Bands Only

Xbox Reverb with Dananananaykroyd, Birmingham Rainbow

2009-10-03T13:09:00.002+01:00

It may be due to Freshers week or it may be down to under-promotion, but this freebie gig courtesy of Mr Gates and chums wasn't exactly heaving. Birmingham's Rainbow Warehouse seemed to have more technology than people, with Xboxes, Beatles Rock Band and smartpoints where a swipe of your gig pass updated your Twitter.

Which was a shame, because the bands on offer - Findo Gask, Copy Haho and Dananananaykroyd - were superb entertainment, and not just for their bizarre monikers.

First up were Findo Gask, who rival We Are Scientists for speccy cool and play an intriguing mix of rock, disco, funk, general electrobleepery and... a trumpet. It's a great show but the music seems destined to be enjoyed more live than on record. Indeed their trump card is actually the interchangeable line-up, in which band members swap their instruments like swingers swap car keys.

Copy Haho, conversely, had a more straightforward indie-rock sound. In the main fast and melodic, and driven by a beautiful black and white guitar, this quartet showed a lot of potential. One or two stronger mid-set songs and these boys could have a big future - even if their frontman looks like Murray Hewitt. Let's hope he's not their manager.

And so it was down to Dananananaykroyd to make a half-empty warehouse come to life. It didn't start great, as very low microphone levels meant that not only their breakneck shouty vocals, but the between-song conflabs as well, were difficult to hear. We weren't ignoring you, honest!

Then, genius. Sensing something was needed to kick the party off, the boys had the crowd remove the stage barriers and split into two groups. On the count of 4, the factions were to run at each other, merge and hug. "4" came, hugs flew and the band fired into action again. The Tuesday night shackles were well and truly thrown off.

There must be something in the Irn-Bru up there - the Scottish band's mind-blowingly energetic finale was a hugely impressive and well-received spectacle and it completed a big victory from the jaws of gigging defeat.

More news, reviews and tour dates at Bands Only.

When Musical Giants Collide

2009-07-30T20:45:00.005+01:00

Life’s full of unexpected and largely unexplained collaborations be it Andre Agassi dumping Brooke Shields for Steffi Graf or Michael Jackson turning up at Exeter City football club. Some musical one’s make even less sense (I’m thinking George Michael and Mary J Bilge…yeah, I know I’ve spelt it wrong). Then we come to the curious case of the Arctic Monkeys journeying to California to have their latest album produced by Rock God Josh Homme. This latest collaboration got me thinking - which musical acts should collaborate for their and, for that matter, our musical enjoyment.

The first thing that sprung to my mind was the merging of Tenacious D and Blink 182. Obviously one producing the other would probably be quite boring (Except for them making it. But where’s the fun for us?) So they almost certainly need to perform a joint live show. Just imagine those two live acts combined. I haven’t the words to describe it, but I’m guessing it would be the funniest, rudest most bizarre thing you would ever witness. Ever.

I’d also make Oasis work at gunpoint with a producer or artist who would push their boundaries. If they refused, it wouldn’t be like we’d be missing out on anything new creative-wise. I’m think of either Jay-Z (obviously), Calvin Harris or Dizzee Rascal. Come to think of it the Ting Tings would be hilarious. But I’d settle for a Franz Ferdinand.

Jamie Cullum and Slipknot anyone? I wouldn’t want to hear the result but, y’know, it might be the last work they produced. Hopefully.

I’d also give Muse a proper make over. Imagine the sound they’d make with Arcade Fire providing every instrument they could possibly use times a thousand. They could probably perform on the top of Everest and the whole world would hear.

Got any ideas? Write them below…

Gig Review: Metric - Coventry Kasbah (13/05/09)

2009-05-15T22:23:00.004+01:00

Maybe it’s a sign of the way the recession is hitting music, but I’ve never been to a gig with no support act. Not that this particularly matters when you go to watch Canadian new-wave band Metric. While tracks from their latest album, Fantasies, lack the raw emotion and energy of it’s predecessor, Live it Out, on record (or CD…or MP3 for that matter), the live versions certainly don’t.

A perfect case in point is Fantasies opening track, Help I’m Alive, second song of the night following Twilight Galaxy which saw front woman Emily Haines gradually thrusting a tambourine higher and higher as the chorus reached a crescendo.

As with her vocals, Haines presence on stage epitomises Metric’s vibe. After concentrating on the first half a dozen songs, still bounding about the stage with more energy then an infant laced with e-numbers, a ten-minute Empty (one of only three songs in the main performance not to come from Fantasies) featured a declaration of Metric’s musical manifesto and take on life. The audience responded and from then on the gig became a show with dedications to the front row on, er, Front Row and polished performances of Gimme Sympathy, Sick Muse and Dead Disco amongst others.

