Issue 3
September 2012
04 06 07 09 11 13 15
Zero:State Joel Harries My Lyrical Mind PalmStruck Valys D.K Nicholls Jed Is Dead
17 Return to Aljustrel 19 Moose Patrol 21 Kismet Ryding 23 Fear the Fallen 25 Reviews 33 Competition 35 Want a gig?
“Formed with their current line up in early 2011, Zero:State have produced two studio albums which are avaliable for free on soundcloud. They tie together strands of indie, post grunge and alternative rock.� How would you describe your bands music? Alt Rock/ Grunge
Who are your influences? Smashing Pumpkins, Foo Fighters, Nirvana, Muse How did you all meet? Me (Jon) and Mike met at work. Mike had been in a band with Chris before, way back. He knew he was an awesome drummer so called him out of the blue. Luckily he'd just left his old band and came to a rehearsal. The rest is history! How long have you been going for? Early 2010 Which is the best venue that you've played? Night and Day cafe
Talk me through your songwriting process. I normally get the initial idea on my acoustic, then I show it to the band. If they like it they make up thier own parts. It's very democratic and everyone can say if they want to drop something, or change something. Where can people listen to your tunes and where can they be purchased? Its all free! www.soundcloud.com/zerostatemusic
Has anything funny/embarrassing happened to you on stage? One time I pissed myself. Only joking! Apart from the usual dropped drum sticks and broken strings nothing comes to mind. we're very professional you know! Oh one time our old drummer had six pints before playing and could barely walk straight. Me and Mike had to try and cover it up. Don't think we managed though. How did you come up with the band name? Two words that sound cool. What are your plans for the future of the band? We just want to reach as many people as possible. Did you enjoy your gig with CV promotions and would you recommend them to another band? Yeah it was good. Nice to see a fair promoter not trying to screw bands over over!
Like their Facebook page! www.facebook.com/zerostatemusic
"credit must go here to singer/guitarist Joel Harries, whose pristine voice and finger-picking carry more weight than their component parts suggest" The Quietus I am Joel Harries.
I would describe my music as an attempt to sound even remotely as good as my favourite song writers. My major influences are David Bazan, Neil Young & Elliot Smith. Its a fairly endless list though. I just try and write honestly and openly about my life & experiences. My music is available for download from http://joelharries.bandcamp.com/ I haven't had anything particularly bad happen to me on stage, although I once had an argument with a guy who told me to play Wonderwall. I am going to record another album in the winter & keep gigging as much as possible! It was a fun gig despite technical hitches!
Like his page at www.facebook.com/JoelHarries
“My name is Matthew Wood and my act is called MyLyricalMind I would describe my music as reverby ambient acoustic someone once called it nufolk ? haha”
“I have a lot of influences, but my main ones are recent acoustic acts such as Ben Howard and Benjamin Francis Leftwich, I also used to listen to a lot of Radiohead .. I also listen to some heavier acts such as Biffy Clyro and Enter Shikari.. I could actually list endless amounts of bands but it would take all day ..”
I've been MyLyricalMind now for about a year, september 2011 is when I really started to write and sing my own songs. The best venue I've played would be the Ruby Lounge in Manchester where I supported Peter Grant and Rubylux on their uk tours. Really love the atmosphere in there. Im actually a little different to the majority of songwriters and I write the lyrics to a song before the tune. I write most of my lyrics when im chilling listening to music, often when im on the way to work. I like to be chilled and on my own Writing the songs often involves me sitting down and playing guitar all day until if find something that fits and sound good . People can listen to my tunes on my facebook page www.facebook.com/mylyricalmind my soundcloud www.soundcloud.com/mylyricalmind and my youtube www.youtube.com/mylyricalmind My new single and my first ep can be bought from itunes and all other music sites ... just search MyLyricalMind. On stage the most embarrassing thing that has happened was probably when I started to play my set at the Ruby Lounge and forgot to plug my guitar in.. also one time my amp fell over mid set at a gig .. awkward I find I get the best response from the songs with the big choruses like a quiet hurricane and face in my mind people love a big chorus Plans for the future are to get an album recorded and next year play as many festivals as possible i want to do a whole summer of them Just to keep playing music would be a great future Playing a CV gig was great the venue i played in was so perfect for the acoustic night and Lauren is a great promoter I would recommend any artist or band to play a CV gig Cheers for having me
“twisty, mathy progressive pop studded with samples... underpinned by a funky groove.” So, introduce yourselves and tell us each of your roles in the band Rigg: ideas man and therefore able to do least on stage (singing into an effects box/twiddling knobs). Jimi: bass - dispenser of groove and band artist. Al: drummer/chief gig organizer/Norwich fan. Cip: keys man, synthesized sonic wizard and classy pianist. Like a sexy Rick Wakeman. Mark: guitar. Bounces around spraying loud noises like a decapitated hosepipe. With method though, it should be added. How would you describe your band’s music? Our sound is the natural outcome of putting together a solid rhythm section with an unconventional guitarist, effect-heavy vocalist and wild, roaming keyboards. This doesn’t really help, does it? You’re going to have to listen and make your own mind up. Who are your influences? We bring a broad range of influences that converge somewhere between Godspeed and Spank Rock… How did you all meet? Al, Cip and Rigg met at Lancaster Uni and then met Mark and Jimi in Manchester.
