[email protected] @NightshiftMag NightshiftMag nightshiftmag.co.uk Free every month NIGHTSHIFT Issue 281 December Oxford’s Music Magazine 2018 “It’s a luxury to be in a band where everyone is competent at managing their own lives. It’s an undervalued trait amongst creative people.” GlassHertzzPhoto AND THE MOOGIEMAN MASOCHISTS Lyrical obscurities, pop eccentrics and musical dictatorships in the wonderful and frightening world of Oxford’s oddball outsiders. Also in this issue: THE CELLAR’s future hangs in the balance Introducing THE OVERLOAD Nightshift’s Tracks of the Year! plus All your Oxford music news, reviews, previews and five pages of local gigs for December 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

NICK COPE releases his sixth album this month. The former Candyskins frontman turned children’s songwriter releases `Have You Heard About Hugh?’ on the 8th December and features an array of local musicians, including folk singer Jackie Oates. Talking about his latest THE FUTURE OF THE CELLAR HUNG IN THE BALANCE set of family-friendly songs, Nick as Nightshift went to press. said: “The title track is a huge live As of the 20th November the crowdfunding campaign has raised over favourite about a poor hedgehog £55,000 – 69% of the total £80,000 needed to complete the construction stranded on the A32 with his mum work required on the building to allow it to regain its full capacity. A willing him on from the other side of safety inspection in July ruled the venue’s fire escape, which has stood the road; it’s edge of the seat stuff! for 40 years, was 30cm too narrow; consequently its capacity was cut to KYLIE MINOGUE is the first There are also songs about gender just 60, making the venue financially unviable. The safety inspection, by act to be announced for next year’s stereotyping, animal extinction, head sheer coincidence we’re sure, came shortly after Oxford City Council Nocturne Live season at Blenheim lice and redundant robots. It really is refused the building’s owners, the St Michael’s and All Saints charities, Palace. The Aussie star plays the one for all the family.” permission to turn the venue into retail storage space. Almost 15,000 palace on Sunday 23rd June 2019, Nick will launch the album with people signed a petition opposing the planning application. the final night of the annual four-day three special Christmas shows at The crowdfunding campaign, which was launched at the end of October, festival. Support comes from Sophie The Jacqueline du Pre Building on offered music fans a number of rewards for donations, including the Ellis Bextor and The Hackney Monday 3rd December. All shows are chance to own Philip Selway’s snare drum which he used for the recoding Colliery Band. sold out. Get your Nick fix at of Radiohead’s `In Rainbows’ as well as numerous tours. Other rewards Nocturne Live will run from www.nickcope.co.uk. included the chance to become a patron of The Cellar; a private DJ set at Thursday 20th June til the Sunday. home from Count Skylarkin’; a professional band photo-shoot, gig tickets, 2018’s line-up featured headline sets OXFORD AUTHOR JAMES signed posters, t-shirts and even the chance to star on a mocked-up front from Nile Rodgers & Chic, Noel PETTIER has a new book, Meet cover of Nightshift. Over 1,300 people had so far contributed to the total, Gallagher’s High Flyin’ Birds, Gary You In Atlantic City, published but with less than a week left of the campaign, a substantial amount was Barlow, and Elvis Costello. this month. The Oxford University still needed to save the iconic local venue, which hosted some of the earliest Tickets for the Kylie show are on lecturer in Balkan history’s book is a hometown shows for local stars Foals (pictured at the venue), Stornoway, sale now at www.nocturnelive.com. cultural history, philosophical journey Glass Animals and Young Knives. The Cure, The National and Mumford & and travelogue of Bruce Springsteen’s Sons are among the international stars who have played The Cellar over the THE PURPLE TURTLE has home state of New Jersey and is 38 years it has existed as a live music venue. th closed down. The club, situated set against the backdrop of 2007’s So, if you’re reading this before the 27 November and haven’t yet had in Frewin Court, next door to The `Magic’ album and tour as well as the the chance to contribute, please visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk, or search Cellar, shut its doors for the last out #Cellarforever on Twitter and Facebook. If the total isn’t reached, Iraq war and Bush administration. th time on Saturday 24th November Meet You In Atlantic City is published the venue will close forever on the 13 December and an essential after failing to come to agreement by Oxford’s Signal Books. cornerstone of Oxford’s live music scene will be lost, along with four on a new contract with landlords decades of history. The Oxford Union. A statement on MUZOAKADEMY host a benefit Meanwhile The Wheatsheaf has put a temporary stop to amplified the club’s Facebook said: “we have gig for The 7 Cs Foundation on live music in the pub’s downstairs bar after Oxford City Council received been negotiating our new lease with Saturday 1st December at Langdale a noise complaint from a resident. The venue has also brought the curfew the Oxford Union over the last few Hall in Witney. The academy, which for gigs in the upstairs venue forward slightly until further notice. months and unfortunately, much to was recently evicted from its home The complaint was made by a someone who moved into nearby our disappointment, we have not at the Rock Barn after the council accommodation while the Wheatsheaf was undergoing its refurbishment been able to come to an arrangement passed plans to build luxury flats on over the summer, and while the complaint was not directly related to the that would allow us to remain in the site, has temporarily relocated volume of live music, gigs are now affected. Frewin Court, our home for the last to the Witney Music Rooms while it The story echoes so many from around the UK in recent years of twenty years. fundraises for a new permanent home. established venues being closed down or severely restricted by noise “We’ve been asked to vacate the The gig, run alongside Witney complaints brought by people moving into flats, often new builds, nearby. premises by the 30th of November. Music Festival, features a headline An Agent of Change principle, which campaigners hope will put a stop to So, this week is our last, at least here set from ska tribute band The 2-Tone such complaints, is still before parliament. Former Oxford-based rapper anyway, we will be back once we Allska’s, with support from New ShaoDow was among those who recently put evidence to a government find a new home and we hope you’ll Depth, Papercut, The Dollymops committee considering the proposed law change. The Wheatsheaf has all come along with us, after all it’s and MOFO. Live music runs from hosted live music since the 1980s. never been the building that makes midday. The 7 Cs subsidises music the Turtle, it’s the Turtle that makes lessons for disadvantaged children the building.” and adults or people with disabilities. 95.2fm. The dedicated local music OXFORD GIGBOT provides While never a regular gig venue, Tickets and more info on the event’s show plays the best Oxford releases a regular local gig listing update The Purple Turtle has hosted live Facebook page. and demos as well as featuring on Twitter (@oxgigbot), bringing music over the years and was an interviews and sessions with local you new gigs as soon as they go integral part of the annual Oxford AS EVER, don’t forget to tune into acts. The show is available to stream live. They also provide a free Punt showcase of new Oxford talent, BBC Oxford Introducing every or download as a podcast at weekly listings email. Just contact run by Nightshift. Saturday night between 8-9pm on bbc.co.uk/oxford. [email protected] to join. A Quiet Word With Clare H: “After knowing Shan for so thing but I definitely think that the is that a conscious thing? him yet. There is that one about the long, it was just inevitable we would peculiarly English type of eccentric “More or less. I deliberately tried death of Rosa Luxemburg and I’d like AND THE play in the same band, and since I appeals to me. Maybe it’s because I to keep the basis of each song very to do an album or EP commemorating bought a saxophone, Shan has asked didn’t grow up in this country, I’m simple: the repeated first four notes the 100 year anniversary of the end MASOCHISTS for the occasional crazy sax solo. quite aware of how English I am, of the major scale played at different of the German Revolution, involving MOOGIEMAN Masochists have to pass an entrance while not being entirely English. Dan speeds for `Submarine’; playing a the murder of Rosa Luxemburg and turned up again after the first practice. exam with questions on vintage Treacy and Television Personalities very simple chord progression but culminating in the crushing of the I didn’t really play drums but I just cameras and Casio keyboards before stand out because their strangeness is cycling through every major key for Bavarian Socialist Republic, which said yes.” they are admitted to the band” quite understated. It’s not shouting, `Now I Am Alive’; a straightforward Toller led for a short period.” Shan: “Both. Everyone has a ‘look at us, aren’t we odd’ but it really lyrical theme for `Doppelganger’, Despite their esoteric nature, do you The ongoing expansion of distinctive personality and strong is unique. Another big inspiration is and just staying the same chord with think there are universal truths in Moogieman & the Masochists to its musical ability but the key thing is David Tibet of Current 93 and Nurse a motorik beat for `Mister Curator’. your songs? GlassHertzzPhoto current five-piece incarnation almost being able to not play for substantial With Wound, who also has a clear We could then be quite playful on top “Universal may be stretching it but feels like a slowly burgeoning cult, periods.” Syd Barrett influence.” of that.” I do look for stories about human with Shan picking up acolytes as his Vincent: “The clue is in the name. I Despite the name, Moogieman began The EP’s highlight – and arguably courage, frailty or absurdity and musical reputation grew. turn up and find Shan’s written a new life very much as one-man-and-his- Moogieman’s best song to date, then use the technology or historical “Vincent has been with me from near song that’s stranger than the last one, guitar project, albeit quite unlike so `Mister Curator’ owes an obvious setting as a backdrop.” the start, after I met him at a musical and I just have to go away and learn many of mopey old bores who clutter debt to The Fall – particularly their Going back to the camera album, improv night called Beetroot Jam,” it. I don’t ask too many questions.” up the Nightshift demo pages. Having classic `Totally Wired’. Was there any which arcane technology would you recalls Shan. “I made him play drums Is the Masochists name ironic, slowly but surely morphed into a full trepidation in writing something in like to see make a comeback? for a while so he’d appreciate being then? Is the band a dictatorship or a band over the subsequent eight years, the style of such an individual band? “I think a fluidic triode-based the bassist more.” democracy? what does Shan feel has changed and Is Mark E Smith someone who’d synth – a device using hydraulics “Claire Le Master joined after I Shan: “It’s definitely not a what has stayed the same from those been an influence on Shan? or pneumatics to create sound in met her at the Catweazle open mic. democracy. More like an encounter initial musical forays? “I wanted to commemorate him in the same way as an analogue synth She’s an incredibly talented vocalist group with firm spiritual leadership.” but without electricity could be but also great at being a supporting Clare H: “It’s more of a feudal interesting. It would be operated by musician – playing synths and system, reminiscent of Game of “The band is definitely not a democracy. large taps that you turn with a wheel.” percussion as required. I’d like her to Thrones.” More like an encounter group with firm `I Left My Camera on the Moon’ sing more but she’s often a bit tied up Vincent: “I’m a great believer in a off the album and based on the story doing repetitive lines, which are often well-run dictatorship. So far no one’s spiritual leadership.” of astronaut Eugene Cernan leaving the most difficult things to play and been executed. Though we never saw his camera behind in 1972, might be not mess up. that first bass player again. I think “It’s more consistent now. The some way and had already come up one of the great regret songs of all “I’ve known Clare Heaviside since he may have suggested Shan should band initially grew more by luck with the title, which is reminiscent of time; does Shan have any great regret working with her in London in the smile more on stage.” than design and was usually several `Mr. Pharmacist’. I had to approach of his own and is it better to regret early 2000s. She plays the clarinet but Shan: “He was just too good.” steps behind the music I’d already it by trying to make it sound like something you have done, or haven’t? when she bought a saxophone two Vincent: “One thing the band recorded.” Talking Heads or Lou Reed and “I learned the answer to that from years ago it was a golden opportunity definitely is, is organised. That’s “As a three piece, we used to have a then I was a bit worried the band or the intro to Butthole Surfers’ `Locust to incorporate a new textural element. mostly Shan, but it’s a luxury to whole load of instrument swapping, audiences would ask ‘what is this Abortion Technician’ but an early “I asked Stefano to join the band for be in a band where everyone is sometimes mid-song, which was fun pretentious rip-off?’ It might have song of mine, `Louis Bleriot’s our album launch last year before basically competent at managing their but shambolic,” adds Vincent. “We’re helped that I’m not really a serious Moustache’, re-examined the ever hearing him play anything. It own lives. It’s an undervalued trait bigger and slicker live than we ever Fall fan, given the amount of material question and suggested that after was a bit of a risk but my hunch that amongst creative people.” were. I think we’re all happier now you have to get into. But I have a agreeing to a sexual proposition from he was just what we needed proved Claire LM: “I think it takes an we get to play one thing we’re good friend who used to play their albums a dentally challenged Greek sailor correct. And otherwise I wouldn’t extreme kind of masochism to be a at. Weirdly, we can fit in one car as a to me all the time.” for 300 drachmas (about 50 quid) I’d “My head probably is writing songs about obscure historical punk guitars, obtuse lyricism and know how to recruit a drum machine musician in this century. We’re just five-piece, which we never could as a rather regret things I hadn’t done. In still up my arse, though I’d like to figures like Otto Runge, involved in sense of childish wonderment and player.” more overt about it.” three because we were carting around Prior to `Doppleganger’, real life I declined the proposition and think I occasionally pull it out and the murder of Rosa Luxembourg, and mischief that infects so much of the seventeen different instruments.” Moogieman & the Masochists I don’t regret that at all.” take stock of what’s going on around rare cosmic phenomena like Wolf Moogieman universe. While Shan remains the Born in Singapore, Shan Claire LM: “A couple years ago it released the eighteen-song ‘Girls me these days. My tongue is still Rayet stars. He and his Masochists creative heart of Moogieman & the moved to the UK at the age of ten, was a bit ramshackle. We had one & Film’, an album entirely about Finally, given Moogieman pretty much always in my cheek also released an entire album of That sax comes courtesy Masochists, the current line-up has living in York for a couple of years band member playing synth, two analogue cameras and some variously & the Masochists’ eccentric though.” songs about analogue photography of Claire Heaviside, better known lifted his songs to a whole new level. before moving to Oxford in 1990 drum machines and a floor tom, technical and fanciful stories musical and lyrical nature, what last year (Girls & Film’), all of as part of The Balkan Wanderers The eccentricity remains very much and works as an editor on secondary sometimes simultaneously and Shan behind them. Alongside those songs have been the best, worst and So says Shan Shriharan, which is a world and a bit away from (currently on hiatus) and the latest intact but while previously we might school maths textbooks and digital would be playing all the sax parts on about Wolf-Rayet stars and barely weirdest reactions Shan has had aka Moogieman, singer, songwriter hackneyed boy-meets-girl tropes. In recruit to the Masochists. She joins have listened to his songs through a resources. The city’s enthusiasm for a harmonica while playing the guitar. remembered historical figures it’s from gig goers? Does he feel his and genial dictator-in-chief of Moogieman’s world, romantic break- fellow Claire, LeMaster, who sings fug of bemusement, amusement and academic eccentricity makes it a Turns out all we needed was more obvious Shan has a love for the style of music attracts a particularly Moogieman & the Masochists, the ups tend to be rendered through the and plays keys and was previously a feeling of intellectual inferiority, perfect home for Moogieman – the hands.” obscure. What attracts him to such idiosyncratic type of fan? five-strong collective of lo-fi pop prism of laws of physics and snatches in A Reluctant Arrow, as well as new songs like `Mister Curator’ musical moniker Shan took from a esoteric subjects, what is the most “There have been people who were oddballs whose steady stream of of