Bristol Live // Honeyblood by Bristol In Stereo

BRISTOL LIVE LIVE & NEW MUSIC MAGAZINE

HONEYBLOOD Dec. 17 | 71

CLOUD NOTHINGS

RELEASES

GOODBYE RFTS, LISTINGS & TONS MORE

PLUS: NEW YEARâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S EVE RADAR INSIDE! 1

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Fri 1st Dec • SOLD OUT

Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes Mon 4th Dec • SOLD OUT

Scouting For Girls Tue 5th Dec • £12.50 adv

LANY

Wed 13th Dec • £27.50 adv

Fish

Sat 10th Feb • £26 adv

Fri 30th Mar • £20 adv

Wed 14th Feb • £19.50 adv

Tue 3rd Apr • £22.50adv

Arch Enemy

The Vaccines

Fri 16th Feb • £20 adv

Fri 6th Apr • £14 adv

The Damned

Hell Is For Heroes Wed 21st Feb • £27.50 adv

Franz Ferdinand Thu 22nd Feb • £15 adv

Thu 14th Dec • SOLD OUT

Shed Seven + Cast

The Temperance Movement

Fri 15th Dec • £19.50 adv

Tue 27th Feb • £17 adv

Purple Rain

A Celebration of Prince

Mon 18th Dec • SOLD OUT

Extreme + Dan Reed Network Thu 21st Dec • £21.25 adv

The Twang + Jaws + Methods Thu 31st Dec • £10 adv 10pm-4am • over 18s only

The Front Bottoms Fri 2nd Mar • £12 adv

Cash - A Tribute to The Man In Black Tue 6th Mar • SOLD OUT

Tom Misch

Wed 7th Mar • £27.50 adv

Feeder

New Year’s Eve: Ramshackle In Wonderland

Fri 9th Mar • £16 adv

Fri 5th Jan • £21 adv

Stiff Little Fingers + RUTS DC

The Hunna

Fri 19th Jan • £17 adv

Motionless In White Thu 25th Jan • From £12 adv 8pm-1am • over 18s only

Chinese Man

Moose Blood

Sat 10th Mar • £20 adv

Wed 14th Mar • £23.50 adv

The Wailers

Thu 15th Mar • £27.50 adv

The Stranglers + Therapy? Tue 20th Mar • £25 adv

Alabama 3

The Amy Winehouse Experience ...A.K.A Lioness Sat 7th Apr • £16 adv RESCHEDULED DATE

MØ + Skott

Sun 8th Apr • £19.50 adv

Epica

Mon 9th Apr • £18 adv

Walk The Moon Thu 12th Apr • £25 adv

Love From Stourbridge

The Wonder Stuff + Ned’s Atomic Dustbin

Mon 16th Apr • £24 adv / £75 VIP

Trivium

Fri 20th Apr • £16.50 adv

The White Buffalo Mon 23rd Apr • £16 adv / £50 VIP

Calum Scott

Wed 25th Apr • £21.50 adv

Skindred + CKY

Wed 2nd May • SOLD OUT

Gomez

Tue 15th May • £19 adv

Brothers Osbourne

Youthstar + ASM, Baja Frequencia, Mophono

Skid Row

Sat 27th Jan • £30 adv

Thu 22nd Mar • £25 adv

Steel Panther

Blue October

Mon 5th Feb • £16.50 adv

Sat 24th Mar • £12.50 adv

While She Sleeps

Vance Joy

Tue 6th Feb • £18 adv

Wed 28th Mar • £21 adv

The Wombats

Jose Gonzalez & The String Theory

Fri 9th Feb • £20 adv

Thu 29th Mar • £17.50 adv

Fri 19th Oct• £13.50 adv

Alien Ant Farm + Soil + Local H Don Broco

The Fratellis

Tue 15th May • £27.50 adv

Machine Head

Sat 19th May • £29.50 adv

Rita Ora

Sun 23rd Sep • £30 adv

Elvana: Elvis Fronted Nirvana

O2 Academy Bristol Frogmore Street, Bristol BS1 5NA • Doors 7pm unless stated

ticketmaster.co.uk

2 2

Venue box office opening hours: Mon - Sat 12pm - 4pm

ticketmaster.co.uk • seetickets.com • gigantic.com

o2academybristol.co.uk

Dec • 2017

01 | 12 | 17

SLEEP TALKING - CROFTERS RIGHTS -

29 | 03 | 18

THE WOMBATS - O2 ACADEMY BRISTOL -

09| 02 | 18

31 | 03 | 18

HAUS

GOAN DOGS

- HY-BRASIL -

- THEKLA -

21| 02 | 18

FRANZ FERDINAND

03 | 04 | 18

BAHAMAS - THE LOUISIANA -

03 | 04 | 18

- O2 ACADEMY BRISTOL -

06| 03 | 18

BELLE & SEBASTIAN

THE VACCINES

- O2 ACADEMY BRISTOL -

06 | 05 | 18

- HALL FOR CORNWALL, TRURO -

20| 03 | 18

DREAM WIFE - EXCHANGE -

23| 03 | 18

ROZELLE - CROFTERS RIGHTS -

NOEL GALLAGHERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S HIGH FLYING BIRDS - MOTORPOINT ARENA, CARDIFF -

A L L T I C K E T S AVA I L A B L E F R O M

SEETICKETS.COM - GIGANTIC.COM BRISTOLTICKETSHOP.CO.UK

The Gallimaufry

Waldo’s Gift

Out of this world musicianship combines Hip-hop, Math, Jazz, Groove & Electronica

