where he mockingly hard day’s work in my life,” which might Appleton at times, and the decidedly should make him the craziest bastard rock STRING PROJECT, MATT GALLAGHER, THE apologises “I’m sorry if your attention span serve as a succinct critique of half the rebel funereal takes on `God Is In The House’ and god of the entire month, right? Wrong. What isn’t healthy” and suggests “Maybe you rockers on the planet. It’s a neat, witty he actually is is a bedwetting pantywaist FUSION PROJECT, DAN SWANÖ, NIGHTINGALE, Portishead’s `Over’ unfold like wraiths from QUORTHON, GORDON HASKELL, LAURA GRANDY. could try reading some more books”). The opening salvo, pitched partway between a dusty old shroud. In a tomb. Beneath a who seems to have an inordinate amount of music creates a woozy atmosphere and his Green Day and Rancid, though `Bug in the stuff to get weepy and wistful about whilst haunted well. In purgatory. We’ll brush over 01865 716466 [email protected] poetic approach, coupled with a laidback Brain’, while sounding like it’s creeping up the fact his version of `Everyday Is Like simultaneously displaying a way with a delivery find him in a similar orbit to The in Cassels’ slipstream, has an uncertainty Sunday’ is borderline hilarious for all the catchy pop gem equal to, ooh, dunno, an Streets as well as local rapper/poet Rawz. about it, like it maybe doesn’t want to get wrong reasons; instead we’ll waltz around unemptied dog waste bin. Over a swooning, Some doleful cello on `Pedestrian’ takes too much dirt under its fingernails – maybe the house with the ghosts of all our shattered near-comatose soft blanket of plangent COURTYARD the mood even lower, but given the subject they really do have soft hands. `Gimme the dreams. In fact we’re going to play this on piano and acoustic guitar Som emotes matter, there’s little reason for good cheer. Donut’ is easily this month’s best song title, a constant loop all day Christmas Day, or at breathlessly, lines like “Tidal waves you RECORDING STUDIO 2 Tracking Rooms. Superb Control Room with: Plenty to cheer about a promising new rap despite the American spelling, which itself least until the children start weeping tears of sent me / A tenderness so hard to take / Self is appropriate as Holy Moments continue to NEVE 5106 32 Channel Console. ProTools HD3 talent in town, though. blood and the nut roast leaps out of the oven destructive are we,” capturing the epic pain MTR 90 2” 24 Track Tape Machine. Vintage EMT Plate Reverb plough their So-Cal pop-punk furrow, but to hurl the CD player out of the window, he’s feeling because girls think he’s a total Loads of Brilliant Outboard Gear by the end of the demo, with tracks like `Cut before returning to cook itself to death. fucking drip and he always gets picked last Loads of Great Mics, Vintage and Modern It Out’, they’ve built up a head of steam at football because last time he played the Old School Akai/Roland Synth Modules HODAD again and are displaying some of that early ball hit him in the face and he cried. Sorry, Upright Piano, Fender Rhodes, Amps and great vibes. Residential recording studio in Sutton Courtenay. If you’re gonna do punk rock it’s best to agitation, to the point where the singer’s where were we? Oh yeah, self pitying floaty SONG & SUPPER www.courtyardrecordingstudio.co.uk go at it full pelt, get in and out as quick as shouted himself hoarse and the band are woaty inconsequentiality with a side order In-house producer: Ian Davenport www.ian-davenport.co.uk possible and leave a whole heap of mess barrelling down the road to pick on some ROOMS of boiled onions. Half the lines give up and Email: [email protected] for some other poor sod to clear up. Hodad softies. We’re always saying you need a bit And of course what we need after that become indecipherable as he’s singing them Phone: Kate on 01235 845800 pretty much pass with flying colours on of guile with your bile and in their brightest merry-go-round of mirth is something and he ends up reduced to going “oooooh, each of those scores, their flight-of-stairs- bits Holy Moments sound like they’re cheery and quirky and whimsical, right? oooooh” for the most part, like a simpering falling-down-a-flight-of-stairs garage rock capable of moments to remember in the Nice bit of cheeky chappie fun, yeah? simpleton attempting to communicate with a refusing to stand on ceremony for the most coming months. Really, fuck off. Just leave us with our bottle budgie. Still, he’s probably got more chance part, kicking the door down, necking a can of Laphroaig, our Michael Gira albums and of copping off with is gran’s pet bird than he of Tennant’s Super and fucking off back out our litany of regrets. Song & Supper Rooms has wooing a human female anytime soon. again in a compact one minute nine seconds FLATLANDS is the bedroom (and occasionally live) Self destructive, did you say? Mate, don’t let on their opening track, `Sunny D’, an ode A year ago plenty of people, ourselves project of singer and ukulele player John us stop you. to the sugar-heavy fruit juice substitute now included, were pointing to The Aureate Act Three state of the art rehearsal rooms. only sold in run-down former pit towns in as the new young band in town ready and For bookings. mid-Wales. Follow-up `Hodad’s Day At the waiting to stake a claim to the local prog- Send demos for review to: Nightshift, PO Box 312, Kidlington, OX5 1ZU, or email links to Beach’ clocks in at a whopping two minutes pop throne. Fast forward a few months and [email protected], clearly marked Demos. IMPORTANT: no review without Call Jamie on 07917685935 but does a similar job of making as much while they’re still apparently a going concern a contact phone number. If you can’t handle criticism, please don’t send us your demo. We Glasshouse studios, Cumnor, Oxford ramshackle noise as possible in the shortest they’re barely visible on the local gig circuit make no pretence to being fair, objective or open-minded and reserve the right to use juvenile glasshousestudios.org allotted time, but they lose their focus a and seem to have spawned at least one side insults while almost completely ignoring your music should we feel like it. Your Facebook bit on the (relatively) slow-burning `Real project, Flatlands being the work of singer/ friends are welcome to get all huffy on your behalf, but we’ll laugh at them too. facebook.com/o2academyoxford twitter.com/o2academyoxford instagram.com/o2academyoxford youtube.com/o2academytv

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