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b-sidemusic · 6 years

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THE B-SIDE BUMPER BACKTRACK 2017 - PART TWO

Whoever you talk to, and whatever they're into, the consensus seems to be that 2017 has been an incredible year for the East Anglian DIY music scene. For Part Two of our Festive Retrospective Extravaganza, we spoke to yet more promoters, writers, DJs and artists from around the region about their favourite albums, tracks, gigs and moments from the last 12 months, including Fightmilk, The Interesting Times Gang, Kyanos, Graceland, Desperate Journalist, Sophie Mahon, Kulk, Clown Smash Everything, F.O.X and more...

LILY RAE

The Tyler Durden of Fightmilk club. www.fightmilkisaband.bandcamp.com

Album of the Year: ‘Juniverbrecher’ by The Indelicates. It’s spooky, furious, and you can dance to it. In other words, an ideal album. Track of the Year: ‘Prom’ by SZA. You can just put it on repeat for about an hour and not get bored of it. Lovely. Gig of the Year: I’ve got two: Julien Baker at (London’s) Union Chapel, for my favourite super sad telecaster porn or Tundra at The Hunter Club (In Bury St Edmunds), which was the most fucking amazing thing I’ve ever seen in my life. You could make beer-glitter angels on the venue floor after the set. Moment of the Year: Princess Nokia throwing soup at a racist. More throwing soup at racists in 2018, please. Turns out it’s a very versatile food. Tip for 2018: This is the year you go to the dentist, pal.

HANNAH CUTLER

Leader of The Interesting Times Gang. www.facebook.com/interestingtimesgang

Albums of the Year: ‘Superman’ by Wednesday Campanella. Also, ‘A Deeper Understanding’ by The War On Drugs and 'Every Valley' by Public Service Broadcasting. Tracks of the Year: ‘How Do You Sleep?’ by LCD Soundsystem. Moments of the Year: Not sure if I have any. To be brutally honest, my absolute favourite album I’ve listened to this year is ‘Power Windows’ by Rush. But it was released in 1985.

KYANOS

AKA Seth, Sam, Zach and Fintan: a four-headed psych beast who answer as one. www.kyanosbaby.bandcamp.com

Albums of the Year: ‘Flower Boy’ by Tyler the Creator; ‘The Ooz’ by King Krule; ‘Sketches of Brunswick East’ by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard with Mild High Club; ‘Drunk’ by Thundercat.

Tracks of the Year: ‘Rolling Stone’ by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard with Mild High Club; ‘For the First Time’ by Mac Demarco; ‘Call Me Up’ by Homeshake; ’Moment I Feared’ by Snoop Dogg.

Gigs of the Year: Homeshake; Chic; Yung Lean; Jamiroquai; King Krule.

Moments of the Year: Being mentioned in NME. First headline gig in London. The release of (debut EP) ‘Elevator to Japan’.

Tips for 2018: Treat 'em clean, keep it mean and have a sweet dream.

MATT CATLING

Ipswich Smokehouse’s Freakverbrator. www.freakverbration.blogspot.co.uk

Albums of the Year: Alvvays - ‘Antisocialites’; Slowdive - ‘Slowdive’; Cigarettes After Sex - ‘Cigarettes After Sex’; Frankie Rose - ‘Cage Tropical’; Fever Dream - ‘Squid’; Thurston Moore - ‘Rock n Roll Concussion’; The Gluts - ‘Estasi’; Kamikaze Girls - ‘Seaform’; Anne Hart - ‘Impossible Accomplice’; Idles - ‘Brutalism’.

Tracks of the Year: No Vacation - ‘Mind Fields’; Hazel English - ‘Fix’; Softer Still - ‘Company’; Major Leagues - ‘Good Love’; Lowtide - ‘Alibi’; Desperate Journalist - ‘Hollow’; METZ - ‘Cellophane’; Diet Cig - ‘Tummy Acre’; Is Bliss - ‘Into A Dream’.

Gigs of the Year: Part Chimp at Cambridge Portland Arms, 13th April; London DIY Pop Fest 2017, 28th-30th April; Desperate Journalist at Bury St Edmunds Hunter Club, 17th June; Kamikaze Girls at Ipswich Smokehouse, 23rd June; Indietracks 2017, 28th-30th July; Liverpool International Festival of Psychedelia, 22nd September; Pinkshinyultrablast at London Hackney Oslo, 20th October; Cambridge Indie Pop all-dayer at The Blue Moon, 18th November; Amusement Parks On Fire at London Borderline, 25th November.

Moments of the Year: Covering festivals like DIY Popfest, Indietracks and Liverpool Psych Fest. Interviewing bands I love such as pinkshinyultrablast, and getting myself an AAA pass. Putting on gigs at The Smokehouse. Getting back into blogging.

Tips for 2018: Keep on plugging away with what you’re doing. Get into covering gigs and festivals. Create your own blog or do your own radio show about your own interests.

MAXIE GEDGE

Graceland sticksmith and PRS Foundation guru. www.soundcloud.com/graceland_band

Albums of the Year: 1. Nubya Garcia - ‘Nubya’s 5ive’ 2. Hannah Peel - ‘Mary Casio: Journey to Cassiopeia’ 3. Lana Del Rey - ‘Lust for Life’ 4. Princess Nokia - ‘1992 Deluxe’ 5. The Big Moon - ‘Love In The 4th Dimension’

Tracks of the Year: 1. Flohio - ‘SE16’ 2. Superorganism - ‘Something For Your Mind’ 3. Charli XCX - ‘Boys’ 4. Sink Ya Teeth - ‘If You See Me’ 5. Goat Girl - ‘Crow Cries’

Gigs of the Year: Mykki Blanco - Meltdown at Southbank Centre; Hannah Peel and Mary Epworth at Norwich Arts Centre.

Moments of the Year:Ray Blk speech at Women in Music Awards and (documentary) ‘The Ballad of Shirley Collins’.

Tips for 2018: Flohio; Soeur; Bonzai; IDER; Maya Law.

NEIL JONES

Bringer of rock thunder to Cambridge 105fm and KLFM; Operations Manager at Cambridge Live. www.cambridge105.co.uk/shows/neil-jones

Album of the Year: Wayward Sons – ‘Ghost Of Yet To Come’.

Tracks of the Year: ‘Play’ by Marmozets.

Gigs of the Year: Subterranean Festival at Cambridge Corn Exchange; Marillion at the Royal Albert Hall; Iron Maiden at Nottingham Arena.

Moments of the Year: On a personal level, launching the new Subterranean one-day festival at Cambridge Corn Exchange, which is back for 2018; a (partially) reformed Guns ’n’ Roses playing the UK; and Prophets of Rage slaying Download.

Tips for 2018: Milk Teeth’s 2017 EPs showed a promise that should be delivered upon in 2018, and Cambridge bands Hollowstar and False Hearts are great bands with a bright future.

PAUL JENKINS

Our man in Norwich. www.outlineonline.co.uk

Albums of the Year: In order: Peter Perret - ‘How The West Was Won’; Madonnatron - ‘Madonnatron’; Jay Ducker - ‘Country Sober’; Mogwai - ‘Every Country’s Sun’; Amadou & Mariam - LA CONFUSION’; Wooden Arms - ‘Trick Of The Light’; British Sea Power - ‘Let The Dancers Inherit The Party’; Wire - ‘Silver / Lead’; The Jesus & Mary Chain - ‘Damage And Joy’; Ho99o9 - ‘United States of Horror’. (I’ve not included compilations. If I had, ‘This Was The Sound of Sugar Town’, ‘This Is The Sound Of Sugar Town Volume 2’ and ‘The Best of Chris T-T’ would have been in there.)

Tracks of the Year: In order: Zero UK - ‘Things You Love’; Gaffa Tape Sandy - ‘Beehive’; Ho99o9 - ‘United States of Horror’; Janet Street Slaughter - ‘The Sensitive Side of Bill Sykes’; Mega Emotion - ‘Sick Burn’; Charlotte Gainsbourg - ‘Deadly Valentine’; Jim Jones & The Righteous Mind - ‘Something’s Gonna Get Its Hands On You’; Madonnatron - ‘Mother’s Funeral’; Marc Almond - ‘Something Bad On My Mind’; Peter Perret - ‘Troika’.

Gigs of the Year: Almost every gig I have been to this year has had at least one excellent act on the bill so picking highlights is tougher than ever but here goes (in date order): Ho99o9, Norwich Waterfront, January; Nightingales and Graceland, Norwich Arts Centre, February; Horse Party and Claws, Bury St Edmunds Hunter Club, April; Melt Banana, Mega Emotion and Algae Bloom, Norwich Arts Centre, June; Magoo, Norwich Arts Centre, July; Dowling Poole and Last Great Dreamers, London Borderline, September; Gaffa Tape Sandy, Norwich Arts Centre, October; Bad Apples, Norwich Owl Sanctuary November; Wonk Unit, Owl Sanctuary, November; Icicle Works, Norwich Arts Centre, November. Honourable mentions also to British Sea Power, Subhumans, Wire, The Lovely Eggs, Rainbow Girls, Hot Raisin, Tubes and the four Quireboys/Last Great Dreamers dates I managed to get to.

Moments of the Year: Driving, crewing and doing merch for Last Great Dreamers when they supported Quireboys in Aberdeen, Glasgow, Newcastle and London; chatting to Alex from Wonk Unit before their Owl Sanctuary gig about addiction and being sober - anyone else would have been dull as chuff but Alex was his usual entertaining, engaging self (haven't paid any attention to him, though); meeting the various members of The Tubes - albeit briefly – after their show at the Waterfront.

Tips for 2018: Charlotte Carpenter, Bryde and Tibetan Night Terrors should break through to some mainstream success. The next She Makes War LP and Last Great Dreamers’ LP number four will be absolute belters. I have not seen New Scientists yet but everyone I know who has seen them says they are destined for big things. Ooh, and I’ve had sneak previews of the next Lovely Eggs and Hookworms albums, and they are crackers.

RICHARD HAUGH

BBC Introducing in Suffolk’s other lovely chap. www.bbc.co.uk/radiosuffolk

Albums of the Year: Dingus Khan - ‘Dunce Kap’. The wait had been too long, but I’ll let them off for that. Sadly, it’s so far only been available at two gigs, but a full release early in the new year [our spies tell us it’ll be out in April - Espionage Ed.] should be celebrated.

Tracks of the Year: Bessie Turner, ‘Words You Say’ – just wow. It never gets boring. And Gaffa Tape Sandy’s ‘Water Bottle’ and ‘Beehive’. It’s really hard to be a stand out indie band but Gaffa Tape Sandy have managed to do just that.

