Posted on UnderTheGunReview.net on Saturday September 3rd, 2011.
EVENT: Leeds Festival 2011
DATE: August 26-28
LOCATION: Bramham Park
Despite the apparent lack of ticket sales, the annual Leeds Festival was a busy and satisfying weekend of music and comedy. With a mix of indie, punk rock, folk, dub step and more or less anything else you can think of, this year’s Leeds Festival was an eccentric and interesting line-up with plenty to see over three packed days.
Whilst the non-stop rain on Friday made the festival a mud-fest for the remainder of the weekend, We Are The Ocean opened up the main stage to a decent response with sensible choices from their recent album; “Go Now and Live” and at times seemed at home on such a large stage as Dan Brown’s screaming vocals and Liam Cromby’s warming tone resonated well with the festival crowd.
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(Source: underthegunreview.net)
Posted on AlterThePress.com in July 2011.
Tonight’s show sees Man Overboard taking a break from their UK tour with Polar Bear Club for a intimate headline show in Derby. Although a slightly smaller show, the organizers (Derby DIY Collective) pulled together an impressionable line-up. First up were local band, Directions with their Balance & Composure-esque sound which at times seemed drawn out, yet contained enough substance and energy to win over the crowd. With sensible mix of post-hardcore and hardcore punk, Directions seem to be taking the right approach that is more than likely to get themselves noticed in the coming months.
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(Source: alterthepress.com)
Live Review: Day of The Sirens, Baalberith, Before The Fall & Civil Suicide - The Crown & Mitre, Newark - 25/6/11
Published in the Newark Advertiser paper on June 30th 2011.
To be published in the Newark Advertiser on Thursday June 30th 2011.
The Crown and Mitre in Newark hosted a diverse group of alternative music on Saturday night. Local metalcore band, Civil Suicide kicked off the night with a short yet promising set with strong vocals from Connor Dowling and a bold performance from Liam Lawrence on guitars.
Before The Fall followed up with their brand of laid back and pleasing indie rock with Ant Macandrew’s soft, thoughtful lyrics proving to be impressionable, whilst guitarist Philip Matejtschuk, drummer Ben Selfridge and guitarist Fox Auguste provided a highly favourable backdrop to the band’s warming style.
Essex’s Day Of The Sirens were next and having recently been featured on Kerrang! T, the quartet made their mark energetic alternative rock with Jack Fox providing strong melodies, whilst Tommy Hall and Xavier Carter brought a distinctive rhythm section on bass and drums respectively. Experimental black metaller’s Baalberith closed the night with a mix of pounding drums, striking guitar riffs and their overall dark and memorable presentation.
Once again Aaron Bowes and his Anagram Promotions team pulled off a successful and memorable night, that showed local alternative music continues to improve and that there is an audience for it within the local community.
Posted on AlterThePress.com in April 2011.
After a slight confusion as to where the gig was; despite being advertised as being in the Rescue Rooms the show actually take place in the “Red Room” above the former venue. An intimate area where no more than 50 people are here. Nevertheless walking in three quarters way through Brontide’s set, the instrumental trio quickly draw you in with their creative, layered math rock that sees guitarist Tim Hancock and bassist Nathan Fairweather technically tap and stir up an inspiring display, whilst Will Bowerman pounds away in the background. Whilst at times the trio sound complicated, you can’t help but be impressed by the sound they make.
Next up was Derby’s You Animals who left a good impression with their brand of loose indie-pop. Frontman Ryan Needham lives up to his role well; randomly walking through the crowd, taking one members glasses and Brontide’s Tim Hancock vest. Musically the six-piece are tight and fun with ‘What A Shame, Lorraine’; with its bright keys backing the bands feel good indie sound and ‘What You Want/What You Need’ keeps up the momentum. On the whole You Animals delightfully leave their mark.
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(Source: alterthepress.com)
Posted on AlterThePress.com on June 23rd 2011.
Whilst over in Europe for numerous festivals, tonight Jimmy Eat World are back into the UK for the first of two special shows. Unlike the forthcoming festival sets that will include a mix bag of new and old material, tonight is all about two albums that made Jimmy Eat World who they are now; ‘Clarity’ and ‘Bleed American’. On top of that tonight is for the fans who have stuck with the band.
Although the band started a little late, you easily forgive them as the opening moments of ‘Tables For Glasses’ gently draw you in and from there on in the band are pitch perfect and remind you how influential both ‘Clarity’ and ‘Bleed American’.
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(Source: alterthepress.com)
Posted on AlterThePress.com in May 2011.
Despite a bulk of the tour being postponed for scheduling reasons, its somewhat of a saving grace that tonights show was rearranged by five days and furthermore The Xcerts remain as the main support for both this show and the following night in London. Whilst seeing the trio in a larger venue compared to their headline show at The Rescue Rooms last month, their brand of energetic, indie alt-rock transforms well into the setting and are given a warm reception as the bands set is mainly made up of songs from last year’s ‘Scatterbrain’.
As always Murray Macleod’s passionate vocals are a highlight, especially on ‘Distant Memory’ and the closing ‘Hurt With Me’. Whilst at times it seemed like not everyone was paying attention to The Xcerts, those who were left impressed and as a whole their style left a neat segway for what was to come.
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Posted on AlterThePress.com in February 2011.
Whilst previous tours has been built around the bands theatrics, My Chemical Romance have took a regular rock show approach this time round and the bands tour support emphasis this point.LostAlone have the somewhat difficult position of opening, however with a packed out arena, the bands classic-rock influenced style comes across well with riffs that suit the setting and on the whole leave a good impression.
The Blackout step up to the plate of playing in an arena setting in abundance, with their set list consisting of old tracks such as ‘It’s High Tide Baby’, ‘This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things (I Don’t Care)’ and ‘Children of the Night’ and newer numbers like ‘Ambition Is Critical’. As always frontmen Sean Smith and Gavin Butler bounce off each other very well, both vocally and charisma; something that especially adds to the bands set. Overall an pleasing set that exceeds expectations and deservedly warms up the crowd for the headliners.
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(Source: alterthepress.com)
Posted on Alter The Press! in August 2010.
The annual Leeds Festival continues to grow in size every year, with more people taking over Braham Park to finish off the festival season and say goodbye to summer. This year’s line-up consisted of a wide range of artists and bands, that you’re inevitably bound to miss a few bands here and there.
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(Source: alterthepress.com)
Posted on AlterThePress.com in June 2010.
After the apparent poor organizing of Slam Dunk South the day before, the festival returned to its natural home on Sunday, as the Slam Dunk Festival once again to proved to be one of the best up and coming festivals in the UK. Before you read any further I must warn you that I spent most of my time going in between stages and therefore didn’t see many full sets.
Nevertheless Save Your Breath opened the Atticus/Jagermeister stage with their brand of pop-punk that set the tone perfectly for the rest of the day; a set filled wall to wall with upbeat numbers such as ‘Sink and Swim’ and with guest appearances by Sean Smith from The Blackout and Soupy from The Wonder Years, Save Your Breath left a very good impression on the SD crowd.
Next a quick walk over the Relentless stage to see All or Nothing’, whose set didn’t quite manage to get the audience going but my brief viewing was pleasing enough and was enough to fill my need for edgy, fiery pop-punk that the band have honed so well. Back in the Atticus/Jagermeister area, Canada’s Moneen was as energetic as ever with ‘Don’t Ever Tell Locke What He Can’t Do’ being the standard opener. Admittedly I didn’t see all of their set, but Kenny Bridges post-set injured shoulder, gives the impression the band gave it their all.
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