financial advice advertising, as on drummer Stefano Maio and bass and `Submarine’ are full-on pop childhood nickname. More hands has obscure subject he’s ever written convinced I’m an astronaut. People idiosyncratic songs has thrilled and older song `Popper on Poppers’. player Vincent Lynch, the longest- gems. What, we wonder, attracted “I grew up torn between a culture certainly made light work of about and can he envisage making a often have great ideas for subjects I befuddled the Oxford music scene serving member of the band after the various members to join Shan on that disparaged non-guitar music and the band’s new EP, their most concept album or EP again in future? should write about – 1980s computer since the start of the decade. Moogieman & the Shan. his journey, and whether ability or secretly liking synths. But the name accomplished and accessible work “That’s a tough one. Maybe the games, X-ray films, cold fusion Shan is responding to Nightshift’s Masochists are also some distance “The rule seems to be that the newest attitude is the most important factor Moogieman comes from a school to date. International Obfuscated C Code – and talk about them at length. question about our first ever review of off what passes for traditional indie member of the band has to play the in fitting into the musical world he nickname that no one persisted with, “I’m generally happiest with the Contest or Saint Simon Stylites, who Playing in a different outfit many one of his demos, back in 2011, when and rock music, all five highly drums,” says Vincent, who started off creates. from my full first name Shanmugan. last thing I’ve done,” agrees Shan. spent 37 years living on top of a 50 years ago I once had members of the we said, “If Moogieman could just individual members each bringing in that position before Stefano joined; Claire LM: “Attitude. A love of In order to fit the name I envisaged “Musically anyway, but there was a metre high pillar. The themes either band we were supporting shouting take his tongue out of his cheek, his their personalities to bear on Shan’s “Claire can’t really play drums either, repetitive rhythms, synth pop, standing behind a stack of Moogs but deliberate decision to demo the songs emerge from associations I’ve had abuse at us during our set. It was an face out of a thesaurus and his head warped’n’wonderful musical world but she joined after me so I was battery-operated everything and I haven’t won the lottery yet.” then play them as band for a while in the past, like friends who entered enlivening experience and in some from out of his own arse, he might view, which takes in synth-pop, allowed to move to bass. As of now an obsession with pressing buttons Despite his roots, Shan falls into before recording them, and keeping the Obfuscated C competition or I’m ways it’s a shame audiences are so have something.” psychedelia, punk, jazz, folk and we have four drummers in the band, and turning knobs. It’s really fun to a highly Anglo-specific tradition them as the band plays them. So I grabbed by a story, like the strike on polite these days.” It was intended as a compliment of some stuff they found down the back and we’ve just dispensed with having come into rehearsal and never know of oddball musicians, singers and think that was a really good approach, board the third Skylab mission – a sorts, and thankfully taken in that of the sofa on the set of a forgotten a physical kit altogether. whether you’re going to be playing a lyricists: people like Syd Barrett, but I’ll obviously do something forerunner of the International Space `Doppleganger’ is out now on All spirit, but as Shan says, his tongue 80s children’s TV show. “At the start it was just me and Shan. new piece of technology or learning Television Personalities’ Dan Treacy, different next time.” Station. Will Be Well Records. Hear it at remains firmly in his cheek and he The band’s latest release, a four-song At that point I was in every band a triangle solo. We click in a really Robyn Hitchcock and Momus. Beneath the shifting styles, synths “I mentioned (ill-fated German moogieman.bandcamp.com. The hasn’t put that thesaurus down yet, EP titled `Doppleganger’, is their best that would have me. I agreed to play great way creatively and I’m not “I love all those. David Byrne and and psychedelia there sounds like playwright and revolutionary) Ernst band play Gappy Tooth Industry’s nor his books of historic and scientific yet, a bustling mix of buzzing sax, percussion because Shan already had afraid to be a bit silly and mess about Jonathan Richman also spring to there’s a real childish sense of Toller to Nightshift before but I Christmas show at The Wheatsheaf th esoterica, which have led to him Toytown keyboards, fractured, post- a bassist, though the bassist never in rehearsal.” mind, so it’s not just an Anglo-centric playfulness at work on the new songs; haven’t actually written a song about on Saturday 15 December. Sponsored by artists just directly reproduce what their fans already know, but the truly exciting ones grab the opportunity with both hands and sometimes produce something extraordinary, as Rosie has with this EP. RELEASED ‘We Could Have A Meadow’ opens not with the expected acoustic guitar, but reverb-drenched CANDY SAYS SELF HELP strings and bass line that draw the listener to the verdant world Rosie paints with her lyrics. ‘You Are Beautiful; We ‘Self Help’s Organic The whole EP is full of unknown, experimental percussion jumping in and out; there is muted Are All Beautiful’ Noise Kitchen’ piano; samples of footsteps on dirt; soft organic (Beanie Tapes) (Self released) textures and plenty more besides are delicately There’s a moment in `London’, the lead track on There’s a description of Self Help on their placed in such a way that you can’t imagine the Candy Says’ comeback EP where Julia Walker Facebook page that makes me want to burn collage without them. soars above the clockwork clutter of benignly everything down: “Wacky garage pop”. This All of this beautiful sound is completed by haunted toys and buzzing electropop, pure and brings to mind Blink 182, grown-ups wearing Caldecott’s warm and intimate vocal that stands plaintive, a simple line, “Oh, I need air,” and cargo shorts, Timmy Mallett, and awkwardly self- with, not on top of, the accompaniment. The you think: “that is really something special.” The conscious music that’s so far from invention and ROSIE CALDECOTT lyrics have a refreshing poetry and pastoral PET SEMATARY song is a work of art, it really is. And you know enjoyment that it’s almost painful. So, it’s a more- quality; ultimately you’re left thinking of Keats what – it’s not even the best track on the EP. than-pleasant surprise that – on the basis of this ‘The Lost Gardens’ and Heaney, not Feist or Laura Marling, who are ‘Volume 1’ There’s something a little magical about Candy six-track EP – Oxford four-piece Self Help are in (Upcycled Sounds) otherwise legitimate points of reference. (Self released) Says’ simplicity, the playful trinketry of the fact spectacularly good. The singer-songwriter format is tried and trusted: ‘The Lost Gardens’ is musically fascinating, If it’s a bunch of party bangers to get you dancing instrumentation and the way it leaves Julia so There was a point in musical history – around a lone creative on stage with nothing but six lyrically engaging, and an uncommon and round the kitchen you’re after, look away now. much space to add the heart and soul to the `Crave Easy’. From its ominous rising synth hum the first-half-to-first-three-quarters of the 1990s strings, a box of wood and a way with words beautiful reflection on the natural world and a Since she first made her debut on the local scene machinery behind her, the aching humanity amid and disco beats to Julia’s urgent, claustrophobic – when a crop of (largely American, but not to wow an audience, and this is exactly how I very human relationship with it. ‘Where Once under the name Coldredlight at The Punt in 2016, the efficient factory skitter. Even on the glitchier pleading, it’s Candy Says in battle mode: hitting exclusively so) indie guitar bands mixed post- first encountered Oxford native Rosie Caldecott. There Was Green’, the final of these five tracks, Gaby Elise Monaghan’s siren songs have been a songs – the phuture r’n’b of `Ocean’, for the dancefloor with teeth and claws bared. But grunge noise with the rambunctious indie-pop However, the thing about working in a studio with is just acoustic guitar and vocal, but after the discomfortingly wraith-like presence. That band example, those two forces are in perfect tandem. even then there’s seduction as much as menace, of the 1980s. Labels like Slumberland and a great team – in this case local label Upcycled previous four songs, it feels like a change of underwent myriad line-up experiments and have The duo hark back to classic 80s synth-pop OMD and Moroder leading a panicked waltz at Simple Machines operated just below the radar, Sounds – is that such a talent can flourish, explore tact, not a return to expected roots, and adds a since become Le Feye, but at its heart was always on a regular basis: `Gravity’ with its echo of the end of the night. It is, without exaggeration, a and bands like Lilys and Built To Spill poked sounds and arrangements that you can’t take to grounded ending to the journey. Gaby’s racked yet sleepy-eyed voice, which Eurythmics, and the almost Numan-esque synths stunning piece of music, and the fact Candy Says their headstocks into the mainstream with cute, Catweazle, or any other gig for that matter. Some Matt Chapman Jones could impart hurt and spite in equally intoxicating on `Ghost’, the closest Candy Says keep to the remain cult local faves rather than global chart- complicated, enjoyable and creative guitar-based fashion. Pet Sematary is her solo project, one contemplative `Brexitwave’ of their initial rebirth bothering stars… well, ain’t that the world’s loss. noise-pop. Self Help, given a time machine, intended to help her process an emotionally two years ago. But the absolute stand-out here is Dale Kattack could slot into that scene quite easily. They’ve KANADIA ZURICH traumatic year, and it might just be her best work. artfully eschewed the points of failure of many There’s always a slightly voyeuristic feeling other up-and-coming bands – those being, largely, ‘Poison’ ‘While You Sleep’ listening to a musician work out their turmoil unfurls like an approaching storm. obsessing over sounding like various points of (Self released) (Self released) (none more so on Nick Cave’s heartbreaking As ever, The August List have the knack of Simple Minds’ career, making sure that their It’s hard to think of a less fashionable musical With new material supposedly in the offing soon `Skeleton Tree’), but such feelings tend to push capturing the ambience of landscape – usually ‘brand’ is strong, and that their recordings sound genre in the current age than stadium rock. Long from Brooklyn synth rockers Liars, the wait has an artist to their most creative and these warmly desolate and slightly dangerous – and spinning as professionally bland as possible – and instead and perhaps unfairly disdained in alternative been made less of a problem with the release bleak mood pieces are less a cheap holiday in it into dark musical gold. The world would they upchuck six songs full of energy, verve, circles, of late even the mainstream has begun of Zurich’s new single, ‘While You Sleep’. someone else’s misery, more the feeling of being probably be a sunnier place without their music, twisty melodies and a sense of joie de vivre that is to turn up its collective nose. Disregarded for its Accompanied by a delightfully woozy and off stranded overnight on an island of ghosts. but it would also be far colder and considerably beautifully listenable. perceived maleness, its whiteness, its bombast kilter keyboard refrain, the track showcases a EP opener `Tall Boys’ is desolate gothic folk, the less interesting. I hope that Self Help don’t change too much. and its reactionary stance, cultural commentators subtle alteration in direction for the band. music hovering in the peripheries to allow Gaby’s Dale Kattack This EP could represent a perfect moment for a have queued up to take pot shots at this most Comparisons have been drawn with Interpol, voice centre stage, while the likes of `Tell You band: the point at which they’re together enough earnest of musical styles. The Killers and Depeche Mode, and while those About It’ carry the midnight black of shoegaze to write, record and release six gems, but before Kanadia deserve credit for the gusto with which influences can certainly be felt, there’s clearly a at its sparsest and `Candle’ captures the sound of FLIGHTS OF HELIOS they start to think about where they’re going and they face out all such objections. In the recent new determination to dally with experimentation, choral voices becoming the wind wuthering at the what comes next. Maybe I’m wrong, and they movie Bohemian Rhapsody there was fascination as signalled by their recent collaboration with window. Lyrically the EP covers the several stages ‘Magpie’ / ‘Beast’ are in fact carefully orchestrating every move. If to be had in seeing the on screen version of Dolly Mavies on the track ‘Where You’ve Been’. of break-up in the wake of a cheating lover, from (Self released) that’s the case, I’m sad. Maybe they are “wacky Queen strut their stuff in the early days at small While that track played with r’n’b cadences “I can’t make him stay” and “I feel dizzy, I feel Following their long awaited debt album, garage pop”, as they combine entertainingly arch clubs and venues, pretending to grandeur despite and a more pop sensibility, ‘While You Sleep’, weak, I’m wasting away” to the redemptive “But `Endings’, in January, Flights of Helios bookend lyrics with high-speed melodic ramshacklement. a grotty backdrop of Watney’s Red Barrel and feintly sinister title not excluded, retreats into I’m strong now and I love myself”, although the THE AUGUST LIST 2018 it with this new single, `Magpie’ inspired by If so, the only change I really think they need to distressed corkboard. Ditto, and without being darker territory, the synthetic keyboard backdrop almost witchy “won’t you waste with me?” best Alan Moore’s Unearthing and finding the band make is to come up with a better description for in any way patronising, there’s something recalling recent Ritual Union participants exemplifies Gaby’s ability to mood turn quicker ‘Distorted Mountain’ in unusually tense and urgent mood, singer Chris themselves. They deserve it. entirely admirable about passion and thunder Suuns, generally building with slow menace but than a cat. (Self released) Beard almost reprising the uptight delivery of Simon Minter in the confines of The Cellar (save it!) or The punctuated as the song progresses with bursts of Music is built on hurt and heartache (at least the Having enjoyed such a successful 2017, releasing his previous bands Harry Angel and These Are Wheatsheaf. explosive guitar and a stately keyboard march. It’s music Nightshift listens to is) and many thousand the superb `Ramshackle Tabernacle’ album and Our Demands over an understatedly frenzied On ‘Poison’, a suitably dramatic single that classic indie as if The Chameleons of their heyday songwriters have been here before, but Pet topping Nightshift’s tracks of the year, The August outpouring of guitar fuzz that the band themselves provides a hint of the album to follow in had been let loose in a modern day recording Sematary is an excellent addition to a timeless List have had a quiet 2018, but they’ve not been accurately link back to Echo & the Bunnymen’s February, Kanadia light the blue touch paper studio and provides further evidence of the class canon and Gaby’s loss is music’s very significant idle it seems, delivering this new single before `The Cutter’. It’s a timely reminder that Beard with aplomb. To an imagined backdrop of of this hard working quartet. gain. Christmas hits – though sadly just too late to has one of the most powerful and versatile voices a thousand hillside candles, vocalist James Rob Langham Dale Kattack bother this year’s Top 25 vote – ahead of a full EP in Oxford, capable of both languorous, almost Bettis emotes while the wall of guitar builds up early in 2019. hymnal serenity and, as here, a wired intensity, behind him, ascending to an almighty Nick Drake / John Martyn / Vashti Bunyan `Distorted Mountain’ sounds like it could have like someone’s fed Anohni a bag of speed and crescendo and a widening wall of sound ZANDER SHARP leanings. He continues in similarly whimsical been plucked from `Ramshackle Tabernacle’, with recruited her into a gothic post-punk band. entirely fitting for a winter night’s listening, ‘After You’ fashion on the hushed, harmony-led `Small Talk’, its glowering atmosphere and Kerraleigh Child’s Chris is back to more relaxed musings on Melissa Marshall’s agonised keyboards pleasantly rustic if hardly pushing any envelopes, witchily acrobatic vocal performance, sounding `Beast’, even as he’s contemplating the nature providing emotional heft. There’s enough that is (Upcycled Sounds) but the poppy, slightly oddball `Underground’ like she’s casting a spell over the land while airing of humanity, musically the band stepping back intelligent and indeed ‘alternative’ here to keep More folk-with-a-twist from the prolific Upcycled and airy, plaintive EP closer `Play on Words’ see her grief over a lost love. Martin reprises the from the earlier brink to swim in calmer waters, the more educated music fan occupied and that Sounds, this time round from label mainstay him up his game a bit, bringing a more focussed gloomy guitar drones of tracks like `Wilderness’ part shoegaze swoon and shimmer, part post-rock LP is already promising to be a landmark of Zander Sharp, whose soft, sleepy-eyed voice sense of melody to play while sticking close to his and `Petrified Forest’, while violinist