How long have you been going for? 3 or so years in our current line-up
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Which is the best venue that you've played? A rammed Manchester Academy 2 with 65daysofstatic. Talk me through your songwriting process Rigg will concoct a sort of story board of chords and words and then we all get together and write the screenplay, if you like. The final product has got each individual stamped on it. Where can people listen to your tunes and where can they be purchased? You can find our music (all free) on soundcloud via facebook. If you ‘like’ us we’ll send you a signed picture of Elton John atop a Ford Fiesta peeling a banana Has anything funny/embarrassing happened to you on stage? Once, our manager at the time kept wandering up to the front, shouting advice about the sound and then came on stage tinkering with the set-up, etc. He thought it was a sound-check, but it wasn’t. It was the actual gig. How did you come up with the band name? Rigg randomly found it in a history book: ‘1658 - Johanne Palmstruck invented the modern bank note in Sweden’. We just liked the name, really. What are your plans for the future of the band? We will not stop until we have fully dominated the corridor between Chorlton and West Didsbury. Did you enjoy your gig with CV promotions and would you recommend them to another band? Yes, we’d definitely recommend Cherry Valentine. It was a pretty ambitious day to run but everything went smoothly and they let you know that they’re into what you’re playing, which is really refreshing and made it so much more enjoyable.
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Download our Debut EP For FREE; www.valysband.bandcamp.com Hi we're Valys, Kurt does the vocals, I'm James and I play lead guitar, we have bobby on the bass, mike playing rhythm guitar, and Adam bashing the drums. We'd probably describe our music as a modern take on drums, with a hint of underground modern day influences, We've all been friends a long time from school, other people, etc, bit of a shame we haven't been going longer really! We haven't played many venues to date, our favourite is Grimsby Walters, we can sell the gig out, and it's great to get intimate with the fans, no pun intended. Songwriting is a bit of a mish mash really, I'll play guitar, Adam starts playing some crazy drum riff that compliments the guitar riff, bobby will give us this cheeky smile of approval, and Kurt, well Kurt just shouts his heart out!
We have a demo on YouTube, just search 'valys deadbeat demo,' And we actually have a free EP out that's proven to be quite popular, head over to; Http://www.valysband.bandcamp.com Every time we're on stage something goes wrong, I'm usually drunk and smash the killswitch on my guitar, so that's now wrapped up in gaffa tape, that sucks. The band name was a weird story, basically a drunken moment of pure embarrassment that made a rather cool word, We're releasing a new single in September with complimentary merch, so watch out for that, we have a few gigs lined up around the country for the rest of the year, then well be touring next year, so all is cool! We're gonna play with our mates in Kismet Ryding a lot more, they're awesome. The gig with CV was cool, we really liked the venue, really friendly promoter, next time, I'd like to see a hell of a lot more people from Manchester hitting it up! Thanks Cherry
So, introduce yourself My name is Dan Nicholls, aka DK Nicholls or Tanuki Suit depending upon which guise I am playing under, I’ve been performing around about Oxford for a while and I’ve just moved back to the North West so I am kind of reset-ing when it comes to gigs. How would you describe your music? I think at its base level I am playing folk, but a more modern version, musically a bit more poppy I guess. I used to just say straight out folk, then I started playing gigs with a lot of true old fashioned folkies and it was like blasphemy. You’ll just have to listen to see. Who are your influences? The usuals; Dylan, Cash, Tom Waits, Fleetwood Mac. Anyone who writes a good story or something with some real feeling. Currently listening to a lot of Tallest Man on Earth (the first two albums) and Right Away, Great Captian! How long have you been going for? I’ve been playing in bands since I was 15 (2005), but I only recently transitioned to vocals. In all my early bands I was a bassist with some fleeting backing vocals. When I moved to uni I spent more and more time sat around noodling on guitar and that eventually evolved into song writing and playing some of my own gigs late last year.
Which is the best venue that you've played? A load of the colleges down in Oxford do garden part festival things which are always great, guaranteed a young and inebriated audience!
