The Fly Wessex

2007-12-16T09:21:00.002+01:00

The regional content for THE FLY music mag has moved here: http://ourtribe.mobi/default.aspx?uid=1&pid=8&sid=11558&m=Site&

If you want to contact me regarding any of the material on this site, please do so at pourluh@googlemail.com

Sigur Rós

2006-07-13T18:04:00.000+01:00

Southampton Guildhall - July 2006
Words & image © 2006 DJ Webb

With a white curtain covering the front of the stage, Sigur Rós (pronounced ‘see orr rose’) open tonight’s show with the title track from their latest album ‘Takk’ and immediately a hushed silence comes across the audience. Sigur Rós don’t want you to dissect the music and decide what message they have put in to a song. They want you to listen, to watch and discover what the song means to you. The ethereal sweeping sound of a cello bow on a guitar is perfectly accompanied by the lights and video projected onto the stage. This is not just about the music, it's more than that. It's about taking you out of the now and letting your senses wander to another, more surreal place. The perfect review of a Sigur Rós show is to experience it for yourself. I for one struggle to put into words the show I watched tonight.

The Pipettes

2006-07-09T16:09:00.000+01:00

Southampton's Joiners - July 2006
Words & image © 2006 DJ Webb

Heading over to the Joiners on this sunny summer evening, two things keep coming to mind. Firstly, it's going to be very hot in the Joiners tonight and secondly this isn’t your normal Joiners crowd. Gone are the metallers and emo-kids, replaced by pretty girls in pretty dresses - and that’s not just the audience. The Pipettes are something else. Three gorgeous girls in polka dot dresses, backed by four preppy boys in matching tank tops. I feel like I’ve been whirled back in time to the high school dance in Back to the Future. The Pipettes bring doowop into the 21st century, with a seductive edge to their dresses and their onstage banter and quirky mini-pop songs about boys, bitches and booze. The Pipettes are the breath of fresh air the Joiners needed on such a hot summer night.

Isle of Wight 2006

2006-06-26T15:58:00.000+01:00

by PH
Images courtesy of isleofwightfesitval.com

I arrive at the festival site late on Friday night (thank you Red Funnel), just in time to catch most of The Prodigy. The crowd is friendly as I move through it and there is a strong sense of that unique ‘festival vibe’ - people dancing randomly on their own, the smell of beer and strong weed fills the air and faces are adorned with smiles fuelled by the narcotics I can smell, but also by the prospect of another two days of festival in the sun. The Prodigy rock as well, which helps. With their crowd pleasers pumping out one after the other, they give me a very good first impression of the Isle of Wight Festival.

Saturday starts lazily, barred as we are from the ‘main arena’ until 11am. I must congratulate Carling, however, who manage to make the time pass enjoyably thanks to their ‘Beer Amnesty’. They swap warm cans of beer for ice cold ones, you see, so there’s no need to drink tent-warmed beer all weekend. Anyone who’s been to a festival, or just had to drink warm lager on a hot day, will appreciate the enormity of the effect of this service. Speaking of services, Virgin Radio, the nation's pop and rock radio station, broadcast live from the festival all weekend, providing listeners with exclusive coverage of the big names, as well as backstage interviews. You can check it all out on their website.

Anyway – back to the festival and I make my way down to the stage to catch The On Offs, who have the dubious honour of being first on. Despite as favourable a reaction from the crowd as you would expect this early in the (drinking) day, the three piece lacked the personality and presence required to back up their bitty sound. Uninspired, I wander away from the main stage to see what else is on offer for the discerning festival goer and music lover. In amongst the usual food and clothing stalls are two other live music outlets – the Nokia ‘Rock up and Play’ tent, which allows up and coming bands to, you guessed it, turn up and play, and ‘The Bandstand’, a…err…bandstand. As with all ‘up and coming’ bands, it’s a bit hit and miss, but there are a few acts who hold my attention long enough to persuade me to sit on the grass in the sunshine, drinking cold beer, and listen for a while. The other big discovery for me was an act performing at The Pussy Parlure, a Victorian style pub/club. The Crazy Circus Cabaret is a collective of circus performers and acrobats who put on a variety show of considerable skill. A refreshing break from the norm if you like that sort of thing, which I do.

The Kooks

I return to the main arena for Saturday’s big hitters. The Kooks’ reaction from the crowd is immense and deservedly so. I wouldn’t be surprised if they are headlining festivals this time next year. Dirty Pretty Things and The Editors follow with largely forgettable sets, leaving Primal Scream to really get the evening going. My first big surprise of the weekend comes from the Foo Fighters. Despite being treated to some Dave Grohl drumming, their sound lacked the energy and punch that I expected. It was entertaining – Monkey Wrench still goes down well – just not as intense as you might expect a Foo’s festival set to be. I’m standing about level with the sound desk and the bass isn’t shaking my insides – something’s wrong there.