Ben Heaney abstraction and part elegant folksiness. early 2019. lends itself well to the gentle, soulful acoustic pop gentle-natured formula. ramps up the tension and turbulence as the song Ian Chesterton Rob Langham of EP opener `Settlements’, with its undeniable Sue Foreman 10. MEANS OF the longest “song” released by an Oxford act but edge, here searching for solace in the desolation, it’s still getting its boots on at the point most others her voice part Temazepam haze, part fight or fright PRODUCTION: ‘The Depths’ in this list have packed up for the day. We’d say it nervousness, but all kinds of wonderful. TRACKS OF OUR YEAR A synthophile’s wet dream, Means of Production was a beast of a track but that would be to ignore The end of another year and one that has yet again proven Oxford’s music scene is claustrophobic tale of being trapped by unstoppable captured the raw futuristic primitism of 70s synth- its intricacy and grace: the instrumental track 21. RHYMESKEEMZ feat. pop and welded it to acid house, Tim and Jeremy ridiculously rich in depth. So much so that even in a year when few of the local big guns malevolent forces underpinned by Hannah Bruce’s (bar some sampled air traffic control voices from Day’s most recent single sounding like someone 9/11) built around a single guitar melody, repeated TIECE: ‘I Want In’ – Radiohead; Foals; Ride; Glass Animals – released new music, we could still have filled neatly layered guitars, lending the song an air of haunted grandeur. The band’s debut album is due locked Depeche Mode and A Guy Called Gerald slowly and languorously over a hefty, thudding Rhymeskeemz was the rap hero Oxford had been this list twice over. Nightshift’s scribes and snappers voted for their favourites and there early next year and you should be very excited. But in a Cold War nuclear bunker and told them they rhythm, drawn in and out of moods as it progresses waiting for since ShaoDow left town to travel the was almost universal consensus on this year’s winner – so huge congratulations to SELF also slightly afraid. couldn’t come out until they’d made something that in stately style. world and his debut album didn’t disappoint, taking HELP, who top our traditional end of year round up of the best Oxford songs of the resembled genius. This stark, monochrome slice of a hip hop trip back to 90s East Coast Boombap, year. These are our picks, feel free to make your own list – or head over to the Nightshift silicon sorcery proves they succeeded. inspired by Nas and Eminem along the way and 6. MEEF CHALOIN & 16. INNER PEACE here teaming up with local soul siren Tiece for Facebook page to express your adoration / disgust… ASHER DUST: ‘Angry Soul’ 11. MSRY: ‘Safety First’ RECORDS: ‘The Forge’ an alternately sultry and contemplative slice of Easily one of the best summer albums of the year This year’s most ironically titled song given The title track to the nebulous but creatively laidback piano-led rap which, if there’s any justice was the second full-length collaboration between MSRY’s predilection for self-laceration in the cohesive collective’s album was also its highlight, out there, would see him enjoying the sort of producer Meef Chaloin and singer / sound name of rock and roll glory. Metalcore stripped of all fluid rhymes and conscious messaging, success that has been Loyle Carner’s of late. explorer Asher Dust, the pair bonding over a love all fripperies, it’s an absolute blast in every sense, the song’s anti-violence message joining up of classic dub reggae and sonic experimentation. Kial Churcher’s hysterical scream’n’rasp pulling the swords-into-ploughshares movement, the 22. LOW ISLAND: The record’s sleeve recalled Prince Jammy the careering drums and shredded guitars by their repetition of history and the fight for social justice and Scientist and musically looked to them for hair into the moshpit, there to make sure everyone over Palmer Eldritch’s eastern motifs, any egos ‘I Can See Through’ From its glacial, Sigur Ros-like piano intro, `I inspiration, while taking inventive side roads left bloodied and everything broken. If there’s an subsumed to the collective whole in stylish fashion. Can See Through’ offered a view of a slightly photo: Helen Messenger along the way, and this lead track from the album A&E crisis going on, you can probably blame different Low Island to the one we’re used to was an absolute beast: it might well be renamed MSRY. At the same time you can thank them for 17. MOOGIEMAN & seeing on festival stages, getting their groove on. `Lee `Scratch’ Perry and the Upsetters meet Nine keeping hardcore hardcore. Instead the song is almost hymnal, its groove not Inch Nails Downtown’ as dirty electronics snake THE MASOCHISTS: so much chilled as positively icy, although there is and throb beneath Asher’s gothic soul. It also 12. THE GREAT WESTERN ‘Mister Curator’ real warmth in the band’s richly textured electro- features our favourite lyric of the year: “Welcome Along with “never meet your heroes,” you could pop and it’s one of singer Jamie Jay’s best vocal to the fuckwits carnival.” TEARS: ‘Let It Storm’ add “never try to emulate The Fall” to a list of For all that its accompanying video climaxed performances to date. musical don’ts, but since when has the mercurial with a man fighting a giant flurry shark in a field, Moogiemen ever paid heed to pop’s rules? He 7. DOLLY MAVIES: Great Western Tears’ single was their best yet, and and his band of merry mavericks keep it lo-fi and 23. RAINBOW a pretty dark adventure to boot. A man awakes ‘Distance’ playful even as they bring some of Mark E Smith’s With a brace of singles, `My Buoy’ and confused to find a length of sodden ship’s rope RESERVOIR: ‘Podium Girls’ motorik grooving and vocal snarl to this lopsided Angela Space’s punk comes embellished with the `Distance’, Molly Davies, who became Dolly in his room, which he follows into the deep, dark chunk of psychedelic garage pop, buzzing sax, Mavies for musical matters, created a sense of woods. The soundtrack to this is a turbulent storm hairclips and dimpled grins of vintage twee pop, 1. SELF HELP: ‘Get On With It’ fractured post-punk guitars and Toytown synth Last month Self Help were on the cover, grinning like the kids who got all the cake and deservedly so, being adrift from the world, floating away on an of country blues where singers Dava Waterhouse and for every buzzsaw guitar rasp and declamatory building up a `Totally Wired’-like head of steam since no other band caused such a frenzy of excitement locally in 2018 as this quartet, who could mix endless ocean, perhaps to escape the woes of the and Fern Thornton trade verses, sounding like shout of norm-slapping individuality, there’s pure, unadulterated exuberance with pure, unadulterated noisy bastardness and make it look and sound world. Her hushed and ethereal semi-acoustic Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra jamming with even as it all sounds wonderfully like it doesn’t toyshop chintziness and cutesy melody, not to say like it was as easy as breathing and as much fun as a box of kittens. While their live shows were ebullient pop, with an edge of drama, coupled with her Shack, Ben Heaney’s malevolently swirling violin quite know where it’s headed. an irresistible singalong chorus just round every celebrations of youthful musical zest and belligerent displays of firepower all at once, the band’s new crystal-cut, slightly breathless voice, made ramping up the intensity. An epic piece of music. corner. This bouncy-as-a-bunny highlight of her EP showed they could write cracking pop songs into the bargain, and this track, released as a single in `Distance’ sound like it was only attached to the 18. BRICKWORK band’s debut album `Channel Hannah’ took aim at November, was everything we love about Self Help: joy as a musical weapon. A song to leap around corporeal world by a strand of spider’s silk. A plastics and airheads but did so with such a sweet 13. KANADIA: ‘Masterplan’ LIZARDS: ‘Ya Raya’ smile on its face her targets probably didn’t even your living room to, hug complete strangers in the moshpit to, break all your furniture to and sing along song to listen to under the stars, armed only with When Kanadia’s long-awaited debut album is Bringing a ray of Mediterranean sunshine to realise just how ruthlessly they were being mocked. to from the top of mountains or tall building. It’s an absolute blast from start to finish, and since it’s just a bottle of Rioja and a small army of sad kittens released in February there’s every chance it’ll be three minutes long, you can rewind and play it again and again til they come to take you away. for company. Oxford’s music scene for almost a decade and a visible from space, such is the Abingdon-based half, Brickwork Lizards’ mix of Egyptian, Turkish quartet’s dedication to creating stadium-sized and Balkan traditions alongside 1930s swing and 24. THE COOLING 2. CATGOD: ‘Heartbeat In from a phenomenal singer, driven by defiance 8. GAZ COOMBES: pop. `Masterplan’ is a straight-up, slow burning, even the odd foray into hip hop hits its peak with PEARLS: ‘Pablo Picasso, You and insecurity. After reflection, sadness and soul ‘Walk The Walk’ anthemic rock tune, but this is Kanadia playing to this fusion feast, Tariq Bashir’s flowing baritone My Hand’ searching, this is Candy Says in fight mode. their considerable strengths; it’s cut from the same interspersed with Tom O’Hawk’s deep, staccato Helped To Paint My Life’ Gaz has done a remarkable job of musical cloth as early Muse or `The Bends’-era Radiohead, Well this is all really rather lovely. Seriously, this raps, the whole thing wrapped up in an updated Eight years on from their last album, The Cooling reinvention since disbanding Supergrass a decade from its gentle intro, through a smouldering Pearls finally unfurled its successor, still sounding is really lovely. If the chorus to `Heartbeat In My 4. THE OTHER DRAMAS: take on traditional folk sounds that transport you ago, bringing an almost autumn-of-life sense introspective vocal verse from James Bettis to its like the last waltz before the lights go out forever. Hand’ had physical form it’d be a sliver of cake straight back to the banks of the Bosphorus or a of reflection to bear on his solo albums. He’s polished, soaring finale. While the centre point of the band’s dark, folky made of snowdrops and angel tears that melted the ‘The Future Is A Holiday’ Cairo souk. continued to expand his palette of influences gothic pop is Aiden Canaday’s sonorous but moment it touched your tongue. Cat Marriott is If last year’s `Radio’, itself a Top 10 entry, proved along the way too, like this, one of several stand- vulnerable vocal lead, Sian Lloyd-Pratchett’s cello possessed of a pure, limpid, slightly smoky voice to be The Other Dramas’ pivotal moment, proving 14. DESERT STORM: they had the melodies to match the garage-pop out moments from `World’s Strongest Man’, 19. LEADER: ‘Open Skies’ and violin really give the band their atmospheric that recalls Karen Carpenter and Eva Cassidy, and which sounds like a bizarre but pleasing mash- If John Lewis famously boast they are never heart, here sounding like the walls of a decaying with the subtlety needed to be able to drop just moves (and the best haircuts in town), `The Future ‘Journey’s End’ up of Can’s `You Doo Right’ and Salt’n’Pepa’s Sticking a track called `Journey’s End’ at the start knowingly undersold, Leader are never knowingly mansion bleeding regret: one last display of sober a notch to catch the full emotional impact of the Is A Holiday’ was another step up: all warm, woozy harmonies and Maria Ilett’s purred vocals spread `Whatta Man’, and it’s pleasing to hear an artist of your album might seem counterintuitive but understated. This single was more unabashedly dignity in the face of the encroaching shadows. song’s title line. Surrounded by the most delicate like languorous lacquer over a simple fuzzgun pop growing up in his music with such grace. it’s a reflection of Desert Storm’s ever-increasing sky-searching, chest-beating mountain-top orchestration – twinkling piano, barely-there tune. For a band whose natural home has always strength and gravity: none shall pass! `Sentinels’ rockorama from the band who would be kings acoustic guitar, subtle strings and brother Robin’s 25. LUCY LEAVE: been darkened gig venues it sounded a little like was the metal heroes’ heaviest offering to date of their stadium domain, from the chiming breathless backing vocals – Cat puts in a truly 9. EASTER ISLAND musical summer, a sunny interval that’s done and and this was a perfect opening hammer blow, a Big Country-style guitar flourish, through Ben ‘Kintsugi’ swoonsome performance. dusted in under three minutes before the clouds that STATUES: ‘Laika’ statement of intent that said, “don’t get in our way.” Edginton’s lung-bursting holler as he seemingly Awkward, abstract, difficult and decidedly weird infect its lyrics roll back over. The video to `Laika’ made Nightshift cry, and if Here were huge stoner riffs that could crush cities tries to sing the clouds into submission, and onto and wonderful for the most part, Lucy Leave’s 3. CANDY SAYS: the online comments were anything to go by, a lot to dust. Here was a band, ten years into their life, the none-more-rousing climax. debut album `Look//Listen’ took so many about- of other people too, as it told the heartbreaking ‘Crave Easy’ 5. DEATH OF THE getting bigger and better. Which, like Godzilla, is turns it occasionally felt like a dozen different tale of the first dog in space – from rummaging pretty damn terrifying if you think about it. 20. PET SEMATARY: bands playing an elaborate game of draw-the- The moment where Candy Says sprung out of their through bins to a fiery death on re-entry, via next-part-of-the-body, coming out the end like a Brexitwave cave and showed their teeth and claws. MAIDEN: ‘Horses’ Death of Maiden’s debut single `Soldier’ the medium of plasticine. Even without such a ‘Tall Boys’ very Oxford answer to The Minutemen. As such The insularity of `Looking In From The Outside’ 15. GHOSTS IN THE opened the door on the band’s dark, emotional beautiful accompaniment this was a triumphant After a year of emotional turmoil Gaby Elise this song, sung by bassist Jennifer Oliver, was was replaced by an almost disco punch, all buzzing intensity, but `Horses’ galloped through in its moment for Easter Island Statues, a heroic slab PHOTOGRAPHS: Monaghan took time out from Le Feye to record a among its most straightforward and pop-friendly synths and thumping beats with Julia Walker wake and best revealed Death of the Maiden’s of rough’n’tumble anthemic indie rock, slightly set of songs completely solo, working through her moments, but still so off-kilter you’d worry about regaining her rock star mojo on vocals, equal parts imperious presence. This is music inspired by ragged and untamed around the edges, like the ‘Dyslexorcist’ heartache. The result is some of her best music yet: trying to navigate it along a straight road without plaintive and snarling, a tour de force performance actual nightmares: Tamara Parsons Baker’s best song The Libertines never wrote. Clocking in at 18 minutes, `Dyslexorcist’ isn’t quite midnight-chilled gothic folk-blues with a witchy causing a major incident. jazz, funk and Latin style. night continues to showcase local singers, musicians, poets, storytellers and more every THURSDAY 6th week. COURTNEY MARIE ANDREWS: St SPARKY’S NEW MOON: The Half Moon – Barnabas Church – The ever-touring Sparky hosts his open mic night on the first and songmeister heads back on the road again – see third Thursday of every month. main preview ACOUSTIC THURSDAY: Jude the Obscure GIG GUIDE – Weekly open mic night. VON HERTZEN BROTHERS: O2 Academy BLUES JAM: The Catherine Wheel, st – Big stage work-out for the tribute to Freddie – Bombastic classic rock, sun-scorched prog SATURDAY 1 and psych from the Finnish rock heroes, over in Sandford – Open blues session. THE DAMNED + JOHNNY MOPED: O2 and the gang. the UK to tour most recent album `War Is Over’ THE DYLAN PROJECT: The Unicorn, Academy – The punk legends return to town DECEMBER BEARD OF DESTINY + FRANKLIN’S th after their showing at Download in the summer. Abingdon – The folk-rock supergroup continue Thursday 6 high on the success their first ever Top 10 album TOWER + THE MARK BOSLEY BAND + About’, inspired by Green Day, Blink 182 et al. FIGHTMILK + SUGGESTED FRIENDS to pay tribute to Mr Zimmerman, featuring Dave – see main preview RIVERSIDE VOICES + YULEKULELES: FIGHTMILK / Metalcore from former Vera Grace gang Lastelle + PET SEMATARY: The Jericho Tavern Pegg, Steve Gibbons, Gerry Conway et al. BETTER THAN NEVER + LUKE Donnington Community Centre (5-9pm) – amongst the supporting cast. – All Tamara’s Parties host their Christmas RAINSFORD + VERIDIAN + LASTELLE: Donnington Community Christmas concert, SUGGESTED STAR SHAPED: O2 Academy – Britpop club celebration with exuberant indie crew Fightmilk FRIDAY 7th O2 Academy – Farewell hometown show with free live unplugged music from blues night, launching with an Oasis special. Feel the and more – see main preview COSMO SHELDRAKE + SEPHINE LLO: from the local pop-punk crew, going out on a crew Beard of Destiny; Grateful Dead tribute FRIENDS / PET specialness. CATWEAZLE: East Oxford Community St Barnabas Church – Oddball musical high with recent EP `Something Left To Talk BATTALIONS + GRAND MAL + MY Franklin’s Tower; acoustic gothica from Mark Bosley; a capella ensemble Riverside Voices and Centre – Oxford’s longest running open club invention at tonight’s atmospheric Irregular SEMATARY: DIABLO: The Cellar – If this is to be one of Folks Winter Special – see main preview festive Ukulele tunes from Yulekuleles. th st the last ever gigs at The Cellar, let it be one that Thursday 6 BENNETT WILSON POOLE: The The Jericho Tavern Saturday 1 PUPPET MECHANIC + LONDON Spurred into existence by lifelong chums destroys the very fabric of the building through Bullingdon – Hometown gig for Dreaming GRAFFITI + TONY BATEY & SAL Lily Rae and Alex Wisgard in the wake of riffage alone. Hull’s wall-of-noise sludge/ COURTNEY MARIE Spires frontman (and Truck and WOOD THE DAMNED: MOORE + LARRY REDDINGTON + coinciding failed relationships and inspired stoner/deathcore crew tour their third album, Festivals founder) Robin Bennett alongside `Forever Marching Backwards’, inspired by GLENDA HUISH: The Wheatsheaf (3.30- ANDREWS: St. by binge-watching It’s Always Sunny In O2 Academy 7pm) – Klub Kakofanney host an afternoon of Danny Wilson from Danny & the Champions Chaos was the order of the day from the off Clutch, Weedeater, Kyuss and Iron Monkey. of the World, and producer and 12-string Philadelphia, London’s Fightmilk’s stated They’re ably supported by local sludge/stoner free live music in the Sheaf’s downstairs bar. Barnabas Church intention was to turn self pity into singalong for The Damned, whose members did their Courtney Marie Andrews has spent almost Rickenbacker player Tony Poole, the trio’s supergroup Grand Mal, made up of members COWLEY CHAINSAWS + POISONOUS pop music, and if you’re unlikely to find the absolute best to scupper their career and her entire adult life on the road. Raised in eponymous debut earlier this year mixing up of Desert Storm and Mother Corona, plus CUNT + BASIC DICKS + THUNDER likes of `How Do You Move On’, with its their own lives back in the day. And yet here ON THE LEFT + WORRY: The Library Arizona, at the age of 16 she headed off their love for Crosby, Stills and Nash with an they still are, at least some of them anyway, Sabbath, Led Zep and QOTSA-inspired super occasional earthy bluegrass feel and sweet three- tale of shit tattoos and romantic trauma, on heavyweights My Diablo. – A night of ferocious, militant noise as The on her first tour, playing any bar or café any party karaoke machine anytime soon, and celebrating their first Top 10 album Library bids a fond farewell to Smash Disco that would have her along the West Coast. way harmonies. in their on-off 42-year history. They will LAND GIRLS + SPILL THE RIVER: The MATERIALS with KHAN + NEEK: The you most certainly can sing along, probably Wheatsheaf – Twee indie-pop in the vein of stalwart Stephen Tuohy. Suitably, his mayhemic And when she finished that she took a while holding a pint of cider aloft and forever be part of that elite first wave of UK noise-rock band Cowley Chainsaws headline Greyhound bus to New York and did the Bullingdon – House, hip hop, garage, grime, punk alongside The Pistols, The Clash, The Belle & Sebastian from Land Girls at tonight’s drum&bass and more. hugging your best mate. The band’s debut It’s All About the Music show. proceedings, alongside London’s virulent same along the East Coast. And when that album, `Not With That Attitude’, released Banshees, X-Ray Spex and The Slits, who politicos Poisonous Cunt, anarcho-punk was done, she spent the following decade PEARL JAM UK: O2 Academy – Tribute to collectively overturned rock’s complacent SIMPLE with DJ BORING: The Bullingdon the 90s grunge stars. on Reckless Yes Records, is full of the sort – Atmospheric electro from Winona Ryder- vegancore crew Basic Dicks; angular indie-core touring as guitarist and backing singer with of exuberant indie-punk and acerbic vocals apple cart and paved the way for new ways from Thunder on the Left and misanthropic some 40 different acts, including Jimmy OXFORD SOUL TRAIN: O2 Academy – of making music that didn’t involve such sampling techno guru Boring at tonight’s Soul, funk and disco club night. that made Lush’s `Ladykillers’ and Sleeper’s Simple, alongside club residents Em Williams, hardcore starlets Worry. Likelihood of it getting Eatworld and Damien Jurado, as well as `Inbetweener’ such Britpop anthems. Chuck things as reverence or virtuosity. Despite messy: absolutely. Belgian band Milow, whose members KLUB KAKOFANNEY with SMILEY & their chaotic, self-destructive instincts James Weston and Tim Gore. THE UNDERCLASS + ADAM & ELVIS in some meaty Superchunk-inspired riffage, SPARKY’S SPONTANEOUS SHOWCASE OPEN MIC SESSION: Harcourt Arms – in turn became her backing band on the The Damned managed to be the first punk + GHOUL + GRAVID: The Wheatsheaf – a hint of Kirsty MacColl’s barnstorming & SPOTLIGHT JAM: The Whitehouse – Weekly open mic session. EP she recorded over there. Eventually band to release an album – 77’s `Damned Rootsy hip hop, reggae, rock and punk mash-up folk-pop and you’ve got a recipe for some Sparky hosts his monthly bands night and open FOLK SESSION: The Half Moon – Weekly homesickness caught up with her and she Damned Damned’ – and survived the from London’s Smiley & the Underclass at this big-hearted good-times-from-bad-times jam session, tonight with sets from Mudslide folk night. went home and worked in a bar. Here she immediate departure of creative leader Brian month’s Klub Kak party. fun. Support at tonight’s All Tamara’s Xmas Morris and Storyteller. used the stories she heard from customers show are fellow Londoners Suggested James, to forge a career that would have rd A CANDLELIT CHRISTMAS: St Nicholas 2TONE ALL-SKA’S + NEW DEPTH + MONDAY 3 – farmers, construction workers, waitresses Friends with their Harry Potter-referencing been unfathomable to anyone anywhere – alongside her own experiences to write Church, Baulking – A night of Christmas PAPERCUT + THE DOLLYMOPS + OPEN MIC SESSION: The Castle – Monthly songs, from ancient carols to `Fairytale of New indie jangle in the vein of The Flatmates and close to the band at the time. Only singer and record the album `Honest Life’, her MOFO: Langdale Hall, Witney (midday) open night. York’ with Richard Durrant, Amy Kakoura and Allo Darlin’, plus bonfire folk-blues from Dave Vanian and guitarist Captain Sensible sixth (not bad given she’s still only 27 and – Benefit gig for the 7Cs music foundation , Nick Pynn. Coldredlight and La Feye singer/guitarist remain from that early classic line-up and has rarely been off the road long enough to hosted by Muzoakademy and Witney Music th THE BITE: The Bell, Bicester – Classic rock Gaby-Elise Monaghan’s solo project Pet over two dozen band members have served TUESDAY 4 record). The album uses that life on the road Festival, with classic ska and Two Tone from STILL CORNERS + PSYCHIC MARKERS: covers. Sematary, channelling a suitably gothic time, including Lemmy, Patricia Morrison as a framework to explore youth, maturity, 2Tone Allska’s and more. O2 Academy – Super-chilled’n’sultry electro- DAMN GOOD REASON: The Black Horse, mood as she references Stephen King. and Jon Moss, but a sense of frenetic dreams of escape and the cost of that SYN CITY ROCKERS: The Brewery Tap, pop, ambient Americana and cinematic Gozzards Ford – Rock covers. grandiosity and a propensity for Hammer escape, longing and redemption in a classic, Abingdon – AC/DC and Thin Lizzy tribute. dreampop from the Anglo-American duo, taking – Haunting, atmospheric folk and bluegrass horror theatricality remains a constant. unfussy country roots style that recalls Somehow they survived. Somehow they’re cues from Vangelis, Pink Floyd and Mazzy Star SATURDAY 8th from singer Emily Mae Winters, touring her nd Gram Parsons, Emylou Harris and the 70s debut album `Siren Serenade’, produced by Ben at their most commercially successful. The SUNDAY 2 on new Sub Pop album `Slow Air’. THE GRAND MAL: The Wheatsheaf – Laurel Canyon sound. It has the unhurried, Walker, and inspired by Gillian Welch, Carole voyage of The Damned continues. BJORN AGAIN: O2 Academy – What better NOTHING + SUBURBAN LIVING: The Heavy-duty sludge and stoner metal from the assured feel of a seasoned artist, which she King and Alison Krauss. Traditional English a way to get into Christmas party mood than with Bullingdon – Post-grunge shoegaze shimmer band formed by members of Desert Storm, very much is, despite still being so young, capella folk from Three Pressed Men. an evening of Abba? There is no better way. from Philadelphia’s Nothing, touring their third Mother Corona and My Diablo. so best catch her here before she’s whisked THE BRITPOP BOYS: Fat Lil’s, Witney – CHILDREN OF ZEUS + RHYMESKEEMZ album `Dance on the Blacktop’, produced by THE MIGHTY REDOX: The Harcourt Arms off again by the call of the road. Oasis, Blur, Pulp and more. feat. TIECE & SARA SILVEIRA: O2 John Agrello (who worked with Sonic Youth, – Swamp blues, psychedelia, ska, pop and folk Academy – Smooth, soulful hip hop from The Breeders and Dinosaur Jr), its fuzzed-out from the enduring party-hearty local stalwarts. th Manchester duo Children of Zeus, whose debut grace and serenity inspired by and at odds with MUSICAL MEDICINE: The Bullingdon – SUNDAY 9 album `Travel Light’, inspired by 90s hip hop, frontman Domenic Palermo’s time spent in Disco club night with Raw Silk and Rachael. FISH: O2 Academy – There is no such thing earned them the love of Jazzy Jeff, Goldie prison for attempted murder and subsequent STEAMPUNK XII – JOURNEY TO THE as a fish. and Mr Scruff among others. New single, the brain damage sustained after being attacked MOON: D’Overbroeck’s School Hall / The OPEN MIC SESSION: Harcourt Arms r’n’b-flavoured `Fear of a Flat Planet’, finds outside a gig. Support from Philly neighbours Gardeners Arms – Space-themed steampunk FOLK SESSION: The Half Moon Tyler Daley and Konny Kon collaborating with Suburban Living. night with chap-hop stalwart Professor THE MIGHTY REDOX: The Tree, Iffley Ladyfullstop. Support comes from breakthrough Elemental donning his fighting trousers (3.30-7pm) local rap star Rhymeskeemz, whose 90s East WEDNESDAY 5th alongside local steampunk crew Captain Kuppa WATERFAHL: The Brewery Tap, Abingdon Coast boombap comes with a soulful edge A FUNKY CHRISTMAS with OBJS: The T & the Zeppelin Crew. (5-7pm) – Acoustic pop, folk and blues from the courtesy of singers Tiece and Sara Silveira. Bullingdon – Brookes Jazz Society host a EMILY MAE WINTERS + THREE local duo. ONE NIGHT OF QUEEN: The New Theatre Christmas-themed night of festive faves in a PRESSED MEN: Quaker Meeting House successful year with a showcase of stars, Mountain’, alongside elegantly sweet-natured THE MIGHTY REDOX: The Black from indie/emo crew Milk Crimes; virulent including elaborate, epic post-rock soundscaping electro-jazz-pop crew Catgod, and sunshiny Swan hardcore beasts Worry; anarcho-punkers from recent Nightshift cover stars Ghosts in the fuzz-pop duo The Other Dramas. Basic Dicks and more. Civil disorder on HARCOURT ARMS Photographs. They’re joined by kitsch gothic STRAIGHT OUTTA COWLEY: The SATURDAY 15th earth and goodwill to all men. Except the cabaret duo Crandle; sweet-natured indie folk Bullingdon – Hip hop classics, from Jay-Z to GAPPY TOOTH INDUSTRIES with corrupt, privileged bastards running the Saturday Dec 8th from Seasons in Shorthand; American gothic Jurassic 5 and Biggie to Buster Rhymes. EASTER ISLAND STATUES + TALL whole shitshow. storytelling from Huck and dark-hearted lo-fi THE OVERLOAD: The Wheatsheaf – POPPIES + DAISY + MOOGIEMAN & OPEN MIC SESSION: Harcourt Arms explorations from Master of Nothing. Wired and wonderful post-punk groove from THE MASOCHISTS: The Wheatsheaf – FOLK SESSION: The Half Moon The Mighty THE MAGIC LANTERN + ROSIE this month’s Introducing act, fusing Happy Eclectic monthly live music club GTI host SUNDAY JAZZ SESSION: The CALDECOTT + THEO: Tap Social, Botley – Mondays, The Fall, Blockheads and Crass into a their traditional end of year celebration Abingdon Arms, Beckley – Free live jazz Redox Upcycled Sounds host the first of a new series of gloriously unholy poetic mess. of the best acts they’ve featured in recent with Roger Beaujolais (vibraphone), Raf shows at Tap Social, tonight featuring London’s THE DIRTY BIG CANAL DANCE BAND times. Tonight’s line-up features excellent Mizraki (bass) and Mark Doffman (drums). Saturday Dec 22nd Magic Lantern, aka Jamie Doe, with his warm, + WOD: St. Barnabas Church – Midwinter local indie rockers Easter Island Statues, pure acoustic folk in the vein of Jeff Buckley ceilidh with English, French and Breton dance th th whose big-hearted guitar pop comes MONDAY 17 Friday 7 and Joanna Newsom, set to release his third from TDCDB, made up of Owl Light Trio, in somewhere between The Libertines, OPEN MIC SESSION: The Castle album `To the Islands’ this month. Local folk Xagara and Jon Fletcher. Steph Pirrie and Jo The Maximo Park and The Smiths. They’re COSMO SHELDRAKE singer-songwriter Rosie Caldecott supports. Hamilton host the dances. joined by off-kilter twin-sister-fronted TUESDAY 18th / SEPHINE LLO: St guitar’n’violin-led popstrels Tall Poppies; th th OXFORD IMPROVISERS: Old Fire Oxford THURSDAY 13 Tuesday 11 melodic emo sweeties Daisy and this Station – The local improv crew hosts Barnabas Church THE BRONX + FLOGGING MOLLY + month’s Nightshift cover stars Moogieman Copenhagen-based drum and percussion If it’s nearly Christmas it must be time for CHAMELEONSVOX: FACE TO FACE + LOST IN STEREO: O2 & the Masochists. noise duo Erna in the OFS’s loft room, plus Beatles Irregular Folk’s Winter Special, and if it’s Academy – A joint headline tour from LA THE INFLATABLES: O2 Academy – a set from Oxford Improvisers themselves. Irregular Folks, it’s going to be special neighbours The Bronx and Flogging Molly, The Bullingdon Festive ska hoedown with the legendary In their time The Chameleons were probably indeed; it’s great to see a promoter who both bands bringing elements of their ancestral local tribute crew, playing Two Tone and Open Mic Every the most underrated band ever to come out th really tries to make every show an event. heritage to play on their punk sound. The Jamaican ska classics. WEDNESDAY 19 of Manchester, and that’s saying something. Sunday Last year’s winter show at this same venue Bronx have celebrated their Latino roots as REEF: O2 Academy – The Somerset KING 810 + POPPY + IMMINENT Formed back in 1981 around the singing featured the unique talents of Gaelynn Lea Mariachi el Bronx in the past but mostly they’re rockers return to the Shire after their show ANNIHILATION: O2 Academy – live music at the heart of jericho and songwriting talent of Mark Burgess and Waitress For the Bees and tonight’s high-octane hardcore, garage punk good time here in 2016. They’re back on the road, Michigan’s brawling metalcore mob Cranham Terrace Jericho Oxford ox2 6dg and the slyly epic guitar playing of Reg stars are no less unusual. London/Brighton noisy fun, drawing on influences as diverse as playing old favourites from Top 5 albums bring the brutality and darkness as they 01865 556669 Smithies, they were contemporaries of singer, composer and multi-instrumentalist The Ramones and Fugazi over the years and `Glow’ and `Rides’ and we’re sure they’ll tour their most recent `La Letit Mort or a Echo & the Bunnymen and Gang of Four Cosmo Sheldrake is what you might currently touring new album `V’. Flogging be just great. Conversation with God’ album, fronted in style and outlook, but never made the justifiably called a quirky brainbox. He’s Molly, meanwhile, bring their Irish roots to bare HUEY MORGAN’S NYC BLOCK by MMA fighter David Gunn, so probably breakthrough into the mainstream: too adept at classical and jazz piano, the banjo on their own brand of punk, The Pogues and PARTY: O2 Academy – Fun Lovin’ not a band you’d want to heckle too much, heartfelt for post-punk, too poppy for the and sousaphone as well as half a dozen other The Dubliners fused with The Clash and Green Criminals and 6Music man Huey hosts without a nearby escape route or waiting goth crowd and far too agitated and militant instruments. And he’s a human beatboxer. Day. Joining the touring party are So-Cal punk a NYC-style party, playing classic funk, ambulance. to follow U2 and Simple Minds to stadium And a vocal improviser who runs beatboxing veterans Face To Face. soul, hip hop and rock and roll. SLEEPER SERVICE + SCREAMING glory. Debut album `Script of the Bridge’ MONA + OCTOBER DRIFT + BE STILL: GROOVE feat. ADDISON GROOVE: IRENE: The Wheatsheaf classes for local kids as well as a community stands up as a classic of early-80s post- O2 Academy – Gruff, impassioned stadium The Bullingdon – Disco and house club CANDY SAYS + SPANK HAIR + choir when he’s not collaborating with or punk – a meeting point of goth and chiming rocking in the vein of U2 and Kings of Leon night. MAX BLANSJAAR + DREAM IN supporting the likes of Johnny Flynn & the pop – but they split after the relatively from Nashville’s Mona, out on tour to promote THE PETE FRYER BAND: The White A TEACUP: Common Ground, Sussex Wit, Bombay Bicycle Club offshoot disappointing `Strange Times and the death new album `Soldier On’. Dark-hearted indie House – Rock and blues standards from Little Clarendon Street – Camel Food Mr Jukes or electronic music experimenter of their manager. Subsequently they were rocking in the vein of Echo & the Bunnymen the veteran local singer and guitarist and Christmas party with atmospheric electro- Matthew Herbert. He’s used a technique hailed as an influence by Noel Gallagher from October Drift in support. his band. pop from recent Nightshift cover stars called stellar seismology to record the sound and The Edge, while The Horrors nicked HENRY SPENCER’S JUNCTURE: The SYNTRONIX: Fat Lil’s, Witney – Candy Says, alongside lo-fi indie noise of the sun; he references Lewis Carroll and much of their sound wholesale. In fact The Wheatsheaf – Spin jazz club. 80s synth-pop hits, from Duran Duran, crew Spank Hair and inventive bedroom Edward Lear in his lyrics and he wrote the Chameleons’ sound has influenced much of REVEREND BLACK’S ACOUSTIC Depeche Mode and Visage to Ultravox, rocker Max Blansjaar. score for a series of Samuel Beckett plays at modern indie’s darker side, and they remain CABARET: The Half Moon – Acoustic Soft Cell and Numan. the New Vic. He’s unusual, that’s undeniable. a cult concern, regularly aired to great blues and country with live sets from Richard th He’s also quite brilliant, which is also beyond enthusiasm on 