Talk me through your songwriting process I write mostly in open tunings so I don’t end up going to the same chords and chord shapes all the time, I just noodle around until something good comes out. In terms of lyrics I don’t normally have a story in mind when I first start, I form a melody using basic sounds then start to develop those into hooks. Once a theme is established then I move onto creating on overarching plot. I like to use weird unexpected half rhymes and rhythms so I’m hopefully not writing anything too standard. Where can people listen to your tunes and where can they be purchased? I’ve got a page for myself and my band; www.facebook.com/getyoursuiton. From there you can get onto my bandcamp, which currently has a track for 50p download the proceeds of which are going to Heart Research UK. Has anything funny/embarrassing happened to you on stage? Well I tend to get pretty embarrassed when I’m trying to switch tunings and it’s taking too long. When I played with a full band the bassist got so annoyed by my awkward ramblings he started to print out lists of one liners to keep us going an extra few moments when necessary. Which of your songs do you feel gets the best response live? I’ve got a track called ‘Sing It, Simple Man’ which breaks down into a soft falsetto part with long held chords, I like the hush that brings about, even if it is only out of politeness! What are your plans for the future? Just keep at it I guess, hope to keep people interested. Did you enjoy your gig with CV promotions and would you recommend them to another band? Yeah for sure, it’s not often you find a promoter so organised these days.
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So, introduce yourselves and tell us each of your roles in the band Emily – Bass Vocals. Mickey Guitar and Electronics.
“Energetic rock / electro / How would you describe your bands music? synth-pop / dubstep band from Electro / Rock / Synthpop North Wales” Who are your influences? Prince, Daft Punk, Orbital, Underworld, Smashing Pumpkins, Public Enemy, Boyz Noize, Garbage, Ladyhawke, Peaches, Tokyo Knife Attack, Faith No More, Death in Vegas, PWEI, Alice Cooper. How did you all meet? (Mickey) We met at the rehearsal studio I work in (Vic Studios, Wrexham) when Emily came in to do hours for her university placement. At that time I was rehearsing with a drummer, and Emily was writing solo acoustic material, so we brought her in to do vocals and bass and became a three-piece guitar-based rock band. We wrote a lot of material but came to the mutual decision that we wanted to try something a little more electronically-focused. So we began the process of trying to translate our material into something electronic. How long have you been going for? This line-up has been going since February, but we have been writing and performing together for about 3 years. Which is the best venue that you've played? This summer we played a festival held at a farm that was home to an owl-sanctuary, a lama and various other critters. In terms of the most significant shows we’ve done, that would either be when we supported Death in Vegas or when we supported Pop Will Eat Itself in Central Station, Wrexham.
Talk me through your songwriting process Things will invariably begin with a guitar riff or an idea on the sequencer. Usually an argument will then develop. Then the lyrics get written, followed by a little bit of arguing. Then we work on arranging the track and end up with a version that usually lasts about 8 minutes. This causes more arguments as we decide which bits we need to cut. Then we end up with 6 minutes. Then we argue a bit as we decide what else needs cutting from the song. Then we end up with about 4 minutes we both really dig. Then we’ll play it non-stop for a few hours (and maybe argue a bit) until we know the song. Where can people listen to your tunes and where can they be purchased? soundcloud.com/jed-is-dead We also post remixes and mash-ups we have made as well as the odd DJ mixtape. All our stuff is free to download. Has anything funny/embarrassing happened to you on stage? Emily publicly upset a dog during our performance at the farm we mentioned earlier. How did you come up with the band name? We know a cat called Jed and we’re named after him. We’re not keen on the name but it we’ll use it until we can agree on something else. What are your plans for the future of the band? Well, we’ve had a really busy summer gig-wise so we’re just trying to keep the momentum going. We’re also trying to develop Halloween-based material that we’d like to perform every year. Did you enjoy your gig with CV promotions and would you recommend them to another band? Yes and yes. Everyone we met was very nice and really welcoming.
Follow us at twitter.com/aljustrelband . You can listen to our music on SoundCloud here: http://soundcloud.com/returntoaljustrel Be sure to friend us and leave any comments you have on our tunes! Hey we are Return to Aljustrel (Simon: Guitar/Vocals, Morgan: Keyboard/Vocals, Tim: Guitar/Vocals, Luke: Guitar/Sax, James: Bass and Kyle: Drums. I would describe our music as alternative/progressive with a hint of folk. Lots of little guitar details and layers rather than everyone hammering away at once. Plenty of 3 part vocal harmonies and big dynamics. Our range of influences is very broad, as all 6 of us have different tastes. Anything from Pink Floyd to Simon and Garfunkel, Flaming Lips to Beatles, Yes to King Crimson and a bit of Radiohead and Mars Volta thrown in too. We all met through music really, we were all in different bands and just started playing together through that.