Moments of the Year: My memory is terrible, so I may well be overlooking things, but earlier this week I went to Maida Vale with Bessie Turner and spent the day being stunned by her talent and how much she’s achieved this year. She only released her debut single in April but went on to play at Latitude and has become a firm favourite of Jo Whiley’s. It’s refreshing to see that good things can happen to artists who are doing everything on their own terms, without the reliance of industry connections or a large pile of cash.

Tips for 2018: Hopefully the momentum behind Bessie Turner and Gaffa Tape Sandy will result in further nice things for them both. I’ll also be eagerly awaiting new music from Leaone, Amy Milner and Radio Orwell, who are now a very good live band.

RICHARD ROSE

R*E*P*E*A*T Records’ lone honcho. Does his lists a little differently. www.repeatfanzine.bandcamp.com

Loves: Idles – ‘Brutalism’ Bury St Edmunds #RockCity (and Sugar Town records) International Blue Tories eating themselves Superglu at Washing Machine You Flexi Things SIAH and Saltfen, Beverley Kills and The Baby Seals Relevant Records The Graffiti on Gilbert Rd – JC for PM / I “heart” Catalonia‘ Flawed Is Beautiful’ – These Animal Men / S*M*A*S*H DVD Desperate Journalist – ‘Grow Up’ Introducing ten year old punks on stage (Sound Wave) Vinyl Joanna Gruesome Hardcore Hobbies Strongbow Gaffa Tape Sandy green vinyl The A14 The Batts’ debut EP Finally seeing The Skids live, 40 years on at Cambridge Junction Jeremy Corbyn – kids singing for him at gigs, millions voting for him at the polls, Tories running from him, despite the shit spreaders Badges Badgers My new and lovely red 'entry level' turntable Damage and Joy Janet Street Slaughter Vanilla Coffee Leon Britton (the footballer not the politician) S*M*A*S*H at The Portland Arms Spiders God's Favourite Band Swansea Bay The Virtues at Washing Machine Goldblume

Hates: Lists Football Lads Alliance Retweets of Fascists by fingers on buttons The job you hate but are too scared to pack in Hedge Funds wrecking our clubs The A14 Punctures POP STARS and anyone else without an opinion Fancy cider Punk rock nostalgia Originality Handwriting

SEYMOUR QUIGLEY

B-Side news editor; Washing Machine operator. www.washingmachinebse.co.uk

Albums of the Year: The Baby Seals - ‘The Baby Seals’; Gaffa Tape Sandy - ‘Spring Killing’; Slowdive - ‘Slowdive’; Underworld - ‘Beaucoup Fish’ (re-mastered); Janet Street Slaughter - ‘Janet Street Slaughter’.

Tracks of the Year: Fightmilk - ‘Pity Party’; Gaffa Tape Sandy - ‘Beehive’; Songhoy Blues - ‘Bamako’; Charlotte Gainsbourg - ‘Deadly Valentine’; Bicep - ‘Glue’; Blue Mean Eyes - ‘Escapade’; Desperate Journalist - ‘Hollow’; Goat Girl - ‘Cracker Drool’.

Gigs of the Year: Desperate Journalist at the John Peel Centre, Stowmarket, February; SuperGlu at Bury Fringe Festival, May; Ryan Jordan at The Rehearsal Rooms, Bury St Edmunds, November; Gaffa Tape Sandy at The Hunter Club, Bury St Edmunds, December.

Moments of the Year: Playing 'What I'd Do' at [former band] Horse Party's final gig, at The Hunter Club in April - still not sure how I managed not to weep the tears of horrible sadness.

Tips for 2018: I’m really excited about Sun Scream, The Glitter Shop and Lemondaze. If Slowcoaches release a new album, I will be so so happy. Also: Grimes.

SIMON BAKER

Green Mind’s perennial thrill-monger. www.greenmind.co.uk

Album of the Year: Waxahatchee – ‘Out In The Storm’. Lyrically superb demolition of an abusive relationship coupled with some of the best indie rock I’ve ever heard. So many hooks.

Tracks of the Year: The whole of ‘Out In The Storm’.

Gigs of the Year: Too many to mention, but here’s a short list: Melt Banana at London Highbury Garage – always earshredding and just incredibly fun.

The Jesus & Mary Chain at Cambridge Junction – one of mine and a show I’m incredibly proud of. Bucket list band, coupled with an “all killer, no filler” set list. Nearly exploded when the really chiming bit in ‘Some Candy Talking’ kicked in.

Waxahatchee at End Of The Road – horrible rain all day, but they managed to cut through the rain and were essential.

Car Seat Headrest at End Of The Road – “KILLER WHAAAAALE, KILLER WHAAAALLE!”

Idles – superb live band, but I put them on twice while I was dealing with a recurrent brain condition, so never saw a whole set due to being tired all the time. I need to rectify this in 2018.

Fickle Friends at Junction 2 – straight up pop band with no pretensions. Seeing 350 kids having a brilliant and unpretentious time made this jaded old bastard smile.

Tips for 2018: Idles are clearly going to be the band of 2018. There are so many tedious trench coat wearing post-punk revivalists and Idles just destroy all of them, by being wittier, cleverer and funnier and having their own ideas.

SIMON DROWNER

Desperate Journalist mover, shaker and bass-wielding groove-maker. www.desperatejournalist.co.uk

Albums of the Year: Peter Perrett - ‘How The West Was Won’; LCD Soundsystem - ‘American Dream’; Dexy - ‘Tear It Down’; IDLES - ‘Brutalism’; Moon Duo - ‘Occult Architechture Vol. 1’.

Tracks of the Year: Makthaverskan - ‘In My Dreams’; FEWS - ‘LaGuardia’; Sheer Mag - ‘Just Can't Get Enough’; Ride - ‘Charm Assault’; British Sea Power - ‘Bad Bohemian’.

Gigs of the Year: LCD Soundsystem at Alexandra Palace; Paul Draper at Scala; Ezra Furman at The Barbican; Peter Perrett at The Electric Ballroom; Moonlandingz at The 100 Club.

Moments of the Year: Desperate Journalist playing Scala. Releasing, and eventually selling out of, our album ‘Grow Up’ on vinyl. When the General Election exit poll results came in and half the country (and media) had egg on their faces.

Tips for 2018: Calva Louise, Gaffa Tape Sandy, Bad Nerves, White Trash.

SOPHIE MAHON

Your new BF. www.soundcloud.com/sophie-mahon

Albums of the Year: One which deserves a mention is an instrumental album by one of my bucket list session musicians. Admittedly I don’t normally go for instrumental albums but ‘Trigger’ by Jacob ‘Quist’ Quistgaard is fun and good for when you don’t know what lyrics you need to hear. An album I only discovered this year after reading Nile Rodger’s autobiography is his solo album ‘Adventures In The Land Of The Good Groove’. Yes, it was made in 1983, but it’s Nile experimenting at his peak. David Bowie liked it so I think it deserves a mention.

Tracks of the Year: These questions are much harder to answer than I thought! I’m quite fond of Tears For Fears recent single ‘I Love You But I’m Lost’, very catchy chorus; you’ll wake up at two in the morning with it on your brain. Bryan Ferry’s jazz reworking of his songs for the German TV series ‘Babylon Berlin’ are beautiful (a continuation from his album The Jazz Age’ if you’re interested), particularly ‘Bittersweet’, which he recorded new vocals for too. The song becomes ten times darker, melancholy and weary; I had to listen to it on repeat for at least an hour. Lastly an old track, which I discovered recently, is Etta James’s cover of ‘It’s Alright’ by Curtis Mayfield. The snare is like machine gun fire; give it a listen, that’s all I’ll say.

Gigs of the Year: Chic at The BBC, ABC with Kid Creole and The Coconuts as support and Bryan Ferry at Hampton Court. So much I could say about these, but all it boils down to is that they’re legends for a reason, which is why I will always try to see them whenever possible.For my own gigs, playing The Hunter Club for the first time was awesome - such a great crowd and the first time I have seen strangers dancing to my music, which has always been my aim so it felt great. The second would be playing the Inbetweeners Stage at Latitude - while neither the stage nor the audience were massive, just to be part of something so big was incredible.Actually another band to mention was Divine Comedy, they were at Latitude and I went to watch because they were the only band on that day that I vaguely knew. Best decision I ever made, Neil Hannon is eccentrically English [Actually he’s Irish, but you wouldn’t know it from his singing voice - Lineage Ed.], his lyrics are witty and clever and the performance was so light hearted it made a nice change. I didn’t stop listening to his music for about two months afterwards.

Moments of the Year: Releasing my first single ‘2BF’ and it getting played on BBC Introducing in Suffolk, bit daunting but the feedback on the whole has been pretty positive, thanks to everyone who liked it.Tony Hadley leaving Spandau Ballet; I am still upset.

Tips for 2018: Start as you mean to go on; I live by this and it seems to be working so far. Also just do what makes you happy, the music, image, brand and performance will naturally be more genuine and original, plus you feel happy too. Finally, invest in a bigger car - there is, I find, only so much you can fit in a Ford KA. Or go acoustic; it’ll fit in nicely.

THOM LONGDIN & JADE ASHLEIGH SQUIRES

Together, they are Kulk. www.kulk.bandcamp.com

Albums of the Year: One of our albums of the year is Ty Segall’s self titled album. We discovered Ty through the band Fuzz (who encouraged the purchase of the Fuzz War guitar pedal, which has been a huge impact on our sound). We bought the album as it was engineered by Steve Albini and has a classic rock and roll/garage fuzz feel. Well worth a listen, especially ‘Break A Guitar’. Our other album of the year would be Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile’s ‘Lotta Sea Lice’, this is their first collaboration of hopefully many. This is on the lighter side of our listening, but is poetic and beautifully bluesy. Highlights of this album include ‘Over Everything’ and ‘Untogether’ .

Tracks of the Year: Our first track of the year is ‘Tasteless’ by Shame. We first discovered Shame supporting Slaves; their sound is best described as indie but in a punk way, the music is heavy and the lyrics are angry but not distorted. If you like ‘Tasteless’ you will love ‘Gold Hole’ and ‘Concrete’. We are also huge fans of Sunflower Bean, so naturally their new single ‘I Was A Fool’ would be on this list. This song is a homage to classic rock with still a hint of psychedelia from their previous album sound. We look forward to this new album next year and seeing them live again.

Gigs of the Year: Our best gig of 2017, which could possibly be the best gig of our lives so far, would have to be in Brixton on Hallowe’en this year: Melvins and Red Kross. Melvins are an inspiration to our music and it was amazing to see them live, with an even heavier sound than on record. For us, the highlight was ‘The Bit’. They’re a must-see for any heavy music fan. The Wytches at Norwich Waterfront studio was another best gig of 2017: the psychedelic riffs and heavy drums with the grit of Christian Bell’s vocals makes for an amazing live show. Their cover of Misfits ‘Cough/Cool’ (from their home recordings) live was particularly exciting. Their support acts - We’ll Be Detectives and The Weirds - created a great sense of what was to come.