Quite how Haines manage to transmit so much energy bouncing around the stage, standing on speakers and playing keyboards for a whole tour may well be one of life’s unanswered questions. But it does make for a damn entertaining evening.

After a rousing sing-along with new favourite (and a damn fine album closing track) Stadium Love, an encore of a highly charged Monster Hospital and stripped down Live it Out, and the high fives with the front row it didn’t matter there was no support, it would have just detracted from a mighty fine performance.

As an interesting aside, despite the gig being in a small 300 (approx) capacity room and not being too far from the front, I came out with no ringing sensation in my ears, yet the sound quality was excellent. I’m not sure if this was down to the band or the venue but other small venues could learn from this lesson. Less was definitely more.

Venue rating 7/10: Why the hell did the ticket say the doors opening at 6 when we arrived at 7 and the doors had clearly only just opened? Oh, and the drinks seemed really expensive…but that may just be me getting old. But seriously good sound.
Bog rating: 8/10: Clean and large (for the small room). Plus the worst toilet troll in the world. Which is a good thing.

Rock songs for beginner drummers

2009-04-12T18:34:00.004+01:00

I'd describe myself as someone who plays drums, but not a "drummer". I'm not in a band and frankly, I'm not all that good. But as a hobby, nothing (ahem) beats it.

The way I set about playing was: I had a few lessons, bought myself the rather-excellent Roland HD-1 electronic kit, then sat down with my iPod and went for it. Playing along to pre-recorded full-band songs is an excellent way to both help a beginner drummer keep time and will actively encourage the player to learn by ear. But what to play along to?

Clearly, there's not going to be too many songs suitable but I've found a few that, in the main and with a bit of practise, are playable and great fun. So here is the Bands Only guide to rock / indie tracks that are suitable for beginners / hobbyists - the * denotes recommended starting points. Enjoy and let me know your own suggestions.

*Too Cool For School - Fountains Of Wayne (iTunes, 7digital)
About a Girl - Nirvana (iTunes, 7digital)
If Only - Queens of the Stone Age (iTunes, 7digital)
Suzie - Boy Kill Boy (iTunes, 7digital)
I Believe in a Thing Called Love - The Darkness (iTunes, 7digital)
Every You, Every Me - Placebo (iTunes, 7digital)
Pumping On Your Stereo - Supergrass (iTunes, 7digital)
*Song 2 - Blur (iTunes, 7digital)
*Evil - Interpol (iTunes, 7digital)
Get Over It - OK Go (iTunes, 7digital)
No Tomorrow - Orson (iTunes, 7digital)
The Take Over, The Break's Over - Fall Out Boy (iTunes, 7digital)
*Ain't It The Life - Foo Fighters (iTunes, 7digital)
Come As You Are - Nirvana (iTunes, 7digital)
Teddy Picker - Arctic Monkeys (iTunes, 7digital)
Dakota - Stereophonics (iTunes, 7digital)
Sing For Absolution - Muse (iTunes, 7digital)
Exhausted - Foo Fighters (iTunes, 7digital)
Get Your Guns - Nine Black Alps (iTunes, 7digital)
Chelsea Dagger - The Fratellis (iTunes, 7digital)
Good Fortune - PJ Harvey (iTunes, 7digital)
Algeria - JJ72 (iTunes, 7digital)

On a final note, I compiled these songs into a iPod playlist for easy access.

Oh Joy! The BRIT Awards.

2009-02-17T20:54:00.009Z

The BRITs are coming. No, this isn't a German public information warning people called Jurgan to put their beach towels on sun loungers, but a muddled attempt to explain why I find the drunken mess of the British Music Industry's annual knees-up such a turn off.

You see, when I was getting into music in the mid 90's the big winners were the bands producing music I liked. Blur, Oasis, the Manics were all "main" winners three consecutive years. So it’s not that I particularly think the wrong people win it. It’s not that the system of letting the public vote for some awards is necessarily a bad thing (see Belle and Sebastian “stealing” Steps’ award in 1999 with much hilarity). It’s not even that it’s on ITV. Honest.

I just think it’s overhyped - too in love with it’s self. Suffering the problems I most associate with the music industry. Too much liking and no-one saying, "Yeah, that last Oasis album did sound like the previous three", or, "Why does Chris Martin wave his hands around like a complete berk when he’s singing ". It's almost as if it’s the self-appointed spokesperson for the music we’ve all been listening to over the last year which no-one actually appointed. It’s also a bit of a popularity contest. Those awards that aren’t decided by the public vote are decided by a panel of “experts”. But because of the high profile nature, these people appear more likely to go for the populist option for fear of getting lynched in the press following the ceremony. Look at the nominations this year for Best International Group and Best International Album. They’re the same. There’s no originality, no thinking outside the box.