6 Dec ~ Waldo’s Gift Trio

Alun Elliott-Williams - Guitar, Harry Stoneham - Bass plus Ben Dowcra (Prudent Primate) deputises for James Vine

13 Dec ~ Reworks: Burial

Paying tribute to an artist, producer, composer or label

20 Dec ~ Waldo’s Gift feat. Rob Pemberton

Talented drummer from progressive folk band Low Chimes

27 Dec ~ Waldo’s Gift feat. Migs Andrews Solid groove drummer and rising star

thegallimaufry.co.uk

Dec

PARQUET COURTS, P12

Bye-bye 2017. ‘Tis the season to be jolly, fa-la la-la-la... gig-gig, gig, gig. Festive Tourette’s aside, it’s been quite a year – stay tuned for the Jan issue in a few weeks, where we’ll be counting down our top albums and looking at some exciting acts for 2018. In the meantime, however, join us in welcoming BLM fave(s) Honeyblood to our cover for the first time. Jon Kean talks to Stina about songwriting, their upcoming show and the threat against that very venue, Thekla. Elsewhere, Rhys Buchanan chats to Cloud Nothings, Roll for the Soul (RIP) pick out their funnest final shows and we see what Bristol’s best venues have planned for NYE. All this plus live listings, new music tips from Christian and a boatload of hot releases for December onward. Music, eh – it’s well good. Loki Lillistone Editor-in-Chief Sales: loki@bristollivemagazine.com New Music Ed Christian Northwood / Live Ed Jon Kean / Release Ed Lor Nov / Plus many more in print and online. Goodbye Mustafa! He moves on to focus on editing Tap The Feed. Welcome Jon Kean, new Live Ed.

PICKS WITH: ROLL FOR THE SOUL

12 16 20

W H AT ’ S N E W ?

24 28 36

NYE RADAR

39 40

DEAR DICK

41 58

LIVE LISTINGS

CLOUD NOTHINGS

COVER: HONEYBLOOD

NEW RELEASES

BRISTOL BECAUSE: T H E G A L L I M A U F RY

I N C A S E Y O U M I S S E D I T: BADBADNOTGOOD

THOUGHTS: BUILDING YOUR OWN WORLD W/ SHE MAKES WA R 5

Guest Picks

This month:

What our pals are into this month.

words by: Rob Wall

Trust Fund (RftS’ Final Gig) 22ND DECEMBER

There’s a lovely symmetry to Trust Fund being the last band that will ever play at RftS. They played the first show we did, in December 2013, when we accidentally became a DIY venue. They also did two nights in a row for their first album launch, which feels like the high point of the golden age when we had no neighbours and could be as noisy as we liked, as often as we liked. 8

Ellis is a bit of a hero to me. He writes perfect pop songs that always have something weird or unsettling about them. He’s also a thoroughly nice person (which sounds dull, but is meant as the highest compliment) who’s been hugely supportive of RftS. I’ll probably well up a bit during their set on the 22nd. A shout out also to Speed Skater, who are sharing the bill and whose Olympic Gold is one of my records of 2017.

Spunking Octochoke 15TH DECEMBER

There was a time when it felt like pop punk was our thing, if we had a thing. And much as I believe that pop punk is humankind’s greatest achievement (see: Martha), these days I reckon this sort of angular queerness might be our thing. And I’m quite happy about that. It’s been a privilege to provide a space for the wilfully noncommercial in the city centre. The Spunking Octochoke album launch is on the 15th, with the record being released by our dear friends at Liquid Library. Like Trust Fund, they embody all that’s great about DIY.

Closing Party 16TH DECEMBER

Actually on our penultimate weekend, there are no bands, but we’ll all be taking to the decks from 5-11pm as we soundtrack our attempt to get rid of the remaining booze stocks. Expect drone, dub, indie-pop, jungle, pop punk (obviously), techno and possibly a whole Propagandhi album. We’ll also be raffling off as much of our old tat as we can, so come prepared to return home with a small piece of history (I’m not trying to big us up here. Literally everything is a small piece of history). RftS has been a fixture for lovers of DIY music, cycling and coffee since 2013.

What’s New?

Fresh tales from the BLM radar with:

Christian Northwood New Music Editor

Drahla Something very dark seems to be happening in the North at the moment. Whilst most seem to be scrabbling to hype the latest act from South London, Yorkshire seems to be throwing out band upon band of gritty, noisy post-punk, and Drahla might be the top of the pile. Harnessing the same bleak, echo-laden sounds of acts like Joy Division and Public Image Ltd, but injecting it with squealing, off-kilter guitars, Drahla sound as apocalyptic as they come. 12