Like our facebook page, www.facebook.com/returntoaljustrel We've played at some good venues over the last few years, we always enjoy playing the 360 club at The Library in Leeds, and we're all looking forward to playing Bingley Festival this year. Our song writing process varies from song to song. Usually I (Simon) will write something, and try to put as many of the instruments down to a demo as i can. We usually then learn the basic arrangement in practice, and everyone else will start throwing ideas in until we have something that sounds quite different to the original demo. Morgan is the expert when it comes to the backing vocal arrangements, he's the 'theory' man of the band! Our first two albums are available on iTunes and Spotify, and you can also listen on Soundcloud and Myspace. In terms of the future, we have a few festival slots this summer and have nearly finished recording a third album. It's probably the most ambitious album we've done so we're really looking forward to getting it out there. Hopefully it will be available at the back end of 2012.
What's your opinion of your last CV review? We were all really pleased with the last review! It was unexpectedly good and seemed to be an honest review, picking up on a few small issues. It is great to get constructive feedback that we can then work on to improve our performances. Although it has set the bar quite high for us to live up to J Which cities have you played in so far? We have played in Manchester (obviously!) and also Birmingham, Huddersfield and Dewsbury. We are hoping to get more gigs around the North West, maybe Leeds, Sheffield and Liverpool, though it can be quite difficult finding the opportunities! How long have you all been playing your instruments? Adam B – I got my first guitar aged 3, but have been playing properly since about 6 Adam L – I have been playing drums for around 7 years Conner – Bass is not my first instrument so I have been playing it for around 2 years, but have been playing guitar for 5 years or so. Are their any unsigned bands/artists you have seen which have really impressed you? Conner – I really liked Kingdom Lost at our last gig at Retro Bar. They just seemed comfortable with each other and they all fit well together as a band. Adam L – Dead Circus who we saw at the last All Day Rockathon Adam B – Yeah Dead Circus, I loved their sound, it was really full, and the songs were great. If you could support any band, who would it be? Adam L – Dinosaur Pile-Up, because they are amazing both live and on record; plus it would be an honour to play on the same stage as Matt Bigland, my all time favourite musician. Conner – It would have to be Cage The Elephant, because their live shows are so cool! Adam B – Muse!! As they are capable of playing stadium shows, I would love to see if our sound could fill a giant stadium, to see/hear what it would sound like! Plus I would get to meet them
If you could play any festival which one would it be? Conner – Leeds/Reading as all of my favourite artists have played them. Adam L – Glastonbury, it has the best festival atmosphere in the world. Adam B – Leeds/Reading, because we would get to headline twice! Which of your songs do you feel gets the best response live? Adam L has no idea as he said he is too busy trying to play them! It’s a difficult one though, because as Adam B says 41 is really great to play and people do get into it, including us but Far Away is probably the one song that gets shouted out for us to play during shows and gets people moving. We use it as our last song for this reason, as people leave on a high and wanting more. We have kept it off the regular set before now to see what would happen and after a lot of shouting we used it as an encore and blew the room away. Do you like using social networking sites to promote your band, and if so which site do you think is best? We love using social networking sites! We use Facebook, Youtube, Twitter and Reverbnation. I don’t think there is any one which is “best”, as they all do different things really well. Facebook allows us to easily interact with our fans and share music and photos, Twitter keeps us up to date with what fans and other bands etc are doing and is usually quicker to update with hot topics. Reverbnation is perfect for using to showcase our band and what we are up to, lots of other bands, promoters etc use it and it has all the info that anyone would need regarding Moose Patrol. It is really good though that each of these sites allows interaction with each other so we can update globally with ease. How do you feel about illegal downloading? To a certain degree we feel it is acceptable, and is certainly here to stay, so we have to learn to use it to our advantage, giving songs away for free etc. For a band like ours who are just starting out it is unlikely we will have our stuff illegally downloaded, but for us, it’s all about getting our music out to a wider audience so from that perspective we can’t complain as it achieves one of our goals. The hope is that people will then pay to see us live, and maybe purchase merchandise etc. One of the best tools out there at the minute is Spotify as you can stream millions of tracks without illegally downloading them; you then have the option to download directly for a minimal cost. It may be that this approach helps to combat illegal downloading and put a bit more money back in the pockets of artists. That is why our music is available on Spotify. Tell us about your next shows and why we should be there. Well we have been quite busy lately but we have some fantastic shows coming up! Firstly we are playing at The Crescent in Salford on the 21st September as part of the amazing Salford Music Festival, four days, twenty venues, over two hundred bands/artists, most of it (including ours) free! 28th September we have been waiting for ages to play this! We are supporting The Rubys, who have recently been signed, at their Single Launch event at Night and Day Café. Also on the bill are the great Northern Adult. The Rubys have been helping and supporting us for a while and are a really nice bunch of guys. It is brilliant to see them getting the recognition they deserve, and we thank them for their support J Why should you be there? Because we enjoy playing, and its really good to see people enjoying our music!
