How to jump from politics to photography in one accidental step

There aren’t many politics students who leave university and walk into their own photography business by accident, but Jonathan Tyrell is a prime example of how a hobby can be turned into a money making job. The 26 year old graduated from University of Sheffield in 2007 with a Politics degree, but soon realised he was chasing the wrong dream.

He says: “I’m a big believer in going for your dream and this encouraged me to step out, so if you have something you love doing just go for it. My main belief in life is that God made everyone an individual and that there is stuff we all like doing in our heart and things that people are passionate about.

Sometimes you can get pushed in the wrong direction with what you think you should do, rather than what you want to do.”

Jonathan has been all over the world with his trusty SLR cameras and his portfolio shows work from many different cities, including Paris, Rome, Berlin, Prague, Strasbourg, San Francisco and Sheffield.

But now he is selling his work and has just started up his own full time business. His main project this year is selling Christmas gifts that range from £5-£25, which he says is for the student market. He even delivers the picture gifts directly to people in Sheffield but can send some through the post without the glass.
People with a bit more cash can buy his more expensive work and one of his pieces was sold for £185.

“Cities is my main subject area. I started taking pictures for A-level and GCSE art and did artistic environments that people see and are familiar with, but can look different.
I literally walk round the streets and think ‘that looks good’ and will take a photo. The things that I think look good are reflections, light, vibrant colours and silhouettes.”

Taking photographs of reflections isn’t always a good idea if someone is behind the window though and Jonathan has a few anecdotes to tell.

“I’ve had taxi drivers shout at me before asking me why I’m taking a picture of them when I’m just taking a picture of the reflection. Sometimes I feel like an idiot as well when I’m stood there taking a picture of a window”

His main passions and inspirations are making the familiar look unfamiliar, using colour and light and noticing hidden things that most passers-by wouldn’t, like reflections.

Proving that we all have a natural talent for something Jonathan explains how some of his best work was actually taken by accident.

“There’s one picture that a lot of people seem to like. I was in St Peters church in Rome and was focussing on the light coming through the window. When I looked back through the film I captured two people who I think were crossing each other and it looked like a couple were kissing or something in the middle of the light.”




Jonathan started taking photos as a side project but realised he wanted to do it full time when he took a gap year after University and travelled to various cities with his camera. Most of his photos were took when he went on an inter rail trip for his gap year.

He explains: “If there are certain pictures that I want I will make certain trips. I wanted to go to Rome because I knew there would be good stuff. Next I want to go to Bristol, as that’s where I grew up, and I’d like to give Sheffield more justice and take more pictures there.

Australia would be cool as well and I’d like to go back to Barcelona. I went when I was younger and it was the most amazing trip and I don’t have any photographs of the place.”

Once he started to build up his portfolio he began doing exhibitions in Bristol and Sheffield to show off his work. The first exhibition was at an arts centre in Bristol during his A-levels and he sold his first ever picture in a bar in Bristol when he was just 18 years old.



It is still a learning curve for the former politics student though and he explains that he learns new things after every exhibition such as how to set up his work in the most appealing way.

The photographer has lots of plans for the future including meeting up with different department stores such as John Lewis and Ikea where he hopes to be able to get a contract to sell his work. It looks like we may be seeing a lot more of Jonathan Tyrell’s work around the country.

He says: “There’s potential to bring social justice and campaigning areas into my work. I’d like to do big eye catching pieces of artwork with social justice issues in them but that may be a few years away. Also I wouldn’t be opposed to going down the ‘photos that changed the world’ route.”

He has also been involved in urban generator projects and has taken photographs of urban environment areas that people can recognise and makes them look different.

Over Christmas Jonathan will be taking his work to schools and he will also visit the student village of University of Sheffield so students can get his work too, as well as other schools and universities around the country.

You can find his work on his Facebook group: J Tyrell Photography Christmas Gifts 09 and on his website: www.jt-photography.co.uk

Alberta Cross album review

Alberta Cross- Broken Side of time
released September 21 2009



Broken side of time is the debut album from alternative rockers Alberta Cross, and on first listen it’s a strong and striking start to the band’s potential. The New York 5-piece used Nick Cave and Leonard Cohen as inspiration for the sombre tones, and elements of The Verve can be heard in the celebratory moments of the album.

‘Song3threeblues’ is a warm opening with unique vocals that beg you to listen to them with a guitar melody that conveys emotion in a few chords.

‘ATX’ is much more uplifting, with its Primal Scream homage to indie rock swagger and a Stone Roses guitar feel. But that’s enough comparisons. The band may show signs of some great bands but still manage to pull off a sound to call their own.
Tracks like ‘Taking Control’ are more subtle with its attention grabbing darkness and successfully combines exultant music with dark undertones, while ‘Ghost of the city’ has an acoustic start that emerges with more instrumentation with a good range of depth and tempo.

‘Old Man Chicago’ is the highlight for Petter Stakee’s talented vocal range and acts as the soothing ballad of the album and ‘The Thief and The Heartbreaker’ is their catchier song which repeats ‘you’re my heartbreaker, you’re my heartbreak’ and the soul of the band.

Vocalist Petter Stakee sums up the album perfectly and explains that Broken Side Of Time ‘bears the influence of years of frustration logged in the shadow of Manhattan’. But it seems to fit within the lives of anyone who has gone through dark times and has come through with a smile on their face. It’s not a depressing album, it just pours out life and soul with true honesty and gives you a short break from reality.

This week's music news

The hardcore-mathrockers Dillinger Escape Plan will be releasing their 4th album Option Paralysis on March 23, 2010 which coincides with their 10 year relationship with Relapse Records.

The band has been through all sorts of ups and downs since 1999. Bassist Adam Doll was paralysed from a car crash during the 1st album, vocalist Dimitri Minakakis left the band after the 2nd album, guitarist Benoit couldn't play anymore due to nerve damage in his hand, and if all that wasn't enough, guitarist Weinman briefly left the band and Chris Penine left the band for Coheed and Cambria and so Dillinger Escape Plan had no drummer just before the 3rd album release.

But despite all this Faith No More's Mike Patton asked them to come on tour with his project Mr Bungle and was the vocalist for the band for Irony Is A Dead scene EP.

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There will be another Alkaline Trio album before Matt Skiba can release his solo record. Their 7th album will be released through their own label, Heart and Skull, with Epitaph Records and should be out in February, 2010

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Trash Talk are famous for their 30 second hardcore whirlwinds and their album Eyes and Nines is currently being mixed for a 2010 release. Fans of the band include Alexisonfire and they are about to go on tour with British punk-rockers, Gallows.