Moments of the Year: One of our best moments was our first gig, at The Smokehouse Ipswich, which we organised with our friends Con Party and Jessie Ingate. The night was terrifying but it was amazing to play amongst friends for the first time. We were also amazed after being asked by John Peel’s wife, Sheila, to play on BBC Radio Suffolk for the unveiling of John’s BBC Music Day Blue Plaque award - it was a huge opportunity and we really enjoyed every moment. One of our biggest achievements this year would be the amount of awareness and money raised for the mental health charity Mind, through a gig we organised at The Smokehouse and an online campaign supported by the East Anglian Daily Times, in tribute to our friend Cameron Ray. It was co-organised with Cameron’s friend and celebrated his life through the connection we had with him through music. This moment sadly came from tragedy but it was everyone coming together that made it special. Finally, re-recording our first single with Jamie Robertson has been a massive highlight of the year, the whole process has been great and Jamie has really helped us create something that sounds like it should. When we met Jamie for drinks to discuss the recording it was high on the list that it sounded like “you are in the room with us and can’t get out”, and he has done us proud. It’s very likely that we’ll be able to release it early 2018.

Tips for 2018: We’ve decided to direct our tips at people who want to start bands and want to start gigging: 1. If you want a start a band but there’s only you and a mate who plays bass, go for it and jam together. Basically, start a band with what you’ve got not what you want. Even if you’re not Grade 8, if it sounds good to you it will to others. 2. One of the best tips we can give if you want to start gigging is to support local artists and go to gigs. Enjoy local music and it won’t be so scary to become part of it. Support the scene and it will support you. Speak to people and don’t be afraid to send promoters your stuff. 3. The most important tip of all is keep playing, even if you only have three songs. You want to be able to play them backwards with your eyes closed. Make the most of the one song support at your local pub, no gig is beneath you.

ZAK WHITTAKER

Drum punisher, Clown Smash Everything/Janet Street Slaughter. www.clownsmasheverything.com

Albums of the Year: My album of the year is Slowdive's self-titled comeback, followed closely by ‘Stubborn Persistent Illusions’ by Do Make Say Think and Von Spar's 'Garzweiler' EP.

Tracks of the Year: My tracks of the year are 'Anthem For No State (Pts 1-3)' by Godspeed You! Black Emperor, 'No Longer Making Time' by Slowdive, and a special mention to the 3 unreleased gems that cropped up on Radiohead's 'OK Computer' reissue.

Gig of the Year: Best gig has to be Shellac at London’s Electric Ballroom back in October. Also, I almost forgot about Part Chimp's triumphant and deafening live return at Cambridge's Portland Arms in April.

Moment of the Year: My moment of the year: Probably Theo (Morris, former Janet Street Slaughter guitarist) spectacularly stacking it off the stage at the final JSS gig in November!

ZOE KENT

F.O.X’s singing stadium superstar. www.foxtheband.com

Album of the Year: Lana Del Rey - ‘Lust For Life’. I love everything she does, her voice is so haunting and powerful and I love the visions she creates in her lyrics of broken surburbia. Always takes me somewhere else.

Tracks of the Year: ‘Cover Me’ by Depeche Mode. The first time I heard this song it was like a lightning bolt, I always knew it was incredibly powerful and then when we supported them on tour it became almost their new anthem. A song of two halves. It's beautiful.

Gigs of the Year: It has to be Depeche Mode in Bucharest: it was the most beautiful stadium and the most perfect day. I've never seen them so on fire as I did there, the energy could be felt the entire way round the stadium and I just watched in in awe of it all. I'll never forget the thousands of lighters and phones lighting up the stadium - magical!

Moments of the Year: When we were invited to fly with Depeche Mode on their private jet to Leipzig. It was a true rockstar moment and I totally forgot my fear of flying!

Tips for 2018: My tip would be Amethysts, from Suffolk. I think they've got great songs and star potential - plus they're very nice people.

Click here to read Part One, featuring SuperGlu, Gaffa Tape Sandy, The State, The Glitter Shop, Blue Mean Eyes, Sun Scream, Young States, Lemondaze, Druids, Italian Books and more!

Words & Collage: Seymour Quigley

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b-sidemusic · 6 years

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THE B-SIDE BUMPER BACKTRACK 2017 - PART ONE

Whoever you talk to, and whatever they're into, the consensus seems to be that 2017 has been an incredible year for the East Anglian DIY music scene. We spoke to promoters, writers, DJs and artists from around the region about their favourite albums, tracks, gigs and moments from the last 12 months, including The State, The Glitter Shop, Blue Mean Eyes, Sun Scream, Young States, Lemondaze, Druids, Italian Books, Gaffa Tape Sandy, SuperGlu and more...

ANDY GUY

The State’s man. www.thestateuk.com

Albums of the Year: Marilyn Manson – ‘Heaven Upside Down’; Gary Numan – ‘Savage (Songs from a Broken World)’; 3 Teeth – ‘Shutdown.exe’; Chelsea Wolfe – ‘Hiss Spun’. Tracks of the Year: ’16 Psyche’ by Chelsea Wolfe; ‘We Know Where You Fucking Live’ by Marilyn Manson. Gigs of the Year: The Psychedelic Furs at Norwich Waterfront; Gary Numan at Norwich LCR. Moments of the Year: The State performing ‘A Forest’ with Thy Last Drop (at Bury St Edmunds Constitutional Club) was a big highlight of the year; a night I will never forget. Tips for 2018: Eliminate things and activities that are a waste of your time. Eliminate the inner voice that says “I can’t; It’s impossible”. Eliminate the naysayers, liars, and people who do you harm in your life. Then you will be able to run toward your full potential and embrace it with both arms.

BARNY CUTTER

The Glitter Shop keeper. www.soundcloud.com/theglittershop

Albums of the Year: Wolf Alice’s second album ‘Visions of a Life’ was magical. There’s no real specific genre there, but the album still sounds incredibly cohesive. Tracks of the Year: ‘#1 Anime Dad’ by Huckleberry Harrison, taken from (debut album) ‘What The Huck’. He literally does whatever the fuck he wants and I appreciate that a lot. Gigs of the Year: I don’t get to relax during many local gigs as I’m usually working at them, but Tundra at the Hunter Club in Bury St Edmunds was amazing as it was just a bunch of friends having a shit-ton of fun. My favourite gig I played was with [former band] Fortunato at the Bury Fringe Festival All-Dayer; it was probably the best performance we ever put on. Moments of the Year: Working with Suburban Minds on their debut EP and touring for five months with them, playing session guitar. Tips for 2018: The Japanese House is releasing her debut album and I can’t wait! There's a big Imogen Heap vibe there. Also, keep your eyes and ears out for a lot more from The Glitter Shop!

BLUE MEAN EYES

Riff-mongous escapade-cravers. www.bluemeaneyes.bandcamp.com

Albums of the Year: Toby Powell (guitar/vocals): My favourite album of the year was Biffy Clyro, 'Ellipsis'. Although technically released in 2016, this is the only album I have listened to and loved throughout 2017. This is my favourite album because it's a perfect example of how a band can reinvent their sound when they release a new album and still reach out and gain new fans as well as please the old ones. Charlie Douglas (drums/vocals): 'To The Bone' by Steven Wilson. It's one of the best examples of progressive rock with a pop twist. It has some very interesting chord progressions, amazing vocals and vocal harmonies and represents to me a significant change in style from his normal jazz style. Lauren Bradford (bass/vocals): Mine is Liam Gallagher, 'As You Were'. I listened to this album the whole way through rather than just picking songs from it like I normally do, and it's just so good. I absolutely loved Oasis, but I can definitely say there are songs from this album that I prefer over some Oasis songs. I love the melodies, harmonies and lyrics in particular because that's what I always listen for in music as a vocalist. Tracks of the Year: Toby: Firstly, Boy Azooga’s 'Face Behind Her Cigarette' - this song was Huw Stephens' pick of the week in early December and as I drove home with the radio on, I was astounded with how good the song actually is. The band have reinvented and are destined to breathe new life into the indie genre. Secondly, 'Man’s Not Hot' by Big Shaq - I've chosen this song because music doesn't have to be taken seriously to be a hit. The guy created a character, and people loved it. What David Bowie did with Ziggy Stardust is what this guy has done but in the modern age. Charlie: My favourite tracks are gonna have to be 'Speak To Me' by Amy Lee and 'Havana' by Camilla Cabello. Lauren: Tonight Alive’s 'Temple’. This is the first song they released from their upcoming album 'Underworld'. I've loved Tonight Alive since my early teens and I've never been able to stop listening to them since! This song is so powerful and so different from their last album and I just fell instantly fell in love with it. Also ‘Crack My Heart’, the second song to be released from the album - the vocals are so powerful and effortless, and Jenna McDougall has such an amazing voice. Gigs of the Year: Toby: Superglu Fundraiser (‘Help SuperGlu Get To SXSW’, Bury St Edmunds Hunter Club, 25th February). We weren't just paying a gig; we were raising money for SuperGlu to go and do what they love, and I hope every other band would do the same. Charlie: My favourite gigs to play were Eddy Fest with the Harry Slater Band and Norwich Waterfront with Blue Mean Eyes. My favourite gigs to see were Bad Touch at London Borderline and Evanecsence at Hammersmith Apollo. Lauren: Bury Fringe Festival. I’m taking this bit a little closer to home because it was such a pleasure to play, and even more more of a pleasure to stay and watch everyone else who played, such as Sun Scream, Superglu, Goldblume and Suburban Minds. Moments of the Year: Toby: Charlie joining the band. Having somebody come in who loves playing our music as much as we do has pushed the band into a better and healthier direction. Charlie: My favourite musical moment is probably a 15-minute improvised drum solo at a gig in the summer with The Harry Slater Band. Lauren: Superglu Fundraiser. They're such lovely people and it was an absolute honour helping out to raise money to get them over to SXSW. They were all so thankful and appreciative to everyone involved, because all anyone wants to do is make music and get it out there to be heard. SuperGlu have completely blossomed in that respect and it's been wonderful seeing that happen. Tips for 2018: Toby: People need to learn to get along despite their difference in opinions. Everybody has their own opinion, and you have every right to express your own, so respect that and let them have it, there is no need to force yours upon them. Also: listen out for Boy Azooga. Charlie: As for what to listen out for in 2018, well... it's gotta be Blue Mean Eyes! And Tool might finally release their new album so look out for that. Lauren: My tips are: check out the new Tonight Alive album 'Underworld' when it's released in the new year because they're just such a good band. Also, just listen to the whole of 'As You Were' on repeat for the rest of your life.