I also think it’s too much of a compromise. It’s doing that very British thing of trying to please everyone and pleasing very few. Perfect case in point is nominating Girls Aloud and Radiohead in the same category. I think it’s called Radio 1 syndrome.

It also loses some significance because it is a place to be seen. The non-entity celebrities that blight our life use it as a marketing tool. Do they really care or contribute the music industry any more than the rest of us? If not, why do they get free tickets, a slap up meal and a load of free alcohol?

Or maybe it’s because if I’m told something is fantastic (as all radio stations do, because all the DJ’s have tickets…or their bosses have tickets at least), then I find it much harder to like because it never quite reaches it's hype. Or really simply I just don’t like it and I don’t have to justify myself.

And now it’s gone and make me write a shitty blog that whines like an All American Rejects song. I hate the BRITs.

Familiar Faces for 2009

2009-02-15T11:22:00.005Z

Scared by the new eclectic, electric sounds coming from your radio at the moment? Fear not as here's a belated guide to some more familiar names who are due to release material this year.

When the second best storey-telling songwriter in South Yorkshire, Jon McClure of Reverend and the Makers announced in the “summer” of 2008 that he would quit music after his band's second album because, “I don’t want anything to do with this industry, it absolutely stinks”, it was good to see someone stick up for what they believe in. Six months down the road and McClure has backtracked on his words, set up a new band and is yet to set a release date for the second Makers album.

Having been so straight talking, but ultimately full of bullshit, it will be interesting to see what the hell they come up with. Still, if the tunes are there, all will be forgotten.

Also talking with no end product a while back were bands only favourites Ash. Promising that Twilight’s of the Innocents would be their last traditional album, the hope and expectation was that they’d release a steady stream of singles as and when they were written. Instead they’ve re-milked the cash cow they perceive their debut 1977 to be. Lads, let have some new stuff this year, eh?

Confirmed and ready to go are Green Day and their eagerly anticipated follow-up to American Idiot. Titled, 21st Century Breakdown, it’s been revealed that the album will be split into three “acts”, therefore probably following the storytelling nature of their last album.

Also back this year are the band who caused the country to go synth crazy, the Klaxons who are likely to be pushing their sound further into, well, wherever they push their sound.

Jumping on the electro bandwagon, as you've probably already heard, are Franz Ferdinand whilst Queens of the Stone Age, the mighty Muse and a small band you may have heard of, the Arctic Monkeys are also due to release albums this year, though nothing has been confirmed.

One of my personal favourite bands, Metric, release and album this spring whilst also back are the likes of Doves and U2...ah yeah, and Starsailor, for those of you who require a nappy for sleeping.

The Black / White Band Name Guide

2009-02-14T11:09:00.007Z

Michael Jackson once famously sang "It don't matter if you're black or white". And to his credit, he took it so seriously he actually became neither.

But when it comes to band names, well it ruddy does matter. And with so many bands out the with similar sounding names, Bands Only attempts to guide you through the confusion with our quick Black/White band name guide:

Black Kids - US indie-dance band, featuring male-female duel vocals. Try: I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You

White Denim - American garage indie-rock. Try: Let's Talk About It

Black Sabbath - Ozzy Osbourne's UK metallers. Try: Iron Man

White Lies - UK electro-indie in the vein of Joy Division. Try: Death

Black Crowes - Well-established USA hard rockers. Try: Remedy

White Stripes - Detroit blues-rock two-piece, featuring Jack White. Try: Seven Nation Army

Black Keys - US dirty blues-rock two piece, championed by Colin Murray. Try: Same Old Thing

This is not an exhaustive list and there are several more examples out there - but I did think it safe to leave out White Town.

Sod Barclaycard, thank you TrackID!

2009-01-19T22:57:00.003Z

The other day I was in a hip and trendy high-street girl shop. This, as many men will testify, is generally not a pleasurable experience. In fact, dipping your tip in bucket of AIDS is often a more desirable prospect.

But I digress. Whilst in-store, I heard a song with an amazing chorus - beautiful high female vocals over a tasty, tasty leccy guitar lick. I'd heard it before somewhere and missed what it was called then, so I asked my friend if she knew.

She didn't, but she had a trick up her newly-purchased sleeve - TrackID for the Sony Ericcson W880i. This may well be some voodoo shizzle, but after one muffled 15 second clip, an anxious 30 second wait and, well, a 2 second read - the song was revealed.