6Music, particularly in the THURSDAY 20 Brotherton, Waterfahl and Indiana Dave. th POLLY GIBBONS & JAMES dispute. Joining him is ethereal singer and later hours. Burgess reformed the band in SUNDAY 16 CATWEAZLE: East Oxford Community PEARSON: The Wheatsheaf – Spin jazz multi-instrumentalist Sephine Llo, back 2000, and again in 2009 as ChameleonsVox, JOHN OTWAY: The Bullingdon – The Centre club. after her show at Irregular Folks’ superb with himself as the sole original member. Clown Prince of Pop returns once more, ACOUSTIC THURSDAY: Jude the Obscure CATWEAZLE: East Oxford Summer Session where her set unfortunately They’ve made sporadic releases but this keeping it lunatic and lively over 40 years BLUES JAM: The Catherine Wheel, Community Centre coincided with England’ World Cup win tour is celebrating the 35th anniversary of the since his one and only major hit `Really Sandford SPARKY’S NEW MOON: The Half against Sweden. IF put huge emphasis on release of `Script of the Bridge’, a bona fide Free’ – with Willy Barrett – for a typically Moon the atmosphere of their shows, so from the post-punk classic. madcap barrel through old faves like lighting and foliage to the scent of mulled FRIDAY 14th `Beware of the Flowers Cause I’m Sure ACOUSTIC THURSDAY: Jude the wine, mince pies and oddball invention, it’s a SLADE + MUD 2: O2 Academy – No Noddy They’re Going to Get You Yeah’, `Bunsen Obscure real festive special on the menu. Holder but if it’s Christmas it must be time to Burner’ etc. One of a kind. BLUES JAM: The Catherine Wheel, crack out some Slade, right? Dave Hill and THE MONKEYFISTS + MARK Sandford th Don Powell helm the current incarnation of ATHERTON + THE JESTERS MONDAY 10 st OPEN MIC SESSION: The Castle the blockbusting 70s glam rockers, once more + ASTEROX + PAUL LODGE: FRIDAY 21 running through their litany of hits – from The Wheatsheaf (3.30-7pm) – Klub SKINDRED + SONIC BOOM SIX + `Mama, We’er All Crazee Now’ and `Gudbye Kakofanney host an afternoon of free live DESERT STORM: O2 Academy – We Ox3 Audio th TUESDAY 11 T’Jane’ to Skweeze Me Please Me’, `Cum On music in the Sheaf’s downstairs bar. wish you a heavy Christmas – see main CHAMELEONS VOX: The Bullingdon – The Feel The Noize’ and, oh yes, `Merry Xmas MOLAR + MILK CRIMES + WORRY preview Audio & Sound Engineer Hire roughneck returns – see main preview Everybody’. Novelty antlers optional, boozy + BASIC DICKS + JUNK WHALE + DREADZONE: O2 Academy – Events, Festivals, Bands, Weddings good cheer essential. Support from the current MISERY GUTS: The Library – Smash Dreadzone return to town with their call or email Spike for a quote th WEDNESDAY 12 incarnation of `Tiger Feet’ hitmakers Mud. Disco host their doubtless highly unfestive peculiarly British form of reggae, fusing GHOSTS IN THE PHOTOGRAPHS THE AUGUST LIST + CATGOD + THE Christmas shindig, the DIY punk club roots sounds and dub with a folky feel, 07752 887737 + CRANDLE + THE SEASONS IN OTHER DRAMAS: The Bullingdon – bringing London-based multinational trance and breakbeats. 25 years old this SHORTHAND + HUCK + MASTER OF Gothic backwoods folk, drone-led country and crew Molar to town, the band’s mix of year, veterans of a dozen albums, six Peel [email protected] NONE: The Library – Oxford/Reading haunted balladry from local stars The August jagged post-punk and riot grrl inspired by sessions and countless tours and festival record label All Will Be Well celebrate another List, tonight launching new single `Distorted Kleenex, Lilliput and Bratmobile. Support appearances, their enduring appeal resting anthems. Last month’s Nightshift cover stars As traditional as Christmas pudding, the annual have now topped our end of year Top 25 and reggae party returns, this year featuring regular you should probably make sure you’re here visitor to town Wrongtom, alongside buddy tonight just so you can tell your grandchildren Count Skylarkin’, Ragga Twins and local pop- about it in years to come. Top drawer support reggae faves Zaia. from local indie-punk noisenicks Lacuna OPEN MIC SESSION: The Castle Common and anthemic guitar-pop stars on the rise Easter Island Statues, plus Leicester rockers TUESDAY 25th The Lids: recent support to Yuck. Merry Christmas to all our readers, Please send OLD SKOOL OXFORD: The Bullingdon – wine, chocolate, wine, kittens, wine and wine to Old skool club night with Ellis Dee. Friday 21st the usual address. Feel free to keep your Twitter MADDY PRIOR & THE CARNIVAL tirades to yourself. Mmmmm… wine. SKINDRED / SONIC BAND: St. John the Evangelist – Christmas songs from the English folk legend. th BOOM SIX / DESERT CRYSTALLITE + FUJI + LINA SIMON: WEDNESDAY 26 The Wheatsheaf – Grungy rocking from NANG TUNES: The Bullingdon – Boxing STORM: O2 Academy Crystallite, plus a solo debut show from former- Day party with Emmy Bacharach, Jnk and Ed A musical nightmare before Christmas Edmund Fitzgerald and Elizabeth member Shaw. tonight as Newport’s Skindred return to Lina Simon, this month’s Nightshift Top THE PETE FRYER BAND: Seacourt Arms, Botley – The veteran local bluesman plays his town after their headline show here in Tracks winner with her dark electro-pop-tinged traditional Boxing Day show at his local boozer. 2016, the band celebrating two decades experimentation. together this year as they released their th seventh album, `Big Tings’, mashing up SATURDAY 22nd THURSDAY 27 metal, punk, hip hop and reggae into an THE SHAPES + BAD CHIMP + adrenaline rush party mix. World-wide PANDAPOCALYPSE: The Bullingdon – FRIDAY 28th they sold half a million copies of their 60s-style r’n’b, new wave and folk-punk, taking THE DUB presents FIELD FREQUENCY first two albums, `Babylon’ and `Roots in Van Morrison, Elvis Costello, The Pogues and SOUND SYSTEM: The Bullingdon – Heavy Rock Riot’, and toured with Korn, Gogol Tom Petty from Oxford’s favourite good-time duty dub party vibes from the longstanding local Bordello, Disturbed and Papa Roach, yet band The Shapes, tonight launching their new stars. remain something of a cult concern. Live EP `Oh You’. Support from recently renamed HELL’S GAZELLES + TRAUMA UK + they are explosive and command a crowd Chasing Daylight chaps Bad Chimp, channelling NEW DEPTHS + SEMPER VERA: Fat Lil’s, like few other bands around. Much of this The Blockheads, Kinks and John Otway, plus Witney – Melodic hard rocking in the vein of is due to enigmatic frontman Benji Webbe, electro-pop from Balkan Wanderers people Judas Priest, Led Zep and Guns’n’Roses from an alternately genial and ferocious host. Pandapocalypse. local heavyweights Hell’s Gazelles alongside Obvious comparisons have thus been drawn PYT: The Bullingdon – Disco, funk and soul veteran local punk crew Trauma UK. to Bad Brains but Skindred really exist in club night. THE BITE: The Prince of Wales, Shippon that genre-jumping world of acts like Living FAITH: O2 Academy – Tribute to George Michael. Colour, Soulfly and System Of A Down, SATURDAY 29th taking roots music into the realms of the WHEATSHEAF CHRISTMAS PARTY: The Wheatsheaf – No details but if Joal dresses as RAWDIO: The Bullingdon – Drum&bass club heavy. Support comes from Sonic Boom night. Six (pictured), who headlined here not so Santa and lets us sit on his knee, we’re in. SLUMB PARTY + LUCY LEAVE + KID BRAIN DAMAGED: The Brewery Tap, long ago having worked their backsides off Abingdon – Pink Floyd tribute. to build a following since emerging from KIN + WORRY: Deaf & Hard of Hearing Centre – Divine Schism celebrate Christmas Manchester’s underground rock scene in the th early Noughties. Like Skindred they have a in style with a very welcome return to town SUNDAY 30 for Nottingham’s Slumb Party, a highlight of hugely engaging singer in the form of Laila COWLEY ROAD UNPLUGGED: The Oxjam with their lopsided and frenetic update Khan and similarly mix ska, dub and funk Bullingdon – Unplugged open session. of Devo and Pere Ubu’s post-punk invention. into their punk rock foundation, celebrating THE PETE FRYER BAND: The Prince of They’re joined by Oxford’s own post-punk/jazz- diversity, female empowerment and their Wales (4-7pm) rock/post-grunge sound explorers Lucy Leave; hometown’s alternative scene, while taking OPEN MIC SESSION: Harcourt Arms electro-heavy post-rock man Kid Kin and righteous aim at the bad guys. Opening FOLK SESSION: The Half Moon up’n’at’em hardcore fighters Worry. BLUES JAM: Fat Lil’s, Witney (3pm) tonight are Oxford’s own heavyweight THE OXFORD BEATLES: Harcourt Arms – scene leaders Desert Storm, rounding Tribute to the Fab 4 from the local faves. st off another year on the road and playing THE PETE FRYER BAND: The Tree, Iffley MONDAY 31 songs from their heaviest album to date, FUSED: Fat Lil’s, Witney – 90s and Noughties THE PETE FRYER BAND + THE MIGHTY `Sentinels’. rock and indie covers. REDOX + OSPREY + THE OVERLOAD: The Wheatsheaf – Klub Kakofanney host on their ability to transform any room, or field, rd their traditional NYE party with rock and blues into a reggae party. The trippy, spacious, almost SUNDAY 23 favourites from Pete Fryer and his gang; party- CHALK + THE DOLLYMOPS + rustic feel of their sound might feel almost friendly rock, blues, ska, psychedelia and more OAKLAND ROAD: The Bullingdon – archaic compared to what’s come since but it’s from The Mighty Redox; funky blues from Electro-acoustic rock from London’s Chalk, plus following their own path that’s ultimately kept Osprey and attitude-fuelled post-punk from The inventively snarly politicised indie rocking from them on top of their game for so long. Overload. The Dollymops. SELF HELP + LACUNA COMMON + THE SWITCH NYE PARTY: O2 Academy – OPEN MIC SESSION: Harcourt Arms LIDS + EASTER ISLAND STATUES: The House club night into 2019. FOLK SESSION: The Half Moon Bullingdon – Rounding off a hell of a year and CARNIVAL NYE PARTY: The Bullingdon launching their new EP, Self Help play their – Eclectic club night into 2019 with sets from th biggest hometown headline show to date, the MONDAY 24 Temple Funk Collective, Dutty Moonshine (DJ quartet having seemingly become everyone’s REGGAE CHRISTMAS: The Bullingdon – set), Count Skylarkin and more. favourite new band in town for their effusive pop-punk that marries Slaves’ bludgeoning grooves with The Libertines’ careering garage- Nightshift listings are free. Deadline for inclusion is the 20th of each month, no exceptions. Listings rock and Supergrass’ exuberant indie pop are copyright of Nightshift and may not be used without permission. Idles by Helen Messenger fuelled not byhatebut love. who, foralltheir virulence, are Danny Nedelko, to recogniseaband best friendandHeavy Lungssinger for boysandgirls,embracing there’s safespaceinthemoshpit playing to30people;makingsure band sincetheywereunknowns Simon Baileyforstickingwiththe taking timeouttothankpromoter fury machineJoe Talbot onstage You onlyhavetowitnesshuman community aroundthem. and supportthefriends,fans while continuingtocelebrate scouring hardcorepunkanthems incendiary showsandwriting well-deserved reputationforplaying The Bristolquintethaveearneda will likelygettheirownchapter. Making NastyMusiciswritten,Idles When thebookofNicePeople O2 Academy IDLES /HEAVY LUNGS LIVE hamster / Changeisn’t acrime”he lyrical bent;“Islam didn’t eatyour and withanendlessly quotable slogans butstories ofthoseheknows the benefitsofimmigrationnotwith local communities,theNHSand celebrates workingclasswomen, through withsharphumour. Talbot personal storiesandcuteverything avoid polemicinfavourofhighly things inlife,butateveryturnthey Idlesmightbehereforthenasty pace whileretainingthevenom. of asprawlingfinalethatslowsthe set finallygrindingtoahaltbyway Nedelko’s wearilyfuriousbark,the guitars, frantictom-heavydrumsand almost unrelentingoverdriven ferocious style:thirtyminutesof extensive UKtour–insuitably packed show–thelastnightofan Nedelko’s bandopentonight’s which ends with his “blood brother” which ends withhis“blood brother” of bothimmigration andfriendship on `DannyNedelko’, acelebration big as Wembley andreachtheirpeak anthems thatcomewithaheartas career throughmoltentribalpunk is therefrainin`Samaritans’ asIdles down, socksup,don’t cry, drinkup,” “Man up,sitdown,chinpipe masculinity, malesuicide andcancer. though therearesongsabouttoxic Amid thepoliticsandgrimhumour addicts atafuneral.” song about“twopsychopathiccoke spread” hesnarlson`GramRock’,a your mother’s dead/Oh…lovely living `Heel/Heal’.“I’msorry the band’s skeweringofaspirational everything Iown”hebellowson a mobilehome/ And makealistof tirade `Great’;“Iwanttomoveinto rasps onanti-Brexit,anti-racism Dale Kattack Dale Kattack revolution. at last,mightbethe bandtoleada dwelt inhardcore’s ghetto.Here, and celebrationthathavetoolong messages oflove,tolerance,respect to anevergreateraudiencewith of change–they’rereachingout but itbringswithactualhope Idles’ rise andriseiswelldeserved we’ve witnessedinrecenttimes. show thatranksasoneofthegreatest crazy andchaoticendtoariotof guitarist MarkBowen–asuitably of feedbackandscreamingfrom followed byanextendedsquall Itallendsinamassstageinvasion forget foralong,longtime. moment thatnooneheretonightwill tear-in-your-eye, song-in-your-heart of me,”inalump-in-your-throat, of love/He’s madeofyou,he’s made blood /He’s madeofflesh,he’s made “He’s madeofbones,he’s madeof the entireroomsingslongtolines piggybacking himaroundthestageas everyone shouldsitupand listento. simply agreatpop band.Onethat all that The MenstrualCramps are to-buggery lo-fi punk noisebutfor in awelteroffabulouslyfuzzed- along to.Everythingcomeslayered a heartandconsciencecansing the Tories” issomethinganyone with chorus “Savethebadgersandcull neighbourhood, whilethechanted Elfrida detestsforgentrifyingher potty-mouthed stabathipsterswho `I Like That Top’ isastupendously the fabulouslypoppy`Tinder Girl’. with acheesyhanddanceduring and bassistRobynJenner’s vocals choreographing guitaristCooperRose spit forayoungSiouxsieSioux– singer their messageacross. 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Dale Kattack hand inhand. turbulence andpure, simplefungo a nightwherepolitics, emotional by asuitablythumpingfinaleto descript butit’s immediatelyfollowed The penultimate songfeelsnon- a heroicallycheesyguitarsolo. the coreoftheirsound,rightdown to the moodupordownwithoutlosing is howKiddandherbandcanswitch and atmosphericadwhat’s impressive of `Delete’.`LondonBites’ isghosty playful voice-loopinginventiveness stomp of`DevastateMe’ tothe in though,fromtheblisteringgrunge don’t lettoomuchlightorlaughter at theEdinburgh Fringe. Those songs she spentonesummerdoingstand-up songwriting andit’s easytoseehow and theeffect itcanhaveonher string andbeinghappilymarried her weddingringstuckinguitar anthem. Shejokesaboutgetting skewered onabarbedgrunge-pop she saysasaformerboyfriendgets another songaboutamassiveprick,” singer’s we’veseenlately;“Thisis of thefunniestandmostengaging certainly darkerbutLauraKiddisone seem darkerandfarlessfun. They’re emotionally intensevignettesmight After whichSheMakes War’s more Tom McKibbin gave himthewelcomehedeserves. treasured andtonightatleastOxford Rhysisasongwritingtalenttobe album. `Candylion’ fromtheeponymous album `Yr Atal Genhedlaeth’,and song `GwnMi Wn’ fromhisdebut performance ofthedrum’n’vocals including arareandwonderful from Rhys’ previoussoloalbums, band returnforacollectionofsongs reads “Extended Applause”), the by Gruff whoisholdingasignthat after abriefintermission(goadedon Returningtorapturousapplause melodies toshinemorebrightly. skeletal renditionsactuallyallowsthe collection ofsongs,buthearingthe is farfromRhys’ mostmemorable strings thatadornit.`Babelsberg’ recreate thealbumwithoutlush charming, managingtofaithfully his four-piece bandareeffortlessly `Selfies intheSunset’,Rhysand sweet apocalypticalbum-closer drolly: “We’ve allgotone”),tothe Edition Heart’ (whichheintroduces stately `FrontierMan’ to`Limited we knowwhereare).Fromthe “Side 1”and2”flashcardsso in sequence(evendisplayinggiant standards, andheplaysthealbum forward collectionofsongsbyhis

O2 Academy / THYLA FEVER ROLLING BLACKOUTSCOATAL potatoes indie, elevatedby the is ahumdrumaffair ofmeat and Their debutalbum‘Hope Downs’ step manfullyinto thebreach. Rolling BlackoutsCoastalFeverto hotbed outsidethecapital,it’s leftto culture’s numberonesoutheastern battle withOxfordtobealternative fortunes inanabysmallosing band unabletoreverseBrighton’s With Thyla swiftlydismissedasa chain. O2 Academy UNCUT tothestickyfloorsof traditionalists fromthepagesof hope’ –clungontodesperatelyby be heldupasthenext‘greatwhite act thatrisesabovetheaverageto Sothereisatendencyforeachnew chrissakes) tothemainstream. of ColdplayandBillyJoel(for Pilots takingtheirunholyhybrid unaccountably massive Twenty One be heldinlowregardwiththe analogue guitarpophastended Hookworms. Straightforward, envelope –thinkGNODor in apushingoftheexperimental likes ofIdlesorFontainesDC, of thespectrumaspurveyedby be eitherattheangry, punkyend by thegenrelatelyhavetendedto more interestingavenuesexplored Guitar musicisn’t deadbutthe impression. hiatus, determinedtomakean returning fromaneighteenmonth Local headlinersCrandleare pop machine. currently existonthemargins ofthe on manylevelsyetseemcontentto a majormistake,astheyoperate them off asajokegroupwouldbe out tobetheirowncreation. think itmustbeacover, butitturns ‘Skull House’ soundssogoodyou’d in fillsatexactlytherightmoment. punk bands,orevenDevo,dropping hammers awaylikethebestearly while theaforementioneddrummer somehow makeperfectsense, polyphonic fuzzylinesthat mask andplayssomesophisticated, The keyboardplayersportsaskull zigzagging off toanothervictim. lines straightintoyourfacebefore wandering intotheaudiencetosing singer croonslikeElvis(P notC), Damned’s ‘NeatNeatNeat’. opening withafinetakeon The cabaret experienceheavyoncovers, are akindofbreaknecklounge drummer. they haveafuckingamazing record. lot moreenjoyablelivethanon Black Maskisthatthey’rea The firstthingtobesaidabout Oxford Modern Art CRANDLE /BLACKMASK The secondthingisthat The Londonthree-piece Writing The