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New York City's Interpol are going back to their roots for the 4th album. The album, due out early 2010, is expected to sound more like their 2002 released debut, Turn On The Bright Lights.

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Arctic Monkeys may be currently on their UK arena tour but apparently they're already thinking about the next album. Drummer Matt Helders told BBC 6 music that the band are talking about the 4th album. They plan to take time off after the tour to work on the new material

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Progressive Metal band Mastodon have announced tour dates for 2010.

February
16 Wolverhampton Wulfrun Hall
17 Bristol, Academy
19 Glasgow, Barrowland
20 Manchester, Academy
21 Newcastle, Academy
23 Nottingham, Rock City
24 London, Roundhouse

Their 4th album, Crack The Skye, came out in March this year and on November 4th the band released their 2nd EP, Oblivion, which is only available in digital formats.

The Slits interview

The Slits began their musical adventures at the pinnacle time of punk,supporting Buzzcocks and The Clash in 1977. Their debut Cut was released in 1979 with reggae rhythms and a sense of independent mishief that evolved in an experiemental sound. The band broke up in 1982 and made their comeback with a new lineup in 2005. On 6th November 2009, The Slits released their first full length album in 25 years.



Kristi- Can you just introduce yourself? Hi, I’m Ari and I sing sometimes when I can
Hi I’m Anna and I play the drums, or I attempt to
Hello I’m Holly and I sing and pretend to play the keyboard
My name is Michelle and I play guitar, I actually play it.
My name is Tessa and I play the bass as well as I can

Kristi- How has the touring been going so far then?
Anna-Good
Holly-Good
Ari-Wicked
Tessa-Really good
Anna- Thanks to the snazzy tour bus that we are in right now

Kristi- Now I know you’ve been together as the current Slits line up for a few years now, but why did you want to get The Slits back on to the road?

Tessa- because we had unfinished business and we just wanna keep going til we drop dead basically

Kristi- where did you all meet?
Holly- I dunno I have no idea
Ari- its complicated
Tessa- its a long story
Anna- It was cosmic, innit
Tessa- it was meant to be
Holly- it was in the sky

Kristi- What shows have you got planned for the next few months?
Tessa- we might be supporting The Cribs in the next couple of months
Holly- Maybe. It’s not hugely official, I dunno.

Kristi- So it’s the first album release in 25 years, it’s been a long time, so what can we expect from this album?
Ari- same thing you expected for the last album, same thing.
Tessa- it’s got a lot of variety on it, there’s no particular style. I call it schizophrenic.
Ari- I wouldn’t say it was schizophrenic at all.
Tessa- well you don’t understand my description of it, because what I’m saying is it has a lot of different characters. Each song is completely different, it’s not like one style of music you couldn’t classify the album as any one style of music. It’s diverse.
Anna- It’s eclectic

Kristi- off the top of your head what music do you all listen to?
Anna- right now I’m listening to Neil Young
Tessa- I’m listening to Ari’s dancehall CDs from Jamaica cuz they’re new and exciting

Kristi- Do you think people still class you as punk band?
Ari- I don’t think we’ve ever been classed as a punk band. Only in ’77, but by the time we had the Cut album people didn’t relate to us as punk at all. Do we have to have a label? Because people insist on a label I keep saying punk, reggae, punk reggae, punky-reggae but really it’s Slits isn’t it. That’s what Tessa is trying to say, it’s a totally Slits sound I think.
Tessa- but it obviously has it’s punk elements as that’s our roots of where we came from, well one of our roots.

Kristi- what do you miss the most about the 70s when you were in a band at that time?
Ari- it’s a bit like asking what do you miss about ex boyfriend. I try not to miss anything cuz if you live for missing then you won’t move on and you won’t be excited about anything in life anymore but having said that you miss age.
Tessa- having more energy, that’s what I miss but I’m working on my energy.

Kristi- So Ari, as you go to Jamaica a lot do you get a lot of music inspiration from there?
Ari- I’m more bombarded than influenced. That’s why I try to not listen to any music at all because I’m constantly bombarded.

Kristi- you probably get asked this quite a lot, but is your Mum still married to John Lydon?
Ari- I dunno why people ask these things because it’s none of my business

Kristi- Didn’t Joe Strummer teach you to play guitar?
Ari- I can’t play, it’s just that he showed me some chords, my first chords. Joe Strummer was one of the people that was in my peers, my colleagues, but like a brother right. It’s just that he was hanging around a lot and the time and then had his guitar on him all the time so he didn’t talk much he was really quiet, so he just always played and showed me some chords.

Kristi- can you talk about some of the people that used to come in and out of your home?
Ari- Well Nora my mother she was really the manager for The Slits at the beginning. She helped a lot with Palmolive’s drums and equipment and helped getting gigs and helping a lot like that cuz she was already in promotion and I grew up in music and with musicians and so just every musician was there, every musician you could think of was hanging around us.
Nora came in at that time because we were already in the music.

Kristi- Have you found success difficult being females?
Tessa- what success? (laughs) We’ve never had any success, that’s why we’re back.

Kristi- well don’t you think women are finding it easier to get recognition now, than they did in the 70s?

Tessa- Our support group is very good, Wet Dog there’s a lot of potential in them.
Ari- there’s a lot of girl groups that are live, in America specifically there’s a lot of great girl groups, but they don’t get any recognition.
Anna- The novelty of a girl band overshadows it and that sucks
Tessa- And people are more ready to criticise your playing when you’re a girl, even if you can play perfectly well.

Kristi- In the early days you said you liked to shock people, can the same be said or has this changed?
Ari- We shock people, we never try to. We just do. It’s just the reality, it’s not even fun really.

Kristi- What’s a typical Slits gig like then?
Anna- there’s always a chance element that I think makes it quite special, I don’t think we just play a set list. We really feed off the crowd, like I said there’s always a bit of a random element that will always be different but there’s certainly a lot of interesting interaction.
Tessa- There’s always a lot of humour, sauciness, seriousness, unpredictability. Its’ not like a slick over produced show each gig is different, totally different.

Kristi- What means the most to you in this band? Good record sales, people coming to your gig or people just hearing you. What makes the most to you?
Tessa- as many people hearing our music all over the world.
Holly- it is always nice when people are at our gigs too.
Tessa- sometimes they’re not very well promoted.
Anna- but I think one of the greatest things about playing a show is just people who are really in awe, you know just really excited, that makes it worthwhile. I wouldn’t care if a huge building was sold out and everyone was just not really into it. It’s better when you find a few people who are really really happy.
Tessa- Like in Cardiff this couple were just so excited and the guy just couldn’t stop talking and saying he felt so uplifted. That’s what music should be, feeling so happy like it will last for days. That’s the best reaction, that’s what you want, you want to make people feel happy and feel good.
Ari- I don’t like it when there’s people who really want to come to a show and can’t because they can’t afford it. There was one show with a group of young girls outside who really wanted to come to the gig so I let them in for free, because I knew they really wanted to come and couldn’t.