CATHERINE LINDLEY-NEILSON

Bass ninja, Gaffa Tape Sandy. www.gaffatapesandy.co.uk

Albums of the Year: Wolf Alice - ‘Visions of Life’; Paramore - ‘After Laughter’; Idles - Brutalism

Tracks of the Year: ‘Dreams’ by Superglu; ‘Yuk Foo’ by Wolf Alice; ‘Bellyache’ by Billie Eilish; ‘Well Done’ by Idles.

Moments of the Year: Playing with Fortunato at Bury Fringe Festival, with Horse Party at The Hunter Club in Bury St Edmunds, Glastonbury (with Gaffa Tape Sandy), and GTS's most recent headline Hunter Club gig. Going to get soppy and say it was a privilege to play all of them.

Gigs of the Year: Indoor Pets (formerly known as Get Inuit) and Pinegrove, both at London Lexington; Suburban Minds EP Launch and last gig at The Hunter Club.

Tip for 2018: If you haven't already, MAKE A BAND.

DAVEY HAMMOND

Cambridge 105fm’s Smelly gentleman. www.cambridge105.co.uk/shows/flowerpot

Albums & Tracks of the Year: Album of the Year for me is the second release from The Granite Shore, called 'Suspended Second' (Occultation Records). When Nick Halliwell started writing for this album, he had a vague idea of addressing the issue of anxiety in his songs. With the Brexit referendum happening at around the same time, the songs became more focused on the big issue of the day, dealing with all the emotions felt by someone who clearly felt the outcome was the worst possible one. Disbelief, despondency, anxiety, confusion and sadness all ultimately give way to defiance during the course of the nine tracks. This is a quietly angry album, but in it's own way it's as subversive as, say, the Sex Pistols getting to number one, in that it uses a much more subtle method in getting it's message across by avoiding the sloganeering or shouting from the barricades to crashing chords that might be expected from such a release.Instead, the listener is treated to a soundtrack that takes classic Abba from the mid to late 70's as it's template, adding in hints of prog rock along the way. That, to these ears, the vocalist has shades of Bing Crosby only adds warmth and emotion that enforces the feelings being conveyed. Throw in references to the likes of Philip Larkin and Shakespeare, not to mention a nod to the aforementioned Sex Pistols (the opening to 'Performance of a Lifetime' uses the same BBC sample of a marching band that is used on 'Holidays in the Sun', only slowed down a little) and The Clash and you have a piece of work that has a rare depth and intelligence with some outstanding performances and moments packing a real emotional punch.

Similarly commenting on happenings in Europe and over the pond is 'Euromillions'- from the excellent debut album by LIFE called 'Popular Music'- which is one of the standout tracks of the year. With a sneering, in your face vocal and added spoken word parts, it addresses the state of the world in a very different way to The Granite Shore. A pounding bass line coupled with thundering drums drive the song along with guitars alternating between 'phasers set to stun' and 'all out attack' settings. The lyrics rip into the racists and right wing nationalists that support the likes of Trump, Farage et al. The band are a tremendous, life affirming proposition on stage- I just wish I could pogo like I did 40 years ago.

Looking closer to home, two releases that stand out are 'John Doe' by The Mammoth Penguins and 'Interstellar Fuzz Star' by Psychic Lemon. The former is the second long player from Emma Kupa's band and is a concept album about a man who disappears, feared dead, only to return years later. All the songs are from the perspective of different people that knew the man and are titled as such ie. ‘The Child’, ‘The Ex’, ‘The Wife’, ‘The Line Manager’ etc, giving a hefty emotional clout to proceedings. Musically, the template has been expanded with more electric guitars, synths and piano added by 'Friends' as well as regular band members. I'm hoping to catch the band live locally in the not too distant future. The latter is the first release from what what will be Psychic Lemon's second album, due to be unleashed in January. This is a head spinning assault on the senses with elements of heavy psychedelia, space rock and kraut rock melded into a wholly satisfying and thrilling 10 minute ride, a bit like a roller coaster ride with all the slow, uphill bits taken out. I eagerly await the album, 'Frequency Rhythm Distortion Delay'- a title that pretty much sums up the music.

Gigs of the Year: As a family man with 4 young children, I don't get to gigs as often as I'd like, so I tend to be really selective about the ones I attend. Humber St Sesh in Hull was the event of the year for me, especially as it's my home town and holding the title of City of Culture for 2017. Highlights were many, including Tom Skelly, Crooked Weather, Fonda 500 and LIFE. The event is held over one day, with 14 different stages (indoor and outdoor, various capacities) and around 200 bands playing. You can get early bird tickets for next years event in August for £5. Yep, that's what I said- £5. You'd be mad not to.

As for gig of the year...as I mentioned, being so selective means I'm rarely disappointed so this is a tough one. I'll plump for Dave Graney and Clare Moore at O'Rileys in Hull, a venue also used for boxing events. Bit of an unusual one this as I had a hand in setting it up. Following my failure to secure a gig in Cambridge (Oxjam was going on at the time, all venues fully booked), I contacted Lou Duffy Howard (former Red Guitars bassist) to see if she could recommend any promoters in Hull. She not so much bit my hand off as ripped it from the shoulder. Turns out Lou had toured with Dave in the 80's and was very keen on supporting again. I met a few old friends from Hull and Bob Osborne of German Shepherd Records (who travelled over from Eccles) and enjoyed a cracking gig from the Aussie legends (formerly fronting The Moodists, Coral Snakes, The Mistly etc) backed by Orange Juice's Malcolm Ross and Giorgio 'The Dove' Valentino. Lou's latest band, Loudhailer Electric Company, provided excellent support.

Tips for 2018: One of my favourite songwriters of recent years is James Burling who works under the band name The Seven Twenty. His debut album was released in 2015 to some acclaim, and rightly so. It was very ambitious: James enlisted the help of a mariachi band for one track and flew to New York to record a choir for another while my favourite track on the album had a great Velvet Underground feel to it. I am reliably informed he has album number two ready for release early(ish) in the New Year and also has two other albums written and recorded. Without doubt one to watch and, being Cambridge based, should also be gigging in the area in 2018.

EMILY WALLACE

Guitarmeister general, Sun Scream. www.sunscreamband.bandcamp.com

Albums of the Year: Paramore - ‘After Laughter’; The Magic Ray - ‘The Magic Ray’; PINS - ‘Bad Thing’; The Babe Rainbow - ‘The Babe Rainbow’; Here Lies Man - ‘Here Lies Man’; Kyanos - ‘Elevator to Japan’.

Tracks of the Year: Paramore - ‘Fake Happy’; Something Leather - ‘Shotgun Persona’; The Babe Rainbow - ‘Johnny Says Stay Cool’; Ezra Furman - ‘Love You So Bad’; King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - ‘Doom City’; The Moonlandingz - ‘Sweet Saturn Mine’; Kevin Morby - ‘City Music’.

Gigs of the Year: Pond at End of the Road. The Avalanches at Kentish Town Forum. Death Valley girls in Brighton. Dingus Khan in Bury St Edmunds. The Babe Rainbow in Brighton. Weaves.

Moments of the Year: Recording tracks with Theo Verney which incidentally lead to Tom [Lawrence, Sun Scream bassist] falling down the crack of a sofa in Brighton and discovering a new psychedelic realm.

Tips for 2018: MAKE THINGS! KEEP LISTENING TO MUSIC!! DONT BE ASHAMED, EVEN IF ITS ABBA - EMBRACE ABBA WITH EVERY FIBRE OF YOUR BEING!!! [Just to clarify, there is NO SHAME whatsoever in loving Abba. - 70s Disco Ed.]

FRANCINE CARREL

B-Side’s interrogator-in-chief.

Albums of the Year: Fightmilk - ‘Pity Party’; Gaffa Tape Sandy - ‘Spring Killing’(Literally everyone will be saying this, right? Fuck it, they deserve it.)

Tracks of the Year: Shiners - ‘Just Got Paid’; Fightmilk - ‘Pity Party’ (again); Gaffa Tape Sandy - ‘Manager’; Jack Rundell - ‘Cold Coffee’.

Gigs of the Year: Blackballed, at the John Peel Centre in Stowmarket. Supported by the Wilsons, who are always awesome - but the main event was such a weird, superb surprise. Left me absolutely buzzing.

Moments of the Year: Getting to interview Justin Sullivan for B-Side was pretty fucking cool. As well as being very talented, he's the most quotable man I've ever interviewed, and - as a writer - I appreciate that in a person.

Tips for 2018: Hoping for more from Jack Rundell - an album of Suffolk country music would be very welcome. Also keeping an eye on Thy Last Drop, who've been making noises about another album once they've re-released (2013 debut EP) ‘Dead Drunk for Two’.

GEORGIA LEEDER

Young States frontbassist. www.youngstates.co.uk

Albums of the Year: Pvris - ‘All We Know of Heaven and All We Need of Hell’; Nothing but Thieves - ‘Broken Machine’; Paramore - ‘After Laughter’; Halsey - ‘Hopeless Fountain Kingdom’; Royal Blood - ‘How Did We Get So Dark?’

Songs of the Year: Halsey - ‘Don’t Play’; Demi Lovato - ‘Cry Baby’; The Regrettes - ‘Seashore’; Will Joseph Cook - ‘Plastic’; Pvris - ‘Same Soul’.

Gigs of the Year: Busted at Norwich UEA; Mallory Knox at Norwich UEA; Yonaka at Norwich Waterfront Studio; Pvris at O2 Academy Brixton; Milk Teeth at Norwich Epic Studios.

Moment of the Year: During our hometown show at the Waterfront Studio, I told the crowd that I was going to sing something and they had to repeat after me, I then went to sing the chorus of ‘Over It By Now’, and I couldn’t even finish the first three words before the entire crowd joined in. It really took me by surprise and is something I definitely won’t be forgetting. That whole show was pretty special!

New Years’ resolutions: Go to more gigs, play more shows and write more!

GRAEME MCLOUGHLIN

BBC Introducing in Suffolk presenter and all-round chap. www.bbc.co.uk/radiosuffolk

Albums of the Year: It’s a tough one. A two horse race earlier in the year for me between ‘Constraint’ by Plaitum and ‘Pink’ by Rad Pitt, but I think the recent release from Izzy’s Daughter (‘Luna’) might edge it! Let’s just have all three and listen to them simultaneously.

Tracks of the year: I was in love with ‘Killing Me’ from Crystal Bats as soon as the bass kicked in; the whole three and a half minutes or so is just perfection. ‘Water Bottle’ by Gaffa Tape Sandy was this year as well, wasn’t it? It’s the opening piece on their fabulous ‘Spring Killing’ EP, which is actually packed with track of the year contenders. Rad Pitt’s ‘Hick Mucknall’ is also a tune, and I think ‘Are You There’ - the opening track from the Izzy’s Daughter record - might just be the most beautiful track we’ve ever played on BBC Introducing.