The three-piece have just released their debut EP Third Article, and it pulls together the rumbling basslines and haywire guitars of their previous two singles ‘Fictional Decision’ and ‘Faux Text’ into a claustrophobic, enthralling experience. EP opener, ‘Form of Luxury’, embodies their sound perfectly; guitars wail around Luciel Brown’s deadpan vocals, while the deep, melodic bassline keeps the madness in order. The lyrics damn “surplus spinning on a capital vehicle” and “cavernous rooms decided by wealth” before culminating in chants of “form of luxury, form a line.” We need bands like Drahla to help us rally against the darkness now more than ever. Form of Luxury

drahla.bandcamp.com

Jamie Cruickshank Jamie is hardly an unfamiliar face in the Bristol music scene, though this is a guise that’s rather different from anything else you may have seen him doing. While he’s usually creating havoc and noise in bands like The Gnarwhals and Human Bones, his solo project finds him stripping back completely, switching the electric for either an acoustic or a banjo and creating beautiful, wintery folk. His voice is husky, soulful and tender, complementing the earthy guitar and violin tones perfectly. His music has flecks of Americana, but is distinctly Bristolian, as debut single ‘I Can See Totterdown’ not-so-subtly attests to.

PHOTO: ROWAN ALLEN

I Can See...

Bristol, generally, is known for its noise. Generations of artists have created full-throttle, visceral music, but audiovisual duo Corre have decided to buck this trend. Shrouded in mystery, Corre create hypnotic compositions; a mixture of contemporary electronics and intricate classical piano. These songs are then partnered with lush videos, perfectly pairing with the ever-shifting songs that they sit against. Recently-released album Form lets you drift through soothing textures, each song evolving and opening slowly, with tracks like ‘Aeon’ and the title track creating bubbles of sound for you to immerse yourself in. Corre are ready to take you somewhere else. Aeon

cruickshank.bandcamp.com

Corre

soundcloud.com/correcreative

Get more new music from Christian every Monday via Tracks of the Week at bristollivemagazine.com 13

W. R h y s B u c h a n a n

CLOUD NOTHINGS “It’s going to be a burial at sea...”

t’s unusual that Cloud Nothings are coming back to Bristol for the second time under this year’s Life Without Sound, but we’re certainly not complaining. The last show aboard Thekla was nothing short of a beautiful mess as they delivered their angsty, emotional pop anthems. The follow-up date this month offers a rare chance to see how the record has evolved since being taken on the road.

When we put all this sentiment to frontman Dylan Baldi, however, he has a more practical way of looking at things: “It’s going to be great. I know where the green room is and my phone will automatically connect to the Wi-Fi,” he laughs. He does reveal though that the record has come into its own since their last appearance in the city. “It just sounds stronger and we’ve gotten a bit tighter. All of the songs sound better and they’re a little dirtier than they are on the record.” The album already punched us one in the heart when it dropped. Despite the noisy façade it was evident there was something serious behind the tracks. Dylan agrees with this: “That stuff was all written during a very confusing, lonely and sad time in my life. I think a lot of that comes out lyrically for sure.” Although he makes it clear that this wasn’t necessarily intentional: “I don’t sit down and think I’m going to write a song about a specific thing. Although eventually I realise what all of the songs are about. Around now actually, once a year has passed, I’ve toured it and sang them a thousand times so I know what they’re about”.

Perhaps one of the most lovable assets of the record is that it’s very melodic and innocent at the same time as being raucous. This was because the songs came together in a very simple fashion. “I was living in Massachusetts with my girlfriend and I didn’t know anybody where we lived. So I just bought a shitty little acoustic guitar and wrote songs on that.” That clearly played a big part in the finished product. He continues, “I was like layering things on top of each other in a very electronic kind of way. I had Ableton and I was trying to record stupid little rock songs on that. I don’t know why I was doing it that way because I hadn’t done it before”. Now though it seems like Dylan and the band are gearing up for a quick turnaround on any material beyond the tour. “I would love to do a record next year, that would be the goal. It seems natural to get something out quickly. I don’t know what it will be like but once we finish touring I’ll devote some time to that.” There’s also a potential shift in sound on the horizon as well. “I think I want to do something different. I write little pop songs easily but I almost feel like there are diminishing returns personally when I keep doing that. It feels like a mode I can switch into automatically and be like, here’s another one of these. I guess it would be fun to do something on a larger scale. Maybe like a longer piece rather than a poppy collection of tunes but who knows.” Before we part, our thoughts turn back to the monster of a date ahead. Dylan says, “You’ve had the beginning and now you’re getting the end — and then we’ll throw it off the boat. It’s going to be a burial at sea for Life Without Sound in Bristol. Come to the gig, it’s going to be insane.” Cloud Nothings play the good ship Thekla on 11th December, with Life Without Sound out now on Carpark. 17

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New School vol.1

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J o n K e a n P. S e a n B e l l

HONEY-BLOOD Stina Tweeddale is on a train as we talk. Friday night socialites in the background sound raucously energetic. If you’ve heard Honeyblood’s 2016 album, Babes Never Die, you’ll know it’s similarly exuberant and forthright. “I think there’s no better feeling than releasing your anger, especially when you play music. It’s probably the most therapeutic thing I can think of doing. I’m probably not as pissed off as people think I am, though. Maybe it’s a warning for people - don’t piss me off, or you’ll get a song written about you.” It’s been a landmark year for the duo: “We’ve just had the one-year anniversary of the record being out. It definitely is a time for us to be reflecting. It’s been pretty wild. We went to Australia and Singapore for the first time; we did a lot of festivals – played the main stage at Reading and Leeds.”