“KISMET RYDING, boast psychedelic garage sounds of the 60's with a modern day kick up the arse� Kismet Ryding are - Mike Freeman: Frontman, Josh Humphreys: Guitar+Vocals, Tom Humphreys: Bass+Vocals and Jazz White: Drums We would describe our music as "Vintage Entertainment". A huge blend of Rock, Blues, Psychedelia, Brit Pop and Punk. Our main influences are The Who, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Kinks, Oasis, Stone Roses, Kasabian, Kula Shaker, Black Keys. Jazz and Josh were in a band together in school, Josh and Tom are brothers, Tom and Mike were best friends from school/uni. One night Jazz/Josh's old band practise Mike and Tom came in for a drunken late night blues jam, and things just clicked. The next day Mike and Tom booked our first gig, before we were even a band or had a name, then 4 weeks later with 8 original songs we had our first gig, which went down a storm! We have been together for 3 years now (July 09-present) We have played a lot of great venues around England, but one of the best venues we have played would be Manchester Academy.
Our songwriting process usually happens without us meaning it to, we just jam things out and a song naturally seems to form. Then there will be some arguing more likely than not, but it always seems to benefit us! Our debut single, Hangin', can be purchased from iTunes, you can find the video for it on youtube, and other tracks on soundcloud and facebook.com/kismet.ryding Because the way we got together and first started writing songs together was so natural, and things simply slotted together, we joked that it was by fate. We learned that the word "kismet" meant fate, and that we were riding it, to form Kismet Ryding. We are currently recording our debut album, which is to be released in September with a new single, and a UK tour. We would definitely recommend using CV promotions, we had a great gig, the venue had a cool underground vibe to it and the promotion team were easy to work with, cheers!
“Musically made up by Jazz White pounding the kit, Josh Humphreys on seamless guitar, older brother Tom walks the bass, and is topped off with energetic front man Mike Freeman.�
What's your opinion of your last CV review? Chris - All the fallen boys are really happy with the review it’s nice to get some feedback after a lot of hard work. Which cities have you played in so far? Rob - We`ve played Blackburn, Darwen, Preston and Manchester. Can`t wait to get into other cities and show people what we are all about. How long have you all been playing your instruments? Chris - I've been playing guitar since starting on acoustic aged 9 and moved through instruments and styles from classical and folk violin, mandolin and banjo but have always had the passion (and ego!) for heavy rock lead guitar but still try to keep up with some solo acoustic singer/songwriter stuff. Christian – I first started using the old pipes in school but never really did anything with it. Ftf has really helped me progress from just singing in the shower! Sam - First picked up a guitar wen I was 12 years old at an after school club called rock school. Started a band with sum school friends and haven’t put a guitar down since. Joe - I started playing the drums at the age of 12 and joined my first serious band at the age of 13 over the past few years I have played for a couple of other bands over as well as playing the side drum in the army. Rob - started playing guitar at 13 and joined a band called lost cause at 17, a few bands down the line I filled in on the bass one night and found I could do it drunk! I’ve never looked back... Are there any unsigned bands/artists you have seen which have really impressed you? Joe - We've played alongside Seventh Shade who were excellent and a great bunch of guys, and Revolter from Blackburn who we thoroughly enjoyed and MP4 class cover band. If you could support any band, who would it be? Christian - I think if we could choose any band to support it would have to be the mighty Maiden, but it would be hard not to be starstruck supporting Linkin Park, AC/DC or Rammstein
If you could play any festival which one would it be? Sam - That would have to be Big Day Out, Australia. Though Rock Am Ring and Download would be pretty awesome. Which of your songs do you feel gets the best response live? Christian - Our best response tends to be from "To My Knees" which is a track we went for a different sound on. It's in 3/4 time and has quite an epic kind of sound. It's one we've not managed to get recorded yet but we're itching to get it out there. Do you like using social networking sites to promote your band, and if so which site do you think is best? Rob – Yeh we love the old tinterflop!!! Christian – Thanks for that rob, we love using FB for talking to our fans and sharing our deepest darkest thoughts. Chris – We use soundcloud for uploading our tracks and twitter to keep in touch with the cool kids. Sam – I’m cool! Joe – Yeh cheers Sam! How do you feel about illegal downloading? We're quite happy to have our music shared as this opens a band up to new fans who then buy albums and tickets to gigs. We don’t think its right to steal tracks after the artist has put so much time and effort into their music. Tell us about your next shows and why we should be there. Christian – We are back on home turf for our next 2 gigs. We have the Live lounge - Blackburn 20/09/2012 - 20:01 and where we started for an epic night at the Crown in Darwen 21/09/2012 - 21:30. Chris – Why should you be there? Well a full set of hard hitting original songs, dynamic covers and a room full of the best fans you could ever ask for!!! There is no place like the North West for upcoming music so come and see us. You won't be disappointed.