Moments of the Year: I think this one has to come from the Hunter Club in Bury St Edmunds where we celebrated the 10th anniversary of BBC Introducing with a live broadcast and gig in early October. Gaffa Tape Sandy and Cathedrals and Cars both performed incredible sets to a truly supportive and bouncing audience. It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces – all happy as well! It was also nice to take BBC Introducing to the beach during the summer and watch Amethysts and Phil Jackson, among others, perform on the bandstand for Aldeburgh Music.

Tips for 2018: Bessie Turner continues to be one to watch, and now that some of the nationals appear to be on board, it could be a big year for her. I’d also hope and expect to see Gaffa Tape Sandy at more major festivals. They belong on the big stage.

ISIS DE CHASTELAIN & ROSIE HEARD-EDWARDS

Lemondaze’s twin guitar heroes. www.lemondaze.bandcamp.com

Albums of the Year: Wolf Alice - ‘Visions of a Life’; Slowdive - ’Slowdive’.

Tracks of the Year: Peace - ‘From Under Liquid Glass’; MGMT - ‘Little Dark Age’ (Rosie); King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - ‘Loyalty’ (Isis).

Gigs of the Year: Wolf Alice, Ride, Slowdive, The Stone Roses, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Bloody Knees.

Moments of the Year: NMG Awards (Isis fell down the stairs.) Drunk interview on Cambridge 105. When people actually turned up to our headline gig at (Cambridge’s) The Blue Moon.

JAY GOODRICH

Thighmaster frontman and bass-thrust specialist, Druids. www.soundcloud.com/druidstheband

Albums of the Year: ‘Pinewood Smile’ by The Darkness. It’s true rock and the kinda rock that makes you wanna rock more and more like you’ve never rocked before. I’m not one for words, although I understand they’re kinda needed. On first listen I was caught by how it is so well constructed musically and clearly a fantabulous recording of a band playing the shit outta the songs. That’s rare today in an age of digital perfection. Anyway, on second listen I hear all the words and there’s some interesting subject matters present. It’s a must listen for anyone who needs a bit of rock. Check their vids too, they’re really serious and bound to put you in a terrible mood.

Tracks of the Year: ‘Colors’ by Beck. Probably because BBC 6music bashed me in the face with it so often, but no, seriously, it’s pretty sweet. The whole album is to be honest. A nice contrast to The Darkness with a production that’ll make you go “mmmm, oh yeah” but in a different way.

Gigs of the Year: I joined some friends I vaguely like, and went to see Public Service Broadcasting. I would have included them in album of the year (PSB, not my friends) but I didn’t think (new album) ‘Every Valley’ was so great. However, seeing and hearing it live really brought it all together for me and the new material they played is on a par with older stuff.

Moments of the Year: Well, I’ve spoken enough of other bands, so I’m gonna have to say something regarding Druids. Joel (Kurta, drums) and I thought it’d be a great idea to shoot a sci-fi inspired music video for our new EP title track, ‘Up To Mars’, in spandex morph suits ’n’ all. Anyway, we filmed over at a place called Harkstead Shores in Suffolk accompanied by two friends dressed as aliens. It’s quite something - the sort of something that’ll question the meaning of life. Sort of. Anyway, these dog walkers walked past and asked what we were up to, like that kinda shiz doesn’t happen down those parts regularly or something. Outrageous.

Tips for 2018: Remember which days the bins go out. I was caught out twice this year and I’m still pretty angry about it. In addition to that, Ken at The Rehearsal Rooms (in Bury St Edmunds) is a really nice guy. Rehearse there! And The LP (also in Bury) is pretty cool to eat at. So, eat there! I have every faith these places will be as cool if not cooler in 2018. Also, I heard a band called, Oranje. They were recording at Punch Studios (in Ipswich) and sounded like they have more potential than a Mr Kipling Cherry Bakewell. Watch that space.

JAY VOLUNTEER

Bringer of the noise, Italian Books. www.trenchartnoise.bandcamp.com

Album of the Year: Koufar - ‘Lebanon For The Lebanese’. Recorded in 2015 but released on vinyl by Unrest early 2017 (so that counts right?!). One of the most challenging records I’ve ever owned in terms of the recording itself, the subject matter and artwork... This record lead to lots of reading.

Track of the Year: I was exposed to so much music that I didn’t know existed this year, so although recorded a while back, I’m going to break the rules and say Iron Fist Of The Sun’s ‘Smile Like Sword’.

Gig of the Year: The two day festival ‘United Forces Of Industrial 4’ at Electrowerkz London, which I attended on my own at the end of April.

Moment of the Year: I was lucky enough to see Ryan Jordan perform ‘Possession Trance’ several times last year.... Seeing this for the first time at NNNNN blew my mind!

Tip for 2018: London pop-punk band Wonk Unit will be a household name by the end of the year!

JOEL CLAYTON

Thrill-hunter at Trapped Animal Records and CambridgeBands.com www.trappedanimal.com

Albums of the Year: Bodycount - ‘Bloodlust’; Throwing Stuff - ‘Fit Fine And Well’; Daniel Gadd - ‘As If In A Dream I Drifted At Sea’.

Tracks of the Year: No Halo - ‘Sorority Noise’; The Baby Seals - ‘My Labia Is Lopsided But I Don’t Mind’; Projector - ‘Love’.

Gigs of the Year: Metallica at London O2 and Guns ’n’ Roses at the Olympic Park.

Moment of the Year: Launching The Baby Seals into space.

Tips for 2018: Fresh, Night Flight, IDER, Kerry Devine, Daniel Gadd, Maija Sofia, Trapped Animal (obvs).

KRISTA SIÂN LYNCH

SuperGlu’s low-end lynchpin. www.supergluband.bandcamp.com

Albums of the Year: ‘The Ooz’ by King Kruel and probs Taylor Swift. I haven't listened to it yet but I imagine it's wicked. Has anyone ever watched her solo acoustic stuff on YouTube? She's insanely good

Tracks of the Year: ‘The Strangle of Anna’ by The Moonlandingz. Big fan of The Fat Whites and even bigger fan of these guys and girls.

Gigs of the Year: Dingus Khan at the Arts Centre Colchester; maybe I'm biased, but they are probably the best band on the planet. The Fall at KoKo London would have probably been on this list but Mark E Smith was ill so it was cancelled - gutted. John Cooper Clarke at Colchester Arts Centre was bloody amazing. Newish bands I weirdly didn't see enough and will make an effort to see more emerging acts next year. I really enjoyed watching Dream Wife at Latitude though as well as The Magic Gang. Best ever ever moment was seeing Gaffa Tape Sandy on TV at Glastonbury - I was so super happy and proud of them.

Moments of the Year: Landing in the USA for the for the time ever and exploring Austin Texas with my best friends and band members [SuperGlu], playing SXSW to packed out audiences... totally bizarre and definitely not something I could have ever predicted I would do. It really was incredible and I feel so so lucky to have had such an amazing opportunity. Also, eating lunch backstage sat next to (ok... well kinda near) Brian Molko. I didn't embarrass myself by saying hello - but every part of me wanted to.

Tips for 2018: Have loads of fun and try not too worry to much, enjoy your friends and make the most of what and who you have around you.

Click here for Part Two, featuring Fightmilk, Graceland, Desperate Journalist, Sophie Mahon, Kulk, The Interesting Times Gang, Kyanos, Clown Smash Everything, F.O.X and more!

Words & Collage: Seymour Quigley

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NEWS: PINK FLOYD STICKSMITH BRINGS SECRETS TO STOWMARKET

On Thursday 11th January, Pink Floyd's redoubtable drummer and fast car enthusiast Nick Mason will be visiting the John Peel Centre in Stowmarket to discuss his former band's 1968 album, 'A Saucerful Of Secrets', as part of their Classic Album series.

A modest hit in the UK on its release, 'Saucerful...' is unique among Pink Floyd's releases in that it was recorded during a transitional period - with the slow departure of original singer/guitarist Syd Barrett due to addiction and mental health issues, and his gradual replacement by David Gilmour - and is therefore the only album they made as (effectively) a five-piece.

In keeping with previous Classic Album events, which have featured such influential luminaries as Julian Cope and Pulp's Jarvis Cocker, the evening will include a full playback of John Peel's personal copy of the album through the venue's rather tasty sound system. For tickets and more details, click here.

Photo: Pink Floyd in 1968 (L-R: Syd Barrett, Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Richard Wright, Nick Mason).

#news #new #pink floyd #nick mason #the john peel centre #stowmarket #john peel

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EAST ANGLIAN GIG LISTINGS: 21ST DECEMBER 2017-4TH JANUARY 2018

Every Thursday, throughout the year, we bring you stacks of festive cheer. To submit your own news and listings, click here!