Art Lagun proposition. themselves intoaseriousmusical there’s stillworktobedoneturn outshines theirrecordedoutput,but their livepresencemassively finding herfeet. LikeBlackMask guitar workandthesingerfinally with someunexpectedlygutsy Leonard Cohen’s ‘I’m Your Man’, during adelightfulrunthrough Things starttocometogether support band. compares unfavourablywiththe vibe startstograteafterawhileand the ploddingfairground Wurlitzer line-up keepstheinterestalivebut The twokeyboardsandguitar pull itoff. vocals lackthestrengthtoreally butthe Ballad ofDorothyParker’, continues withatakeon‘The ‘Nasty Girl’. The Princetheme ‘Spellbound’ and Vanity Six’s selections suchasRachelSweet’s fail todisappointwithoff-piste for theirwell-chosencoversthey power centralOxford. Renowned bursting withenoughenergy to the roomexcitedlyallevening, the singerhasbeendartinground helps illuminateproceedings,while of theband,akitschtablelamp Rob Langham like. That mayjustbethe secret. Blackouts Coastal Feversoundmost to pindownexactly whoRolling workaday trappings,it’s very hard nationality butforsuchseemingly are perhapslazygiventheband’s Comparisons totheGo-Betweens peaking with‘ExclusiveGrave’. body ofmaterialforsuchanewband, airing, makingforanimpressive French Press’,arealsogivenaproper earlier EPs,‘Talk Tight’ and‘The The albumiscentrestagebuttheir top oftheirgame. bloopers andthe Australians areatthe cent fromtuneto–thereareno tempo neveraltersmorethanfiveper songs? It’s allofthis–andwhilethe that makeforavolleyoflikeable rehearsed combinationandenergy song? Isittheincrediblytight,well- creating anarrativewithineach lead guitaristsswappingvocalduties, the lovelytouchofband’s three being uncomplicatedniceguys?Isit Melbourne quintet’s winningairof being actuallyreallygood?Isitthe of asuperbstagesetandendup live showconformtothepromisers ‘unremarkable’. Why then,doesthis still safelystackedinthecategory inclusion ofsomegoodtunesbut A tiny TV screenplaystotheside

Helen Messenger Helen Messenger Wolfs Rats Eat Rats Easter Island Statues MSRY LIVE GlassHertzzPhoto Helen Messenger Max Blansjaar Slumb Party Helen Messenger GlassHertzzPhoto Ciphers Flights of Helios Helen Messenger GlassHertzzPhoto OXJAM FESTIVAL A mere seven days after Ritual WOLFS earn double bonus THE COOLING PEARLS’ No such issues for THE HOPE jazz with cheap speed before appropriate for Halloween and for see the band beyond man-mountain to act like Hell has come to earth Union Nightshift finds itself once points for singer/guitarist Hannah Aiden Canaday, a dulcet, doleful BURDEN whose show of strength hitting the dancefloor. Wonderful Gaby-Elise Monaghan’s bonfire frontman Nathan, but we can feel and don’t disappoint; despite all again dashing between venues playing the entire set in full-on croon that takes the band’s almost down at The Library challenges scenes. folk-blues, her trademark sleepy- them, mostly in our gut. As ever wearing their best frocks for the along Cowley Road for the return ghost costume, which is doubtless pagan folk vibe into gothic lands, for title of the set of the day. eyed vocal delivery sounding like they’re a hellishly hardcore horror occasion they’re no ladies and Kial of Oxjam, last week’s visiting even more disorientating for her although it’s his accordion playing, Their death-metal-eats-shoegaze EASTER ISLAND STATUES it’s being pursued by demons. Goth show but we’re not sure such Churcher proves that it’ll need a stars replaced by a cast of almost than it is the audience. The duo’s along with Sian Lloyd Pratchett’s noise storm is both elegant and recently brought a tear to in its purest form. misanthropic rage is conducive to venue considerably larger than exclusively local acts, mid-autumn lightweight grunge-pop is decent circling violin that really brings monstrous, taking its cues from Nightshift’s eye with the And goth of a different shade an event dedicated to humanitarian The Library to contain his rage or sunshine replaced by a steady early enough, partway between The the band’s sound to life, or maybe Isis, Deafheaven and Wolves in the heartbreaking video to their single of black from FLIGHTS OF relief. If Medicines sans Frontiers wandering ways. winter rain. Dead Weather and Avril Lavigne undead, given the theme of the day. Thrones Room, while their blonde- `Laika’ but it’s testament to the HELIOS whose matching skull- looked or sounded like this, you’d And so, at the end, we find And since it’s the last Saturday but just as we’re thinking they’d do Bonus points too for referencing haired frontbeast takes the idea of strength of their songwriting that face paint might be a victory for be advised to get out quick. ourselves watching a bear, a crow before Halloween a sizeable well to ramp things up a bit, they the 1998 Romanian World Cup getting in the audience’s face to its they’re just as affecting without effort over finesse but whose and a jellyfish at The James Street contingent of performers and do just that, crunking up the guitar squad’s bleached hair stunt. logical conclusion. the animal animations, delivering spacey, motorik gloom-rock is a As Oxjam nears its climax Tavern. The jellyfish is Jennifer festival-goers are in fancy dress, noise, evoking the spirit of L7 with The actual title for best set of the a powerful, big-hearted set of win for wintry atmosphere, where Nightshift finds itself somewhat Oliver, bass player with LUCY which means we get to judge not the melodic edge of Green Day The persistent precipitation makes today instead goes to one of the absolute anthems, the high point of Radiohead meet Neu! in a haunted sodden from all the rain, a little lost LEAVE and her costume is just who puts on the best show but and closing on their strongest song, the trek down to Café Tarifa an few non-Oxford bands on show. which is Maximo Park-flavoured forest in outer space, tension, in a beer haze and with a streak of entirely appropriate as the band dip who’s got the best costumes. `Figure It Out’. absolute joy and sadly the sound If Nottingham’s SLUMB PARTY banger `Run To The Shadows’. texture and occasional turbulence someone else’s white greasepaint their myriad tentacles into every system there struggles to match have come in fancy dress the Talking of animals RATS EAT the hypnotically bleak order of the all down one sleeve, but nothing music pot they can find, pull out Early contenders for best ensemble `Most improved’ feels like such the venue’s high ceiling, so MAX theme is surely “got kicked out RATS are a band very much on day. will dampen our spirits as TIGER oddly-shaped objects and squeeze effort are CIPHERS at The a backhanded compliment but BLANSJAAR’s vocals are all but of the sci-fi comic club for being the rise on today’s showing, their MENDOZA summons all of his square pegs into round holes. The James Street Tavern who number it’s appropriate for DAISY who indecipherable, which is a shame too nerdy”. The singer looks like full-pelt grunge in thrall to Nirvana KID KIN’s horror clown make-up evil forces for tonight’s set, his ghosts, the ghouls, the skeletons a black cat, a witch, a nun and have gone from being a band with since his exuberantly roughshod a cross between Ned Flanders and and Hundred Reasons but finding is a work of art, and his heavily- band featuring Kid Kin, Death and, yes, the blood-spattered what appears to be an Orca among some decent ideas and a few off- garage pop carries echoes of 80s TV detective Eddie Shoestring room for some neat Idlewild-style looped electro clamour is similarly of Hi-Fi’s Daniel Clear, former- surgeons look on and everyone their ranks. Musically they hover colour lyrical themes to a band Robyn Hitchcock’s idiosyncratic but looks are deceptive and the melodies; always good to hear a elaborate, at its best a blizzard Witches man Dave Griffith and revels in a second successive between spiky shoegaze fuzz you can really get onside with psychedelia. He plays a more band are incredible: sax-led post- band making what can sometimes of guitar and synth textures, upfront, infused with boundless, Saturday when Oxford celebrated and spangle and a soulful sort of – sweetly melodic pop-punk that than decent cover of `Sunday punk delirium where Pere Ubu’s be a cliché-ridden genre sound occasionally punctuated by sparse wine-fuelled energy, Asher Dust, its music community in numbers bluesy rock, at its best when it’s at owes its increasing appeal to Luke Morning’ and recounts a story hysterical awkwardness gets itself fresh again. vocals and abrupt stops. getting half the room actually and with style. And now, if anyone its most pensive and with Mila’s Allmond’s deceptively powerful about accidentally giving his phone tangled up in Devo’s herky-jerky Everything about WORRY is dancing while sounding like the knows the best way to get blood strident vocals very much leading vocals. number to some religious cult but robo-rhythms, frees itself with Our first visit to Truck Store is abrupt. Apparently they’re dressed Devil’s own disco. out of a brand new t-shirt, do write from the front. One of the most distinctive he deserves better on the acoustics some Fugazi-style ferocity and for PET SEMATARY, whose as bloodied surgeons but it’s too in. Over at The Library, meanwhile, voices heard today comes from front. spikes Kissing the Pink’s electro- Stephen King referencing name is packed in The Library to actually MSRY are a band who know how Dale Kattack Courtney Barnett by Jo Cox (a playful coverof The Clash’s raucous 60sgarage rock,70spunk 80s-does-50s doo-wop changes, The Madridquartetmix heady together aswellHindsdo. rubato thatcancomewhenyouplay bridge-bits, andrelishthetheatrical down, explodeintokey-change- and joyful,astheyspeedup,slow The soundofthebandisdizzying apart completely, butit’s justatease. back onitselfandthreatenstobreak minutes; itsurges forward,leaps than mostbandsmusterinasmany more characterinsixtyseconds Hinds’ openinginstrumentalhas The Bullingdon HINDS really listenwillmakeyoulaughoutloud,buttheyareneverinsipid and music. There arelightermomentstooofcourse, andsomelyricsthatifyou ‘Nameless Faceless’,shebringsrelatableandwittystorytellingtoher in ‘Depreston’ orconfrontingthethreatof violenceagainstwomenin it’s throughwryobservationsaboutthestateofhousingmarket It’s inherwordsthatshestrikestherealchordwithaudience,whether to pulloff justaboutanything,whereshereallyshinesislyrically. covers bothfitseamlesslyintotonight’s set,provingshehasthemusicality Courtney Barnett’s influencesarewide-ranging. Andwhilstthesedisparate accompanied onlybyastrippedbackelectricguitarbacking,it’s clear and DaveRawling’s ‘EverythingisFree’ withasolovocalperformance ‘Streets of Your Town’ orreplacingthecountrytwang ofGillian Welch Whether she’s playingthe1980sindie-rockof The Go-Betweenin O2 Academy COURTNEY BARNETT LIVE hopeful camaraderie that is Hinds’ that melancholyedge withthe it, whileitstwin vocals sweeten to andisallthemore satisfyingfor try andslightlyfailtosingalong one ofthoseriffs thataudiences that impressmost.‘TheClub’ has debut album,butit’s thenew songs ‘Chili Town’, bothfromthe band’s ‘Garden’ andthepush-pullstompof big cheersforthewoozyswaggerof spiky leadsandchoruses. There are and Ana Perrotecasuallyswapping singer/guitarists CarlottaCosials and played)90stwee,with ‘Spanish Bombs’ isexpertlychosen

Jo Cox that makesCourtneyBarnettsuchastar. honest andrelatable.It’s preciselythisdown-to-earthcharacterandartistry morning gardening,andbringingittolifeinawaythat’s interesting, any subjectshechooses,evensomethingasseeminglybanalMonday because itsoperfectlyexemplifieswhatshe’sGardener’, allabout:taking until lastwith‘PedestrianatBest’,formethehighlighthastobe‘Avant And thoughmuchoftheaudienceseemtobelieveshe’s savedthebest persona. delivery –thatisrefreshinginaworldofglossysocialmedia-ready songwriting –aswellherinstantlyrecognisabledrawlingdeadpan Eveninthesemoments,thereisanopennessandhonestytoher you won’t findherpanderingtoanyonejustsellmorerecords. intoxicating thankstothe loose- book andstillsound utterly Still,Hindscould playthephone story now.” about /I’mtheonewhowrites “I amnotthegirltheysingasong the openinglinesof‘BritishMind’: cheating exisfurtherrebuttedin feel likeI’myourtester”),andthat song’s chorus(“WhenI’malone, I rapturously received,belyingthe stage-diving tripintothecrowdis to anall-femalefrontrow. Her for badasswomen,”Perrotegrins anthem, “writtenbybadasswomen, calling-card. ‘Tester’ isanother Mike Smith hear it. heart-stopping moments, I’dloveto from underneath the songforafew somebody new,” pulling therug beats aftertheline“Iwannabe way thedrumsflipoverforafew of words/musicteamworkthanthe playfulness; ifthere’s abetter bit restlessness, andexhilarating encapsulating theirloveanxiety, Run’ album,isaperfectcloser, For You’, fromthisyear’s ‘We Don’t Weymouth ‘77kindaway. ‘New down inalight,danceable, Tina holds thewholeoutrageousthing especially feelsome,whileMartin Grimbergen –thelatter’s playingis Ade Martinanddrummer Amber but-tight interplaybetweenbassist Earth and porncrackingsmiles and skater-punk, histiltsatMiddle joined forceswith Guttermouth’s flexes likeayoung JohnOtwayhas over theplace.SingerDanKilvert Fender Jazzbasskickingitscanall spoken word,andJackCollier’s onto itwithpowerriffs oversemi- Tape ItShut,fromCrowthorne,vault The benchmark setsuitablyhigh, as itdoesso. down amongstus,singeingourhair reaches criticalmassandpours meets-Tremonti pyroclasticflow guitar solosasthewhole Maiden- air alongsideMattStevens’ vertical trim and Axl Rosevocalsrakethe Ieuan Owen’s sky-blueMohican a seriouslypissedoff rattlesnake. venom you’donlyexpecttofindin the gearstogeneratekindof Chain’, theyworkupthrough with bodyshotsongslike‘Broken for themtohold.Quicklythough, if theirinstrumentsweretoohot Gappy Tooth Industriesshow, as a littleinitialtrepidationattonight’s chops. Soit’s perplexingtowitness fearsomely tightold-schoolmetal with theirhungryworkethicand Empire havesurged alongway Formed justlastyear, Broken The Wheatsheaf BROKEN EMPIRE ORDER #227/ TAPE IT SHUT / which pointitfeelsliketheuniverse two numberstofullykickin,at went onstagebutittakesprecisely In Synthesisingestedbeforethey Godknowswhat,ifanything,Girls produce inaten-yearcareer. eight minutesthanmanybandswill because there’s morefuninthose subtlety, butthatdon’t matternone, lack ofmelodyandevenless is screaming;thereadistinct hatecore. There isshouting;there half adozensongsoffrenetic manage tocareerthroughatleast minutes. Duringwhichtimethey the bandareonstageforjusteight more impressivewhenyouconsider for tonight’s show, whichiseven apparently flowninfromSpain Bloodhorse’s drummerhas end ofslackerrock. bolshy, bubblegumedgetothenoisier surprisingly poppy, thebandaddinga that’s messybutbig-hearted,and getting hereearlytonightwithaset a listen,andwe’rerewardedfor Dicks certainlymakesthemworth pieces ofDaisy, Worry andBasic a supergroup, butfeaturingbitsand even onalocallevel,toqualifyas probably aren’t wellenoughknown, Junk Whales compositemembers The Library BLOODHORSE /JUNK WHALE GIRLS INYNTHEI/ Paul Carrera created byFaberge. a handgrenadethey wouldbeone sonic ordinance, and iftheywere Order#227arethehighestquality voice daresfilltheensuingsilence. Genocide’. Unsurprisinglyno-one’s On The Street’ and‘Generation wankers,” hemenacesbetween‘Man six months,sofeelfreetocallus is creating.“We haven’t playedfor flying hardcorepunkshrapnelhe bullet headheldhighamongstthe dangerous dogbreedsregister, his looking likeheshouldappearona playground” hollersRabid, “TheInternetisapaedo’s troops). “No stepback”edicttohis WW2 form Order#227(referencing Stalin’s Isaac Westwood onguitarto drummer JimSandyhaveenlisted while herebassistRabidand the noteworthyGrudgewood, Singer Tim Lovegrovenowleads very promisingnewlocalbands. Junkie Brushhasproducedtwo The recentbinaryfissionof droll humoureasilyoutlivesnovelty. enough toknowthathard-edged wackiness. Tape ItShutaresavvy wisely steeringawayfromtoomuch Dale Kattack please. And areturntrip. a pintofwhatevertheyjusthad rapturous applause. We’ll have gasp fromthecrowdbefore forty minutesthere’s anaudible bloodied andbruisedheapafter And whenthesetcollapsesina Whitehouse-like levelsofnastiness. and `Tainted’ almosttouchingon `We MightNotMake Tomorrow’ and unforgiving –thelikesof and militant,thevocalshectoring dervish-like venom. They’re sullen kit towithinaninchofitslifewith quality asthedrummerthrashesher taking onascouringpsychedelic hellish andhypnotic,theguitar whole setupandfromhereit’s semi-spoken wordpieceopensthe front ofthem,butabizarre,intense bullish foraysintothethrongin vocal dutiesandmakingtentatively the guitaristandbassistsharing with apleasingnodtoBigBlack, decent angularsheet-metalhardcore captivating. The firsttwosongsare brutal, disorientatingandutterly ride throughsomewheregloriously confines istakenforabreakneck in The Library’s suitablyintimate collapses inonitselfandeveryone Richman with the fake leather fun of Richman withthe fakeleatherfunof the melodicsimplicity ofJonathan a flurryofcracking tunesthatmeld licking –herbandmates onwardsin joshing –andeven,atonepoint, mic likeavoodoofetish,prodding, and wieldingafeather-bedecked radio stage, coveredinglitterandbeads, however, Brixisatinytornadoon Fromthemomentthisistornoff, deliver thefirstnumberblindfolded. which Brixisledtothestage a visually, evidentfromtheoutset,with bolder presence,sonicallyand they havedevelopedamorecogent, the band’s 2017visitto The Cellar the lastcoupleofyears.Plus,since set, isoriginalmaterialwrittenover their twoalbums,andoftonight’s same time),andthatthemajorityof known work(althoughnotallatthe contributed tosomeoftheirbest- of thebandwerein The Falland their trackrecordsshowsthat80% or whathaveyou,isthatchecking built around Alvin Stardust’s bassist the slewofspuriousheritageacts What marks The Extricatedoutfrom Granny & The Bongos? perhaps? Elena& The Remainderers? before. Scanlon& The Shift-workers, formed, butthatithadn’t happened is notthatBrix& The Extricated alumni roll,thesurprisingthing Given The Fall’s influence,andvast The Bullingdon