When I asked whether they’d really expected the album to make such an impact, Stina responded, “For us it was a big deal, because it was the first record on which Cat’s been able to be a part of the creative and recording process. At this point, she gallantly broke off the conversation to rescue a helpless stranger who couldn’t find the button to lock the toilet door and ran the risk of being exposed, mid-business. When she’d done her compassionate bit for humankind, we spoke about what Cat Myers has brought to Honeyblood: “She is such a phenomenal musician. She certainly drives me to push my boundaries. When we started doing the live stuff

“Don’t piss me off, or you’ll get a song written about you.”

together, it was so exciting. Everyone who came to the shows really embraced her. There was no looking back as soon as she joined.” Cat was fortunate to receive the dream callup to fill in on drums for Mogwai on their current tour. Who should be giving Stina the call-up next?: “Nobody has called so far. It’s T-Shirt Day and I’ve still got my Breeders shirt on, so I guess if they wanted a second guitarist, or if PJ Harvey needed someone to duet with, you could pass my number on.” That phrase, ‘babes never die’ still resonates as strongly a year on: “I’ve got it tattooed on me. I’d been saying it for years and eventually went and got it permanently written on myself, and then I wrote the song after that. ‘Babes…’ is still one of my favourite songs that we’ve ever written. Recently, people have been sending me pictures of their own ‘Babes Never Die’ tattoos, which is insane. When you communicate with your audience on a level where they carry your words around with them every day, it’s really moving.” Even if they’re not inked under your skin, it’s easy to end up with Honeyblood lyrics etched on your brain. Their 2016 album cover has an engaging cover, featuring one of the feral girls from the ‘Ready for the Magic’ video: “Her name is Darcey. I had an idea about a tribe of girls who had to fend for themselves. They’re crooked and weird, with a vicious, horrific side to them – something you don’t normally associate with little girls. The director we worked with, Thomas James, took my idea and ran with it. He made it more twisted than I had ever imagined. I guess Darcey represents the way you are when you’re a young kid. You have all this passion and fire. So the image of Darcey being strong, and yet quite vulnerable, left in the woods to fend for herself, shows two sides to the album title”. 22

Forthcoming new material alert! “We’re writing. We’re in full swing now. We’ve got our last little run of December shows and then we’re just in the studio until we have our next album. It’s very exciting; we’re back to the creative process, which is super scary, but enjoyable when it clicks and you can see where things are going.” Aware of the threat to Thekla, the venue they play on 18th December, she backed it wholeheartedly: “When you see a venue you’ve played that’s in jeopardy, it really gets to you. Some of my favourite venues in Edinburgh and Glasgow have shut down over the last couple of years, ones that have become part of our own history. It’s really disheartening when closure’s potentially down to a noise complaint, and that could be avoided. It’s depressing when you’re trying to keep live music alive, if there aren’t venues of the right capacity to help emerging musicians develop. If there’s nowhere for the bands to play, there’ll be no music.” This will be their first headline show below decks at Thekla; expect a party: “Last time we were in Bristol, we played The Fleece and ‘show day’ was my birthday. Cat had arranged halfway through for me to have my own karaoke session, because I love it. I sang The Coors’ ‘So Young’, because I’m always singing it but she hates it. She’d organised for me to have a blue screen with the words on and a bouncing dot over them. It was pretty special.” Honeyblood play Thekla on 18th December. Babes Never Die is out now on Fat Cat Records, with their third effort due next year.

NYE Radar

What Bristol’s favourite venues have planned this new year’s.

17/18

Best of Bristol Hy Brasil | £6adv What do BBC Introducing, Tap The Feed and 1% of One all have in common? As well as being muchloved diverse pillars of Bristol music, they – and many others – are copresenting one of the most exciting collaborative nights this NYE, in the form of ‘Best of Bristol’. Boasting nine acts, presented by nine Bristol faves, it’s an easy one to get excited about. Acts include the nascent but mighty Harvey Causon, fresh from a sold-out 24

single launch, the B-side for which was featured on our recent download compilation, New School Vol. 1. His brand of ethereal chill-pop is as dreamy live as it is on record, yet with forays into some less expected places. Other notable spots on the bill include No Violet – imagine Alanis Morissette fronting a rough At The Drive-In – TROPIC, a recent new music pick of note, and Bristol duo MAUWE, who just hit a million views on their first single ‘That’s All’. Other presenters include Leisure Records, The Bristol Music Show, Nitelife, Electric Harmony and more.

One Eyed Willie’s The Louisiana | £10adv+ Building on its recent success, OneEyed Willie’s NYE Hoedown is back for a second year across two stages at The Louisiana. Last year saw some unmissable Bristol scene mashups, with this round seeing ‘Lame Judy Dench’ – a one-off supergroup featuring members of Scarlet Rascal, Jesuits and Bubba – put

their tongue-in-cheek spin on some familiar tunes. Jesuits themselves are also on the bill with more TBA, plus DJ sets downstairs from IDLES, Rise and others.

Cirque du Fat Lip The Lanes | £5adv Tried and true pop-punk party purveyors, Fat Lip, are back with another night of bands and DJs, turned up to eleven in honour of NYE. Their ‘Cirque du Fat Lip’ will be steeped in emo circus chic, with a live bill headed up by in-house supergroup the Fat Lip Allstars, featuring members of Bristol’s most FL-apt bands. Montroze also play their final show, and our pick of the night, Phoxjaw open up proceedings.