Foo Fighters

Determined not to get distracted by the Pussy Parlure again on Sunday, I settle in front of the main stage to watch The Delays, who benefit from being reasonably local… and popular. Their sound and presence suits the big stage and they keep the crowd's attention well. To be honest, they’re not really my bag – it’s a bit limp-indie-pop for my liking – but there are enough people enjoying it, and singing along, to make my opinion irrelevant on the day.

The Delays

Veterans Procol Harum follow, turning my head with the one song that I recognised but inspiring little more response. Kubb play a similar trick, their set as non-descript as it was unrecognisable, except for their one song that everyone recognises – whatever that’s called. Maximo Park catch my attention with a more energetic and interesting sound. In contrast to the Foo Fighters, their sound engineers seem to have got it just about right. Lou Reed sets things up for the evening, playing to a largely nostalgic audience, and is followed by this year’s big career revival, Richard Ashcroft. Predictably, his set mixed old classics with select tracks from his new album, but it was entertaining enough and there are worse songs to be listening to in a field on a summers evening than ‘The Drugs Don't Work’ and ‘Bittersweet Symphony’.

Richard Ashcroft

The second big surprise of the weekend is that I actually quite enjoy Coldplay. I think they’ve made some decent music in their time but the last time I saw them – at the V Festival – I gave up after ten minutes because they were really rather boring. They fit the mood and situation perfectly this time, however, and I sing along with 50,000 other people enjoying a chilled out Sunday evening - in a field, on the Isle of Wight.

Coldplay

Strapping Young Lad

2006-06-15T15:18:00.000+01:00

Wedgewood Rooms - June 2006
Images: © 2006 www.seventhframe.com
Words by Armchair Anarchist

There are many challenges that music journalists face - describing Strapping Young Lad is just one of them. Imagine a trio of beefy yet fairly regular-looking middle-aged metallers. Imagine them churning out thick walls of extremely heavy music, all huge guitar lines and hectic drumming. Now equip them with a frontman who resembles a Klingon without the armour and forehead lumps. Endow this frontman with a strangely humorous and manic stage presence, plus the ability to howl like a banshee and growl like Beelzebub. Make him gurn and goof and mock himself, his band, the audience and the very genre he works in. Make it funny. Make it clever. Make it shake your bowels around with bassy savagery. Got that in your head? You’re still nowhere near it. Like them or loathe them, this band are unique in bringing humour and intelligence to one of the most po-faced scenes there is. Nothing else compares.

Ejector Seat's All-dayer

2006-06-07T01:37:00.000+01:00

Southampton's Joiners - May 2006
Image: © 2006 www.rivaljoustas.co.uk
By Chris Thorp

Upon arrival to the bustling venue I manage to catch the start of MoneyTree’s set, which is a good place to start for the evening’s music. Fronted by an extremely cheerful character, their quirky brand of jazzed-up rock proves to be somewhat hit and miss. Coming across as a mix between early Incubus and Biffy Clyro, their ambitious stop-start style can be both impressive and frustrating – although they have no problem in keeping the audience entertained. Rival Joustas, although initially having technical issues, obliterate the stage with their frantic performance, culminating with an invasion from the hyperactive crowd. Their songs are powerful and memorable, and the energy with which they play is easily transferred to the listener. I’m sure many people are concerned with the mental stability of the lanky vocalist (with much of his time spent dribbling or lying on the stage with his feet in the air), but for the most part this lack of stability seems to be the highlight of the evening. Having to catch the last train back means I can only watch half of Jeniferever’s performance. Witnessing their songs is like being sucked into a whirlpool – the louder the music gets, the more you get drawn in until there’s no chance of escape. The cover of their album, ‘Choose a bright morning’, perfectly illustrates their take on post-rock. It conjures up images of lush landscapes and forces of nature in the mind’s eye. After leaving, I can hear the thunderous noise continuing inside, regretting that I can’t experience where it would have taken me next.

Rodrigo y Gabriela

2006-06-07T01:24:00.000+01:00

The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - June 2006
Image & Words: © 2006 DJ Webb

One of the greatest things about this job is getting to see bands you love, the other is getting to see bands you’d never heard of before. Tonight's sold out show falls firmly into that first category. Rodrigo y Gabriela’s style of music has evolved from their days in Mexican death metal bands. Now, with just two acoustic guitars, Rodrigo y Gabriela deliver an unrivalled musical experience. Filled with a drive and passion you rarely see today, Rodrigo y Gabriela take you on a rollercoaster ride. From the simple beginnings of ‘Satori’, to the epic cover of Metallica’s ‘Orion’, the intensity with which they play never lets up. The only singing tonight is that of the crowd to the cover of Pink Floyd's ‘Wish you Were Here’. Otherwise it isn't missed, or needed, it would only distract you from the music. And the music is, after all, what Rodrigo y Gabriela are all about.