TrackID, and all of your unholy audio clip recognition ways, I salute you!

..Oh yeah - almost forgot - it was Santogold, Lights Out. Not strictly a band as the name of this blog's parent website Bands Only would imply, but worth a shout anyway. Awesome song.

Our top 5 albums of 2008

2009-01-09T21:11:00.008Z

After big names dominated the Bands Only favourite singles of 2008, we're happy that the album countdown is predominantly a breakthrough act affair:

1. Johnny Foreigner – Waited Up Til It Was Light

Birmingham, to be frank, has a poor record of big selling bands. Sure there was Sabbath, and yes, there was... erm... Ocean Colour Scene? Oh dear. So, can Johnny Foreigner (JoFo to their friends) change all that?

In a word – no. And it's not because a lack of talent or originality (they have that in Rotunda-sized spades), it's just that on first hearing this record, their music won't be to many peoples tastes. And yet, those prepared to sample a second helping of the Brummie band's punk/rock/emo/electronic banquet, will be gorging for months.

WUTIWL offers fast, frenetic and frenzied punk with enough underlying melodies took hook you in and let you explore. The musicianship and production is impressive. And in a year for combined male/female vocalists (Los Campesinos, Black Kids, Ting Tings) JoFo feature duelling vocals to devastating effect.

Then there's the slower moments too. The (relatively) mid-paced Eyes Wide Terrified is an obvious single, a unexpected singalong treat. DJs Get Doubts is also a welcome, and beautiful, change of pace. And lest we forget the step up in gear at the end of the seemingly-minimal Salt, Pepa and Spinderella, which is both surprising and exhilarating.

Like the second city itself, Waited Up Til It Was Light is a exciting mix of unexpected treats. Visit now.

Check out: Eyes Wide Terrified
Preview / buy album from iTunes

2. Pete & The Pirates – Little Death

One of those albums where anyone who's heard it loves it but unfortunately that doesn't appear to be very many people...

Heaven knows why it hasn't taken off like a 2008 unemployment statistic, as the debut effort by the Reading quintet is a fine slice of quaint English guitar pop. Each of the 13 perfectly crafted songs could be a single its own right – from the beautifully sung Moving to the guitar-dance masterclass that is Come On Feet. And like The Pigeon Detectives last year, they've even kept most songs at an ADHD-pleasing 3 minutes or under.

A record that whilst accessible to all, hints of Franz Ferdinand and The Strokes manage to keep PATP just the right side of cool to keep the indie kids happy too.

Check out: Mr Understanding
Preview / buy album from iTunes

3. Foals – Antidotes

Leaving out your two best-known and best-loved songs on your debut album means one of two things:

1) You have loads of good songs so it doesn't really matter.
2) You're mad. You're mad. You're madder than Mad Jack McMad, the winner of this year's Mr Madman competition. (Thank you Blackadder)

But in eschewing Hummer and Mathletics, that's exactly what Foals did. Luckily however, the Oxford boys fall also into the former category, and made an album that easily matched the hype that surrounded them in early 2008.

In a year where beats met rock in many different ways (start at MGMT, visit Bloc Party and finish at Pendulum), Antidotes stood out as a shining example of how exciting a mash up of styles can be. From the reggae groove intro on opener The French Open to the electronic bleepery on closer Tron, via the off-beats of Two Steps Twice and the piercing snare drum of Red Socks Pugie, this is an aural journey to pleasure both the head and the feet.

Check out: Balloons
Preview / buy album from iTunes

4. British Sea Power – Do You Like Rock Music?

10-foot fighting bear? Check. Audience hidden by waving foliage? Check. Band-brewed ale on sale at the merch stand? Why, yes.

BSP are as English as Stephen Fry's shed, and with that comes the famous eccentricity. Their lyrics have always reflected this, and their unique indie rock has always hinted at greatness without quite making it. Until this year that is, when the Brighton outfit took all the good bits from debut The Decline Of and follow-up Open Season – and took it to a whole new level. Suddenly, the songs were grander, bolder and yet managed to retain the BSP charm that has built their reputation. For example, No Lucifer is built around a Big Daddy wrestling chant (“Easy! Easy!”) and Atom references matters such as, er, matter.

And despite the album's title, it's not all loud bombast – there's soaring strings on Waving Flags and a choir on All In It. Indeed, the spot-on production even charmed the Mercury panel into awarding the LP an award nomination.

Do You Like Rock Music? Then get this album.*

Check out: No Lucifer
Preview / buy album from iTunes

5. Fighting with Wire – Man vs Monster

It's a medical fact that, every new and then, people need some stoopid, shouty rock. Like a piss in the morning, it's... well... necessary.