BRIX & THE EXTRICATED to turnon6Musicwithouthearing 50s andit’s practicallyimpossible feature inafairfewendofyeartop album, `DeportationBlues’,will a waveatthemoment.Hislatest BC Camplightisonthecrestof Definitely abandtokeepaneyeon. Boys intheirrecordcollections. Underground filednextto TheBeach and Lily Wolter have The Velvet Hair’ thatsuggestssiblingsJack ambience tosongslike`Cut Your pop, butthere’s apleasinglyspiky songs areessentiallyfeelgoodbeach beaches tobeheretonight. Their space from1960ssunkissedLA having travelledthroughtimeand at fulltilt,youcouldimaginethem your eyeswhenPenelopeIslesare deceiving ofcourse,andifyouclose inside oftheirtourvan.Looksare eaten cardigansellotapedtothe a pictureofEvanDandoinmoth to imaginethattheymighthave shambolic stagepresence.It’s easy scruffy t-shirts,andanalmost musicians withlonghair, slightly spectacular, justabunchof level PenelopeIslesarenothing get afeelingabout.Onvisual a supportbandthatyoujust Every sooftenyouhappenacross The Bullingdon BC CAMPLIGHT /PENELOPEISLE musique concrete introtapeduring David Murphy Prinzess. we’ll begettingdown withtheBig docker. Fine, theycanstayinmoping, to theground”whilstswearinglike a and beggingherloverto“hammer me old womandressingup,rockingout refuse topunchthecardofa56year and thereareblinkeredfoolswho turning itintoaglossyglamracket, mysterious, inscrutablemusicand The Extricatedfortaking The Fall’s There areoldfanswhowon’t forgive wandering roundIndia). finding thesoul’s boundarieswhilst get awaywithbreathlessguff about (although Brixisdefinitelytoooldto sure don’t playlikegreyingveterans as loudlypossible,becausethey how tomakethebestbaddecisions, deserves tobeinspiringyoungsterson Bald-Headed Men. An actlikethis mostly madeupof The Leagueof sad itisthattonight’s audienceis themselves inrockmusic,andhow aged womenthereareexpressing us realisejusthowfewmiddle- sex, spiritualityandself-helpmakes shaman, tellingwild-eyedtalesof Sonic Youth workouts. This hennight the kit)and,surprisingly, someatonal along withhisbrotherPaulbehind member ever:bassistSteveHanley, features thegreatestnon-rantingFall kraut rhythms(don’t forget thisband Suzi Quatro,aroundpulsatingdirt- Sam Shepherd for BCCamplight. things aretakingaturnforthebetter to greatthingsandwithanyluck, songs. Grantheadedoff onapath set, crammedfullofincredible years backwhichwas,liketonight’s Grant’s setsupportingMidlakeafew to aclose,we’reremindedofJohn crafted poptones. As itallcomes BC Camplight’s delugeofcarefully impossible nottogetsweptawayby so manyhighpointsherethatit’s closer `I’mDesperate’ butthere’s tonight’s crowdareawaitingset parts deadon.Naturallymostof hits everyoneofhisharmony sarcastic, andmoreimportantly, upbeat, mercilesslyfunnyand InalivesettingChristinziois adversity, butsomehowithas. sense ofpositivityintheface with popnousandanunderlying album thatisabsolutelyshotthrough rights shouldn’t haveresultedinan abuse, anddeportationworries–by life –mentalhealthissues,substance ago. The resultofhistumultuous having beendeportednottoolong been allowedbackintothecountry Brian Christinzio,whohasfinally them. It’s beenastrangetimefor Besarabia by Joost Gerstein The band’s highly danceable fusionofBakarhythms andtheir arresting you couldbeginto imagineyourselfrightthereinthe forest. Baka musiconsome numbers.Indeedstareatthescreen longenoughand Baka withthem, projecting videosontoascreenand playingrecordingsof with beingforcedtoleavetheforest. As partoftheirshowtheybringthe currently workingtohelpgivethe Bakaavoiceastheyarenowfaced made suretheygivebacktothesource thatcontinuestoinspirethem, This tour celebratestheband’s 25thanniversary. Overtheyears theyhave Baka Beyondwasborn. Museum. Bowledoverbyexperiencing theirmusicfirsthand,theideaof -gathers, andtwoyearslatertheydidthankstoagrantfromthePitt Rivers after seeingPhil Agland’s 1989documentaryabouttheindigenous hunter people bornanddietherethanintheUK. They wereinspiredtomeetthem so manytimestheycallthemfamily, andMartinhassaid he’s seenmore BakaBeyondfoundersMartinCradickandSueHarthavevisitedthe music andspiritoftheBakaforestpeopleCameroonCongo. Thames towpathandforonenightonlyyoufindyourselfimmersed inthe It’s awondrouslystrangeexperiencetotakewalkinthedarkalong Isis Farmhouse BAKA BEYOND Pallardõ onoud,sazandcretanlute traditional framedrumsandJaume violin, EvaDomingo’s various and theirlineupofHeidiErbrich’s The banddoplayacoustically, it’s sotemptingtostayhome. door onarainywindynightwhen It’s enoughtogetoutmethe not atrumpetortromboneinsight. holding acousticinstrumentsand – thetrioarebasedin Valencia – they arepicturedinsunnySpain into BalkanandKlezmer. There melange ofbeatsandbrassbands something different fromtheusual difference. Besarabia’s promises Sometimes aflyercanmake a The Cellar BESARABIA and howthethreelisten and JaumeisassubtleHeidi’s rhythm sectiontheplayingofEva though: whilemainlybeinga This isn’t aonepersonshow, baroque violinist. trained andhasaparallellifeas in; itturnsoutsheisclassically concerto andsomeMozartthrown the beginningofBeethoven’s violin rhythm impressively. We evenget She variesthepace,toneand Heidi’s expressiveviolinplaying. of thesetisinstrumental,ledby a traditionalBulgariantune.Most sound, startingwiththeiropener, creates arefreshinglyorganic folky Colin May soles andinoursouls. the unlit Thames towpath, butwiththoseBakarhythmsvibrating inour game. It’s an amazingOxfordoccasion. Then itisover, and it’s backalong some achievement.BakaBeyond are amongfriendsandatthetopoftheir music makingandpersonalitylift the energy levelevenhigher, whichis violin playinglandladyNoreenjoins themonstage,herexuberantstyleof dancing. The bandfeedoff theenergy; “We loveit,”declaresSue. When it’s thoseirresistibleBakarhythms thatdominate,andtheentirecrowdare predates thefirstforestvisitand subsequentfoundingoftheband.But and recordedwiththelateGraham Wiggins –akaDrDidgasOutbackthat There’s apoignantmomentwhentheyplay‘Baka’,tuneMartinwrote sound ofabambooflute. and SueHartblowingacrossaminiatureJackDanielsbottletorecreatethe Scott fromSierraLeoneplayinganinstrumentmadehisgranny’s table Baka rhythms.‘TheMarriageOf West &East’ isahighlight,with Ayodele and even Ariel’s songfromShakespeare’s The Tempest cleverlymixedwith a Celticinfluencetonight.Nonethelessthere’s aGalliclovesong,andreggae extraordinaire PaddyLeMercierlaidlowbyillnessthereisprobably lessof has remainedlargely unchangedsincethey formed,howeverwithviolinist yelli singing–akindofyodellingwithother African andCelticmusic the otherbandjustmight best soulsingers’ repertoire. With restrained intensitythat’s partofthe drum, thensingingwiththe swirling ricearoundherframe creating thesoundofseaby starting atmosphericallywithher the Mediterraneanrefugeecrisis, Valencia; oneisaresponseto by thebandinlanguageof a coupleoforiginalswritten instrumentals though.Evasings It’s notallBalkanandklezmer heart ofklezmereverytime. they nailthesad-happytropeat of ahighqualityjazztrio. As aband respond toeachotherisreminiscent Colin May uninviting theweathermightbe. and getoutseethem,however come backdoyourselfafavour visit toOxford.Ifandwhenthey buzzing. Tonight istheband’s first approval attheend,placeis enthusiastically, roaringtheir with theaudienceresponding perfect venueforthemand intimacy oftheCellarisa intrinsic totheirappeal. The their warmstagepresenceis Besarabia’s musicisinfectiousand appearance bythegiraffe. her eyeandthere’s evenasurprise sea. Evadeliversitwithatwinklein toy giraffe dreamingofgoingtothe tale rap,asit’s thestoryofalonely have inventedanewgenre,fairy WhatsOn1.indd 1 19/04/2018 22:01:16 www.crowdfunder.co.uk/cellar-forever SAVE CLOSING FROM US #CellarForever INTRODUCING.... Nightshift’s monthly guide to the best local music bubbling under The Overload Who are they? Local punk/post-punk/rock and fucking roll quartet The Overload are Arthur Specialist practical and emotional Osofsky (vocals); Darren Hasson-Davis (bass); Jake Haydn (guitar), and Raf al Dedynski (drums). Arthur met Darren while the former was working behind the support for women and girls who bar at The Bullingdon. Darren was out drinking with local promoter Osprey and Arthur separately showed them some poetry he’d written. Darren offered him have experienced sexual violence some free time in his studio and he dragged his friend Jake along. As soon as he heard them Raf offered to drum and, after a few failed bassist auditions Darren at any time in their lives. decided he wanted to be part of the band too. A month later the band played their debut show at Osprey’s It’s All About the Music night. He became their manager and within four months of forming they were headlining a show upstairs at The Telephone helpline O2 Academy. Bypassing singles and EPs the band recorded their debut album in October, set for release this month. “It took us approximately 15 hours of 01865 726295 or Freephone 0800 783 6294 instrumental and vocal recording, and 15 hours of mixing to produce one hour • Monday 6.30pm – 9pm of music; if we’d taken a month to record two or three tracks we’d have lost all the energy,” says Darren. • Thursday 6.30pm – 9pm What do they sound like? • Sunday 6pm – 8.30pm Swaggering, attitude-fuelled punk poetry over tight, punked-up krautrock Their favourite other Oxfordshire act is: rhythms, nervous energy, chaos and a sense of disgust at the world and all in it. “Restructure are a laugh.” We have a 24-hour answerphone, and if you leave us Frontman Arthur’s hectoring, snarling vocals are militant declamations, while If they could only keep one album in the world, it would be: a message we can call you back the next time we are open. the band can switch from Crazy Horse-like riffery to uptight post-punk on a “`Bend Sinister’ by The Fall. sixpence. But for all their abrasiveness, Overload gigs tend to involve a fair When is their next local gig and what can newcomers expect? Email support amount of dancing. “December the 14th at the O2 Academy for BBC Introducing in Oxford. Expect What inspires them? no lovey dovey nonsense. Expect cold, loud and an encore if we can be fucked, [email protected] “Political correctness gone mad; shit bands, shit attitudes and shit weather; and if the Beeb let us.” being skint and unable to afford fuck all in Oxford.” Their favourite and least favourite things about Oxford music are: Career highlight so far: “Favourite: Jimmy’s old van; least favourite: posers.” www.osarcc.org.uk “Getting paid a oner in Abingdon and getting three free lagers and a baguette.” You might love them if you love: Oxfordshire Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre is a company limited by guarantee, And the lowlight: Sleaford Mods; The Fall; The Blockheads; Crass; Happy Mondays; Sex Pistols. registered in England & Wales No: 6835605.Registered Charity No: 1131054. “Out first gig: a load of wank and we all got too fucked up before and nearly Hear them here: barred from The Wheatsheaf. We’ve made up now” “Buy our album; we need a van. And a holiday.”

Dr SHOTOVER, Crowdfunder THIS MONTH IN OXFORD [To the tune of the Rolling Stones’ Starf***er]. I’m a crowdfunder, crowdfunder, MUSIC HISTORY T H E W H E A T S H E A F crowdfunder, crowdfunder tum-tee-tum. What’s that? Have I lost my wits? No ALL OUR YESTERDAYS st Saturday 1 December – 7:45pm / £7 indeed I have NOT, Newbie - and F*** YOU VERY MUCH for suggesting such a 20 YEARS AGO 10 YEARS AGO 5 YEARS AGO thing. I am celebrating… and, despite your puppyish expression, lack of socks and December 1998 was a good month for The It was all about Little Fish in December 2008. Not With the magnificent Death of the Maiden on th ridiculous candyfloss beard, you may pull up a pew and celebrate with me – by Thursday 6 December – 8pm Samurai Seven. For starters they scooped three only did the band grace the cover of Nightshift, the rise, it’s interesting to look back at December getting a round in. Mine’s a Jack Daniels and coke. No, not that sort of coke. out of a possible six awards at the first Shifty talking about their “mad year,” which saw the duo 2013’s Nightshift and see singer Tamara Parsons [Snif-snif]. Ahh, that’s better. I am celebrating the fact that I have stumped up – th Disco pollwinner’s party at The Point, winning supporting Supergrass around Europe, recording Baker on the cover, back then fronting her band Friday 7 December – 7:45pm/ £6 most generously – towards the Save the Cellar campaign. Yes, for the first time this century, old Shotover has committed an act of selfless CHARITY. To the tune the singles club subscribers’ votes for Best their debut album in LA with Linda Perry and The Martyrs and having just released debut of twenty-five guineas, if you must know. Which I can ill afford, given the state B-Side, Best Band and Act You’d Most Like to generally looking for all the world like rock and album `Girl Jokes About Boy Parts’ (“the title of the ancestral finances – did I tell you, we’ve even had to lay off the second See Make an Album, beating off competition roll’s next big thing before their label spectacularly is a little tongue in cheek,” she explained; “boy th Saturday 8 December – 7:45pm assistant pantry under-fettler? (Poor old Fobbe, he’d been with the family since from fellow local faves Dustball, Beaker and shat all over them but they also topped Nightshift’s jokes about girl parts is a common phrase I hear the Festival of Britain)… But I digress. Not that I begrudge them the money, ohhh Unbelievable Truth. Dustball’s `Senor Nachos’, end of year Top 20 with their song `Darling Dear’ so I wanted to turn it on its head.”). Elsewhere th noo. How well I recall going to see bands at the Cellar’s original incarnation, the the first record to be released on the singles club (“Imagine The Pretenders remaking The Velvet Tamara’s lyrics were rather darker, taking in Thursday 13 December – 8pm Corn Dolly, when it was 20p entrance, or 15p if you wore double denim. Flares back in 1997, won Best Single, beating Beaker’s Underground’s `Heroin’ as a paranoid tale of infanticide, childhood trauma and heartbreak. were in the first time round. Hair th `Backgarden’, also from 97, into second place. frustrated passion and bloody suicide, with all “I want to play with the idea of a woman being Friday 14 December – 7:45pm / £7 was long and proudly unwashed. Spunkle’s `Lubetube’ – which was released the spirit of a young Patti Smith”) fighting off driven to the point of madness, where she does an One’s greatcoat pockets were by Shifty Disco after the label turned down the stiff competition from A Silent Film’s `You Will unthinkable deed,” she said. It was an emotionally full of mandies, bennies and (Album Launch) opportunity to release Muse’s debut single – was Leave A Mark’, Young Knives’ `Mummy Light intense and quite brilliant album. th black bombers. The music was Saturday 15 December – 8pm / £5 loud and greasy, like the punters. scandalously voted Worst Single. Some people. The Fire’, Foals’ `Olympic Airways’ and Richard As well as Tamara’s album there were also The bands all looked like bikers The Sammies also celebrated topping Nightshift’s Walters’ cover of Daniel Johnston’s `True Love releases from Nought’s guitar-genius James and were called things like end of year Top 20 with their sing `Bonnet’ – the Will Find You In The End’. Elsewhere in the 20 Sedwards in his The Devil guise, collaborating b-side to their single `Xeroxy Music’. Runners were Youthmovies, Stornoway, Sharron Kraus, with The Country Teasers’ Ben Wallers; former th JUGGERNAUT, BEHEMOTH and Wednesday 19 December 7:45pm / £7 ELEPHANTIASIS. The place was up were Unbelievable Truth (`Settle Down’), Jonquil, The Family Machine and Mr Shaodow. Fell City Girl and Winchell Riots frontman Phil full of fag smoke and the smell followed by Beaker (`Driving’); Crackout The month’s gig highlight was indisputably two McMinn and rapper ShaoDow. th 8pm of keg beer. Happy daze. Now, (`Chuck’); Callous (`Burner Ray’); Nought (`The sold-out nights at The Academy from Foals, This being December there was the traditional Thursday 20 December – where were we? Ah yes, the Save Cannon’); Wonderland (`Children of the Sun’), who were just starting to make their presence end of year Top 25, this time round topped by

st the Cellar campaign. Dig deep, and Marine Research (`Queen B’). felt as international pop heroes on the back of Young Knives’ sublime `Maureen’ from their Friday 21 December 7:45pm / £6 Newbie, dig deep. What’s that… Despite alienating label subscribers, Spunkle debut album `Antidotes’. Handpicked support `Sick Octave’ album. Foals were runners up you had twenty-five guineas in were back on Shifty Disco this month with their for each night included chums Youthmovies with `Bad Habit’, followed by Stornoway nd your waistcoat, and NOW IT’S Saturday 22 December 7:45pm SP.U.N.K.L.E Allstars single `Where Will You and Jonquil, and the incredible Rolo Tomassi (`Farewell Appalachia’); Candy Says (`Favourite GONE? Erm, really? Oh look, Be This Christmas?’ which contained samples who we welcomed back to town in September Flavour’); The Goggenheim (`Moth’); Wild there’s someone I simply must st of Thom Yorke from Radiohead’s infamous this year as part of If Not Now, When? festival. Swim (`Another Night’); Tamara (`Get Him Monday 31 December – 7:45pm talk to, over the other side of the East Indies Club bar. Yes, must Your Song set. Despite the A-list vocal steal, it Elsewhere Isis were at The Regal, while The Out’); Coma Wall (`Summer’); Glass Animals dash. BYEEE. probably still only sold about 25 copies. You can risible Script had also somehow managed to sell (`Psylla’) and Flights of Helios (`Star’). Desert Next month: A Moment of CHER: ‘Uh, is this the way to the, uh, world- lead horses to water and all that. The man was a out the Academy, proving that Christmas charity Storm, The August List, Vienna Ditto, Wheatsheaf 129 High Street, Oxford OX1 4DF / www.facebook.com/wheatsheaf.oxford Juicy Lucidity famous Quorn Dolly?’ genius, you fools. sometimes goes too far. Despicable Zee and Pet Moon also featured.