Larrikin Love

2006-06-07T01:12:00.000+01:00

West End Centre, Aldershot - June 2006
Image: © 2006 www.larrikinlove.co.uk
By Michael Evans

Recently, I’ve seen an awful lot of bands that have been guilty of one of two crimes. Either cramming too many tunes into one song or, frankly, not having enough tunes in their entire set to make even one song. Happily, Larrikin Love fall into neither category, managing to make their various styles into a consummate whole. And whilst on record Larrikin Love come across as slightly dull, playing live they are the most arresting band I’ve seen in a long time. Describing themselves as “Bluegrass, Punk, Reggae” it’s hard to disagree as song after song leaps its way madly, from nimble fingered country pickin’ to rocking like a bastard - all via some laid back reggae and crazy skanking. With a charismatic frontman and a whistle toting bass player to boot, what more can you ask? Well worthy of your seven quid.

Stu's Hi:Fi 2006

2006-06-05T15:09:00.000+01:00

Director

Hi:Fi Festival Day 1
Image & Words: © 2006 Stuart Leech

As the rain sets in at the Matterley bowl, I’m turning my attention to the Live Arena. Early on are sets from Director and Kharma 45. With no introductions on the stage and no real idea of who the hell these people are, all you can do is watch and listen. All of these early bands are only playing to a handful of people but still put on an admirable show. Director have just signed to Atlantic records and you can hear why. They have a geeky look and a mature sound. There are memorable songs and decent hooks; it's very easy to relate to their music. Kharma 45 put on a competent set - but are just so easily forgettable.

The Go! Team

Up next are The Go! Team, who are now playing somewhere near full capacity in the Live Arena. They always have tons of energy and Hi:Fi is no exception. They play through most of their debut album including the hit Ladyflash. The band are good and Ninja can really sing/skit/rap over anything - but they leave you wanting much more.

Mylo’s DJ set is up next and unfortunately my indie sensibilities can’t cope with a man in a silly hat, playing some vinyl (Although I’m sure the Ed will disagree!) Mylo fucking rocked, people, don't listen to the man - Ed.

Hard-Fi

I reviewed Hard-Fi back in December and, apart from a couple of new tracks, the set seems to be exactly the same. Nothing special occurs for the band’s first festival headline slot, which is a shame. They still have some great tunes and, to me, their tracks always sound and feel better played live. They have obviously acquired more fans after their recent sell-out tour and their recent Brixton Academy residency, but they desperately need some new material.

The Bees

Day 2

A bright, sunny Sunday - a complete change to yesterday. Today I’m starting with Isle of Wight's The Bees, and what a great way to start. The 60s psychedelic rock really captures the summer mood. They have a great sound and the band are fascinating to watch as they chop and change instruments. Drummers turn into bassists, keyboard players turn into guitarists and so on. Following this cracking start, on come Brakes. Made up of half The Electric Soft Parade and half of British Sea Power, the songs couldn’t be further from either. It's acoustic-country-punky-rock and includes a rendition of Johnny Cash’s Jacksonville. Enjoyable and weird in equal measures. After basking in the sun for an hour or so, Kosheenare on and kick off their set with hit 'Hide You'. They continue through some other well known tracks and some more recent material but, unfortunately, Kosheen have been appearing early on festival stages for years - and I think that's where they're destined to stay.

Ian Brown is tonight’s headliner - clearly unable to stay away from us for too long. The set starts with 'I wanna Be Adored' and I doubt there's a better way to get an entire crowd on your side. Playing a combo of solo hits, such as 'F.E.A.R', and various Stone Roses' tracks, this really is a Greatest Hits set. Not being old enough to remember The Stone Roses at their height, I have no idea if Ian Brown could ever sing - but he definitely can’t now. Despite that, I could listen to these classic tracks all night long.

Ian Brown

Udy & Kat's Hi:Fi 2006

2006-06-05T15:08:00.000+01:00

Hi:Fi Festival Day 1
Images: © 2006 Kat Gibson/Hi:Fi Gallery
Words by Udy

Car parked... tent up... wristbands obtained. We’ve arrived well before the festival gates are open and we're looking forward to a top weekend of music. The idea of a camping festival, with the emphasis on dance music, excites us and although a lot of it veers toward 'cheese', there are plenty of names we're well up for seeing. Once we're in it’s time to make contact with the guys at the Punch Funk stage.

Punchfunk Stage

Hailing from Portsmouth, Punch Funk have been given this unique opportunity to showcase local talent all weekend and for their most prolific face, Chris Vaux, it's a dream come true. He is clearly ready to go all out - and his grin is even wider than usual. “I think we are really doing something different here with today being all about the DJs and tomorrow showcasing four of Pompey’s top bands,” he tells me, before running off to schmooze with more proud locals. A quick flick through the programme leads us over to the Breaks Arena, hosted on Saturday by the Air label. Adam Freeland is playing and is entertaining the crowd with a mixture of party beats and his own classic cut up remixes of rock tunes, pretty much as expected but enjoyable nevertheless.

