There Goes The Fear

WIN: Tickets to Blog Off! THIS SATURDAY

Phil Singer — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:21:57 +0000

You’ve probably heard us wittering on about the amazing night of joy and great tunes, Blog Off!? that happens THIS SATURDAY (yes, 20th March 2010). We’ve got Victoria & Jacob, Jazica and Starlings all playing, and a few extra surprises coming too.

And, although they’re going like hot cakes, we’ve held back four tickets (that’s two pairs for two lucky people) to win.

All you have to do is leave your name and email below and we’ll pick two winners at random. We’ll close the competition mid Saturday morning most likely, and we’ll email the winners.

So what are you waiting for? Enter below and we’ll get in touch if you’re a winner!

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If you don’t win, doors are at 7:30pm on 20th March 2010 and tickets are on sale now for those of you that like a discount and planning ahead – they’re just £5 now and will be £6 on the door.

You can order your tickets now on the Roundhouse’s website, or join the Facebook event.

In the Post #53: Kyte – Dead Waves

Emmy Droege — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:00:44 +0000

I’ll admit it. I had never heard post-rock band Kyte before, but I’ll blame that on location more than anything else. Now that I’ve had the fine opportunity to review their upcoming album, Dead Waves, I’m just as curious to delve into their back catalog and discover even more of their ambiguous beauty. This four-piece band hailing from Leicestershire delivers an addictive dose of lush sounds and atmospheric pop that will leave you craving more.

Needless to say, Dead Waves isn’t the type of album you’d put on before hitting the town for a wild night out, although it certainly will come in handy if you’re feeling delicate the following the morning. Still, the album can also be enjoyed even if you’re not wallowing in post-hangover stooper.

The band have been compared to Sigur Ros and Snow Patrol for their sweeping, broad-ranging sounds and pure melodies, but there also tends to be a major parallel to fellow English band Athlete, especially with “You’re Alone Tonight” and “Designed For Damage”, which leans heavily on electro-pop and melodic bliss.

The twelve-song album may seem like a lengthy amount to the iTunes generation, yet the infectious pop and smooth mellowness ebbs and flows throughout the LP gives an impression you’re surfing upon an ocean with steady waves, rather than dead ones as the album title suggests.
As the album progresses, another striking aspect that the band does so seemingly well is balance earnest lyrics against a rising backdrop of percussion and building guitars. This kind of sober intensity is heard through standout tracks “Like She Said” and “Each Life Critical.”

Kyte is the type of band that can draw the most casual listener in with the first song and make them a mega fan by the end of the album. Or at least that’s what seems to have happened with me anyway. Immediately following the band’s 7 ½ minute closer and album title Dead Waves, I had the strong urge of listening to the album all over again. I have a feeling I’m not the only who will pine for another round of listening.

Kyte’s Dead Waves is released on KIDS on 19th April 2010 on CD and Download.

Live Review: Tom McRae at Bristol O2 Academy – Tuesday 16th March 2010

Phil Singer — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:01:41 +0000

Singer-Songwriters are everywhere. Everyone has, at somepoint in their life dreamt of being able to pick up a guitar, strum away and pull that girl or guy with an amazing song, or leading thousands of people in a singalong. Very few actually manage to make a career out of it. Even fewer are actually good, all round musicians and entertainers. Tom McRae is one of this rare and dying species, and I caught him last night at Bristol’s O2 Academy.

I’ve caught Tom a few times before, having been enchanted by him on the Hotel Cafe tour around the UK, where he was funny, entertaining and above all had some gut-wrenching songs that I so loved. We’re not talking the usual tales of failed relationships, oh no, we’re talking death, decay and pain of the nth degree. Yet somehow you leave a Tom McRae show feeling optimistic, positive even, despite the mass sing alongs of “It’s the end of the world…” (in old favourite ‘End Of The World News (Dose Me Up)’).

With his dry sense of humour, Tom observed that his (surprisingly excellent) cover of Rihanna’s Umbrella (which he referred to as his “Tombrella”) got bigger cheers than any of his other songs so far, asking the audience to send in ideas for other merchandise (so far they’ve had a McRadio (that only plays bad news), McRaybans (that always give the darker side of life) and the Tombrella (that lets you have the shade even on the sunniest day)).

Acknowledging fully that commercial success has largely eluded him, he takes pimping his merchandise to a whole new level, past shameful and back around to highly amusing, flogging tea towels, posters and CDs like there’s no tomorrow. If Tom ever gives up the music biz there is most likely a job going for him as a comedian – his tales about touring around the UK (“I only remember doing Leeds Girls Grammar School on that tour…”) and comparing releasing singles to being like raising Orang-utans (don’t ask, you probably had to be there to understand) are both hilarious and a great respite from the melancholy of his tracks..