Kicking off this all day event we have Palmstruck, an almost ghostly sounding alternative band with atmospheric synths filling the room. Intricate guitar and bass parts make the songs more interesting and upbeat, while the vocals and electronics tone the songs down resulting in an overall easy listening group. Ideal opener for the day, they have eased the audience into the gigging atmosphere without being over the top, which is needed for such a gig at 2.30pm. The drummer is very tight and precise and doesn't play predictable rhythms which really gives the calm, mellow songs lift. The guitarist seems to solo just at the right moment, when everyone is peacefully listening, he kicks in with some mean riffs to keep them awake and aware of their greatness. His solos can sometimes seem out of place but I honestly think their live act would be less entertaining without them and personally as a rock fan, good guitar work always impresses me. At times the vocals sound a little flat but this is not overly noticeable, especially because of the effects applied to his vocals, these effects really do add to the overall sound and completely blend his voice into the synths.
The technical difficulties did really bring a downer on the set and through no fault of their own it was a much more enjoyable performance at their gig in Retro Bar but I think anyone who saw them for the first time would have been able to hear their great abilities as musicians and songwriters. Next we have Voidstalker, the heaviest band of the day, after listening to their tracks online, it is without a doubt that their live act is miles better than their recordings. The guitarist really uses his 7 string guitar to its full capacity and the vocal harmonies between him and the singer sound beautiful. This band have a really unique style, you can see the influences such as Opeth and Dream Theatre but they have really managed to make the sound their own. A main aspect of the originality is the vocalists voice, nice dark and melodic, yet at moments shocking as she belts out loud growls and screams. When they announce the pirate song, everybody watches with smiles on their faces, very fast and bouncy with the gang vocals being the icing on the cake.
Much later we have a very short and sweet set from Kingdom Lost due to the major PA hiccup. Despite the technical difficulties they act very professionally and still show the audience their great sound. Similar set up to Palmstruck but these guys are a lot more rock based compared to electronic. All their songs sound different from each other which is always a big thumbs up from me since I have found it hard to find many bands who can achieve that. I love the way their vocals fit together as well as the guitars blending in with the synths. The drummer is really tight and this time their keys player is on stage which really makes the whole performance come together rather than using just a backing track.
The drums are mean and technical, I wouldn't be surprised if you could hear his double kick from outside. Funky yet heavy bass lines really fill out the sound and the bassists overall stage performance is a treat to watch. They finish the set with a really funky upbeat song which is very fast paced and shows off the musicianship greatly, overall an amazing performance and it would be nice to hear a good quality e.p from these guys. As Kismet Ryding enter the building they generate a massive buzz, really busy excited crowd and when they start to play it becomes all clear. Totally rockin' indie tunes coming from these guys and the front man is absolutely nuts, not in a bad way though, in a brilliantly epic way. I can honestly say its been a while since I have seen such a perfect performance from a frontman. He has the crowd hyped up and they are all over the place. Some really funky bass lines being played and the guitarist is properly into the music he's performing, really nice to see him have such feel and passion. Some really good tunes, I particularly like the song “Serenity” it has a really cool, catchy and bluesy feel with some great imaginative backing vocals. The bassist's voice compliments the main singers voice very well, a good contrast from the main shouty, punchy vocals. They sound similar to Kasabian at times but still have their own unique style. You can see a real connection with these guys and its obvious that they love what they do. I see a lot of unsigned indie bands and a lot of them are so similar that they just blend into one and I can't seem to remember particular band's performances but these guys have some great songs and I can really see them doing well, with all the “Kismet Ryding” T-shirts and a performance like that, I wouldn't be surprised if they made it to Reading and Leeds next year. Next we have Valys, instantly hit by the loudness of the band, the intro was very well done, with slow stabs being almost perfectly in time which is a tricky thing to master. When the second song starts, the crowd get even more riled up and shout along to the chorus, some aspects of their songs remind me of old Enter Shikari without the electronics. Personally after a while I find that the constant shouting and screaming gets a bit boring and I think it would be a cool idea to bring in a second vocalist to sing some more melodic stuff, kind of like We Are The Ocean. I feel that it can break up the song more and easier to listen to. This could just be my personal taste but I think having a singer as well as a screamer would really widen their audience.