One half of Tiefschwarz plays a groovy set in the Electric Arena. The only reason we know it's happening at all is by advance email; sadly, the line-up for this tent has been omitted from the weekend's programme. As a result, the crowd for Dave Clarke is pathetic and he's clearly angry. Despite this, he plays an absolutely awesome techno set, the best we've seen so far.

We pop our heads into the Live Arena and check out a few tunes by Super Furry Animals, all of which please and amuse. They're a great band and have a massive audience completely enthralled with their 'surf's-up' harmonies. There's a point where the necks of three guitars are raised in the air together, in an almost surreal Ghostbusters moment. The night is rounded up with Geushky’s overlord Ian Void, smashing out a set with Vortechtral at the Punch Funk stage. Afterwards Ian tells me, “the sound was good, the vibe was ace... we could have continued for ages.”

“It doesn’t seem to have sunk in that we are playing (at Hi:Fi) yet”. We're up early to catch the band's arrival from Portsmouth and George, bassist with The Exits, is in high spirits. To my right the Wiservice lot are playing football and members of The Aviators and Rolling Dog are milling around. Once everything kicks off we are blessed with enough sunshine to see the bands through.

Wiservice

Wiservice open the day with enough energy to considerably raise the mood and The Aviators have a few sing-a-longs under their belts. Rolling Dog display the jolting craziness we’ve come to expect and The Exits are, simply, spot on and completely right for this festival.

The Exits

From this point onwards the highlight has to be Layo & Bushwacka, in the utterly amazing Radio Soulwax tent. From breaks and house, to funky techno, these guys are veteran masters - and it shows.

Soulwax Stage

It’s not long before we realise that 'King Monkey' is about to take to the Live Arena, so it’s an exit, stage left, for a drink. Ian Brown comes on stage to the Stone Roses' classic “I Wanna Be Adored” And he doesn’t really need to ask. The crowd absolutely love him and even though the geezer simply cannot sing, it doesn’t matter. His tunes are amazing and the band are even better. Moving onwards and, before we know it, we're faced with the best set of the weekend. Soulwax waste no time in living up to the fact that this dance tent is their own. Four men, three synths, one bass guitar and one drum kit have never sounded so unbelievably fat. Mainly sticking to tracks from their most recent album, we're thrashing around like rockers addicted to techno, just the way they want us to.

Soulwax are followed by the great Erol Alkan who continues the madness, before two members of the band return to the stage in their Too Many DJs guise.

And, so, Hi:Fi ends perhaps the way it intended to: a tent rammed to the gills with electro-rock, riffs crunching over electro, hip-hop and techno beats complimented with a smattering of Madonna, Bloc Party and of course... Michael Jackson. The weekend is complete.

The Answer

2006-06-01T17:53:00.000+01:00

Portsmouth Guildhall - May 2006
Images: © 2006 www.theanswer.ie
Written by Stewart Ireland

It’s like the 80s and 90s never happened at all, Free are still one of the biggest bands on the planet and silk paisley shirts are still... "hip". The Answer are having fun, cranking out memorable tunes like Keep Believin’ and album opener Under The Sky; Paul Mahon’s guitar solos constantly flirt with feedback, crashing against Cormac Neeson’s soaring, energetic vocals that slice through the music against the rumbling groove of bass and drums. So why does my attention wander? Maybe it’s the size of the hall, maybe it’s the very British crowd response (clap, but let’s show a bit of decorum please). I think the reason I’m bored is more to do with the music - this type of rock and roll blew people away... in the 70s. The fact The Answer won ‘Best New Band Award’ at the Classic Rock awards speaks volumes. It’s a shame to say it, but I think they were born about 30 years too late.

Richard Ashcroft

2006-06-01T16:00:00.000+01:00

Portsmouth Guildhall - May 2006
Image & Words: © 2006 Stuart Leech

Richard Ashcroft still manages to pull a crowd a sellout the Guildhall, mainly to a 25-year-old+ crowd obviously old enough to remember his heyday. There is no doubting Ashcroft's voice; great range and tone. There is also no doubting his songwriting ability, but consistency is not one of his strong points. His new 60s soul influenced album contains some well crafted songs, as do his other albums, but listening to these interspersed with Verve tracks just makes you want more from his newer material. He manages to fit Sonnet, The Drugs Don’t Work and Lucky Man into his set and finishes with an epic version of Bitter Sweet Symphony. Hearing the entire crowd singing "I'll take you down the only road I’ve ever been down” makes you understand what a big impact Ashcroft and the Verve have had on a generation.

Hi:Fi 2006

2006-05-31T16:52:00.000+01:00

From Creamfields to Homelands, and We Love Homelands to Hi:Fi, Matterley Bowl near Winchester is now well-renowned for hosting a constantly evolving music festival every May. Dance music is one of the fastest moving, widest reaching genres of music out there and Angel music (Godskitchen/Global Gathering) reckon they know the next move on the festival map - integration. Hi:Fi's aim was to appeal to the "iPod generation" and fuse indie rock with dance, during two massive events - one in the North of England, one in the South.