Opening the set with some songs of his new album, The Alphabet of Hurricanes, I will admit I was concerned that, at 40, he’d gone all “rock” on us in a mid life crisis, however you quickly realise that lyrical content is still the same sort of stuff. I personally far prefer his earlier three albums, however the songs from his latest two (“King of Cards” and “Alphabet of Hurricanes”) are by no stretch “go to the bar” / “talk to a mate” / “go to the loo” material – they’re just as valid set additions. I’m a fan of the sadder tales, the melancholy and the woe, but that might just be due to other issues in my life at the moment. Songs like ‘Walking to Hawaii’, ‘Hidden Camera Show’, ‘My Vampire Heart’ and ‘End Of The World News (Dose Me Up)’ never get old, songs that I’ve grown up with and will always treasure.

Opening up was Texan Brian Wright who also plays guitar supporting Tom, and his set was a strong set of guitar tales, which would be ace if only we had a camp fire to sit around and a few less idiots talking through the whole set.

Tom McRae’s tour finishes tonight at London’s Scala, which is sold out, before Tom hits Europe for a few weeks of shows. If you get a chance, make sure you catch the talented Essex troubadour somewhere in the future – trust me, it’ll be one of the best shows of your life, and if it’s not I’ll pay for your ticket. Can’t say fairer than that, eh?

Read our interview with Tom McRae here.

Video of the Moment #237 : Phoenix

Mary Chang — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:00:40 +0000

French band Phoenix are on a roll. Earlier this year, their latest album ‘Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix’ won the Grammy for Best Alternative Album, handily beating out albums by David Byrne and Brian Eno, Death Cab for Cutie, Depeche Mode and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. They quickly sold out an April date at D.C.’s Constitution Hall – not bad for a band that played a small club the last time they visited our fair city. And they’ve already announced a handful of summer festival appearances, with more on the way I’m sure.

Check out the band’s recent live performance ‘Lisztomania’ at Los Angeles’s Wiltern from American late night programme ‘Last Call with Carson Daly’.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Cymbals Eat Guitars with Freelance Whales and Bear in Heaven at Rock ‘n’ Roll Hotel, Washington DC – 06 March 2010

Mary Chang — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:00:21 +0000

Cymbals Eat Guitars seem to be spending a lot of time in Britain, having played a series of dates in the UK in February in addition to opening for the Flaming Lips during Wayne Coyne’s band’s London residency last November. But earlier this month they started their first major headlining tour of North America in Philadelphia. The second date of the tour was a sold-out show on 06 March at D.C.’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Hotel. (If you’re interested, I had a brief question and answer session with their newest member, bassist Matt Whipple, the first week of March, and you can read it here.)

The two openers for the night were fellow New York bands – the electro-folky Freelance Whales and the experimental pop band Bear in Heaven. I’ve had the misfortune of missing out on Freelance Whales twice – once, when D.C. traffic wreaked havoc on me and Mary Beth’s plans to arrive early for the Fanfarlo concert early last December at Iota (when FW was supporting the London folk pop band) and twice, they had sold out the smaller Black Cat Backstage floor when I was on the bigger, upstairs floor covering We Are Scientists.

This Saturday night, the Whales played to an appreciative crowd, many of whom knew and sang along to songs on their forthcoming, self-released debut album ‘Weathervanes’. The band is an interesting juxtaposition of traditional folk (banjo, accordion) and new-fangled instruments (synth and keyboard) as well as the unusual (xylophone, watering can used as percussion). Note: I thought they were great and the current hype around them is insane, you’d be remiss not to at least have a listen.

Bear in Heaven was the wild card of the night for me, not knowing anything about the Brooklyn band. I thoroughly enjoyed the combination of voice, guitars, synth, and drums coming together to create some atmospheric masterpieces that at times could be called rock and at times could be called dance. You would not have guessed this looking at the three men on stage displaying various stages of beard and mustache. Fun stuff like ‘Wholehearted Mess’ surprised me with the band’s brand of experimental dance. (Is that even a genre?)

When 23.30 rolled around and it was time for the headliner Cymbals Eat Guitars, I was feeling a little apprehensive. I hadn’t been in such a testosterone-fueled, excitement-filled room since seeing the Hold Steady at the 9:30 last summer. The quartet’s sound is tight, sounding better than ever. They powered through several of the songs like ‘Under a Hazy Sea’ (featuring Joseph D’Agostino’s emotional vocals and jangly guitar) and the jaunty ‘Indiana’ from their Memphis Industries’s debut ‘Why There Are Mountains’ and played some new ones for us as well.

I’m pretty sure they could have sold out the next biggest venue in town, the Black Cat, but my feeling is that the rock of Cymbals Eat Guitars feels right in a sweaty, packed place like the RnR. The band heads to South by Southwest this week and I’m sure they will wow the Austin crowd just like they wowed us here in D.C.

After the cut: more photos!

Freelance Whales Photos:

Bear in Heaven Photos:

Cymbals Eat Guitars Photos:

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Two Door Cinema Club / September 2010 UK Tour

Mary Chang — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:00:16 +0000

Northern Irish dance pop band Two Door Cinema Club have just announced a string of 12 dates for September. The tour starts on the 15th of September in Birmingham and includes their biggest headlining show to date, at London’s Shepherds Bush Empire on 22 September. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday (19 March).