Thursday 21st Burston, Crown Buskers Revisited Free entry - 8pm - Event page Bury St Edmunds, Apex Eliza Carthy and the Wayward Band £20 - 8pm - Tickets Cambridge, Portland Arms The Junkoactive Wasteman and His Tinphonia, 2late & Acid Tea £5 - 7.45pm - Tickets Colchester, Bull Jazz Jam Christmas Special Free entry - 9pm - Event page Colchester, Three Wise Monkeys Wooden Maiden Contact venue for details Ipswich, Swan Blues Jam Free entry - 9pm - Event page Norwich, Arts Centre The Vagaband & Shackleton Trio £12 - 8pm - Tickets Norwich, Owl Sanctuary Wayward Natives Free entry - 7pm - Tickets Norwich, Waterfront Mostly Autumn £16.50 - 7.30pm - Tickets Friday 22nd Bury St Edmunds, Hunter Club Rebop £14 - 7.30pm - Tickets Cambridge, Blue Moon Motherchip Connexion Free entry - 7pm - Event page Cambridge, Corn Exchange Cambridgeshire County Youth Orchestra £12 - 4pm - Tickets Cambridge, Junction The Craig Charles Funk and Soul Club £17 - 10pm - Tickets Colchester, Arts Centre Goodiepal, The Dead Rat Orchestra, Lee Ashcroft & Mick The Hippy’s Krautrock Disco £7 - 7.30pm - Tickets Colchester, Bull Electrum Free entry - 9pm - Event page Colchester, Soundhouse Special Measures Free entry - 9pm - Event page Colchester, Three Wise Monkeys Imoni, Hattie Erawan, Ellie Cornell, Lauren Francis & Sophie Nash £3 - 9pm - Event page Ipswich, Steamboat Tavern Back To The Point, In My Disguise & The Naked French Free entry - 7pm - Event page Ipswich, Swan MotherfVnker Free entry - 8pm - Event page Norwich, Arts Centre The Blockheads & Ben C Winn SOLD OUT - Info Norwich, Epic Studios Tom Malachowski £5 - 7.30pm - Tickets Norwich, Owl Sanctuary E.A. Dames £5 - 7pm - Event page Norwich, Waterfront Studio The Visitors, No Story Goes, Couch & Suburban Tide £6 - 6.30pm - Tickets Saturday 23rd Bury St Edmunds, Constitutional Club Keys, Sun Scream & Static Shock Free entry - 8pm - Event page Cambridge, Portland Arms The British Public, The British IBM, Pete Um, Allotment & The Basque Roads £5.50 - 7.05pm - Tickets Colchester, Bull Lettuceheads Free entry - 9pm - Event page Colchester, Soundhouse Mixtronicxs Free entry - 9pm - Event page Ipswich, Swan Oranje, Fick As Fieves & Impilo Free entry - 8pm - Event page Norwich, Epic Studios Bad Manners & Max Splodge £21 - 7pm - Tickets Norwich, Waterfront Studio The Quireboys £20.35 - 6.30pm - Tickets Sunday 24th Colchester, Bull Stiff In The Morning Free entry - 9pm - Event page Wednesday 27th Cambridge, Portland Arms The Furious Sleep & Doyouthinkhesawus? £6 - 7pm - Tickets Ipswich, Smokehouse Pizza Tramp, Werecats & Dealing With Damage £5 - 7.30pm - Tickets Norwich, LCR The Hollywood Undead & The One Hundred £20.35 - 6.30pm - Tickets Thursday 28th Cambridge, Portland Arms Moonstrips, Ian Jeffs, Pickering Brothers & Ricky Boom-Boom £5.50 - 7pm - Tickets Ipswich, Steamboat Tavern Folk At The Boat Free entry - 8pm - Event page Norwich, Owl Sanctuary Alastoria, Deities, MTXS, To The Nines & A Thousand Voices £5 - 7pm - Tickets Friday 29th Cambridge, Blue Moon Grace Kuhl and the British Public Contact venue for details Cambridge, Portland Arms R*E*P*E*A*T Anti-Christmas Party w/The Lost Volts, Karmadillo, Greg Ward, Matty G and Li’l Winter, Ben Udin, Magic Phil, The Horse and His Boy & Idealistics £4 - 8pm - Event page Chelmsford, V Bar Vera Loves, Off The Wall, Boat Rich & Sam Eagle and the Lemon Lizards Free entry - 7pm - Event page Colchester, Arts Centre The Fabs, Short People & The Judith Charmers £13 - 7.30pm - Tickets Colchester, Bull The Friday House Of Blues Free entry - 8pm - Event page Ipswich, Steamboat Hold Tight Winter Party Free entry - 7pm - Event page Ipswich, Swan Ip-Hop w/Rye Shabby and DJ Ghosty, Xidontle, Tooks and Snubes, WaveyxTimes, Ae Ther & DJ Daniel Lee Harvey Free entry - 8pm - Event page Norwich, Owl Sanctuary Rebel Lion Sound System Free entry - 7pm - Event page Saturday 30th Colchester, Bull The Statins Free entry - 9pm - Event page Norwich, Owl Sanctuary Free Movement Skateboarding fundraiser w/Cheap Heat, Hollow Reign, Cuck, Throatpunch & Knowpeace Free entry - 7pm - Event page Sunday 31st Bury St Edmunds, Hunter Club Thin Lizard, Sun Scream & Kyanos £10 - 8pm - Event page Cambridge, Portland Arms Portland Rouge New Year Party w/Demelza Fox, The Honeysuckle Sweethearts & Tesla North £10 - 8pm - Tickets Diss, Burston Crown The Thinking Men Free entry - 8pm - Event page Colchester, Arts Centre New Town Kings & The Majestic £15 - 9pm - Tickets Colchester, Bull The Hit List Free entry - 9pm - Event page Colchester, Soundhouse Our House £5 - 9pm - Event page Ipswich, Swan Hot Tramp NYE Party Free entry - 7pm - Event page Norwich, Arts Centre Soul Stew NYE Party £10 - 8pm - Tickets Norwich, Open Tropical NYE £25 - 9pm - Tickets Norwich, Owl Sanctuary Dub, Sweat and Beers NYE Extravaganza Free entry - 7pm - Event page

Photo: Sun Scream (playing Bury St Edmunds Constitutional Club 23rd Dec and Bury St Edmunds Hunter Club 31st Dec) by Acid Box Promotions. Listings Editor: Kate Quigley.

#listings #gig listings #kate quigley #norwich #bury st edmunds #ipswich #colchester #cambridge #burston #diss #new years eve

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b-sidemusic · 6 years

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NEWS: HOMEGROWN FESTIVAL GEARS UP FOR 2018

Continuing its five-year mission to seek out the finest musical stuff happening around East Anglia, Homegrown Music Festival will return to Barrow Academy (just outside Bury St Edmunds) on the weekend of 8th-10th June 2018.

Anyone interested in performing or being involved in any way - bands, duos, solo artists, performance artists and nice people who want to do something ace - is invited to get in touch via the festival’s website at www.homegrownfest.co.uk

The deadline for artist applications is 31st December, and the line-up will be announced in the new year. Photo: Homegrown 2017 headliners The Downsetters (from Facebook)

#news #homegrown music festival #the downsetters

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b-sidemusic · 6 years

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THE B-SIDE MONDAY MEGAMIX

This week, self-confessed grinch Paul Jenkins is listening to some classic bluesy rock ‘n’ roll, shouty hardcore, indie and post-rock in an attempt to avoid hearing any C******** songs (except Slade; there is ALWAYS time for Slade).

THE QUIREBOYS - GRACIE B

OK, time to blow my B-Side credibility, perhaps [absolutely not; there is no such thing – Cred Ed]: The first band I ever saw playing a small club and the first band I ever helped out was The Quireboys. As a callow, spotty teen in 1980-forget about it, more interested in thrash-metal and UKHC than classic, bluesy rock ‘n’ roll, I found myself buying their ‘Mayfair’ single in Shades Records (RIP) in Soho. A member of the band - I am convinced it was Ginger, later of The Wildhearts, but I am told it was more likely Guy Bailey - saw me and asked me if I wanted to hand out fliers in return for free entry to a Marquee show that night. Well, of course I did and thirty-plus years on they remain one of my favourite bands. I was lucky enough to spend four nights on tour with QBs earlier this year (working with support band Last Great Dreamers); Ginger and Guy Bailey may be long gone, and the Stones-fronted-by-Rod schtick may not be everyone’s cup o’ tea but they still put on a top, top show

See them live at: Norwich Waterfront (doing an acoustic show), 23rd Dec. Now listen to: ‘White Trash Blues’ LP. Follow: Facebook - Twitter - Website

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REVENGE OF THE PSYCHOTRONIC MAN - HECTIC DANGER DAY

From the sublime to the ridiculous - or maybe vice versa - Revenge Of The Psychotronic Man [named after a splendidly awful 1980 cult sci-fi movie – Hollywood Ed.] are one of the most exciting live bands I have seen for a long time and almost certainly the best band I have seen at the “new” Owl Sanctuary in Norwich. Hardcore played at lightspeed this may be and the lyrics can be deadly serious, but there is also a sense of fun here. The turn-out for their last outing at the Owl was pretty pathetic. Don’t let it be the same next time.

See them live at: Norwich Owl Sanctuary, 3rd Dec. Now listen to: ‘Colossal Velocity’ LP. Follow: Facebook - Twitter - Website

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HAPPY COLOURED MARBLES - LET ME IN

Named after a Ween song, Happy Coloured Marbles are a band I’ve followed for a while now and have seen ’em develop into a properly powerful power-trio. This under-watched video was released in 2016, and deserves more attention.

See them live at: Norwich Epic Studios, 27th Jan. Now listen to: ;Can’t Seem To Shake You’, streaming. Follow: Facebook – Twitter – Soundcloud

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NEW SCIENTISTS - AGAIN

Right, I haven’t seen ‘em yet but everyone I know who has seen New Scientists says they a bloody amazing live. So, here it is. Make up your own minds.

See them live at: Norwich Epic Studios, 27th Jan. Now listen to: ‘Miniature People’, on SoundCloud Follow: Facebook – Twitter

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KNOWPEACE - PAVE THE RAINFOREST

Raging hardcore from King’s Lynn, I first saw Knowpeace support the mighty Ho99o9 (AKA Horror 999) and come close to blowing them away. Good stuff.

See them live at: Norwich Owl Sanctuary, 30th Dec (Free Movement skateboard fundraiser). Now listen to: ‘It Gets Worse’ EP, streaming. Follow: Facebook – Twitter – Bandcamp

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THE WOLF NUMBER – DEL MARS

Described as instrumental-psych-rock, I’d be more inclined to class this trio from Norwich as post-rock, whatever the chuff that means these days. Regardless, The Wolf Number Name are preparing for their first Arts Centre headliner in the new year, and it should be a good one. See them live at: Norwich Arts Centre, 19th Jan. Now listen to: ‘The Bunker Sessions’ EP, streaming. Follow: Facebook – Twitter – Website

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Photo: Revenge of the Psychotronic Man (from Facebook)

#monday megamix #playlist #playlists #newmusic #paul jenkins #the quireboys #revenge of the psychotronic man #happy coloured marbles #new scientists #knowpeace #the wolf number

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b-sidemusic · 6 years

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VIDEO: THE BARON FOUR - CAN’T FIND MY WAY

Following the release of their critically acclaimed second album ‘Silvaticus’ earlier this year (it’s not on Spotify - click here instead), here’s a new video for Bury St Edmunds/Warwick/London/everywhere-based beat sensations The Baron Four’s 2015 track ‘Can’t Find My Way’.

Looking every bit as authentically 60s as the band sound, the video was shot entirely on Super 8 by director Clay W. Smith in Albany, El Cerrito and Berkeley, California, and features Hollywood actor Mateo Monsalve looking nonplussed by a funfair while sporting commendable hair.

The Baron Four will be rounding off their year with a NYE gig for Le Beat Bespoké at London’s Rocksteady alongside Flare Voyant. It’s also been announce that the band will be supporting US punk legends The Mummies for their ultra-rare London outing at 229 on 31st March. Tickets for both events are onsale via www.lebeatbespoke.com

#news #video #the baron four #flare voyant #the mummies

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b-sidemusic · 6 years

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NEWS: FESTIVE TREATS ABOUND!

This weekend there’s a small heap of excitement happening around East Anglia, for those hungry for festive DIY rock thrills.