Many of the artists played both festivals, with the likes of cheery media-lover Ian Brown being flown from one end of the country to the other. Festival promoter, James Algate, said: “It was an ambitious undertaking to launch a new two day rock n’ dance weekender with camping to replace the old Homelands format so it is highly rewarding to have been given the thumbs up by the crowds. To reach 75% capacity in year one is a great result and we are already looking to build on everything positive for next year’s event.”.

The organisers proudly announced they had raised a total of £15,000 for charity, in the South alone. The money raised is to be split equally between Upper Itchen Valley Society and Naomi House.

So. You've heard the background, you've seen it bigged up by their own promotion team (because they're never biased, are they?) and we know they raise money for good causes - but what's gonna make you get off your arse and buy a ticket in 2007? Did Hi:Fi cut it as a music festival? Did the integration work? Well, while Hi:Fi North's journos were all busy holding down tents and trying to stop stages blowing away, Wizard of Oz styley, TFW's guys were finding out what Hi:Fi South really had on offer.

As much as we wanted to be everywhere all at the same time, it was impossible. So Udy & Kat, dance scene lovies and organisers of Portsmouth's Under Your Nose events, covered one end of the festival site, while Stu, upcoming rock photographer and all-round indie kid, covered the other. When they met in the middle they both agreed that Ian Brown couldn't sing. Now what were the chances of that happening?

Read Udy & Kat's account of the dance arenas here, or click here to read Stu's version of more rock-orientated events.

Funeral For A Friend

2006-05-30T19:26:00.000+01:00

Funeral For A Friend - Southampton Guildhall - May 2006
Images: © 2006 www.funeralforafriend.com
Written by Sam Goodman

I saw Funeral for a Friend almost a year ago and they were dreadful. Tonight’s incarnation is a totally different animal. Confident, bombastic and polished; they do little less than shine. Despite singer Matt Davies’ announcement of a new album early next year, FFAF take the safe option and play their back catalogue - not that anyone here particularly minds. Thrashing out their hits with surprising energy, they whip through ‘Rookie of the Year’, ‘Bullet Theory’, ‘All the Rage’ (complete with a cameo appearance by 'tall motherfucker' Charlie from Fightstar) in quick succession. After a while, the duelling guitars and double bass drum fills begin to blend into one and the “we love you guys” banter really only makes them sound like a metal Goldie Lookin’ Chain - but the crowd here lap it up. Sure, Davies’ thanks are the same, careworn words he may utter every night, but after the effort put into FFAF’s performance this evening, I get the impression he means every one of them.

Liam Frost & The Slowdown Band

2006-05-25T16:21:00.000+01:00

The Joiners - May 2006
Image & Words: © 2006 DJ Webb

Lots of good things have been said about Liam Frost & the Slowdown Band, and tonight at the Joiners you can see why. This 6-piece from Manchester quickly mesmerise the crowd and draw people into their quirky sound. The Slowdown Band deliver the perfect music to capture Liam’s melancholy, transform it and lift it to a hopefulness that fills every inch of the room - yet remains intimate and honest. With lyrics you can’t help but sing along to, Liam Frost & the Slowdown Band take the best of the Americana greats and deliver it with a whiskey-soaked catharsis that can’t help but leave you refreshed and yearning for more.

Brenda

2006-05-23T23:03:00.000+01:00

Brenda Ep Review - May 2006
Image: © 2006 Brenda
Written by Chris Thorp

The first thing to note about Brenda’s new EP is that when you have finished listening to it, you can’t remember a single thing of it. The second thing to note is that it’s really rather good. Instead of battering the listener with brash, catchy songs, they present us with a set of slow-burning, avant-rock compositions that conjure up emotional states rather than getting your feet tapping. Stream-of-consciousness vocals soar above layerings of guitar and drum-lines that continue to build until they’re suddenly mutated into another direction. The CD ends with a brutal and overwhelming descent into noise, which leaves the listener mentally exhausted – and yet when it finishes there is the unmistakable urge to play it again. This is music to be absorbed again and again. Just don’t try and play it at a party.

SWAY

2006-05-23T20:44:00.000+01:00

Interview with Sway - May 2006
Image: © 2006 Kid 73
Written by Kid 73

Kid 73: How’s the tour going with The Streets?
Sway: It’s going really well man, enjoying myself, having fun, opening eyes a lot more. It's a good experience because it’s like being at square one again. Considering that 99.9% have come here to see The Streets. I’d say possibly 20% of the crowd know my music and the 80% is what gets me back to square one. I have to convert that crowd, I have got to either make them love me or hate me.