Kristi- so when you’ve come off stage how do you know it’s been a good gig?
Tessa- people coming up and talking to us, or you just get the feeling when you’re on stage
Anna- nobody has a concussion.

Kristi- Do you get many people coming up to you saying you have inspired them at all?
Ari- It’s really nice when girls come up to you and say: “We started a group because of you guys.” People are happy to use us as an influence to create their own creativity, that’s the most fulfilling thing when you hear something like that.

Kristi- Which bands have been the best to tour with?
Tessa- Wetdog, demonstrations...

Kristi- where is your biggest fan base at the minute?
Tessa- America at the moment
Anna- but Australia was a hige response and japan huge
Tessa- can’t really say one
Anna- maybe not Europe
Tessa- we haven’t really played Europe that’s why.

Kristi- Are you planning to release another album after this?
Tessa- I think we should start thinking about the next one pretty soon.
Anna- Well we have a 10 album deal
Everyone laughs
Tessa- I think we should just keep constantly writing and be ready for the next one.

Kristi- what do you think to people downloading your music?
Tessa- it’s good and bad.
Anna- I am personally kinda fed up with people saying the music industry is doing bad because we can get everything for free because I think it is the most amazing promotion tool. The music applications, how you can put music on your phone and Ipod, I really think it’s totally good for the industry.
Ari- then we should have used it for this tour more. I heard there was nothing around. The dates are only on our myspace but they should be all over the place with more blogging.

Kristi- what are your favourite songs on the album?
Tessa- its constantly changing.
Anna- Well I loved Trapped Animal.
Holly- yeah me too
Anna- and it happens to be the title of the album.
Ari- I like songs that can get to the modern people. Holly and Anna think more open minded but I’m talking regular modern people, like in Jamaica Pay rent is being played more cuz it has a club feel.

Kristi- Do you want younger people to be listening to this album then?
Ari- yeah!
Tessa- our audience is a mixture of ages when we play live, it’s a total mixture which is great.

The Skints Interview

The Skints are a reggae-punk band from East London who are currently on their first headline tour to promote their debut album Live.Breate.Build.Believe. It was released on November 9th through Sonic Boom Six's record label Rebel Alliance Recordings and brings in a diverse mix of ska, reggae punk with politically inspired honest lyrics.

Jamie: Hi my name’s Jamie, I’m from The Skints and I play drums and I sing.
Josh: I’m Josh I play guitar and sing.
John: I’m john, I play bass.
Josh: And that’s Marcia and she plays the organ, the flute and she sings and she plays the melodica.


Did you have to give up anything to be in the band at all?
Josh- A couple of us were gunna go to Uni or whatever and obviously work is very hard when you’re in a band so work doesn’t really happen so yeah obviously you give up having a regular income at home and stuff but its kinda like the best job in the world you don’t make money out of

Do you feel like you’re getting a bit more recognition and respect now?
Josh- I think sort of through the really hard work and touring we’ve done this year I think it’s really sort of paid off. I’d definitely like to think there’s more people aware of our band and you know the fact that this is our first headline tour and having people coming out is really cool for us.

In a way do you not think it’s about time people are getting to know you cuz you gigged in London for ages for free so in a way do you think it’s about time?

Josh- Well I mean you know there’s so many bands in the world let alone this country that are sort of trying to do their thing so to be seen amongst that as a band that people will actually bother to part with their nights out, part with their money and to be a part of is something really cool and obviously it’s still very humbling to have people who wanna buy our record and come to a shows and things like that

And your album has just come out, so how does it feel for that to finally be out for everyone?
John- Brilliant
It’s an amazing feeling to finally have something that you can access now and just going down to a shop
Josh- You know all of us love music and we all have an extensive music collection and like I’ve always from when I was really young id go and buy a new punk record and feel like this is wicked and to actually be able to hold your album and listen to it, well I don’t really listen to my own album (laughs) but you know to have an album amongst us is a very very cool feeling

How was it making the album then cuz it didn’t take you very long did it?

John- No it took us about 5 days we did it at Pete Miles studio in Devon
Josh- We did like 5 days of recording it and went back and did a day cuz we had a month where we were on tours and stuff and so we sat on it and listened back and we went and did a day mixing which was really cool but yeah you know we sort of we were quite ready it’s not like we had to do any creating or anything we had the album ready to go and we sort of worked out fingers to the bone for 5 days straight and we were really happy for that to come out

Is there any story behind the title at all?

Josh- Live breathe build believe it’s a lyric on one of the songs called 'ya know' and it pretty much means like you said earlier that this band has pretty much given up everything to do this you know we built this thing and we believe in it and every single day it’s like you know you go and tour and you’re just your band in your van and it pretty much encompasses your life but in a very positive way.

And you bought it out with sonic boom six’s record label, how did that come about?
Josh- We did like a few support shows with sonic boom six and we sorta got like quite matey with them and they sort of got us onto a couple of shows and it was around February when the random hand album came out with rebel alliance we played the release gig with them up in Leeds and barney was like ‘oh you know are you lot looking to do an album this year?’ and we said yeah definitely and he said okay can we put it out and I thought like ‘what do you mean put it out?’ it was the most crazy thing cuz sonic boom six are like UK punk wise you know and pretty much are running it when we were first starting out so for like a while later for them to ask us to be on their label!




What do you think to illegal downloading? Being a fairly small band does it affect you?

Josh- It’s like a wheel it’s never gunna stop rolling like the argument of the download thing I think for a band like us people that buy our album a) you’ve got everything there you’ve got like the artwork and the CD and everything and you got the CD but at the same time we like people to think that they are really helping us out cuz they are they’re helping us eat, put fuel in our van and to get to the next show, pretty much but as far as downloading goes I aint gunna lie I’ve downloaded albums before and I’ve bought albums before I would rather if someone downloads our album and gives it to their mates and a load of people come down to see us off the strength of that, I think that’s better than just like one person buying it and never coming out so there’s up and downs you know I personally think if people can afford it like buy our album that’s amazing but you know you don’t necessarily gotta have money to have music that you wanna listen to

Now I’m just gunna read out some lyrics from your album and I just want you to talk about them: I can count on both hands the bands that I think are worth a damn’ what made you write that?

