Lastfm

If you want to add me as a friend, or stalk my profile, or see what music I have/ listen to/ gigs I've been to/ am going to then here is my lastfm. Do as you please with it.

Lazy

Apologies for not posting in so long; I'm lazy and forgetful and half the time I don't know what to write. Since Dingwalls I have been to:

• We Are Scientist at Koko- 15/06/2011 (Tall Ships, Ben Burrows)
• Reading Festival
• The Wombats at Brixton Academy- 28/09/2011 (The Good Natured)
• The Kooks at Brixton Academy- 11/10/2011 (Tribes, Scoundrels)
• Tribes at Electric Ballroom- 28/10/2011 (Dog Is Dead, The Supernovas)
• Arctic Monkeys at O2 Arena- 30/10/2011 (The Vaccines)

They were all brilliant and I was rather pissed at 4/6 of them which always makes it more fun. Reading was my first festival so that was... an experience (a good one I promise, even if it lead to being ill in bed for a week and still coughing 24/7 four weeks later.) Pretty much every band I saw was awesome, except Flats. We were looking for Fucked Up and went to the wrong tent. I am into some screamo/ metal bands (Bring Me The Horizon- awesome, Enter Shikari- awesome) but they were literally just screaming, wasn't very impressed by them but due to my half-drunken state I danced along anyway (as best I could.) NME tent was my favourite because it's really lively. If you like music, you have the money and you're considering going... do it! Just make sure you bring lots of baby wipes and alcohol. It's not just the music that makes it awesome, but the whole atmosphere; where else is it acceptable to be drunk any time of the day and stroll up to people you don't know and join the conversation or go round asking for hugs?

me, helen, sam, david, joe at reading festival before the joy formidable

me, helen, ellen at reading festival. THE FIGHT. (don't ask)

Again Tribes were brilliant headlining. I love their gigs because everyone moshes, so you feel like you're part of a cult family kinda thing. They were also awesome supporting the Kooks, even if we were the only ones in the crowd singing along. We are scientists were hot, enough said. The Kooks and the Wombats, also awesome. I'll admit we kinda missed The Vaccines at O2 Arena but they were amazing at Reading and I'm seeing them in December! Arctic Monkeys... Alex Turner please can you fuck me now? When the sun goes down, I bet you look good on the dancefloor, Fluroescent adolescent <3 And then his stuff for Submarine also, listen to Stuck on the Puzzle and It's hard to get around the wind. Only thing I'd say, O2 Arena tends to have more older people... who like to stay standing still... it's more fun when the crowd is crazy. 

orlaith, katie and i, the kooks at brixton academy

orlaith and i, tribes at electric ballroom

I have three gigs coming up; The Vaccines, Panic! At The Disco and All Time Low. Technically I could have been seeing The Supernovas tonight in Camden but I thought I should start being a conscientious student and do some work instead of going out... so far tonight I have taken photographs, listened to music, talked to my friend who came round and slept... but two physics booklets are waiting for me so I must go do that now. 

Dingwalls

Last night I went to a gig at Camden's Dingwalls to see Tribes headlining. There was a really great atmosphere and I got hugs and high fives from other people in the crowd which is nicer than having a bitchy 14 year old scowling at you for not letting them push in. Supporting them were The Supernovas from Holloway, London.

The Supernovas
They were awesome to be frank. Frontman Joei Silvester reminded me of the 80's mods, pretending to shoot the audience with his guitar during shot by the fuzz. I've been listening to 'Dancing in Millbank' on repeat, absolute tune (and there's a free download on their facebook!)

the supernovas

Tribes
Pretty crazy, I was shoved into a speaker within the first five minutes of them playing and everyone was dance-moshing and that's always more fun than a dead beat crowd. Tribes seem to hide a lot of their songs away, unlike other bands who put them all up on youtube/ itunes/ myspace etc. so quite a few of them were new to me (and Orlaith). Johnny having nearly fallen onto the floor leaning into the crowd had everyone helping him back onto the stage, we were right at the front pulling him up by his shirt. We came home happy, Orlaith with the set list and a free mixtape and me with a plectrum they chucked into the crowd. Go listen to 'We Were Children' and 'Girlfriend' !