Kid 73: Where is the biggest response you have had so far?
Sway: Edinburgh was massive that’s because they hate the Union Jack innit. I got booed for a good 30 seconds. We got the Scottish flag behind the Union Jack - so we came on and we accept the boos for like 30 seconds as they throw their drinks and stuff, we reveal the flag underneath and they go ballistic. That’s probably the biggest response I have heard on a night for us. In Newcastle we came out on the stage with our jackets on and I asked ‘any Arsenal fans in the place?’ and everyone went ‘BOOOO’. Me and Turkish took our jackets off and we had Newcastle shirts on and they went crazy, I have never seen that many people roar like that before.

Kid 73: What’s in store for the Soton crew tonight?
Sway: [Laughs] Southampton doesn’t really have an angle for me. I love Southampton but I know Southampton for Craig David and I’m not sure how this crowd feels about Craig David.
Kid 73: Ask them.
Sway: If I get booed then there is no return from that. What do I do? If I ask and they all boo there’s no return, I don’t think I could stop the boos.
Kid 73: You could rip a Craig David album in half.
Sway: I wouldn’t do that I’m a fan. Especially not in his hometown, that’s damn disrespectful.

Kid 73: So how much longer for the tour?
Sway: Four days, then we have two dates with Hard-Fi. That’s gonna be a hard one. I am expecting them not to have any knowledge of my music whatsoever. That’s what I am expecting. I’ll be very, very surprised if I see one person singing along to the lyrics.

Kid 73: Do you change your set for a Hard-Fi crowd?
Sway: No. There would be no point in doing that, because I would just prefer people to accept me for what I do. It would be all good doing just rock songs but I’m not a rock artist. I would love to do rock songs... But... I ain’t got any [Laughs].

Sway’s new single is out 22nd of May entitled ‘Products’ with a brand new exclusive track ‘Baby Father’ with some alternative remixes including an exclusive remix by Mr Hudson who is the hotly tipped new David Bowie.

Protokoll

2006-05-23T09:40:00.000+01:00

Southampton's Joiners - May 2006
Images: © 2006 DJ Webb
Written by DJ Webb

Since I began writing reviews for TFW I’ve kinda made it my mission to go out and see bands I wouldn’t necessarily see if I was the one paying for the ticket. Tonight was no different. Billed as 'NME Approved Electro-Pop' I went in with open ears and open mind. Well whoever decided Protokoll were electro-pop has different ideas about 'pop' to me. This Boston four-piece could be described as a lot of things, but pop? With their fast paced, drum-driven tracks coated with a film of effects-laden guitar and Jose De Lara’s superb lyrics, each new track gives you another layer to peel back and explore. If your not bouncing along to this, something's wrong; and it's not the synth-driven, post punk of Protokoll.

Amusement Parks On Fire

2006-05-21T13:10:00.000+01:00

Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms - May 2006

Written by Armchair Anarchist

At last, a guitar band with more substance than surface style. Amusement Parks On Fire herald a return to the shoegazing sounds of the early 90s. There’s some grunge in the mix, some stoner-rock, some metallic hints and a small dose of electronica. It all adds up to a lush wall of sound, driven by guitars but avoiding rock clichés. The use of keyboards and sampled textures really lift them above the crowd of new-wave wannabes that pack the music papers. Slow, dreamy vocals lurk in the sonic undergrowth, hinting at an introspection that makes a refreshing change from overblown egos and daft haircuts. It’s a soundtrack to sitting in a sunlit park in the summer, with a head full of dope and a gut full of cheap cider. Granted, they’re not the most thrilling band to watch, but that doesn’t matter when you can close your eyes and let the music draw pictures inside your head.

NME New Music Tour

2006-05-21T13:03:00.000+01:00

The Long Blondes + ¡Forward Russia! + The Automatic + Boy Kill Boy - May 2006
Images: © 2006 Stuart Leech
Written by Armchair Anarchist

The Long Blondes have a sleazy West Coast new-wave sound, complete with oh-so-kooky female vocals. There’s a rockabilly vibe to some of their set, but the dynamics are obvious and clichéd. This monotony isn’t helped by the samey vocals, and they’re lacking ideas. They’re nowhere near as art-school as they’d like to be. ¡Forward Russia! suffer from the opposite problem. They’re trying far too hard to be clever, with a big collage of discord and randomness. This wall of noise is topped off by vocals that sound like Justin Hawkins on a ketamine binge. There are some interesting ideas in the mix, but they get lost in the sea of histrionic oddness. The good bits are brilliant, but the other 75% is almost unlistenable. The Automatic are cheesy pop dressed up as new-wave cleverness, but the clothes don’t fit. They’re tight and energetic with great stage presence. But regrettably they only have one song, and it’s not a particularly inspiring one either. Dull tunes performed perfectly - tall on talent, short on style. Headliners Boy Kill Boy are the only act with any real balls to their music, but that’s only by comparison to the others. By not trying too hard, they succeed in being much more enjoyable. Their song-writing acknowledges the value of good hooks and catchy choruses, and they have great audience rapport. It’s limpid but listenable guitar pop, held together by attention to detail and bold structure. The Radio 2 play-list beckons.

¡Forward Russia!