The intricate drumming is really cool but he does often come out of time due to over complication. The fact that this band isn't as tight as the previous act isn't a massive problem because the rough and readyness adds to the whole feel of the bands live performance. I don't think it would be the same if the performance was pristine. They really do know how to get the crowd excited, there must be something in the water at Grimsby. They up the excitement even more when the band decide to put fake moustaches on and when they start the intro to the next song it has a really funky groove to it and makes you want to move, can't remember the name of the song but it was definitely my favourite. This isn't enough to make me want to see them again though, not a fan of the constant screamy vocals but if they combine the screamy vocals with more melodic vocals then I will definitely be back. Next its Zero:State, straight away I am aware of how good their drummer is, he plays some really cool intricate rhythms. The singers voice is ok, he can sing in pitch but his overall tone isn't amazing and seems quite dull after a few songs. Their songs are pretty well written though, the second song they play has quite a catchy chorus but I feel as if its missing some backing vocals to give the chorus the extra power it needs in order to get people singing along. I'd happily listen to their cd at home but I don't think I would pay the money to see them live since they just don't excite me enough. I imagine these guys are fans of Greenday since some of their songs sound quite similar to theirs and particularly the singers voice sounds like a toned down version of Billie Joe. I do become up-lifted when I hear some catchy “Ooo hoos” and “Ey yos”. This is more like what I want to hear from this kind of band, nothing serious just fun catchy chorus' and I think if they stick to this kind of writing then they will obtain more fans and allow new watchers to sing along. The last 2 songs of the set are definitely their strongest and the final outro was great, if they write more songs similar to the ones in the second half of the set, I think they could be a more exciting watch and I would want to come back and see them. Finally we have Return to Aljustrel, a very original, unique and full sound which fills the room. Really pleasant to listen to and a big part of this is the keys, they really complete the overall texture of the band. Not only is the musicianship interesting and unique, the singers voice is beautiful, a strong yet high pitched male voice which just tops of the overall feel of the tunes. The backing vocals are also pitch perfect and its almost hard to believe they are done live because they are so precise. It becomes even more of a spectacle when the guitarist exchanges his instrument for a saxophone, at first I was worried whether it would be a bit gimmicky but no, he was great and the song which involved the sax was in fact my favourite song of the day, the song (forgot the name) made my head automatically bop and was instantly lost in the groove. Their genre of music isn't normally what I would choose to listen to but I would definitely pay to see these guys when they are next in Manchester. J.Knowles
My Lyrical Mind is the first act up tonight. Don’t let the name fool you, this isn’t a band; just a singer songwriter with the talent of a full band crammed into one person. M.L.M’s tracks are thoughtful and deep. Lyrically, it’s easy to see he is writing from his gut and he translates this to the audience with a magnificent voice.
Joel Harries
Throughout the set he demonstrates superb range in both pitch and dynamics, but never milks his technique for the sake of it. Everything he does serves the song. Unfortunately for M.L.M, his vocal skills are really put to the test tonight as we suffer some P.A. setbacks and he is forced to sing several songs completely unplugged. But, like a true professional he gets on with it and his voice still carries without a microphone. It’s a testament not only to this guy’s natural talent, but also to his ability to laugh off these kinds of issues and prove he won’t let silly things like a malfunctioning P.A. hold him back. Towards the latter part of his set, the P.A. starts to behave itself and we get to hear him in stereo. The only drawback is that his songs could do with more variety. All the tracks are great, but he uses the same picking technique repeatedly and after a while it does become monotonous. Just some variations in playing style would make a big difference here. Other than that, it’s a great set and with his Dreams Break at Dawn E.P now available to download from iTunes and his Drop me a Line video up on youtube, the future must be looking quite bright for My Lyrical Mind. Joel Harries begins his set with a nice bit of dry humour: “Hello, and welcome to P.A. roulette”. It’s an interesting start, as his songs are anything but funny. Joel is pouring his soul into these tunes and it is a melancholic mood throughout – for which he quite rightly makes us aware there will be no apology – as he conveys stories of heartbreak and despair. His voice is astonishing. He constantly sings in a high register, and once we get over our amazement and allow ourselves to believe this voice is really his, his angelic tones are mesmerizing and spine tingling. If there are any negatives it is that Joel is from Northampton, yet he sings in an American accent. But when his music is as honest and ear-catching as his is, that is a minor quibble that can be overlooked easily. The audience has seen something special tonight.
My Lyrical Mind
Third on the bill is D.K. Nicholls; an amiable chap who chats to the audience with a pleasant confidence and charm. Nicholls can sing; he can play the guitar; he can do them both at the same time and his neo-folk style is in keeping with some of today’s most relevant stars. His playing is tight; his songs flow nicely and his lyrics are rich and poetic. Everything fits together rather well. There is just one problem: it is all a bit dull. Most of the songs tend to drag and it feels difficult to be drawn in and engrossed. As a singer songwriter there is definitely potential, but more work needs to be done to bring everything to life. This may be an acoustic event, but the artists still need to be electrifying and Nicholls’ music just falls short of the mark. The seeds are sewn, they just need a little water and with the right effort D.K. Nicholls will do much better than this. Headlining tonight is Edwin Miles. This is the second time he has played for C.V. Promotions so expectations were high as last time he delivered a blinding performance. Thankfully, he doesn’t disappoint. His set isn’t drastically different from the previous show, but that doesn’t matter. As with before, he delivers a knock out performance as he mixes all manner of musical prowess and dynamic emotion to give the room a world class demonstration of his undeniable talent. This reviewer has said it all before so there isn’t really much else to say. Edwin is awesome. ‘nuff said. A.Serofinowicz
D.K Nicholls Edwin Miles
Seventh Shade
The Auditeurs are the first band on today. This band has a quite modern sound, mixed with some older influences, and they definitely feel like the most contemporary band today. They have an eclectic mix of songs, which sound like either a young indie band of today, some stuff influenced by The Jam, or The Offspring's first album.