Josh- Its probably more than both hands to be honest I was having a bit of an angry day when I wrote that song just like I think British music I think it’s definitely still in recession but for a while the UK punk scene you know it might be a bit of a controversial statement but it kinda died on its arse as far as quality goes, for me anyway and it just got to a point, there was obviously like 2-3 bands that were really cool and we were supposed to be playing shows in the scene and wasn’t really feeling a lot of the bands, don’t get me wrong there are some brilliant bands, more than both hands can count, it’s more of a metaphor but yeah just sort of like losing faith in something that you are musically a part of is a bit depressing.


So it’s your first headline tour as well, how is that as opposed to just being a support band, how’s it going?

Josh- I think you know, first night it was absolutely terrifying I mean obviously we’ve done quite a few headline gigs but not nearly as many as we’ve done supports, but as the headline tour you sort of forget, it sort of becomes more it’s more like one channelled, it sounds kinda selfish but it becomes a bit more about you, like when you’re a support band you’re effectively tagging the other band, which is really cool cuz like we’ve toured with bands like The Slackers, and The Aggrolites and Sonic Boom Six and we’ve been doing that for years and they just know their trade so well and we’ve been lucky enough to be able to learn things from that so doing a headline tour it’s a) a fear of like oh my god are people actually gunna come out and b) it’s like a fear of oh my god we’ve gotta like play for an hour and are supposed to be the best band at the end of the night and whatever so its kinda like exciting but scary at the same time as well.

Do you feel a bit under pressure at all?

Josh- Not so much pressure, I think like when we first got told that we were going to be doing a headline tour with the album, like 6/7 months ago, I personally didn’t think we were ready but I think you know we’ve worked really hard this year

Due to some of your lyrics do you think it’s fair for people to call you a political band?

Josh- I'd never call us a political band. I mean everything technically if you wanna get all anal about it is political but I wouldn’t say we were a political band you know all our lyrics are a personal thoughts and feelings and if that’s taken as politics then fair enough but it’s not intentional like right were gunna go out and smash the system, even though lyrically one of might be saying that, I mean it’s not really like we’re here to blow up parliament or anything. I wouldn’t call us a political band but we are very politically minded
Marcia- So it will come out in the music a little bit
So off the top of your head what bands are you all listening to at the minute?
Josh- To be brutally honest I haven’t been listening to too much stuff of this genre I’ve been listening to quite a bit of grime and dub step recently, but I’m really looking forward to the new jimmy the squirrel album which I’m sure most Nottingham people are aware of their abilities and I’m really looking forward to hearing some new mouthwash and new clay pigeon as well

And just to finish off have you got anything to say to your fans that have been supporting you at all?

Josh- Thank you very much fans that have been supporting us at all(laughs) we really appreciate people coming to our shows and buying our record so let’s just keep partying like its 1999!

Introducing...I Only Date Models

Nottingham band claim they will be kings of the festival circuit within five years.

Sammy Ault, Michael Meadows, Timmy Bollons and Thomas Ford met at Nottingham Trent University where they realised they could write serious music together.

I Only Date Models filled up the Bodega Social Club in the summer and say they would give up 'their dignity and self respect to get signed'.

Music influences
Drummer Tom Ford, says: "We enjoy anything from old school hip-hop to metal and even a bit of Phil Collins.

"Although we do not consciously attempt to emulate anyone else, our influences must have some bearing on our sound."

The band say they've been listening to minimal progressive French disco recently but if they had to choose one CD to rescue from a fire, it would be a Now That’s What I Call Music! compilation.

They do support the Nottingham music scene but say the local promoters could do a better job. Tom says:

"Nottingham has the potential to host some really good nights.

"However, a lot of big bands bring their own tour support and promoters are rather blasé about getting local bands on the bill. That has an adverse effect on the local scene."


I Only Date Models ideal night out

If they can't find a good local gig to go to, their ideal night out in Nottingham would consist of going to the Bodega Social Club, Coco Tang, the Stealth V Rescued club night and McDonalds.

Tom says that their best song is One Day (I Will Light Up Your Sky) but wishes the band could write catchy songs that last a lifetime like Happy Birthday and the Friends theme tune.

I Only Date Models will soon be in the studio to record two new tracks and are playing Nottingham’s Jack Wills Fresher tour in October 2009.

You can catch artists like I Only Date Models on The Beat. The Beat is BBC Radio Nottingham's official Introducing show.
You can listen to The Beat every Saturday night from 6.00pm until 10.00pm (103.8, 95.5fm, 1584am and DAB digital radio). If you miss it you can listen again on the BBC's iplayer

Does anyone care about Glassjaw being back?

This year we’ve gone all nostalgic and reunion crazy with all sorts of bands getting back together, from Pavement, Rage Against The Machine, Faith No More, Spandau Ballet and of course Take That. And for some reason our love for these bands somehow quadruples the second time round after merely existing with their extensive discography. But what about bands that were not so big the first time round?

Glassjaw are one of them and they’re back! At, um, Wembley Stadium. Not a bad start for a band that have been hiding away. The melodic experimental rockers will support Brand New but will them embark on a few headline dates themselves after.

So why should anyone care that they’re back? Well they might have only had 2 albums but the effect they had on music still lives. New York post-hardcore band Glassjaw were once deemed legends for the influence they had on underground music with just 2 albums. The riotous and intensity they delivered at gigs was also an eye-opener and they managed to get a cult fan base without having to over expose themselves. Now after a hiatus they’re back.

Some might say Glassjaw’s debut album Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Silence was one of the best albums of their generation when it was released in 2000.
Its powerful aggressiveness mixed with melody was a unique mix that Roadrunner records should have been proud to have on their roster, but actually they caused the band to hate the label. The band didn’t agree with how Roadrunner ran their business, and wanted to play way more gigs than they were allowed, so they left the label that they felt only cared about Slipknot.


Bassist Manuel Carrero was also kicked out of the band (who is now back with the new line up) and so a few changes took place. Soon the melodic experimental rockers began work on the follow up Worship And Tribute with Warner Bros.

It was a more mature and complex album than the debut bringing in all sorts of influences from Bad brains to Anthrax to The Cure. Key songs on Worship And Tribute were ‘cosmopolitan blood loss’ and ‘ape dos mil’ which showed just why they influenced bands like Finch and The Passion Pit.

The gigs started to come through thick and fast too, extensively touring the world until they decided on a hiatus in 2004, which gave front man Palumbo time to work on another project, Head Automatica.

Before this though, all the remaining members of Glassjaw were kicked out the band. Not exactly the most settled of bands! Palumbo soon engaged his interest of hip-hop and brit pop with the new project and out came songs like Beating Heart Baby. Most people assumed Glassjaw had split up and became Finch fans instead.