FOPP'S NEW MUSIC AWARD

2006-05-18T11:12:00.000+01:00

ONLY ONE WEEK LEFT TO ENTER FOPP’S AWARD FOR NEW MUSIC 2006!

If you’re in an unsigned band, based in Hampshire, know you’ve got what it takes, but just can’t seem to get heard, you’ve only one week left to enter this year’s Fopp Award for New Music and get the break that you need.

The Fopp Award for New Music, is a partnership between independent, award-winning Music retailer Fopp, the PRS Foundation (PRSF) and Clear Sound & Vision (CSV), and gives emerging bands in London and the South East* an amazing opportunity to:

· Record a three track ep at a professional studio for free

· Have their recording edited, mixed, mastered and pressed.

· Work with designers on artwork for their finished CDs.

· Have their music sold at Fopp stores nationwide

· Play at a London Showcase in front of key industry players

There’ll be four winners chosen by a panel of music industry insiders. The panel will include key figures such as Dougie Bruce from Universal Publishing who works with The Kaiser Chiefs and Maximo Park; Stuart Clarke – the Talent Editor at industry trade bible Music Week and Jimmy Smith, A & R at Parlophone, home of Coldplay and Radiohead.

Now in its third year the Fopp Award has already completed successful schemes in the South West in 2004 and Scotland, Northern Ireland and the North East of England last year, taking ten bands to the next level of their careers, and showcasing them to key industry figures in London.

Ewan Santer, lead singer of 2005 winners Thee Comrades says: “We have learnt so much about the music industry from taking part in this scheme. The partners have all been hugely supportive and we have gained a lot of exposure and increased our profile significantly as a result."

Entries can come from any genre; you can be in a band or a solo artist. If you’re over 18 and write your own original material (no covers!) then you’re eligible. More information, application forms and terms & conditions are available in Fopp Stores and from Fopp (www.fopp.co.uk), Clear Sound & Vision (www.c-s-v.co.uk) and PRSF (www.prsfoundation.co.uk) websites.

Deadline for applications is the 26th of May 2006.

Whirlwind Heat + Manic

2006-05-18T09:56:00.000+01:00

Club NME at The Consortium, Bournemouth - May 2006
Image: © 2006 Kid 73
Written by Kid 73

Having toured with the likes of The White Stripes, Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs and the mighty genius - Beck, Whirlwind Heat carry a sack of kudos onstage. With their stripped-down drum kit, Moog and bass set up in a line at the front of the stage, they spring into action - startling a crowd teeming with so much anticipation you could spoon it out of the air. The first few tracks are delivered with frenetic pace; stripped down ditties with a post punk electro vibe. A slight change with ‘Uptight’, which is just Leftfield of mainstream pop, with anthemic chants of ‘UPTIGHT!’ to punctuate it. Two songs later they sing about donating sperm in ‘Gene Pool’ and the crowd are won over. Quality ‘mooging’, drumming and bass lines, splashed liberally with musical eccentricity that adds up to a band you just know are going to make it. Manic swapped their support slot for headline slot due to sound check problems and consequently performed to a dwindling crowd after Heat’s performance. Manic have an almost trademark L.A. rock sound with strong vocals and melodic ballads, driven by wailing guitars. Tight, atmospheric and slightly predictable you could be forgiven for thinking you had heard their songs before. There is obvious talent, especially in the lead singers voice, but there has to be a breakaway attention-getter and they don't seem to have it in their arsenal yet.

Ejector Seat - The All Dayer!

2006-05-18T00:30:00.000+01:00

Ten bands, one night. Or is it ten nights, one band? No, that would be silly. They said it couldn't be done. They were wrong, oh yes. Southampton's Ejector Seat promo team want to do naughty things with your head, and they want to do it in The Joiners. FOR ONE WHOLE GODDAM DAY! Yes, a whole one. So if you fancy 'coming down' from your Hi:Fi high in style - get off the train at Southampton Central and get your collective arse to here, people:

Jeniferever - From Sweden, Jeniferever make stunning epic indie. ''It's not often that I'll say this, but Jeniferever is a band everyone needs to hear, regardless of personal taste. It's music is that compelling. The songs drip with emotion, saturated to the core with an overwhelming feeling of urgency... simply wonderful.'' Album of the month www.decoymusic.com 'Stunning... bands like Jeniferever have never been more essential' 8/10 Rock Sound www.jeniferever.com www.myspace.com/jeniferever

volcano! - Hailing from Chicago and signed to the excellent Leaf Label, this band are on their first UK tour in support of their debut album, which is quite simply stunning. 'What volcano! have achieved in simple terms, is to create the most forward-looking, genre-eschewing, sense-battering album I've honestly ever heard' 10/10 Drowned in Sound www.volcanoisaband.com www.myspace.com/volcaonisaband

The Retro Spankees - They played Southampton last supporting Bearsuit, and they were absolutely brilliant; all mad as hatters. Since then they have supported Misy's Big Adventure on tour (playing everywhere apart from the Southampton date; annoyed!) and have released their debut album. Expect songs about ants, lots of rubber ducks and the biggest smile on your face... www.retrospankees.com