Enter Northern Ireland's Fighting With Wire. In Man vs Monster, they've made 2008's finest all-out indie rock album. Fronted by Jetplane Landing (and part-time Seafood) man Cahir O'Doherty, their sound is nothing particularly new (think Reuben meets Lostprophets) yet this is an LP that has quality stamped throughout.

All killer, no filler as a Canadian punk-pop outfit once lied.

Check out: Cut The Transmission
Preview / buy album from iTunes

*Sorry.

Our top 5 singles of 2008

2009-01-06T22:37:00.008Z

Slightly late (and with the albums to follow even later - sorry! [EDIT: get 'em here]), here's Bands Only's top singles, 2008:

1. Kings Of Leon – Sex On Fire

Overplayed average pap, or the Followell's crowing moment to date? Bands Only falls firmly into the latter camp. The Kings have always seemed to excel at mid-paced rock n roll – see Knocked Up, The Bucket, On Call – but their 'amps to 11' efforts have always sounded a little too derivative to be truly outstanding.

That was - until Sex on Fire came along and blew (or rather burnt) them all away. Daft lyrics were sang with passion and the killer chorus was truly irresistible. Well done, chaps.

Get it from iTunes

2. Oasis – The Shock Of The Lightening

Before it's first airplay, Oasis teased us with the intro to their new song as part of a YouTube video, and the signs were good. The tempo was up, the guitars were loud and the animated video suggested a more playful approach by the band.

On full hearing, 'The Shock Of The Lightening' continued to impress - with Liam's vocals at their most snarling and a drum-fill the likes of which we've rarely seen from the boys from Burnage.

Although the album was (somewhat expectedly) patchy, this was a urgent, driving rocker and a reminder that Oasis, like Man City, are still a force to be reckoned with on their day.

Get it from iTunes

3. Coldplay – Viva La Vida

And the Bands Only award for Most Interesting Commercial Rock Hit goes to Chris “Bono's Apprentice” Martin, and his band of hirsute chums.

There were ringing bells, stop-start strings and “wo-wo-woahs” that magnificently soared – and in so doing, a truly spectacular song became firmly lodged in the nation's collective psyche.

So good it got the silhouette treatment, appearing in an iTunes ad weeks before its release.

Get it from iTunes

4. Biffy Clyro – Who's Got A Match?

If you're going to nick a song, make it an awesome one. In the case of Who's Got a Match?, aping QOTSA's No One Knows was a smart move. In essence, this was a bouncy pop song delivered via the medium of heavy guitar, and was all done in under two and a half minutes.

New track Mountains simply didn't match much of 2007's Puzzle but the Biffy still make in on the infectiousness of the “I'm a fire and I'll burn burn burn tonight” chorus.

Get it from iTunes

5. Radiohead – Jigsaw Falling Into Place

Even though you could download the album for free, it was worth bunging in a couple of quid just for this track alone. All guitars and atmospheric backing tracks, building up from a quiet beginning to a frenzied finish, it's exactly what we've come to expect from the 'head – if that's possible.

Awesome video too. The musical landscape really is a much more vivid place with the Oxford quintet around.

Get it from iTunes

So there you have it. And although I realise 4 of the 5 bands are absolutely massive, I says it as I hears it and I truly haven't heard better guitar band songs this year. Here's to 2009, and let's hope the single survives than it's spiritual home, Woolies. RIP.

Bands Only on last.fm

2008-12-29T15:02:00.005Z

If you don't know about the excellent last.fm then I expect you have no interest in music and therefore, are not reading this. Hmm.

However, for the rest of us, this social networking-meets-iTunes site is nothing short of phenomenal. I've therefore set up a dedicated Bands Only user so you can see what's been tickling my aural fancy recently. Don't be shy, come say hello.

It lives! Mwhahahaha, etc

2008-12-19T17:11:00.001Z

Hello world!

Whilst Nirvana's You Know You're Right was arguably the greatest undiscovered gem since Delboy's pocket watch, you've possibly just stumbled upon its successor- The Bands Only Blog. This is just a quick post to introduce what this imaginatively-titled blog will be about.

Essentially it's my outlet for all the stuff that doesn't fit into the website's formal structure. So when I write a traditional review it'll go on the website. However my off-the-record ramblings will go, er, on the record right here.

I'll also be recording my thoughts on webby stuff and announcing updates and new features on the site.

Your comments will of course be more than welcome.

For now though, and in true Noddy Holder style, IT'S CHRISTMAS, so from Bands Only, have a wonderful festive season.