Wednesday 15th September 2010 – Birmingham, Academy 2
Thursday 16th September 2010 - Newcastle, Northumbria University
Friday 17th September 2010 – Glasgow, Oran Mor
Saturday 18th September 2010 – Manchester, Academy 2
Monday 20th September 2010 - Sheffield, Leadmill
Tuesday 21st September 2010 – Leeds Metropolitan University
Wednesday 22nd September 2010 – London, Shepherds Bush Empire
Friday 24th September 2010 – Oxford, Academy
Saturday 25th September 2010 – Brighton, Digital
Monday 27th September 2010 – Stoke, Underground
Tuesday 28th September 2010 – Cambridge, Junction
Wednesday 29th September 2010 – Liverpool, Academy 2

Bands to Watch #166: Victoria and Jacob

Jess Grant — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:00:50 +0000

There Goes The Fear are so super duper excited to be hosting their first official gig this coming Saturday (March 20th), we could actually, explode… Blog Off! will be taking place at the Roundhouse studios in Camden Town, London. You can grab all the details, such as ticket prices and starting times here.

Among the act’s playing on the night include indie synth superstars, Starlings (who we first introduced earlier in the year), as well as infectious electro pioneers Jazica.

We’re are also proud to be featuring upcoming duo Victoria & Jacob, on the bill.

Hailing from London, Victoria & Jacob are a robotic pair, making glacier electro with an ice creamy edge. The slow paces of the tin-foil synths have an edge of drowsy melancholy to them. The fairytail, bouncy vocals meanwhile (which NME quite correctly compared to a drunken Joanna Newsom!) allow for a silky contrast, resulting in an atmospheric morse-code mass of sound which is both ambient as well as eclectic (listen out for the temper-fuelled screams of Megadeath, if you don’t believe the latter choice of word!).

And remember to check out Victoria & Jacob, as well as Jazica and Starlings, live at Blog Off! this coming Saturday at the Roundhouse Studios, London. It’ll be ace.

Broken Social Scene / June 2010 UK Tour

Phil Singer — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 09:00:35 +0000

Having lit up the hearts and imaginations of the Hype Machine crowd with new track ‘World Sick, and with their third album “Forgiveness Rock Record” due for release early May, Broken Social Scene have just announced some more UK shows in late June.

Tickets are available at Gigsandtours on Friday morning (19th March 2010)

Saturday 26th June 2010 – Birmingham O2 Academy2
Monday 28th June 2010 – Manchester Club Academy
Wednesday 30th June 2010 – London HMV Forum

Doves / May 2010 UK Tour

Phil Singer — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 08:30:28 +0000

One of Manchester’s brightest talents, Doves have announced a string of UK shows for April and May this year to co-incide with the release of their greatest hits, “The Places Between: The Best Of Doves” which is out on 5th April.

Tickets go on sale on Friday (19th March 2010)

Wednesday 28th April 2010 – Hull City Hall
Thursday 29th April 2010 – Leicester De Montfort Hall
Sunday 2nd May 2010 – Blackburn King Georges Hall
Tuesday 4th May 2010 – Folkestone Lea Cliffs Hall
Wednesday 5th May 2010 – Wolverhampton Civic Hall
Thursday 6th May 2010 – London Troxy
Saturday 8th May 2010 – Liverpool University
Sunday 9th May 2010 – Bradford St George’s Hall

MTV Gonzo this week: Plan B

Phil Singer — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:00:02 +0000

MTV Gonzo has been back for its new series for a couple of weeks now, but tomorrow’s episode is the one that I’m most excited about so far – Plan B. Not usually my cup of tea at all, but I will admit freely that I’ve fallen in love with the six tracks I’ve heard of his new album “The Defamation Of Strickland Banks”.

Plan B (or Ben Drew to his Mum) has gone all soulboy on us, having the sort of influences that you’d get from listening to daytime radio on Magic in the mid 90’s. Apparently in the interview he claims his new album is “like Glee with bollocks”, which sounds like just my sort of music, and an interview that should be funny. He’ll also be chatting to Zane Lowe on the brown couch and doing an acoustic performance of new single ‘She Said’ – watch the official video here (featuring Effy from Skins).

Joining Zane for the second dose of brown-love (get your mind out of the gutter!) will be Kids in Glass Houses from the Valleys of South Wales. The pop-punkers reveal which member of the band can be found on YouTube crowd surfing at a Glassjaw gig, and explain which song guitarist Iain wrote in his bedroom in his underpants.

Meanwhile, the Gonzo Report comes from youtube phenomenon Midnight Beast. Admittedly, when I saw that name I was like “errrr, who?!”, but it turns out they do the sort of well-honed parodies that you’d be stupid to not find funny. Watch this version of Ke$ha’s Tik Tok to get a feel for how great they’ll be.

You can catch this episode of Gonzo tomorrow, Tuesday 16th March 2010 at 10pm on MTV Rocks (formerly MTV 2), or find out more on Gonzo’s website and get involved on Gonzo’s Twitter.