Over the years the band did things in dribs and drabs. A support act for Deftones, A B-side EP release and a few festival slots but nothing us UK fans could get majorly excited about.

Now, out of nowhere, they’re supporting Brand New, with a few headline gigs as well, so what does this mean for Glassjaw’s future? Is this just another one-off appearance until the next one in 5 years, or will there be a new album?
Well Glassjaw fans, it looks like the latter. Palumbo confirmed back in July that there would be an EP and album some time next year that would be the most aggressive Glassjaw have been to date. But do we really have room for Glassjaw in 2010?

We all need some aggressive passion with melodic/emotional experimentation in our lives, but if you don’t like it, at least try and spot the Mike Patton influences.

Biffy Clyro- Only Revolutions

Scottish rockers Biffy Clyro have managed to transform themselves from a cult band that sang dark melodic songs in 2002 with their debut Blackened Sky, to the mainstream UK rock gods who are at the pinnacle of their influential guitar career.

Having experimented with ridiculous lyrics and complex riffs and time signatures over the years, the success really started to come in 2007 after signing to 14th floor.
Radio play has accumulated more fans for Biffy and the release of Only Revolutions shows off their skill to remain true to the cult fans, as well as refreshingly bringing in a new direction.

You could say the band has been quite clever in music marketing as the album is already full of hits. ‘That Golden Rule’ and ‘Mountain’ are on it (both got in the top 10 of the UK charts) and the most recent ‘The Captain’, which got in the top 20.
Not bad for a band that sings about “hairy eyes being an obstruction” and “feathers flying if you shoot a bullet full of bubble gum”. Yes their lyrics are ridiculous, but this is what gives this band its quirks and there’s plenty more of them on Only Revolutions.

On ‘Born on a horse’ Simon Neil tells us “I pronounce it 'aluminium,' cos there's an I next to the U and M," and, "I've never had a lover who's my sister or my brother before” which quite simply doesn’t make sense but you’d be wrong if you thought all your attention will go on the lyrics.

Only revolutions has a sonic attack of strings and is the most tight and polished Biffy Clyro album to date. The orchestral charm on most of the tracks adds real depth to the melodic rock pop and anthemic songs that show the evolution of the band.

Tracks like ‘Bubbles’ and ‘cloud of stink’ are reminiscent of the original Biffy sound while ‘God and Satan’ and ‘Know your quarry’ are the emotional mellow tracks that show they do have a serious side with the most honest and heartfelt lyrics on the album.

It’s already been compared to Jimmy Eat World and Muse but regardless of comparisons Only Revolutions lives up to expectations and ticks all boxes. Hit filled, radio friendly, quirky, original, emotional and anthemic.




Biffy Clyro- That Golden Rule

Hockley Hustle 2009...

The Hockley Hustle is now in it's fourth year and has grown into Nottingham's largest live music event, with over 20 venues and 200 acts involved in this years festival. With hopes of rasing more than £20,000, the Hockley Hustle is part of Oxfam's 'Oxjam' line-up of music events and also raises money for local NSPCC causes.

Not only was LeftLion involved in the festival with taking care of things at the Broadway Cinema, but we also have two intrepid writers making their way around the various venues and here is what they saw...


Becky Syson - photo by Steve Rowe

After fuelling myself with an obligatory bacon cob from the ever-lovely Homemade Cafe, I headed to Lee Rosys Tea Room for coffee accompanied by music from Folkwit Records. I caught a charming set from Marc Block and the Breezes, who furnished the early afternoon crowd with warm, harmonica-filled folk with deliciously subtle dark undertones.

Whilst wandering down Pelham Street I was caught off guard outside Cape by the Nottingham School of Samba, an awesome community project who lit up the street with thumping rhythms and broad smiles. Any Hustlers suffering the after effects of Saturday night would have been well and truly shaken into a more lively state, and the group pulled a pleasingly large group of onlookers from the Hustle crowd and regular folks alike.

Down to the Pit and Pendulum, which was filled with the glorious post-rock vibes of Beyond This Point Are Monsters, as well as frankly more audience than it could comfortably handle. Reverb, crisp, complex guitar work and fleeting moments of discord abounded, with the boys from Derby building each song through constantly morphing shapes and sounds up to epic, crunching crescendos.

Still at the Pit, I managed to catch a glimpse of Alright The Captain! before having to scuttle off to pastures new. Having only just recovered from seeing them play a week or so ago, I was happy to be plunged into their enveloping math-rock, chock full of huge noises and complex structures, once again if only for a short while.



natalie duncan - photo by Rachel Williamson

Oh my, good grief and holy crap, what a sight was Shaws. Being a big fan of soulful singing sensation Nina Smith, I was excited that she was being showcased by the BBC Introducing.. stage - turns out I wasn't the only one. The crowd was so huge I barely had room to sip my beer and there were people desperately trying to cram their way in throughout her whole set. It was worth the big squeeze though as she was on sparkling form, with her pristine, porcelain vocals permeating through the chilled grooves of her full backing band. Definitely one to watch, and I have a feeling I'm going to be glad that I got to see her before she gets whisked away by a major label.

Nipping back down Pelham street I was drawn into the Pit and Pendulum once again by the ethereal, ambient sounds coming from Brighton lads Monsters Build Mean Robots. As well as marking a personal first for me - seeing two bands with monster-themed names who play epic post rock in the same afternoon, completely by accident too - they played an encapsulating set of slow-burning, steadily building numbers with heartfelt, tentative vocals and even managed a full-on audience singalong at the end.




Captain Dangerous at Shaws - photo by Steve Rowe

Back to Shaws to see Captain Dangerous who served up frantic indie rock laced with violins and keyboards, and who are some of the cheekiest chappies I've ever clapped eyes or ears on. With the charm and chaotic energy of your favourite 6th form band but the tightness and polished performance of accomplished professionals, they laid on a relentlessly fun and enjoyable set of poppy, rapturous yelp-rock tunes.

Without realising it my feet somehow found their way over to Dogma, because it appears that I am now utterly incapable of missing a set by Rebel Soul Collective. And thank goodness, because they were on the best form I've seen them as they bounced, thrashed and stomped the crowd every which way they pleased to their unique mix of soul, jazz, rock, electro and anything else they feel like chucking in to the mix. Everything clicked, the band looked ecstatic as did the crowd of manically dancing fans.



Alright the Captain - photo by Steve Rowe

After a sizeable break for my feet and ears I headed over to Broadway, where I was just able to catch the tail end of Ulysses Storm. By the time I got there the crowd was in an adoring frenzy as they pumped out intensely funky, bluesy numbers.

