Category: Music

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Countdown to Slam Dunk Festival

It’s less than a week to Slam Dunk Festival and our music writer Amber and team will be heading to the sold out Northern date in Leeds to celebrate the bank holiday with some amazing bands. Amber picks some of the tracks she would love to hear at the weekend…

This year’s line up reminds me of so many great previous line ups that I feel like it’s going to be a weekend of reminiscing alongside so many thriving bands.  To help us countdown to Slam Dunk I’ve picked out a few tracks I’d love to hear this weekend.

Moose Blood

With their second album ‘Blush’ due for release this August via Hopeless Records I cannot wait to hear Moose Blood performing this new track ‘Honey’ live.

Four Year Strong

Is it a pop punk party without Four Year Strong? The answer is no. Slam Dunk have pulled off an amazing line up and I’m going to have very sore feet by the end of the night…

Norma Jean

I may be a little over excited for Norma Jean’s upcoming UK tour but the Impericon stage has such an incredible line up this year I might not venture too far. Let’s just hope no one is chugging milk at Slam Dunk during their set.

Creeper

If you’re yet to catch Creeper on one of their countless tours as they smash the UK then Slam Dunk is your chance. ‘Black Mass’ comes from their E.P ‘The Stranger’ who happens to be that creepy wee figure you can see in the background.

Every Time I Die

Once you hear that cowbell you know that something is going down. Which headliner are you going to watch this weekend?

Real Friends

In the spirit of Slam Dunk pop punk, Real Friends latest video ‘Mess’ comes from the forthcoming album ‘The Home Inside My Head’ due for release May 27th via Fearless Records. They’re playing the O2 Academy indoor stage, North at 5pm, Forum Live, Midlands at 5:15pm and Forum, South at 5pm so don’t miss out!

New Found Glory

It never feels quite like Slam Dunk without some New Found Glory!

Cancer Bats

I missed out on Cancer Bats last UK tour so I cannot wait for their set this Saturday.  With bands like these tearing up the place, it’s a good idea that they’re closing the streets of Leeds for Slam Dunk.

Which Slam Dunk are you attending and who are you going to see?

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Music Review: Adele

Our guest music blogger Verity Vincent had the pleasure of catching Adele at London’s O2 Arena last week, find out what really happens at an Adele concert right here…

As Adele rose from beneath her stage in the centre of London’s O2 Arena, the tingling introduction to Hello ensued and her voice filled the room. With the opening lyric, there was never going to be any other way for her to kick off a show. And what a show it was.

Skipping through her back catalogue with Hometown Glory, Rumour Has It and Skyfall, her newest offerings from the album 25 were cleverly placed amongst the old favourites. With the ribbon of light around the stage, it almost felt like you could’ve been at a 1950’s bandstand event.

It has been overly documented how Adele is one of few with the ability to make a venue of thousands feel like she’s performing for you in your living room, but it’s true. Her simultaneous vulnerability and utter control make you relaxed and excited all at once.

If you frequent social media channels then you may have seen a circulating meme asking “What actually happens at an Adele gig? Do people just stand around together and cry, then go home?” Well, 10% of that may be right. There were no elaborate stage sets, no costume changes or flashing lasers. What an Adele gig offers, is personality, insane vocals, a roller coaster of emotions (there is a high possibility of sporadic outbursts of tears) and pure class… minus the profanities, but that somehow adds to her vast charm.

As Adele returned to the second stage near the centre of the venue for Someone Like You, walls of iridescent fabric descended around her, creating an incredible backdrop for the video feed and if that wasn’t a show stopper, we were about to see one! As the fabric drifted away, raindrops cascaded from the ceiling as she launched into ‘Set Fire to the Rain’.

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After announcing that she was headlining Glastonbury, Adele addressed the subject that some feel her music is “too boring” for a festival atmosphere. Her answer to this? “I ain’t fucking boring!” No, she ain’t! I think many have a preconceived notion that Adele sings ballads and that’s all you get, but her shows are so much more. Talking to her fans about life, loves, her son, funny anecdotes, taking the time out for those all important selfies and bringing young fans onto her stage; it’s a whole package of entertainment, wrapped up in her infectious cackle.

 

Ending on an up-beat note with Rolling in the Deep confetti filled the air – which upon closer inspection had been personalised with song lyrics and notes of thanks. A nice touch and a perfect way to end such a personable evening with 20,000 people.

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Music: Heck ‘Instructions’ Album Launch

‘Instructions’ has been a long time coming for Heck but it was totally worth it. Check out what happened when our music writer Amber attended their album release show….

It was an honour to witness Heck’s album release show at Rescue Rooms in Nottingham last week, and hear what is an outstanding debut album performed in full with an audience, who had clearly backed the band from their first tours to that very day.

The album was released the day of the show, which meant I had it on repeat at work all day and then on the journey to Nottingham that evening. I was so excited to hear them play live and by the time the incredible Raketkanon had got our hearts pumping I was well and truly ready for ‘Instructions’.

‘Good As Dead’ from the get go had Matt flinging himself from a stack of monitors and parting the crowd with the mic lead. It was only fitting that the audience knew the drill- pass the mic stand back then the mic lead.

Heck are becoming more and more renowned for their wild on stage performances and it is incredible that their iconic debut comprises all this live energy into just ten tracks. Their musical dexterity, creative talent and raw power is pushing the boundaries of music and Heck deserve every second of praise not only for ‘Instructions’, but for the mark they have made on music.

Rescue Rooms proved to be the perfect venue for an album showcase. The balcony was rammed with family, that feared for the balcony hoping band and friends safety. A balcony, however, didn’t mean that they were going to miss out on any of Heck’s convulsive action.