Funk Yeah! NYE Colston Hall | £35adv To say BBC 6Music host and veteran DJ Craig Charles’ Funk & Soul Club is well-renowned would be an understatement, so with the Colston Hall set to focus that inimitable energy though a New Year’s Eve party, it’s safe to call this the night of the year for those into soul, funk, disco or reggae. Joining Charles on the DJ front are the 25-year-strong Soul Train, Don Letts and more, plus live sets from jazz-funksters the James Taylor Quartet and the utterly bananas Correspondents.

The Next Movement The Gallimaufry | Free The Galli is famed for fantastic free events and this NYE is no exception. Expect “live hip hop with an all-star cast” plus DJs until 3am amid classic friendly Galli vibes.

Crinkle Cuts Den Party Mr Wolfs | From £5adv Crinkle Cuts bring their fusion of funk, reggae and Latin ska to Mr Wolfs amid a woodland wonderland theme. Come in fancy dress for a Mad Hatter-style party with Project Pixie face painting and more. 25

Top of the PopCon Thekla | From £12adv

“It’s everything you wanted to hear on a night out, but were too afraid to ask...”

This year guilty pleasure aficionados, Pop Confessional, present Top of The PopCon, their tribute to Top of the Pops. Bringing you hits from the ages, take a drunken trip through time and challenge your friends to a duel over which decade was really the best. Down in the hold you’ll find this year’s biggest anthems interspliced with the hits of old, whereas up on the deck it’s classic 70s disco, with hints of soul, funk and hip hop. Fancy dress is encouraged, so don your anachronisms and practice your awkward TOTP teenager dancing. Feelings of guilt optional.

NYE House Party Crofters Rights | £5adv

Kisstory SWX | £12adv+ One of the biggest old skool parties around, Kiss FM presents another instalment of Kisstory, this time for NYE. Expect a tsunami of hip hop, garage and R&B from a name-DJ lineup yet TBA.

Crofters Rights bring together their favourite DJ crews from across Bristol for the mother of all B2B sessions – from the bar, to the main room, to the pizzeria. Having thrown some of the best parties the venue has seen this year, via a range of EDM genres, Musu kick things off, followed by Satsumas, The Love Below, Bodywork and Colours. 26

Free Party TBA | Mother’s Ruin The Ruin’s free parties always deliver. DJs TBA and cheap drinks ‘til 4am. Thunderbolt Beach Ball | £9adv The Dukes of Mumbai play 60s surf rock, followed by DJs ‘til late. Pontchartrain | Kingsdown Vaults | Free The Americana-steeped Pontchartrain play their traditional NYE slot at the KDV

Free Live Music TBA The Canteen | Free Head to Stokes Croft for a “classic Canteen knees-up with some of the best musicians in the Southwest.” Stay tuned for this free night’s lineup.

The Rin Tins + The Railway Sleepers The Golden Lion | £10adv The Rin Tins are a party band who are hard to resist. On paper it’s all swing this and oompa that, but it’s their unique energy that’s landed them firmly in Bristol’s hearts since their inception in 2011. Joining them onstage for this very Golden Lion-ready shindig are The Railway Sleepers, no doubt bringing the punky swing and oddball Balkan sounds for which they’re famed. Festival vibes to set one of the year’s coldest nights on fire.

The Fleece Ramshackle in Break Stuff £10adv+ Millennium Wonderland Monster Ball O2 Academy | £12.50adv+ Few nights in Bristol are more established than Ramshackle. Imagine, if you can, DnB, house, grime and bassline under an Alice in Wonderland theme.

Tremor: The NYE Who Shagged Me Trinity Centre | £18adv+ A 60s and 70s-themed celebration with an extremely long list of performers from hip hop to funk to jungle, all with some serious theological overtones.

Nu-metal club night, Break Stuff, invite you back to the biggest NYE in living memory, 1999; the home of – in their words – “the Nokia 3210, American Pie, Napster and Chris Tarrant’s Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.” Expect to hear all the nu-metal and associated genre classics, of course, but they’ll also be showing the millennium countdown in full and giving out free disposable cameras for that real 90s vibe – when things were crap, but that just made them better.

Disco Ball NYE Tobacco Factory | £38 It seems Studio 54 is alive and well at the Tobacco Factory this year, for a party hosted by Supersmash. Disco edit legend The Reflex will be bringing his choice first-wave remixes, faithful to the genre, while Bristol’s own Jimmy The Twin (Boogie Café Records) and DANL make their choice selections. Elsewhere, a big top hosted by Bedmo Disco has circus performers from Cirque Bijou and guest DJs. All this plus a live set from Afro-Latin electronics band, Penya, in the Thali space.

New Releases

Records cut, pressed & out this month.