leaves. Winter is coming, in every sense. you know what, we really want this to be so stupendously, brilliantly, theatrically terrible that it might actually bounce all the way from FANCY DRESS the bottom of the pile to the very peak, there TRACks to gaze down with terrible majesty on all the Sponsored by Track of the Month wins a free remix PARTY sensible boring stuff beneath. But guess what? from Soundworks studio in Oxford, Well, we know this lot aren’t going to bring It’s fucking terrible in the most predictably the sunshine since their last offering was courtesy of Umair Chaudhry. Visit dull fashion possible – a directionless miasma almost like party music antimatter: the of cod-psychedelic wandering and “woo, www.umairchaudhry.co.uk/nightshift musical equivalent of a sodden Pavement look at me, I’m a WIZARD” prog pomposity. t-shirt discarded in a muddy puddle on the We’re disappointed in you Luke. If you’re in angst (“Don’t you ever look out of the way home from a failed date. Yes, despite fact a joke at ours, or anyone else’s expense, TOP window and think, is there something more the band name Fancy Dress Party aren’t you forgot the punchline. If you’re real and to all this?”) contemplating the world like a really here for the nice things in life, and imagine yourself the saviour of music, try and hybrid of fretful student poet and delusional merrily describe themselves as “sulkwave”. remember the golden rule of rock craziness: TRACKS vagrant preacher. By `Polybius’ he might as Sulk being right on the button with `Long never be boring. We’re giving you a D-minus well be tearing his own hair out in clumps as Grass’ (sample quotes: “You cannot for now. A full-on massive piece of work? he’s racked with fretful indecision and by the win”; “I pick up more germs”; “Everyone Yep, something along those lines. LINA SIMON fourth and final number, `Trains’, he’s gone loses”), a languidly rough-hewn spangle of Lina Simon is a name we’ve not heard round the full bellowing-at-buses over a warped determinedly downbeat noise-pop that rouses these parts for a while and it’s a particular hardcore blizzard that sounds like an alien itself from its sullen pouting and moping treat to have her back amongst us and making punk cruise ship cabaret band. Of course it’s to scream in anguish against the world and TOILET music. Lina, if you didn’t know, was in the all far too serious and possibly incredibly its lies. `Masquerade’, meanwhile, takes original line up of Elizabeth / The Edmund pretentious but, you know what, irony in a more despondent view of things (choice TRACKS Fitzgerald, who absolutely blew us away music is mostly shit and people at the end lines: “Kill another victim in an overweight several times before they mutated – without of their tether make for great entertainment. prison”; “Every mistake you’ve made will Lina – into Foals, but if you’re expecting MIKE HOLLAND Especially when you crank the volume up to bite you in the back, until you’re in the How crap do you have to be to finish below wigged-out and wonky post-math-rock the point the Virgin Media men down the road grave”), again not even trying to force a smile someone who’s either severely delusional mayhem, you’re in for a surprise. Lina tells us come round to complain they can’t hear their as it contemplates blood and salt in wounds, or a wacky, self-conscious joke, but either she grew up listening to a lot of 80s synth-pop pneumatic drill over that infernal racket. doubtless scratching at the imaginary insects way interminably tedious? As crap as Mike (never, ever a band thing if you ask us, and crawling under its skin with barely suppressed Holland here is how much. Come on, two we’ll assume you did) and these demos reflect mania. There’s a keen grasp of tension in the of the greatest songwriters of all time were that, particularly The Kraftwerk-y `Jitter’, THE SECRET music and it’s entirely possible you could called Holland, so you’re letting the ancestral and `Words’, which takes Depeche Mode for TURAN AUDIO.co.uk bop around the room to it, even if it’s just a St name down for starters, less the Dozier more a cruise along a midnight highway to Mazzy Professional, independent TRANSMISSION Vitus dance. the dozy in between those two legends. God audio mastering Star’s house, all swirling synths, electronic If any musical racket is guaranteed to vex almighty this is a trawl and a trial. The most beats and dispassionately ethereal vocals. upstanding citizens it’s techno, so just in soporific of soft rock inconsequentiality, Mastered in the studio last month; Elsewhere Lina captures a crepuscular mood Apple approved time to follow that last demo is a track from HOLLY REDFORD like the rancid seepage from a session EMERALD SABBATH, ROSIE CALDECOTT, on tracks like `Armour’ and `Flowers’, mixing mastering new local duo The Secret Transmission. musician’s attempt to write and record the ZURICH, VALERYAN, POLLY MORRIS, a little trip hop and looped guitar into her CATGOD, TONY MYLES, MIRAGES, SEAN POWER, Older local music fans might note that the JONES most insipid soundtrack to a local radio station softly doomy soundscapes, the icicle effects A&M TRIO, EXODUS, ANT TROMAN, SWERVEDRIVER, name links back to a previous generation of Oooh, get Holly here: she only recorded her life insurance advert ever. “I just want to and rumbling bass synths of `Flowers’ coming STEPBROTHER, GORDON HASKELL, ENFORCER, Oxford techno: acid house duo The Secret and new song in Nashville. Like a proper country hold you one more time / Every day getting on like a lost John Carpenter soundtrack, ENSLAVED, GRAND MAGUS, SKIM feat. LEGATEE, THE techno club night Transmission. Musically singer. Then again, what’s to say she isn’t. longer / My enemy is time” he rhymes with while `Armour’ is almost like a lo-fi electro- BOOKSHOP BAND, MIKE HYDER, PROPOGANDA, ART this links directly back to Underworld with This one, `Big Blue Sky’, is a better vehicle Howard Devoto-like genius. “Are we o-o- pop Chelsea Wolfe. Her voice switches from OF NOISE, 808 STATE, its clamouring guitar-tinged techno and vocal for her smoked country-jazz voice than some over, or are we still… fine” he adds with all a breathless, middle distance croon to almost chants, at least until it turns into Faithless of her more expansive numbers she’s sent the romantic gusto of a catatonic drunkard 01865 716466 [email protected] witchy intensity on `My Poison’. There’s a partway through and goes all starry-eyed. in previously, all wandering contemplation, collapsing and drooling into a lukewarm rough-around-the-edges feel to the tracks, a Decent stuff as far as it goes but better twinkling lounge jazz piano and steel guitar Fray Bentos pie. Musically this is borderline couple of them sounding not fully formed yet, production and heftier beats would certainly underpinning her airy, soulful voice. You can indescribable, rendering our critical faculties but this is stuff we want to hear a lot more of, help. imagine broken hearted truckers weeping all but redundant with its utter lack of soul COURTYARD and hopefully having re-emerged from her into their empty pint glasses in dusty old or substance, just a slow, oozing sterility that hermetic existence, Lina will be dishing out RECORDING STUDIO blues bars across the Midwest. While this can only be the product of someone who 2 Tracking Rooms. Superb Control Room with: the magic at a venue near you very soon. SEASONS IN isn’t perhaps the strongest tune it’s lifted by has never experienced a passionate thought NEVE 5106 32 Channel Console. ProTools HD3 Holly’s sings-song voice and what sounds like in their entire life beyond, “Mmm, these MTR 90 2” 24 Track Tape Machine. Vintage EMT Plate Reverb Loads of Brilliant Outboard Gear SHORTHAND an almost effortless ability to bring the sultry. supermarket own-brand digestive biscuits are Here in Nightshift’s black-walled office we Proper indeed. Loads of Great Mics, Vintage and Modern tend to prefer our music on the autumnal/ rather tasty in a not overtly dangerous sort of Old School Akai/Roland Synth Modules THE PLASTIC Upright Piano, Fender Rhodes, Amps and great vibes. wintry spectrum even at the height of way.” This doesn’t even deserve contempt, Residential recording studio in Sutton Courtenay. OTHER summer, so the arrival of a sombre folk LUKE FICTITIOUS rather pity: pity for whoever imagines the While Nightshift isn’t a fan of bands who world needs music of the sort that makes www.courtyardrecordingstudio.co.uk song about apples falling from trees seems In-house producer: Ian Davenport www.ian-davenport.co.uk sound like they’re trying too hard, we can “U BLINK U MISS IT!” screams the email a Sunday afternoon trapped in a provincial particularly perfect right now. Recalling Belle Email: [email protected] definitely get on board with bands who sound header. Inside we’re promised “This is your garden centre discussing hardy perennials & Sebastian’s earliest rustic outings and with Phone: Kate on 01235 845800 like they’re suffering a collective meltdown a sweetly gloomy boy/girl vocal duet, the one lucky day. Now available in most of your with Dominic Raab and Ian Duncan Smith whilst playing. This lot sound so intense you song here, `Imperfect Loss’, is both romantic favourite online shops. A modern classic feel like a particularly debauched Saturday can almost hear the veins sticking out on and pessimistic, with a hesitancy about it that to be added to your favourite radio station night down the Viper Rooms in the company their necks as they career – there’s no other resolves with the line “I’m getting better, playlist: A full-on massive piece of work of Lemmy, Joan Jett and all of Motley Crue. word for it – through four tracks of paranoid finally,” though even that does little to lighten like you’ve never heard before! {NO LIE}.” We’d offer to take Mike out for a night of fun nihilism with a level of drama that makes our mood. Unlike the rolling news we’ve got You know how sometimes we wonder if around some of Oxford’s less dainty music Bauhaus look like Sam Smith. Things get off on in the background showing the Tory party someone’s sending us stuff for a joke? Well nights – Smash Disco or Buried in Smoke to a frenetic start with `Marblehead’ which unravelling itself from the inside out, all the sometimes we wish that really was the case, perhaps – but we fear it might give him some carries a sense if uptight hysteria about it from but Luke Fictitious, despite his name, does kind of funny turn or seizure. Equally, on this Rehearsal and Recording studios weasly little Brexiter hardliners scuttling to its opening bars and never relents, the whole cling onto Rees Mogg’s skirts even as he seem to be for real, rather than the product of evidence he could suck the fun out of an Idles Four state of the art rehearsal rooms song packed with the sort of rising tension plots to return the UK to a semi-feudalistic an over-excited toddler’s imagination. And gig, so maybe not, for everyone else’s sake. and a professional recording studio. you normally expect to find in a thirty-second idyll that never existed beyond his Boys Own climax, the singer unleashing a torrent of storybooks. Still, at least he’ll be able to make Send tracks for review to: Nightshift, PO Box 312, Kidlington, OX5 1ZU, or email links to edi- For bookings call Jamie on 07917685935 gothic portent over the band’s onward rush of it legal to hunt poor people once he grabs [email protected], clearly marked Demos. IMPORTANT: no review without a contact Glasshouse studios, Cumnor, Oxford • glasshousestudios.org guitar glissando. By second track `Computers power. Sorry, getting carried away. Seasons phone number. If you can’t handle criticism, please don’t send us your demo. Same goes for For Leisure’ he’s infused with existential in Shorthand: as sad and pretty as autumn your stupid, over-sensitive mates. facebook.com/o2academyoxford twitter.com/o2academyoxford instagram.com/o2academyoxford youtube.com/o2academytv

Tue 20th Nov Sun 2nd Dec Fri 21st Dec • 6pm Sat 9th Mar • 6pm The Dead Daisies: Children of Zeus Skindred U.F.O. Welcome to Tue 4th Dec Sat 22nd Dec • 6.30pm “Last Orders” 50th Daisyland Still Corners Faith: The George Anniversary Tour + Oliver Dawson Saxon + Massive Wagons Thur 6th Dec Michael Legacy Sat 9th Mar • 11pm

Wed 21st Nov • 6pm Von Hertzen Mon 31st Dec • 10pm 90s - 00s ft. Wayward Sons Brothers Switch NYE 2018/19 N-Trance + Doomsday Outlaw ft Andy C (Midnight Set) Fri 7th Dec • 6.30pm Thur 14th Mar Fri 23rd Nov • 6.30pm Pearl Jam UK Wed 16th Jan Hayseed Dixie The Dub Pistols J Mascis Fri 7th Dec • 11pm Wed 20th Mar • 6.30pm Fri 23rd Nov • 11pm The Oxford Sat 26th Jan • 6.30pm • SOLD OUT Ady Suleiman Shy FX Soul Train The Vaccines Fri 22nd Mar • 6.30pm Sat 24th Nov Sun 27th Jan Sun 9th Dec CoCo and the Bingo Lingo Fish Clem Burke and Butterfields Tue 277th Nov Bootleg Blondie Sat 23rd Mar • 6.30pm Thur 13th Dec • 6pm 8.15 Carols Fireball – Fuelling Sat 2nd Feb • 6.30pm Lene Lovich Band Gangstagrass Stateless 40th Anniversary Tour Tue 27th Nov The Fire Tour Sun 24th Mar • 6.30pm Shame + Flogging Molly + Face To Face Sat 9th Feb • 6.30pm + Lost In Stereo + The Bronx Wed 28th Nov • 6.30pm Cash Bars and Melody Beak> Thur 13th Dec Mon 11th Feb Thur 28th Mar Thur 29th Nov Mona + October Drift Jimothy Lacoste Fun Lovin’ Oxford City Fri 14th Dec • 6.30pm Thur 14th Feb Criminals Festival Slade: 45 Years of Alexander O’Neal Fri 29th Mar • 6.30pm ft. Otto, The Foliants, Molly Karloff, Merry Christmas Fri 15th Feb • 6pm Wille Port Erin, The Wayfarers and First Reserves Everybody Blue October and the Bandits + Rainbreakers Thur 29th Nov Fri 14th Dec • 11pm Sat 16th Feb • 5.30pm Cast Robbo Ranx Buckcherry Sat 6th Apr • 6.30pm The Dualers Fri 30th Nov • 6.30pm Christmas Special & Hoobastank Fri 12th Apr • 11pm Little Brother Eli Dancehall & BBC Sat 16th Feb • 6pm 1xtra Legend Omar Party With The Fri 30th Nov • 6.30pm Greatest Showman with Live Band All Saints Sat 15th Dec • 6pm Club Tour Fri 30th Nov • 11pm The Inflatables Mon 18th Feb Sat 13th Apr • 6.30pm Kings Xmas Party Ruts DC ft. King Hammond, The Rude Boy Nilufer Yanya Of The Rollers: Sat 23rd Feb • 6pm Mafia and The AC30s ft Serum, Voltage, Bladerunner w/Inja Stone Broken Sat 27th Apr • 6.30pm Sat 15th Dec • 6.30pm Fri 30th Nov • 11pm UK Foo Fighters Reef Sat 23rd Feb • 6.30pm Camelphat Scott Bradlee’s Tue 14th May Sat 15th Dec • 11pm Lucy Spraggan Sat 1st Dec • 6.30pm Postmodern The Damned Huey Morgan’s Jukebox Sat 18th May • 6.30pm NYC Block Party Samantha Fish Sat 1st Dec • 6.30pm Mon 25th Feb + Nanton & Skylarkin Better Than Never: Sea Girls Sat 29th Jun Wed 19th Dec The AC/DC The Final Show Fri 1st Mar • 5.30pm + Luke Rainsford KING 810 + Puppy Experience P.O.D. Sun 2nd Dec Fri 21st Dec • 6.30pm & Alien Ant Farm Wed 27th Nov • 6.30pm Bjorn Again Dreadzone + ‘68 Electric Six

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