Having work the next day I decided that it might be an idea to call it a night, but as I made my final descent down Pelham Street I was caught again, this time by the fiery gypsy jazz sounds of Maniere Des Bohemians emanating from the Bodega Social, and was unable to continue my journey without one last stop. Having amassed an unbelievably riled up crowd they had the walls dripping with red hot fiddle playing, jaunty accordion sounds and had the audience almost literally swinging from the rafters. It was perfectly debauched sight with music to match, and a spectacular end to a ridiculously fun day and night.

Sarah Morrison




Tasty Morsels - photo by Steve Rowe

I made my first stop at Broadway to see some alternative folk from Timothy J Simpson, who played his acoustic songs to people relaxing with their afternoon coffees and Sunday dinners. His honest and heart felt lyrics created a feel-good atmosphere, and you can see that he has a genuine love for what he does. He grew up listening to punk bands like Dead Kennedys but his transition to subtlety and delicacy gives him a Willy Mason feel.

Next was Tayla Jade on the BBC Introducing stage at Shaws, who sang soulful R'n'B songs over guitar and keyboard, that come from the heart and molded by her own experiences. She engaged people with her controlled and confident voice clearly inspired by modern urban acts like Beyonce, and to prove it, even finished her set with a Beyonce cover.

I then went to see some atmospheric rock from The Amber Herd at Brownes, where the managed to fuse melodic guitar riffs with powerful vocals and lyrics.

Next was Rugosa Nevada from Derby, who have had the most requests on BBC Nottingham’s The Beat in recent times, proving that indie rock mixed with a cheeky charm can pay off. They have a distinct tight sound that stands out from the rest of the indie dribble that tends to come and go.

Liam O Kane was a personal highlight at the Old Angel playing acoustic ska with songs with light-hearted subjects like Taxi Man and Post Man. Liam is from ska band Jimmy The Squirrel and was joined by the bassist and drummer to play tracks that got everyone ‘skanking’ on the dance floor, and singing along to his simple yet powerful chilled out songs.



photo by Rachel Williamson


Breadchasers create unity with their political reggae-ska tunes and features a couple of familiar faces, Gaz who manages The Maze and the ex-Alright The Captain drummer. They address serious issues with songs like No-one Believes, but they do it in a fun way with ska shouts and skanking galore. The Scottish sax player completes the band, entertaining the crowd with his love for drinking!

Resolution 242 tonight showed why they have been featured on Radio 1’s Punk Show. Without getting too much on their 'high horse', they make people aware of injustice in the world and issues such as animal rights through their punk influenced reggae music. Singer Perkie has genuine passion for what the band stands for and their song Shotgun, with an early RX- Bandits feel, is a gem.

Girlfixer are an aggressive girl fronted punk band with attitude that speaks volumes through their music. Natalie’s growling vocals is the driving force for the The Distillers/Bronx influenced punk rock creating a mini mosh-pit at Old Angel. Songs like Blackout and Addict show why bands like Anti-Nowhere League and Random Hand want to share a stage with them.

Kristi Genovese

Interview with Wade from Alexisonfire...

Canadian post-hardcore band Alexisonfire are back in the UK again on the Eastpak tour with Anti-Flag, Ghost Of A Thousand and Four Year Strong and released their 4th album Old Crows/ Young Cardinals in the summer. I spoke to Wade (the founding member of the band) about illegal downloading, bands they like and Leeds and Reading festival.

So, you're back in the UK again what do you think to your UK fans compared to fans back at home?


Um, I dunno it's always been really good for us over here. The first time we came over we had no idea if our CD was out over here or if anyone was gunna come to our shows so it was kinda like really surprising. Its just grown and grown and it feels a lot like we're over here so much it definitely feels great to tour over here and we've got a lot of friends. It seems somewhat familiar cuz we've been here so much, yeah we always love coming over here.



And this summer you just released your 4th album. Was there any concept idea behind Old/ Crows Young Cardinals?


No there's no grand theme, there's no grand design, I think its just a collection of songs of where we're at with everything and where we're at with music and in life and everything goes into it from the time you take to finishing and recording the last record to the time it takes to do that next one. So there's some recurring themes in it but its no rock opera.



This time around Alexisonfire co-produced the album why is this something you wanted to do?


I mean its something we've always done its not like we've worked with another producer we've used the same guy. He definitely puts his two cents up its not like we just had over our songs to somebody so its always been that way.



You've worked with Julius Butty for most albums. What makes him a good producer that you keep working with him?


He's got a lot of tact and I think he just gets the best out of us I believe and he has some great ideas and he himself is a musician so he doesn't look at everything so clinically. He likes the stuff we like and has a good ear for things and us working with him it feels like he's another part of the band and I don't think there's any reason to not record records with him.



I know from the different albums your sound has changed a lot why did you want to change the sound from the 1st album?


I think the first album is just us 5 guys playing together for the first time and its not like some sound we conceived and not something we were really trying to go for its just the way the band sounded when we started practising. The more you play with people the more focussed it gets and you kind of strive towards something. I'm more stoked with how the band sounds today then I've ever been.



How would you describe that sound then?


I dunno, I think its safe to say we're a screamo band or a post hardcore band and screamo is definitely a dirty word these days but I think the way we look at it is it's the stuff that we came from, that kinda stuff we were trying to emulate when we first started was something that meant a lot to us and it wasn't like heavy metal.



So what bands do you listen to at the minute?


Ive been listening to Trash Talk a lot lately I really like that band. The new converge is really good. I'm almost listening to a lot of heavy music right now. Trap Them, yeah all kind of trashy hardcore stuff and I've been listening to this country band called the Avant Brothers, I guess that's the music I'm falling asleep to.



So apart from the country that's quite a lot of hardcore so what does hardcore mean to you?


Usually it means I have a pretty big distaste for it just recently like I've been finding out about some newer hardcore bands I think are actually worth while and usually they're pretty few and far between so its something I very rarely listen to at home and maybe cuz we've been on tour.


As you mentioned earlier when you first came to the UK you wasn't sure how people would take you but now you've had mainstream success did you ever expect or want that?


I think we're not a band with a lot of preconceived ideas of what we are and we're not pushing the genre or trying to keep it in basements or keep it in halls. We write music and you wanna get it out to people and I think when we started the band, there wasn't the idea of us playing like bands that sounds like they should be in large venues but when that first started happening it was very odd.

All the faces changed in the audience but yeah I think its great, its awesome I love it. I dunno if I ever would have expected it but I think its great to be able to play confrontational music to that many people.



You played Leeds and Reading festival twice in a day this year, whose idea was that?


I know a couple of bands have done it before Dropkick Murphys did it when we were over there once and we thought that was awesome and then I think I may have bought it up and they were into it. It was really fun I mean by the last show, the second show at Leeds, I was almost ready to fall over I was just completely out of it but it was fun, being out of its really good.