Slonk Losing My Mind... Self-Release | 01.12

Slonk is the fiercely-DIY project of Joe Sherrin, known for fronting punk band, Milo’s Planes. Releasing a solo record last year, Sherrin presented fragile and endearing songwriting within rough-edged, spirited noise, a suitable embodiment for the anxious melancholy that fills the thematic air, characterising Slonk as a whole. Now with a new EP, Slonk is showing fine progression, Sherrin identifying the melodic 28

possibilities that can be subtly unearthed from within, while still embracing the brittle nature of its delivery. Losing My Mind on the Outside of Everything is another engaging chapter from a spirit just trying to find their place within the world. The balance of animation and composure evokes a beautiful atmosphere across the EP’s short twenty minutes. ‘Carousel’ gently explores the cycle of life in pursuit of happiness, full of instrumental swells and slight changes in pace, while ‘Blackboards’ and ‘Die Here’ unearth emotion amongst the progressions, whether uplifting catharsis or reflective disappointment. What’s most striking is Sherrin, delivering with evident subjection throughout as notions lay bare with a graceful detail – it’s a thoroughly compelling listen. Ross Jones

THE DUNWELLS COLOUR MY MIND Playing in Traffic | 01.12

Leeds-based quartet The Dunwells have certainly committed to developing their sound since the release of their 2012 debut. This month’s new five-track release, a year in the making, showcases an impressive collection of alt-pop melodies and folk-rock influences, blended with the unquestionable harmonies of the band’s four vocalists. Title track ‘Colour My Mind’ takes on a gospelinspired, feel-good atmosphere, straying somewhat from the melancholic tones of the band’s earlier work. A particular highlight by the name of ‘Fire Down’ is seductively aggressive, while the band’s traditional sombre folk arrangements return for ‘Battling Life’, reinventing the signature Dunwells sound that we already know and love. Kelly Ronaldson

BELLE AND SEBASTIAN HOW TO SOLVE OUR HUMAN PROBLEMS: PART 1 Matador | 08.12

2017 has resounded with human problems. Belle and Sebastian issue the first of three consecutive monthly EPs, the title suggesting a therapeutic instruction manual for contemporary living. On this evidence, nostalgia is a major requirement. ‘Fickle Season’ and ‘Sweet Dew Lee’ recall 70s lounge pop, with a mid-section in the latter like a classic American cop show theme. ‘The Girl Doesn’t Get It’ could introduce an 80s quiz, its ‘My Sharona’ bassline lending a slightly restless groove. Stuart Murdoch goes all Neil Tennant on ‘We Were Beautiful,’ remembering halcyon days to an Emeli Sandé beat. Predominantly-instrumental closer, ‘Everything Now’ is a Chumbawamba-meets-PinkFloyd chill-out, with Air’s Moon Safari for additional solace. Jon Kean

PUSSYLIQUOR 7” WONDER Revulva | 08.12

When your beloved gives you the new Pussyliquor AA-side for Christmas, consider two possibilities. Either it’s loving approval of your fine taste in narky, anarchic Brightonian punk, or, taking the rampant scorn of lead track, ‘Get Out’ as a yardstick, it might be an omen that good will isn’t on the festive agenda. Pussyliquor’s aim is to put the “amp into tampon,” which sounds painful, but their riotous grrrlhood is truly electric. Second song, ‘Kitty Kitty’, sticks its claws into cat-callers and draws blood. Short and caustically sharp, this release makes an ideal stocking-filler for all lovers of profanity – and a bracing alternative to commercial radio’s hellish festive musak loop. Jon Kean

TUE.05.DEC.17

SUN.21.DEC.18

WED.21.FEB.18

TUE.05.DEC.17

FRI.26.JAN.18

THU.22.FEB.18

WED.06.DEC.17

MON.29.JAN.18

FRI.23.FEB.18

TUE.12.DEC.17

TUE.30.JAN.18

SAT.24.FEB.18

THU.14.DEC.17

THU.08.JAN.18

SAT.24.FEB.18

TUE.19.DEC.17

THU.08.FEB.18

FRI.25.FEB.18

THU.04.JAN.18

SUN.18.FEB.18 FRI.27.FEB.18

MON.15.JAN.18

TUE.20.FEB.18

THEKLA

LIVE LISTINGS The Grove East Mud Dock Bristol BS1 4RB theklabristol.co.uk | thekla.club F L theklabristol | I X theklabris