orlaith with tribes setlist (lucky bitch)

Brixton Academy

I haven't posted in a while because I've supposedly been studying for exams and every time I've tried writing it ended up in one long rant. Since last time I've been to one gig, on Friday night I went to see Two Door Cinema Club at the O2 Brixton Academy. Slight mix up with the tickets so whilst most of my friends were squished in the crowd, I was sitting upstairs with two of my friends but we still had a blast. If there's music playing that I love, nothing is gonna stop me dancing the fuck out to it and that is just what we did. The two bands supporting were pretty good, Trophy Wife and The Cast of Cheers. 

Two Door Cinema Club

If you haven't heard of these guys then you must have been living under a rock for the past few months. They released their first album little over a year ago and already they have a massive following. Their song lyrics just roll of the tongue and definitely make you want to dance, especially with tracks like 'Undercover Martyn' and 'Something Good Can Work'. I would have to say my favourite song is 'Eat That Up It's Good For You' and acted like a complete fangirl jumping up and down with my friend when they started playing it. They played a few new tracks at their gig as well, including one which they wrote only two days before! I'll admit I'm a bit disappointed we were in the upper circle and not down in the crowd, my friends came out after looking like they'd been swimming in their clothes they were so drenched in sweat. Frontman Alex Trimble completely ignored the massive sign saying no crowd surfing when he asked if everyone could get on someones shoulders because it would be really cool if the crowd could build a human pyramid kinda thing. Really looking forward to their next album and to seeing them play at Reading in the summer. 

Trophy Wife

Indie-electro band from Oxford, I really liked these guys maybe because they remind me a lot of Foals (who I'm in love with at the moment) with all the percussion they used. I'd say they weren't the greatest support act because it's not the kinda music to get the crowd hyped up but after listening to their stuff some more on it's own I would go see them again. Really love the track 'White Horses' which you can listen to below.

Trophy Wife - White Horses by trophywifeband

The Cast of Cheers

At the gig I didn't quite catch the name of this band through the heavy Irish accents (accents are bloody brilliant) nonetheless I really got into their stuff. At the moment I'm really liking the track 'Glitter' which manages to be super chilled with a fairly heavy guitar line at the same time and I would reccomend checking out 'Goose' and 'Tip The Can'.

My musical influences

I think my love for music has been influenced a lot by my dad. I have distinct memories of when I was a little kid, dancing in the living room to 'Brim Full Of Asha' by Cornershop and being lifted to the ceiling by my dad whenever the chorus of 'Lifting' by The Lighthouse Family came round. Being brought up on artists like Madness, The Specials, The Beatles, Talking Heads and various mod bands is probably why I'm more inclined to go for music with lots of guitars and rock or indie genres over pop or r&b tunes. That's not to say I don't like other genres, I'll happily listen to any music style if I'm in the right mood for it.

My dad always tells me about when he was younger, he was a in a band that played a few small gigs here and there. He especially like to talk about his brother, my uncle, who was in a band called Move To India. They were supposedly very good but they went their separate ways a while ago. Here's a  video of them that was broadcast on the BBC.

Some personal favourites from across the pond

The Blow
Mikhaela Yvonne Maricich is the only member of The Blow, electro-indie pop artist from Brooklyn. I would have to say my all time favourite song is 'Parethesis', a really upbeat tune that makes you want to belt out the lyrics. Music that makes you want to do a cheesy dance to Mikhaela is really doing something great here. Currently with K Records I would recommend their LP Paper Television if you're looking for some decent, happy, pop that isn't in the charts right now.