So what do you do to get ready for a show?


Not much I try and warm up my voice which I probably don't know how to do properly. I do some stretches that I think is more of a mental thing that I've been doing for years and probably doesn't stretch anything, and we do some weird chant thing that our bass player does before we go on stage, its always changing.



There's always an opinion on illegal downloading so how does Alexisonfire feel about this?


I think it's a great I do it too. I think it's a very positive way to find out about music and I definitely use it in that way and I collect vinyl and I just don't wanna be bothered to tape it on to a CD then turn it in an mp3 and upload it on my computer.

I usually download the records that I buy on vinyl but I think there's a lot of bands I wouldn't have found out about if I hadn't of done that and I mean vice versa for us it works that way. The first time we toured the states our record wasn't out there and people were coming to our shows because they found out about us online so I don't care.

The music industry is a big sinking ship where labels are trying to grab money and there's such an unfair portion of how bands get paid off record sales anyway you don't make money off selling CDs even if you sells tons of them. So download our record, come see us play live, that's the important bit



And when you do finally have a day off away from the band what do you do?


We usually end up going to a show, the first day we got here a bunch of people went to see Bat For Lashes and then I think we might go see The Cribs. With Johnny Marr in the band I'm pretty stoked.

My top 5 favourite songs this week...

Mariachi El Bronx- Cell Mates

The side project of The Bronx is eloquently honest and this song has a celabratory tone with it's strings and brass typical of mariachi Mexican music. The hardcore band have opted for a subtle and sweet sound with heart felt lyrics "honestly, will you wait for me. Little world promise me one day I'll be free" Go on and get some mexican culture in your lives!



Alexisonfire- Sons Of Privilege

Post-Hardcore canadians Alexisonfire return with a melodic-screamo song that waves goodbye to the sound of the first self-titled album but welcomes a band who have evolved and matured with song structure and instrumentation.
The thought-provoking lyrics "America, Grin and bare the resentment of the world,
With all your ugliness and arrogant self-worth, Desperate to grease the gears of the hideous machine, The swine, they writhe and praise the infallible regime" are complimented with Dallas Green's strong talented vocals.





Devil Wears Prada- Still Fly

"What's up fresh, it's our turn baby." Metal-core Devil Wears Prada cover hip-hop act Big Tymers and pretty much turn it into a different song making hip hop and metal a perfect combo. It's off last year's Punk Goes Crunk compilation and it's a must hear to see how metal can walk all over hip hop.




Brand New-Vices

If you're stuck in the Deja Entendu days then you need to hear Brand New's new album Daisy, and this track opens it up giving you something you won't expect. The first 1 min: 25 seconds might make you think what the hell has happened to Jesse Lacey's voice but don't worry it's a woman singing falsetto beautifully which Jesse rips apart with his screaming and aggressive vocals. It'll wake you up and make you wonder what happened to 'The Quiet Things That Noone Knows' but then this is the same guy who wrote 'Seventy Times Seven' so I ain't too surprised!



Spinerette- All Babes Are Wolves

Brody Dalle, formerly of The Distillers, is back with a more mature yet still sexy song that still slips in her growly voice but is much more radio-friendly than her 'Sing Sing Death House' days. I guess marrying Josh Homme can make song writing (and life) a lot sweeter. But with lyrics like "I would die for you, I will never stray, I would die for you, I will never leave" looks like a more vulnerable and emotional Brody is on her hands!

Do you need money to make a good music video?

So Arctic Monkeys have just made their music video for Cornerstone and it will either make you chuckle for its indifference and irony or make you question if they spent a bit too much money on getting Josh Homme to produce and record their 3rd album in a desert, but whatever you think of it somehow I don't see it winning any video awards. Maybe the point they are trying to make?



Here's another video that clearly didn't leave a hole in Conor Oberst' back pocket.



But is the end result really worth it when artists DO spend millions on a music video? Take a look at the top 3 most expensive music videos ever made...


1) Michael and Janet Jackson- Scream (cost $7,000,000)



2)Madonna- Die Another Day (cost $6,100,000)



3)Madonna- Express yourself (cost $5,000,000)




It ain't really a surprise that the richest King and Queen of pop had the most money to create a few minutes of a visual experience but I must say that neither are they the most inspiring or memorable music videos I've ever seen.

Alex Turner definitley hasn't made a masterpiece here and it will cause people to mock their budget but at least it's one I'll remember and one that proves that you don't have to have a stupidly big budget to create an impact.

What's one of your favourite music videos and how much did it cost to make?

Megadeth- Endgame Review

The pioneers of thrash metal are back with the album fans have been patiently waiting for. Endgame is Megadeth at their best; full of epic shredding solos, dominant bass-lines and precise ear-pounding drumming. It also sees the debut of new guitarist Chris Broderick, making a match made in metal heaven with Dave Mustaine’s vigorously rousing riffs.

When Mustaine was sacked from Metallica back in 1983, after being the lead guitarist for two years, he said: "After getting fired from Metallica, all I remember is that I wanted blood. Theirs. I wanted to be faster and heavier than them".

With 11 released albums, 6 Platinum albums, and 7 Grammys for Best Metal Band, Megadeth dragged the bull by its horns through Metallica’s dirt and proved that Mustaine could get by just fine without Lars and Co.

Endgame is Megadeths 12th release and still manages to sound as fresh and inspiring as the gems they released in the 90s.

The album’s proficient introduction Dialetic Chaos is an epic instrumental that shows the skilled partnership of Broderick and Mustaine that was only ever seen with former guitarist David Ellefson who left the band in 2002. The track launches straight into This Day We Fight! with aggression and speed that gives Iron Maiden a run for their money with Mustaine’s infamous growling vocals.
The next track 44 minutes starts with a cop radio reporting a crime scene with riffs and drums pounding the airwaves with the most melodic chorus on the album.

1,320 and Bite The Hand show how metal solos should be done; hard, fast and powerful while Bodies is a bit subtler with its aggression, but it is Endgame’s most tempo-changing song. Endgame starts by shouting “Attention! Attention! All citizens report to your district detention centres! Do not return to your homes!” and is one of the darker songs sonically and lyrically.

The hardest part of letting go slows the pace right down with its acoustic guitar and strings showing us the soppier side of metal but fear not as the next track Head crusher slaps you in the face and is classic Megadeth.

How the story ends has is another melodic gem with hammering double-bass drums that leads into the last track of the album The Right To Go Insane with its booming bass-line.

Metal Hammer has already called it the album of the year and the best work from Megadeth since United Abominations in 2007. So if you want some thrash in your life, look no further than the band that taught the world how it’s done.