Rival Joustas - Best unsigned live band in the world? If there was such a contest, this Southampton band would surely be one of the favourites. They have recently returned from being on tour with The Mystery Jets. www.rivaljoustas.co.uk www.myspace.com/rivaljoustas

Leisure - criminally under-rated local band. listen to their stuff on myspace and tell us its not true, especailly hey who turned up to... what a tune! www.myspace.com/listentoleisure

Moneytree - "It's cluttered, it's odd and it's also quite spankingly superb'' KKKK Kerrang! Great local band who only recently came to our attention. So many influences... www.myspace.com/treesmadeofmoney http://www.aroundthemoneytree.com/

The Pirate Ship Quintet - stunning post rock 6 piece from Bournemouth. we love them. recently supported Cult of Luna at the Joiners.'The beauty of the Pirate Ship Quintet is in the ease with which they build up, from the simplest of beginnings, to a sound that quite simply knocks all thoughts out of your head. Each song rises to an awesome crescendo of sound before slowly fading into an empty silence' The Fly www.thepirateshipquintet.co.uk www.myspace.com/thepirateshipquintet

Glow - played at one of our Rhino nights recently, and were brilliant. 'Woozy glacial poptronica, weaving lilting vocal purrs, ebbing scuttle beats and a quiet majesty not unakin to Radiohead's forays into laptop weirdness. Bonus points for having a flugelhorn too...' Lo Fi Hi Fi www.fablesofglow.com www.myspace.com/fablesofglow

Cathode-Ray Mission - A late addition to the bill, but a worthy one, as we love this band. Difficult to pin down, with critics comparing them to everyone from Joy Division to Adam and the Ants and Gang of Four. "they're a bit like a sticky-back-plastic Joy Division, or a male Slits, or a scrawny Gang Of Four, or none of those" Drowned in sound www.myspace.com/cathoderaymission

Trial and Error - indie punk upstarts, who played for us last year. They make music that we normally hate, but we like them, which must mean they are bloody good at what they do... www.myspace.com/trialanderroruk

The Streets + Sway

2006-05-17T23:42:00.000+01:00

The Guildhall, Southampton - May 2006
Image: © 2006 Kid 73
Written by Kid 73

“SWAAAAAAAY” shouts the Southampton crowd unanimously, at the request of DJ Turkish. “I can’t hear you!” he retorts. “SWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY” and as if by magic Sway appears with the trademark Union Jack masking his face and pulls a pose, centre stage. Always the showman and a perfect warm-up act, Sway barrels through the likes of ‘Little Derrick’ and the massive ‘Up Your Speed’, to great effect judging by the crowd going nuts. “Southampton up your speed” = crowd participation, something Sway is a master of between rhymes and tracks - so the crowd at Sway gigs love it! They get to hear the hottest MC in the country and the show is personalised – the man's a genius.

The Streets' Mike Skinner is rocking some sort of Miami Vice image at the moment and when he runs onto the stage I get blasted away. The last two times I've seen him he has, quite bluntly, sucked. Not tonight though. His game has been raised and by the time he gets to ‘When You Wasn’t Famous' I'm sold. He worked the stage for all it was worth and when his tracks are given the live band treatment, it blossoms from boy racer music to a more funky-house-almost-disco type of cloud that engulfs everyone and transfixes their gaze. A 19-track set list and I shudder to say it but almost all of them were fuckin' marvellous. (Yes, but are those man boobs? - Ed)

The Kooks Announce Biggest UK Tour To Date

2006-05-17T22:47:00.000+01:00

Press release:

Loveable almost-locals The Kooks, who are currently celebrating their sixth week in the Top Ten singles and album charts, have announced details of their biggest UK tour yet. The 19-date tour includes Southampton Guildhall - hoorah for not-so-easy-to-sell-out venues!

This is their fifth UK tour this year, having sold out their previous four in a matter of days.

The dates which begin in September and run through October are as follows...

September:

Tuesday 26th - Nottingham - Rock City

Wednesday 27th - Bristol - Academy

Thursday 28th - Brighton - Dome

Saturday 30th - Southampton - Guildhall

October:

Sun 1st - Norwich - UEA

Mon 2nd - Newcastle - Academy

Tues 3rd - Leeds - University

Thurs 5th - Sheffield - Octagon

Fri 6th - Manchester - Academy 1

Sat 7th - Manchester - Academy 1

Mon 9th - Exeter - Uni Great Hall

Tues 10th - Cardiff - Uni Great Hall

Wed 11th - Birmingham - Carling Academy

Fri 13th - Cambridge - Corn Exchange

Sat 14th - Glasgow - Barrowlands

Sun 15th - Aberdeen - Music Hall

Tues 17th - London - Forum

Wed 18th - London - Astoria

Thurs 19th - London - Shepherds Bush Empire