Tonight (Saturday 16th December), Ipswich’s ace, much-needed DIY venue The Smokehouse will be celebrating their amazing year with a big party starring venue owner Joe Bailey’s indie supergroup Radio Orwell, plus The Hillmisters, Sun Scream and Jack Rundell; the event page is here, and the fiver entry includes a free drink.

Meanwhile, in Colchester, the Three Wise Monkeys celebrates its third birthday this weekend with a ginormous megagig: tonight for only £5 you can see Ghosts Of Men, Rad Pitt, The Jorneta Stream, The Baskervilles, Mystery Act, Stealing Signs, Mandeville and Surge, while tomorrow (Sunday 17th) there’s a free gig featuring Lianne Kaye, Tasha Robertson, Laura Wyatt and The Gavin Bowern Band. The event page for both days is here.

Finally, tomorrow (Sunday 17th) in Bury St Edmunds, Oakes Barn is hosting Chris Mass, the annual tribute to Thee Vicars guitarist Chris Langeland, who passed away in 2012. Playing this year are Beast With A Gun, Thy Last Drop, The Bury Boy All-Stars and Santa’s One Man Band. Entry is a fiver and the money will go to an as-yet-unspecified charity. Check out Chris’s amazing guitar work with Thee Vicars on Spotify.

Of course, there’s loads of other stuff happening around the region - whether you want UB40 with Maxi Jazz at Cambridge Corn Exchange, Ducking Punches at Norwich Owl Sanctuary, Roy Wood at Bury St Edmunds Apex or The Glenn Miller Orchestra, there’s probably something for you. Check it all out on our listings page!

Photo: Chris Langeland

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b-sidemusic · 6 years

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EAST ANGLIAN GIG LISTINGS: 14TH-28TH DECEMBER 2017

Every Thursday, you bring your faces and we bring the noise. To submit your own news and listings, click here! Thursday 14th Burston, Crown Catflap Dilemma Free entry - 8.30pm - Event page Cambridge, Blue Moon Dean McPhee, Sam McLoughlin and David Chatton Baker & Rachel Watkins £6 - 8pm - Event page Colchester, Three Wise Monkeys Craig Garrod, Jakob Deist, Mark Halls, Sam Ryder & Carousel Free entry - 6pm - Event page Norwich, Open Wooden Arms £8 - 7pm - Tickets Norwich, Owl Sanctuary 24 Robbers, Blood Like Honey & Metanoia PWYC - 7pm - Tickets Friday 15th Cambridge, Junction J1 The Fiver: The Extons, Tom Lumley, Deep City & Anthony Rubery £6 - 6.45pm - Tickets Cambridge, Portland Arms Moth Conspiracy, The Seven Twenty & The Pawn Hearts £5 - 8pm - Tickets Colchester, Arts Centre Eliza Carthy and the Wayward Band & Duotone £20 - 7.30pm - Tickets Colchester, Bull Grounds For Divorce Free entry - 9pm - Event page Colchester, Three Wise Monkeys SuperGlu, Impala, Piers James, Dilute to Taste, Shiners & Shooty and the Bang Bang £5 - 6pm - Event page Ipswich, Smokehouse Pessimist, Counties, Prey Drive, In and Out of Sleep & Excuses £3 - 7.30pm - Tickets Ipswich, Steamboat Open Mic Free entry - 8.30pm - Event page Norwich, Arts Centre Father Funk, DJ Yes, Gypsy Swing & Daniel Tuffs £10 - 9pm - Tickets Norwich, Owl Sanctuary King Kiwanda Free entry - 7pm - Event page Norwich, Waterfront Studio UK Subs £17.60 - 6.30pm - Tickets Woodbridge, Angel Aartwork Free entry - 9pm - Event page Saturday 16th Cambridge, Blue Moon Shake Your Turkey Feather Free entry - 8pm - Event page Cambridge, Corn Exchange Glenn Miller Orchestra £17.25-£34.75 - 2.30pm - Tickets Cambridge, Corn Exchange White Christmas £26.75-£40.75 - 7.30pm - Tickets Cambridge, Junction J1 Ezio £15.50 - 7pm - Tickets Cambridge, Portland Arms Iron Fist £10 - 8pm - Tickets Colchester, Bull Stone Shuffle Jones Free entry - 9pm - Event page Colchester, Three Wise Monkeys Ghosts of Men, Rad Pitt, Surge, Mandeville, Stealing Signs, Mystery Act & The Baskervilles £5 - 6pm - Event page Ipswich, Smokehouse Radio Orwell, Sun Scream, Hillmisters & Jack Rundell £5 - 7.30pm - Tickets Norwich, Owl Sanctuary Dub Conductor & Dub, Sweat and Beers £5 - 9.30pm - Tickets Sunday 17th Bury St Edmunds, Oakes Barn Chris Mass: Beast With a Gun, Thy Last Drop, Bury Boy All Stars & Santa’s One Man Band £5 - 7pm - Event page Cambridge, Portland Arms The Archive £5 - 7pm - Tickets Colchester, Arts Centre Jason Frederick Cinematic Trio £14 - 7pm - Tickets Colchester, Three Wise Monkeys The Gavin Bowern Band, Laura Wyatt & Lianne Kaye Free entry - 6pm - Event page Norwich, Owl Sanctuary Ducking Punches, March & Chapter Of Wolves £6 - 7pm - Tickets Norwich, Waterfront Studio Santa Cruz & Skarlett Riot £13.20 - 7pm - Tickets Monday 18th Bury St Edmunds, Apex Jazz at the Movies £16 - 7.30pm - Tickets Cambridge, Corn Exchange UB40 & Maxi Jazz and the E-Type Boys £40.25-£75 - 7.30pm - Tickets Cambridge, Portland Arms The Treatment £15 - 8pm - Tickets Colchester, Arts Centre The Churchfitters £11 - 7.45pm - Tickets Norwich, Arts Centre Richard Dawson £15 - 8pm - Tickets Tuesday 19th Bury St Edmunds, Apex Roy Wood Rock and Roll Band £27.50-£29.50 - 8pm - Tickets Cambridge, Corn Exchange Fish £30.25 - 7.30pm - Tickets Norwich, Arts Centre Moulettes, Bessie Turner & Raevennan Husbandes £13.50 - 8pm - Tickets Wednesday 20th Bury St Edmunds, Apex Only Men Aloud & Natasha Cook Jenkins £25 - 7.30pm - Tickets Cambridge, Portland Arms John Fairhurst £10 - 8pm - Tickets Ipswich, Swan Wednesday Warriors Free entry - 8pm - Event page Norwich, Arts Centre The Vagaband, Murphy’s Lore & The Arlenes £12 - 8pm - Tickets Thursday 21st Burston, Crown Buskers Revisited Free entry - 8pm - Event page Bury St Edmunds, Apex Eliza Carthy and the Wayward Band £20 - 8pm - Tickets Cambridge, Portland Arms The Junkoactive Wasteman and His Tinphonia, 2late & Acid Tea £5 - 7.45pm - Tickets Colchester, Bull Jazz Jam Christmas Special Free entry - 9pm - Event page Colchester, Three Wise Monkeys Wooden Maiden Contact venue for details Ipswich, Swan Blues Jam Free entry - 9pm - Event page Norwich, Arts Centre The Vagaband & Shackleton Trio £12 - 8pm - Tickets Norwich, Owl Sanctuary Wayward Natives Free entry - 7pm - Tickets Norwich, Waterfront Mostly Autumn £16.50 - 7.30pm - Tickets Friday 22nd Bury St Edmunds, Hunter Club Rebop £14 - 7.30pm - Tickets Cambridge, Blue Moon Motherchip Connexion Free entry - 7pm - Event page Cambridge, Corn Exchange Cambridgeshire County Youth Orchestra £12 - 4pm - Tickets Cambridge, Junction The Craig Charles Funk and Soul Club £17 - 10pm - Tickets Colchester, Arts Centre Goodiepal, The Dead Rat Orchestra, Lee Ashcroft & Mick The Hippy’s Krautrock Disco £7 - 7.30pm - Tickets Colchester, Bull Electrum Free entry - 9pm - Event page Colchester, Soundhouse Special Measures Free entry - 9pm - Event page Colchester, Three Wise Monkeys Imoni, Hattie Erawan, Ellie Cornell, Lauren Francis & Sophie Nash £3 - 9pm - Event page Ipswich, Steamboat Tavern Back To The Point, In My Disguise & The Naked French Free entry - 7pm - Event page Ipswich, Swan MotherfVnker Free entry - 8pm - Event page Norwich, Arts Centre The Blockheads & Ben C Winn SOLD OUT - Info Norwich, Epic Studios Tom Malachowski £5 - 7.30pm - Tickets Norwich, Owl Sanctuary E.A. Dames £5 - 7pm - Event page Norwich, Waterfront Studio The Visitors, No Story Goes, Couch & Suburban Tide £6 - 6.30pm - Tickets Saturday 23rd Cambridge, Portland Arms The British Public, The British IBM, Pete Um, Allotment & The Basque Roads £5.50 - 7.05pm - Tickets Colchester, Bull Lettuceheads Free entry - 9pm - Event page Colchester, Soundhouse Mixtronicxs Free entry - 9pm - Event page Ipswich, Swan Oranje, Fick As Fieves & Impilo Free entry - 8pm - Event page Norwich, Epic Studios Bad Manners & Max Splodge £21 - 7pm - Tickets Norwich, Waterfront Studio The Quireboys £20.35 - 6.30pm - Tickets Sunday 24th Colchester, Bull Stiff In The Morning Free entry - 9pm - Event page Wednesday 27th Cambridge, Portland Arms The Furious Sleep & Doyouthinkhesawus? £6 - 7pm - Tickets Ipswich, Smokehouse Pizza Tramp, Werecats & Dealing With Damage £5 - 7.30pm - Tickets Norwich, LCR The Hollywood Undead & The One Hundred £20.35 - 6.30pm - Tickets Thursday 28th Cambridge, Portland Arms Moonstrips, Ian Jeffs, Pickering Brothers & Ricky Boom-Boom £5.50 - 7pm - Tickets Ipswich, Steamboat Tavern Folk At The Boat Free entry - 8pm - Event page Norwich, Owl Sanctuary Alastoria, Deities, MTXS, To The Nines & A Thousand Voices £5 - 7pm - Tickets

Photo: Stealing Signs (playing Colchester Three Wise Monkeys, 16th December) from Facebook. Listings Editor: Kate Quigley.

#listings #gig listings #kate quigley #stealing signs #bury st edmunds #ipswich #cambridge #Colchester #norwich #stowmarket #diss #burston

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b-sidemusic · 6 years

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INTERVIEW: SUPER SMASH BROTHERS - FOOLING AROUND WITH CLOWN SMASH EVERYTHING

Tomorrow night (Thursday 14th December), new punks on the block Clown Smash Everything hit Norwich's Owl Sanctuary, following a sold-out debut gig at the Waterfront last week and the release of their incendiary debut album, 'The Bombs Are Getting Closer', the week before. B-Side's Seymour Quigley had a quiet word before the storm.