Within all the raucous chaos ‘Instructions’ is an album that binds every band member together, conveying their originality perfectly.

‘I. See The Old Lady Decently II. Buried Although III. Amongst Those Left Are You’ was probably the best 16 minutes of my life (although that doesn’t say much for me!) it closed ‘Instructions’ and the release show with a passion that reflected everything Heck have to offer.

Despite all their lunacy Heck never stop thanking the crowd throughout, and it just highlights that not only is ‘Instructions’ pushing the boundaries of music but that these guys have fought hard for this album. As the set closed you could feel the emotion and gratitude in the room. I had the pleasure of talking to Jonny and Matt at Reading Festival last year and there was a strong sense of hestitation about releasing an album that to attend the album release show less than a year later was an honour.

Nothing you read will even begin to sum up this band or ‘Instructions’ until you hear it for yourself.

 

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Music Review: City & Colour

Our guest music blogger Verity Vincent caught the culmination of City & Colour‘s UK tour at London’s Troxy last weekend and boy did they go out with a bang…

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Support from Lucy Rose was the perfect choice for City and Colour. Her combination of soft yet powerful vocals and at times, heavy guitar riffs meant she was positioned with the perfect crowd. Playing a beautiful 40 minute set, Dallas Green stepped on stage to perform Lucy’s ‘She’ll Move’ and created a vocal blend almost as perfect as his with Alecia Moore. (AKA Pink, with their joint project You & Me). She seemed shocked at the number of bodies that had arrived in time to see her play, but the volume was justified. The venue was nearly full and she deserved it.

After some funky mariachi style intro music, Dallas opened with ‘Woman’ from fifth studio album If I Should Go Before You which instantly set the bar for their set. Magical light displays paired with Dallas’ equally magical tone can effortlessly fill any room.

Offering a perfect range of songs from the albums Sometimes, The Hurry & The Harm, Little Hell and Bring Me Your Love, along with 2015’s If I Should Go Before You, the blend of material spanning over a decade offered a nostalgic element as well as showcasing their newest, and equally brilliant, material. Sadly the repertoire didn’t stop the cries of song titles being endlessly screeched, like the band were there to form a human jukebox. Perhaps they take that as a salute to their back catalogue, either way it was suitably ignored.  

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‘Hello, I’m In Delaware’ was the first throwback track and kicked off an all mighty sing-a-long before picking the tempo up again with ‘Wasted Love’. Whether the audience were more familiar with the recent or earlier albums mattered not. Experiencing the sheer ability this man and his band have was clearly at the forefront.

After an impressive display of thirteen songs and swirling, multi coloured lights illuminating the Troxy, the band briefly stepped off stage to return for one outstanding encore. A further four track section of tear inducing music. Standing solo initially, Dallas treated fans to Day Old Hate before whipping out his harmonica for Body in a Box and a universal, “Oh wow”, could be heard as the initial bars flew out of the harmonica.

Switching from the delicate acoustic arrangement of ‘The Girl’ the full band returned for the second half to up the tempo one last time, culminating in a ridiculous vocal and guitar showcase with ‘Hope For Now’.

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There is such a genuinely humble root to Dallas Green, and as he not only thanks the crowd for singing along to every single word and making his dream and career possible, he also thanks his band and each individual that helps put together their show. You feel a sense of pride for being part of something so special, to sing back the lyrics to him that were written in a small Ontario bedroom is an amazing moment to share, especially when the artist is so openly appreciative. Those lyrics mean something to each person standing in the room, as well as him.

This is the third time I’ve been lucky enough to watch City and Colour live and it never fails to leave the impression; Fuck. He’s just so, so incredibly, goosepimpingly good. His voice has the capability to go right through you, head to toe, and he still remains to be one of the most spellbinding vocalists I have ever heard.

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Music Review: The Libertines

Our music writer Amber Carnegie recently saw The Libertines, here’s what she thought of their gig… 

After we caught The Libertines at the end of Reading Festival last year we were unsure of exactly how they were going to take on an arena. They may have sold out when they last played Nottingham but the arena still looked really sparse. The passion and eagerness of their fans made it clear that the faithful listeners weren’t just crammed at the front.

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An arena tour usually comes with an organised act, special effects and rotating drum kits but The Libertines held their edge. There may have been glinting letters and screens but they kept all that to a minimal, even though there were scantily clad ushers handing out beers mid set. But for those paying attention the girls in the red guard jackets were a throw back to the band’s early gigging days.

Opening with ‘Barbarians’ from their latest ‘Anthems For Doomed Youth’ Nottingham saw this tight outfit finally back in sync, back as an identifiable unit, with all their raw rough around the edges sound that had a generation desperate for more. The Libertines are iconic for being one of the first indie bands to to create a scene around them, as they connected with fans through the internet, spreading their tales of Arcadia.

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The Libertines can probably be counted as the inspiration for most indie bands we hear today and as they sped through a a set list of old and new tracks it was clear why they have become so influential.  There were mic shares that brought back images of iconic scenes between Pete and Carl,  but it was Gary Powell that stole the show. I couldn’t take our eyes off of him and the drum kit!

When I think of The Libertines we think of the last of the old school ‘rock stars’ with all the uproar that the media lapped up.  With musicians now living lives online, I wonder how The Libertines would’ve rose to fame and how the band would’ve founded today.  But as they closed their encore with ‘Don’t Look Back Into The Sun’ British icons filled the screens around the arena and there was no doubt that they had earned their place among them.