alt-tickets.co.uk • gigantic.com • bristolticketshop.co.uk

THURSDAY 1ST FEBRUARY

FRIDAY 1ST DECEMBER

BLAENAVON

SOLD OUT

THE OH HELLOS

+ CAROUSEL

+ THE NIGHT CAFE

SATURDAY 3RD FEBRUARY

HOT SNAKES

SATURDAY 2ND DECEMBER

THE SPITFIRES

THURSDAY 8TH FEBRUARY

+ THE NOVATONES

GIRAFFAGE

SUNDAY 3RD DECEMBER

NECRO

WAY OUT WEST LIVE

TUESDAY 5TH DECEMBER

PUMAROSA

TUESDAY 13TH FEBRUARY

HOLLIE COOK

THURSDAY 7TH DECEMBER

BROKEN WITT REBELS MONDAY 11TH DECEMBER

CLOUD NOTHINGS & THE HOTELIER WEDNESDAY 13TH DECEMBER

ARDYN

+ WILDES + MAX RADFORD

THURSDAY 14TH DECEMBER

TALL SHIPS

+ TANGLED HAIR + T. HAYES MONDAY 18TH DECEMBER

HONEYBLOOD FRIDAY 12TH JANUARY

BATUSHKA

+ SCHAMMASCH + TREPANERINGSRITUALEN MONDAY 22ND JANUARY

ESCAPE THE FATE + SET TO STUN

TUESDAY 23RD JANUARY

TO KILL A KING SATURDAY 27TH JANUARY

ELDER ISLAND

+ HOTEL GARUDA

SATURDAY 10TH FEBRUARY

+ SKINNYMAN

+ GENERAL ROOTS

SATURDAY 17TH FEBRUARY

PARADISE LOST SUNDAY 18TH FEBRUARY

DERMOT KENNEDY FREE ENTRY

SATURDAY 24TH FEBRUARY

THE STYLE COUNCILLORS TUESDAY 27TH FEBRUARY

HIGH TYDE THURSDAY 8TH MARCH

THE DIY CLASS OF 2018 TOUR

FEATURING: PALE WAVES + OUR GIRL + BLOXX FRIDAY 9TH MARCH

INSECURE MEN THURSDAY 22ND MARCH

TOM WALKER TUESDAY 27TH MARCH

THE MAGIC GANG THURSDAY 29TH MARCH

ELIZA AND THE BEAR 31

OLA SZMIDT EP 1 Self-release | 01.12

Perhaps the most stunningly affecting facet of musical exploration is the awakening of sensual imagination through melodic connection. On York-based musician Ola Szmidt’s debut EP, haunting beauty and enigma permeates through every sonic level, plunging the listener into a bewildering and unfamiliar setting of darkness. Opener ‘Autumn’ relies upon unconventional yet poignant ritual chanting

to leave its emotional stain, while Szmidt’s liquid tones are emphasised against an ethereal and jangling jazz background on ‘Moja’. The most spiritually-rewarding moments are experienced through the vocal and instrumental layering of ‘Satellites’, with its deeply evocative effort an encapsulation of the writer’s tender approach. Will Perkins

THE SPOOK SCHOOL COULD IT BE DIFFERENT? Alcopop! Records | 26.01

The choice to be yourself is one that’s made every day, over and over. From the gnarled bounce of ‘Still Alive’ through the sunshine-y relaxation and clear skies of ‘Bad Year’, The Spook School’s Could It Be Different? soundtracks that decision. It celebrates you and all that you stand for. Furiously angry, but using that fire to fuel something bigger than themselves, 32

this record scratches beneath the surface and shines bright in the face of adversity. Get up and go party anthems fall into quiet reflections and hard-earned lessons, but there’s a resilient spark that beams throughout. The world could be a different, but this record couldn’t be better. Ali Schutler

TUNE-YARDS I CAN FEEL YOU CREEP INTO MY PRIVATE LIFE 4AD | 19.01

Tune-Yards is known for using abstract percussive elements which can be equal measures jarring and fascinating. Yet her fourth record stands as the most consistent and upbeat, whether firing out 80s bass slaps in ‘Look At My Hands’ or crooning over grungy sonic atmospherics in ‘Free’. At the same time however, ‘Coloniser’ holds selfaware observations on race and ‘Now as Then’ scolds needing permission to act like a woman. I Can Feel You Creep into My Private Life is urgent and captivating pop music which can be danceable and eerily serene all at once. Oliver Evans

DOT PRODUCT VS THE BEAMZ OUR LOVE IS A RAGING SEA Self-release | 01.12

There are ambitious projects and then there’s this. The Beamz have teamed up with Dot Product to rework material from their original classical production, Russian Winter, a multi-media theatrical piece inspired by Bulgakov’s The Master and Margarita. The result is a heavy, sinister and stark listen, packed with angst and uncertainty. Title track ‘Our Love Is A Raging Sea’ is the perfect example of this, making for the perfect soundtrack to a cold Stalin regime. Despite the industrial sensibilities, there’s a lot of space and tension, with eerie vocals building throughout. This is a bold and immersive project taking the idea of a concept album to another level. Rhys Buchanan

COUSIN KULA OODLES Chiverin | 01.12

We’ve all got one cousin who’s a little bit weird, an idea clearly embraced by Bristol-based group Cousin Kula on their freaky new EP, Oodles. The five-song effort oozes with seductive versatility, proving reminiscent of Tame Impala’s finest work whilst remaining original enough to avoid becoming a weak imitation, or reliant on clichéd tropes. Oscillating between the psychedelic bliss of ‘Working For It’, and the funky haze of ‘Off Your Chest’, the release nonetheless flows forcefully, aided by the soothing, mellifluous tones of Elliot Ellison’s distinct vocals, highlighted on standout track, ‘What You Know’ by his wails throughout of “unforgettable”, an apt description of his band’s work. Will Perkins 33

LITTLE BABY SHARKS EP 1 Invisible Llama | 02.12

The debut release from Bristol’s Little Baby Sharks, EP 1 proves to be true to the band’s name: Short, snappy and with a little bite. Blending a typical punk urgency with heavy metal-influenced instrumental combos, the three-piece channel an appealing playfulness through their otherwise aggressive sound. With a precise directness to their work – each

track runs just over two minutes – the group switch between the alarming male vocals of ‘Moon Hacks’ and ‘Love’ and the arresting, Americanesque female tones on ‘Riding in Cars’ and ‘Sheep Dog’, powerfully creating an intriguing versatility atop an otherwise consistent sound. Will Perkins