B-Side: Last Thursday was your first ever gig, but impressively, you'd already released your debut album and two videos before setting foot on a stage. Was it always your plan to arrive fully-formed, or did you just wait until things felt right?

GT (vocals/guitar): Yes, it was absolutely the intention to have everything fully formed before unleashing it publicly. We’ve all played in bands for years before Clown Smash Everything, so we’re not new to the game. We didn’t want to apply a ton of pressure to ourselves with timescales, so as far as the album is concerned it was a mixture of both having a plan but also letting the music happen organically and knowing when the time was right. As for the videos, I started making them for bands a few years ago and have had these ideas running around my head for a long time, so the execution happened really quickly and easily. Of course, it’s kind of a “hurry up and wait” situation, because you’ve got all the time in the world to make your first album and videos etcetera, but as soon as you press go, time just speeds up and runs out very very quickly!

Jay Freeman (guitar/backing vocals): Without wishing to blow our own trumpets, once we’d written the first few songs, we really felt that we were onto something pretty special, and that gave us the confidence to engineer a situation where we were like “Bang! Here’s an album. Bang! Here’s a couple of really well-made videos. Bang! Here’s a super-tight live-show. Fucking check US out!”, rather than going, “Here’s a couple of songs. Do you like them? Oh, you do, that’s nice. Well, we’ll do a video for one in a month or so. Meanwhile, we’ve got a couple of pissy little gigs where you can see us play the only four songs we’ve got so far.” We reckoned we were capable of smashing it from the go-get.

B-Side: 'The Bombs Are Getting Closer' sounds, if you don't mind me saying so, effervescently and genuinely angry about everything, in a way that harks back to the early 00s mini-explosion of falling-off-the-stage-haemorrhaging-furiously rock bands like Amen and Groop Dogdrill. Did Clown Smash Everything come together through shared influences and ideologies, or did things develop more organically?

GT: I love that you referenced Amen and Groop Dogdrill there, as they were both bands that I saw back in the day who just put on a crazy show. Both of those bands, along with Gallows, Cancer Bats and The Bronx, really inspired me to start writing music that was a bit heavier, having come from Spot and Insaniac, who were more pop punk kinda bands. I’d written the basics of the first song 'Mr. Sunshine' and played it to Jay. He instantly loved it and came in on second guitar, adding the more discordant elements.

Jay: The members of the band certainly do have similar outlooks politically and ethically, which is a massive bonus, but it was never designed that way. I guess when you hang around other musicians and artists and such, especially those of the more punky persuasion, you just don’t tend to bump into many Tories, so when a band forms in that cultural environment, it’s going to be pretty left-leaning. Conversely, our musical influences are all very different. We all have very eclectic tastes but, essentially, GT is rooted in punk, I’m an alt-rocker, Zak (Whittaker, drums) is a prog dude, and Chris (Peters, bass) is a filthy goth. I think CSE’s sound lives in that tiny section of the Venn diagram where all four overlap.

B-Side: What can we expect from Clown Smash Everything live? I've just been watching Guns 'n' Roses' 'Use Your Illusion: World Tour 1992 In Tokyo' DVDs, in which Axl Rose sports a horrifying succession of hot pants and waistcoats - will any of you be rocking a similar look?

GT: I LOVE those early Guns ‘N’ Roses gigs, although - bless Axl - he’d really blown his voice out by then. We used to watch the Paris ‘92 gig every single day when I was at college! Nah, I just wear black. No brands.

Jay: You can expect to see a band that fucking means it playing songs that they’re fiercely proud of as well as they humanly can. The sartorial influence of G’n’R on the show is obvious, though. I tend to sport a fucking massive top-hat with two eye-holes cut into it because it covers my entire head. Nah, not really. Just black. A bit of guyliner if we’re feeling saucy (we’re always feeling saucy).

B-Side: And finally, what are your plans, hopes and dreams for 2018?

GT: Gigs, gigs and more gigs! We have to hit the ground running and get into people’s faces as much as possible so that we can get as many people as possible to the shows, which makes it super fun for us. We’re not gonna hang about getting new music out either, so expect that pretty early in the year too.

Jay: Plans? What GT said. Hopes? That things continue to go as well as they’ve started, that we make lots of new friends, that we play the length and breadth of the UK and beyond, and that any other interviews we do are as interesting and fun as this one!

THE LOWDOWN - CLOWN SMASH EVERYTHING Members: GT (vocals/guitar), Jay Freeman (guitar/vocals), Chris Peters (bass), Zak Whittaker (drums). From: Norwich. Listen to: 'The Bombs Are Getting Closer' album, streaming/download. See them live at: Norwich Owl Sanctuary, 14th Dec. Keep up with them on: Facebook - Twitter

Photo: Clown Smash Everything by Go To The Gig.

#interview #Interviews #seymour quigley #norwich #clown smash everything

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b-sidemusic · 6 years

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THE B-SIDE MONDAY MEGAMIX

Every Monday, one of our writers splits the bag wide open and finger-paints parietal ruminations on the B-Side cave walls with whatever oozes out. This week, Seymour Quigley daubs you the news.

F.O.X - HALFWAY TO NOWHERE

Beloved of everyone fortunate enough to have ever seen them live, Colchester's finest hard-touring electro-pop trio F.O.X have had a pretty awesome year, as their heroes (and mine), Basildon electro pioneers Depeche Mode, invited them to tour the ridicudromes of Europe alongside Southend's The Horrors, making for quite the Essex package tour. Now that the dust and adrenaline have settled, the band are hard at work on a brand new album (following their 2013 debut LP 'Chimera' and last year's two-part 'Hypoxia' EP). We will, of course, bring you news as and when it trickles or gushes in. See them live at: Colchester Arts Centre, 26th Jan. Now listen to: 'Hypoxia' two-part EP, CD/download, out now. Follow: Facebook - Twitter

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SLOWCOACHES - NORMS & VALUES

Slightly tenuous, given that there's no East Anglian connection that I'm aware of, and that their debut album - the frankly fucking incredible 'Nothing Gives' - came out 12 long months ago. However, good music is eternal and (thanks to occasional B-Side contributor Matthew Dupuy, who brought them to my attention) I cannot begin to put into words how excited I am about hearing more from London's Slowcoaches in 2018. Here's my favourite track from 'Nothing Gives'; I'm stuck for superlatives so I'll spare you the usual word avalanche, and let you simply enjoy the sights and sounds of a rad band rocking the fuck out. See them live at: Not currently touring. Now listen to: 'Nothing Gives' album, vinyl/download, out now. Follow: Facebook - Twitter

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ME AND THE MOON - STANDING STILL

Having set the bar high back in 2012 with his short-lived band The Façade (whose still-wonderful single 'Waiting For You' became the only release ever to score a full 10/10 on B-Side, back when arbitrary ratings seemed like a good idea), wandering guitarist Jonny Elstone seemed on course to become Bury St Edmunds' 21st century answer to Jimmy Page or Eric Clapton, his name being briefly attached to numerous bands and projects (including much-missed surf-popsters King Blood), before a relocation to the South East saw him team up with singer/guitarist Tamara-Jane Grzegorzek and drummer Alex Archer in 2015 to form Me and the Moon. As delightfully, unashamedly twee and indie as their name suggests, Me and the Moon's opening volley of perfectly-formed singles were picked up and championed by BBC Introducing and Radio X, causing a slow-building buzz of industry and media attention. 'Standing Still' is a confident if brief slice of giddy, slightly seasick indie pop, further hinting that their long-awaited debut LP (due, surely, sometime soon) will be quite the triumph. Even better, though, is the single's Intaka remix, currently streaming on Spotify. See them live at: Guildford Star, 28th Feb. Now listen to: 'Run With Wolves', streaming/download, out now. Follow: Facebook - Twitter

Standing Still by Me and The Moon

KYANOS - THUNDER IN JAPAN

Slack-as-a-hammock, psychedelic Bury St Edmunds foursome Kyanos have had an odd couple of weeks, their recent debut EP 'Elevator to Japan' having been singled out by weekly music bible NME as "an exercise in restraint and perfectionism… all carefully layered to perfection for this cosmic ride", and the band bigged up (alongside Gaffa Tape Sandy) as part of Bury St Edmunds' "devilishly exciting... buzzing" music scene. Recorded on their iPhones on their own sweet time, 'Elevator to Japan' was a genuine quantum leap from their previous output: a free-flowing concept EP (reminiscent of Gallic ambient-astropop heroes Air) that showcases the band's meandering tendencies - which can seem a little shambolic live - as towering strengths. A full-length debut is promised for the new year. See them live at: Bury St Edmunds Hunter Club, 2nd Feb. Now listen to: 'Elevator to Japan' EP, streaming/download, out now. Follow: Facebook - Twitter

Elevator to Japan by KYANOS

THE STATE with THY LAST DROP - A FOREST (LIVE AT EMPORIUM OF ODD)

Perhaps unnecessarily self-conscious about their square peg status, The State are - oddly, given the genre's enduring cult appeal - to our knowledge the only bona fide industrial metal band currently operational in East Anglia. I say "unnecessarily" because, whilst they may take their cues directly and baldly from genre titans Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, Rammstein and latter-day Gary Numan, The State are also bloody good at it: kicking off their recent, second album 'Ministry of Truth' with a pointed quote from US TV show 'Mr Robot' ("And what is it about society that disappoints you so much?"; "Oh, I don't know. Is it that we collectively thought Steve Jobs was a great man even when we knew he made billions off the backs of children?"), before going on to mercilessly dissect everything wrong with every aspect of our corrupt, deluded, inward-looking society over the course of eight utterly livid tracks. There is a rarely-glimpsed lighter side to The State though, as evidenced by this, one of the finest unexpected moments of the gigging year, which saw the band team up with self-described "Victorian murder punk" troupe Thy Last Drop for a faithful-but-rambunctious cover of The Cure's imperishable 1980 goth classic 'A Forest'. Both bands are set to be busy in the coming new year, so prepare yourselves and prepare yourselves well. See The State live at: London Dublin Castle, 1st Feb; Bury St Edmunds Hunter Club, 3rd March. Now listen to: 'Ministry Of Truth' album, CD/download, out now. Follow: Facebook - Twitter See Thy Last Drop live at: Not currently touring. Now listen to: 'Tales From The Triple Tree' album, CD/download, out now. Follow: Facebook - Twitter

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Photo: F.O.X (from Facebook)

#monday megamix #newmusic #seymour quigley #f.o.x.#slowcoaches #me and the moon #kyanos #the state #thy last drop #playlist #playlists

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