It feels a little like you are watching three different bands. It can't be easy going on first at 3pm when everyone there is still sober but they do give a spirited effort, although it never quite seems to find its feet. They don't seem totally meshed together as a band today, which may in part be the drummers attempts to be some many-armed god when he is in fact incredibly mortal. I will say that they had some really good songs in there (I preferred the stuff that didn't sound like Offspring more) but I don't think I got to hear them as well as they could be played.Â
Fear the Fallen
The next band up today are Fear The Fallen, and they are a lot more at ease, even though the singer informs us before they play that he's less than eight hours back from Egypt and is feeling rather unwell, to put it politely. They obviously enjoy playing with each other and are very together. They look and move as though they would be seen at any alternative club today, but the sound is very much eighties. If you like Iron Maiden, you'd love these guys. They do have some more modern influences in places as well, with some parts sounding a little Soundgarden influenced. Some points deducted for playing a heavy cover of Snow Patrol's song "Run" (in fact when they announce it someone in the audience groans and gets told "Yes, that song.") although it was a good version and it did make me laugh when they morphed it into Iron Maiden's "Run To The Hills". If you're a metal fan, definitely go and see them. They have a good stage presence, they know what you want to listen to and they can do it well. I feel sorry for Jed Is Dead when they come out, because everyone has left the basement and is either smoking or at the bar (in part due to a lull in proceedings as one band had pulled out at the last minute, bad form guys), and they aren't sure when to start playing. They don't let it phase them though and play as comfortably as if they were in their own living room.
Moose Patrol A two piece, they feature a female vocal/bass player and a male guitarist/ programmer/loop triggerer. The live bass is rather turned down in the mix, but the programmed synths seem to be taking most of the low end duties anyway. The bass obviously makes a good posing tool though, and the singer dances around very self assuredly. The vocal style and delivery reminded me of Stevie Nicks, and the music backing it is a mix of 90's industrial beats, alternative/grunge/ metal guitar, electro grooves and dubstep breaks and wub wubs (with some very good filter manipulation/break triggering/ done live).
Jed is Dead
They mention that one of their songs is their current single, called "Damage". It's a pleasing song and slickly produced but it feels like it's missing a chorus...they have others they play that are far more well written. They seem like a very friendly pair when they talk to us inbetween songs, telling us to like their facebook page because they like new friends and "It's lonely in Wales". Some songs have more appeal than others, but overall the music does make you want to move. Mixing their last song into "We Built This City On Rock And Roll" brings smiles from the crowd too, and shows the sense of fun these guys have. Next up is Dead Circus. What can I say about Dead Circus that hasn't already been said about Nirvana? That they are original would one thing. The sound is a textbook Cobain ripoff, albeit done very well. It all seems so contrived though, the parts where the singer puts his hair over his face and mumbles, the purposefully lazy and simple solos as though influenced by drugs...if Stars In Their Eyes was still on the telly, these guys could possibly win it. Credit where credit is due though, they do play tightly, and do what they do well. If you want to see what Nirvana may have written if they were trapped in 1994 forever (and I do), give them a go. Also, I know the urge must have been great, but they only actually rip off one Nirvana riff (One from "Spank Thru", one of the rarer tracks). Last on tonight are Moose Patrol. These guys are obviously slightly influenced by Nirvana as well, but not nearly as heavily as Dead Circus. They have a tinge of Nine Black Alps and Silverchair in the vocals, and the guitars sound the same with the occasional Smashing Pumpkins type line. they aren't as flash as some of the shredders who have been on when it comes to solos, but what they do fits the songs. Some of the songs veer into predictability ("For The Summer" and "Far Away" are the worst offenders) but others are of a better nature ("41" being the stand out one to me). They are obviously used to being a drunken crowd pleasing band due to the decision to play some covers. A LOT of covers in fact, two Muse songs (Plug In Baby was one of them), Dead Souls by Joy Division, Aneurysm by Nirvana, and I'm fairly sure there were some others. They play these covers well (Dead Souls especially) but it would have been nice to hear more of their own material. I would watch them again, and if you are looking for a band to keep a crowd happy these guys undoubtably fit the bill. All comments, opinions, insults and praise are not in any way the opinions of Cherry Valentine and only my own. Written by Withnail
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6th October – Gullivers – Manchester – Free Entry – Doors 8pm 3rd November – Dry Live – Manchester - £6 – Doors 7pm 24th November – Dry Live – Manchester - £6 – Doors 7pm 15th December – Retro Bar – Manchester - £6 – Doors 7pm