DREAM WIFE SELF-TITLED Lucky Numbers | 26.01

Among the outstanding names to continue the legacy of bands such as The Julie Ruin and Sleater Kinney, London punk trio Dream Wife release their self-titled debut next month via Lucky Number. Packed with seductive riffs, punk-infused undertones and an infectious pop nature, the eleven-track record does not disappoint. Highlights come in the form of ‘Somebody’s memorable chorus and the cheerful girl34

band atmosphere of ‘Kids’, but it’s album opener ‘Let’s Make Out’ that takes centre stage here. While the band’s name marks an unapologetic commentary on society’s objectification of women, their sound blends traditional indie-rock with electropop vibes, anthemic vocals and a political pop twist – an impressive combination guaranteed to go far. Kelly Ronaldson

KHRUANGBIN CON TODO EL MUNDO Late Night Tales | 26.01

The sophomore album from Texan trio Khruangbin mixes a diverse set of influences in order to create a satisfyingly whole. Con Todo El Mundo (‘with everyone’), much like the group’s debut, combines Thai funk, American gospel and the instrumental surf rock of Hank Marvin to create a relaxed psychedelia which is very much the band’s own. Instruments take priority over vocals in the Khruangbin world as the bass, organ and drumming provide a funky yet mellow backbeat for guitarist Mark Speer’s lead licks. The album’s understated cool is a perfect soundtrack for escapism on a cold winter’s night, so pour yourself a cocktail, lie back and let the music take you somewhere warm. Tim Ellis

HATER RED BLINDERS Fire Records | 01.12

Hater are a wonderfully expressive group. Their first full-length, the tender melancholy of You Tried, introduced us to a group with understated songwriting ability and the mysticism of being from a small town in Northern Europe – something that thankfully has not come to completely define who are they are as a group, due to their aforementioned propensity. New, EP ‘Red Blinders’ – their first for Fire Records – shows a surprisingly immediate development, the group finding the perfect serenity in clarity for their slowly unveiling pop. The EP swells withins its yearning layers of guitar and Caroline Landahl’s startling temperament, all the while displaying their affectionate distillation of songwriting, their biggest asset. Ross Jones

BEANS ON TOAST CUSHTY X-Tra Miles Recordings | 01.12

In a typically-indignant Frank Turner-esque manner, you feel directly addressed throughout the entirety of this album. The acoustic guitar-driven folk flits from the American to the Celtic, although the jaunty piano later invokes a slight Chas n Dave vibe. Often sidestepping poetic device for a diatribe of prose, it’s reminiscent in lyrical style to The Streets, yet lacking the wit and playfulness which made them so endearing and entertaining. The sociopolitical commentary in particular feels awkwardly shoe-horned in and eye rollingly-preachy. This is a shame, as the record does demonstrate some overt storytelling skill, such as on the precise ‘Taylor Swift.’ Stuart Tidy

BRISTOL BECAUSE... City chat with our fave people.

Answers by James Koch

When did you first move to Bristol? 20 years ago – circa 1998 – to study Psychology at Bristol University.

Who’s your top Bristol artist at the moment? Waldo’s Gift trio of Alun Elliott-Williams, Harry Stoneham and James Vine. Such a talented and hard-working band – pushing boundaries every Wednesday at the Galli, in fact.

crew). Bellita on Cotham Hill for lovely small plates and chats with the girls (dangerous wine list). No Man’s Grace on Chandos Rd. Chef patron John Watson helped set up the Galli back in the day, incredible talent.

What’s your favourite thing about the city? The collaborative, progressive spirit.

And your least favourite? Homelessness...

What are your favourite eats around the town?

What are you most looking forward to at the Galli for 2018?

Tare in Wapping Wharf. Chef patron Matt Hampshire is an amazing chef and part of Soulworks (brilliant Bristol DJ

First up: Maximillian Malone’s #GalliCosmos

The Gallimaufry is an oasis of great music, thoughtful food and friendly faces on Gloucester Road’s promenade. Follow @thegallibristol on Instagram to see mysterious pieces of #GalliCosmos form. 36

Behind Every Musician

@WeAreTheMU

Dear Dick The best bad advice for your musical problems...

Dear Dick, Everyone used to bang on about having a thousand songs in your pocket, now it seems we have every piece of music ever made at the swipe of a screen. Where can it possibly go next?!

Danny, Bedminster You are presently in the future. All those sci-fi wet dreams of unified communication-entertainment devices with sweet UIs are here; it’s just not as exciting because you keep having to upgrade and buy different shaped chargers. Take a step back and look at everything you can do with your tech; consume adverts surreptitiously, abuse perfect strangers over their opinions and, of course, pay artists a pittance by streaming their hard work in low bit rates. What a time to be alive. The only people who own music these days are the record companies. Not even the artist has dibs, at least not if they signed on the dotted line. So what does this mean for our future? 38

Crowdfunding on steroids is a possible route. Why pay top dollar for an artist’s output when you can spread the cost and own the artist themselves! If everyone chips in, they can chip away at artistic freedom. Imagine an artist for the people, by the people. Cut out that A&R middle man and give the people what they want – themselves. Having said that, people are stupid and they don’t know what they want, so it’ll probably end up being computer chips in your brain or something. Yeah, why not.

Do you have a question? Email dick@bristollivemagazine.com