Arctic Monkeys Humbug Review

Humbug (released 24/08/2009)

You can say what you like about Arctic Monkeys but you can’t deny them the uniqueness to remain modest and shy despite their effortless success. Back in 2006 Whatever People Say I am That’s what I’m not broke the record after being the fastest selling debut in British History and won the Mercury Prize that year.

Favourite Worst Nightmare also went straight to number one and won the album of the year at the Brit Awards. They’ve added celebrity girlfriends, rappers and producers to their circle and yet still leave the cockiness to Lady GaGa's wardrobe.

Hear them in any interview and they can barely string a confident sentence together. Even at a gig you’ll notice how Alex Turner is much more comfortable behind his instrument of tricks, almost as if it still hasn’t sunk in! They’d rather let the music do the talking and it’s got something new to say.

The tone of their third release is subdued and slow-burning and is far more mature than the ‘…dancefloor’ days. But they needed the hit filled radio-friendly debut, with its witty and articulate lyrics to get Queens’s Of The Stoneage Josh Homme after the Sheffield lads. He took the band under his rugged wing and jetted them off to the American Mojave desert to co-produce the album.

In their own words the new album is a humbug because like the sweet, it may appear to be a familiar mint, but once you suck the hard shell, you get a chewy sweet.

It’s the album that you may not expect from them, unless you liken the instrumentation to that of Alex’s side project The Last Shadow Puppets.

The previous chart-topping albums are the jellybeans of the pick n mix discography (you know what you’re gunna get, it tastes good) and as much as that concept worked very well for them, they’re not afraid to get away from that. Humbug will give them the experimental status if nothing else.

Pretty Visitors, which has already grabbed everyone’s attention with its cheeky philosophy “What came first the chicken or the dickhead” is their heaviest ear-pounding song to date with it’s beguiling sharp riffs, sinister bass line and thrashing drums.

The darker visual lyrics “Gagged, bound and craft in a tale, Trailing wrapped in a gasp” are a whole world away from singing about going out and getting ID’d as they did three years ago.

The first release from the album is Crying Lightening, which is the second strongest song of the lot. It eases it’s way in with its dominant bass and spine chilling guitar riffs which merge into a sexy solo 2 and a half minutes in.

Alex throws in a rhyming couplet here and there “your past-times, consisted of the strange And twisted and deranged” and the first hit from the album is there all tied up and polished ready to go.

The melancholy strings on the other songs flirt with the provoking lyrics and set the over all sombre tone to the album. While there may not be many chart-topping singles in here, the album as a whole deserves to hit the top-spot again for it’s evolution in the arctic monkey world.

And if the words on The Jeweller's Hands are anything to go by: “If you have a lesson to teach me, I’m listening, ready to learn’ it looks like we'll be hearing a lot more from 'em.

Your past-times, consisted of the strange and twisted and deranged

whooa didn't realise it had been so long since I posted a blog, i'm rubbish!
Had a hectic few months though with exams and moving my stuff out of TWO houses (my mums home and halls) into a flat , and then FINALLY getting the internet after waiting on Sky's stupidly long waiting list. but blah blah

Since beginning of July I've been working at BBC Radio Nottingham as a Blast Reporter and have loved every single minute :) Been working with Dean Jackson and the supreme team on The Beat (BBC Introducing...) and the webteam Dan and Neil.

Went to Summer Sundae festival on Saturday and I honestly couldn't say one bad word about the festival! No queues for toilets or food, a bigger range of food than most festivals, (like authentic proper indian curry cooked in a HUGE dish) and a village-y area for the stalls, cider tents and more food stalls away from the arena area. Lovely atmosphere...
Highlights were watching Frontiers play the biggest stage to date, and watching them being asked for autographs at the end, top moment!
Local leicester lads Minaars gave an electrifying and up-beat performance which got people in the festival spirit.
Watching Frank Turner do a couple of acoustic tracks in The Beat's own tent
Running to watch Charlatans after the show with The Beat's supreme team in time for 'The Only One I Know'


Just listening to Arctic Monkeys live at Maida Vale on Radio1, love the new album Humbug and I won't hear a bad word said about the loovely sheffield lads, even if Alex is living in New York now! Bah Humbug! But yet they're still down to earth. Have you heard them in an interview latley? Modest and shy to fuck, despite their imminent success! Love it...and how can you not love the fact the new album has been produced by the sexy Josh Homme! It comes out next week and I'm looking forward to seeing how the general public and press take it.

Off to London tomorrow to see Pearl Jam at 02 arena, can't wait.

xx

Introduce yourself (right on!)

Today had another productive day-ish!

For my course I gotta get 4 stories from the Crookesmoor area and I've got one woo, so 3 more to go. Knocked on this woman's house to find some more info about my story and she let me in her house and helped me out so much- actually felt like a proper journalist ha.
she actually knew Ilson as well, so for those of you who know what i'm on about, woo!

Then I did some promoting, and set up the page for my new night.

It's called Revolver and it'll be at The Rockhouse in Derby (used to be First floor)
It will be every 2 weeks on Tuesdays 7-10pm and I can't wait!!

It's a night of metal, thrash and hardcore bands from Derby, plus some out of town bands too.
The launch is on June 16th (hopefully I'll be recovered from Download by then)

It will be Blind ignorance, Ememo J, Allport Rise and Chamber 7pm £4

www.myspace.com/revolvertuesday

Just been listening to Faith no more, hence the title of this blog! Still think it's funny how they accidently posted about playing Leeds this year, come on Leeds Festival get original then I might want to go again.

Got my next Doledrum gig at The Maze tomorrow! at 8pm

frontiers, amber herd and made of leaves PLUS a DJ set
£4

So I'm looking forward to this, come down if you can make it! :)
www.myspace.com/doledrum_promotion

anyway that'll do for me for now, gunna listen to radio1s introducing and attempt to get to sleep xx

Grey Britain is fucking dead...

Right now just going on an epic downloading music mish...if you're interested I've got Gallows, make do and mend, the flatliners, ghost of a thousand, rise against, thursday, the bronx, set your goals, faith no more, korn, limp bizkit, billy talent and deftones on the go!!

As you can see, updating my collection of the bands on the festival circuit.

Today's been quite a constructive day. Went into Crookesmoor, which is my area for patch stories for my coursework. Basically have to get 4 stories from the area and put them in my portfolio.

Then I went and co -hosted the Matt Harrison radio show, just did the news and laid back listening to the good tuunes.

Album of the week is definitley Gallows- grey britain, which can now be streamed on their myspace and is out on Monday.

anyway gunna listen to Radio1's punk show now xx