Manchester Orchestra
My friends are probably sick of hearing me rave about these guys, indie-rock band from Atlanta made up of Andy Hull (guitar and singer-songwriter), Robert McDowell (lead guitar), Chris Freeman (keyboard and percussion), Jonathan Corely (bass) and Tim Very (drums.) Their music has quite a melancholy feel to it with moving songs such as 'Play It Again Sam, You Don't Have Any Feathers', 'I Can Feel A Hot One' and 'Don't Let Them See You Cry'. They are becoming more well known having been played on Radio One and they recently played at Camdens XOYO. Currently with independant record label Favorite Gentlemen run by former drummer Jeremiah Edmond, they are releasing their new album 'Simple Math' on May 10th.

Azure Ray

Indie-folk duo from Alabama, made up of Maria Taylor and Orenda Fink. They have this dreamy sound that instantly makes you feel relaxed, they work really well together or as solo artists. I really love 'If You Fall' and  'Rest Your Eyes' with really sweet sounding lyrics such as 'So this is love, well that's a lovely thought. You have to care for it to keep it together.' Currently with Saddle Creek Records, they have also done numerous collaberations with Bright Eyes (singer-songwriter Conor Oberst.) 

Tribes

I first heard these guys playing at Shepherds Bush O2 Academy supporting indie-rock band from London, Mystery Jets in February. A three piece indie band from London consisting of Johnny Lloyd, Dan White and Miguel Koch. Their music has a relaxed feel to it and reminds me of Radioheads stuff from their album 'OK Computer'. They recently release the EP 'We Were Children' with Universal Island Records on itunes, I think it was a good buy for sure. I can't wait to see them again at Camdens Dingwalls in June and I'll be sure to update you on how that goes.

tribes- 'we were children' shoot

A few indie bands you should check out

Last night was awesome I went to see The View, an indie-rock band from Dundee, at Shepherds Bush O2 Academy. Even if I couldn't quite make out what Kyle, their frontman, was saying through the thick scottish accent they still managed to get the crowd dancing (and crowd surfing) with their upbeat songs. 'Shock Horror', 'Wasteland' and 'Girl' were probably my favourite songs of the night, the latter being from their new album Bread and Circuses which I would recommend to any indie lover.


Love In The Asylum
The first support act were another indie band called Love In The Asylum. These guys are from London and I was impressed from the moment they started their set. With songs like 'Pull The Plug' and 'Bumble Fish' they really make you feel happy and want to sing along, I would compare them to Northern Irish band Two Door Cinema Club. Their songs are currently only available to buy from their merch website (I've just ordered their homemade EP and I'm hoping it comes soon!) Four really talented muscians; Danne Dunne, Thomas Greene, Invisible Frank and Charlie Elliott. Check out their video 'Pull The Plug' with Francine Dancer in it, real dancing tekkers.

Sound Of Guns
Second support act of the night were a heavier indie-rock band from Liverpool called Sound Of Guns. Frontman Andy Metcalfe really knew how to excite the crowd, taking pictures of supporters on their cameras, answering peoples phones whilst singing and playing songs for 'the baldies'. Definitely something you can head-bang to, these guys are similar to The Pigeon Detectives. I'm really into their songs 'Alcatraz' and 'Bullets In The Bloodstream' at the moment. They signed to independant label Distiller Records and released their debut album 'What Came From Fire' in June 2010. Check out they're facebook page because they're giving away their EP 'Breakwater' for free.

The Start

I went to a gig last night and the bands supporting were pretty good, but I'd never heard of them before. I guess it kinda made me realise that there are tons of decent bands and artists out there that are unknown by too many people so I wanted to create a place where I can give honest opinions about them and put them out there so more people can listen. I wouldn't say I'm the most musically tuned person, I still get worried looks from my friends when I don't know the latest song in the charts, but I do love music and always have so this is my little project to find and promote local or less well known artists who deserve to have crowds that know the lyrics to their songs. The name probably suggests this is purely indie bands but I think 'decent music' is more apt for the kind of stuff that will be on here. By that I mean music that makes you feel something, makes you want to dance, cry, head-bang, hug someone, punch someone or just belt out the lyrics as loud as you can and a lot of that is probably down to personal taste so lets just hope mines good enough.