BEHIND THE SCENE GLOUCESTERSHIRE
Issue #3 January 2014
BEHIND THE SCENE ISSUE #3 Welcome to issue 3 of BEHIND THE SCENE GLOUCESTERSHIRE. After a hectic Christmas schedule that involved watching countless football matches and eating several tonnes of sprouts, I managed to find a bit of time to put all of this together. At one point it seemed like all you’d have to read this month would be a couple of reviews and a rather sparse gig guide. But as usual it all came together and turned out fine again (to misquote George Formby). Last month the fanzine had over 1900 visits. I’m not quite sure how that happened as I have a marketing budget of zero pounds and it doesn’t even show up on Google until about page 27. According to the statistics on the website, one person even read the fanzine on Christmas Day! I can’t quite decide whether that person is barmy, very dedicated or just a bit lonely, but hopefully it provided some light relief from
Eastenders and the other rubbish that’s been on TV recently. In December the sale of the old Axiom Arts Centre in Cheltenham took yet more twists and turns. It seems that a mystery benefactor or two is putting up some money for it’s purchase. I’m sure the story will run and run until everyone in the town has had their opinion heard somewhere on social media and appeared on Points West at least once (I’m still waiting for my call). I really hope that whatever happens, everyone who has said they want it back actually does use it. What Cheltenham needs is a cultural and creative ‘hub’ – not another gig venue – you’re better off supporting the ones we already have all over the county, not just in Cheltenham. Anyway, that’s enough from me. Enjoy reading this month’s issue! Issue #3 January 2014 Elvi cover photo Katie Thomas.
by
https://www.facebook.co m/katie.ccphotography
Contact via e-mail: averagemanzine@yahoo.co.uk Follow on twitter: @behindsceneglos Facebook: facebook.com/behindthesceneglos Tumblr: behindthesceneglos.tumblr.com/
GIG REVIEW Aranka’s Cackle @ Prince Albert, Stroud (14.12.13) Stepping into the Prince Albert is like walking into David Dickenson’s house at Christmas. There are pictures hanging at angles, half working fairy lights dangling from the ceiling and odd bits of furniture stacked out the back. There are nik-naks sitting on shelves that have probably been sitting on shelves since they were bought from a local house clearance in 1997. But, unlike in David Dickinson’s living room, there’s a young ska band set up in the corner.
I forget which wave of ska we are on at the moment. The first wave happened in the 60’s, the second wave was spearheaded by The Specials but the third wave in the late 90’s was ‘my wave’. Bands like Less Than Jake, Sublime and Rancid sold hundreds of thousands of records and made teenagers in cold, wet Blighty imagine they were skanking for their lives in California. I guess ska does that to you.
That ska tidal wave has long been and long gone, so where do Aranka’s Cackle fit in? They certainly have the laid back vibe of Long Beach Dub Allstars but with an added spoken word/rap element that just didn’t exist in ska 15 years ago (before Eminem told everyone what his name is). Aranka’s Cackle are impressive in their ability to make a simple formula (upstrokes, walking bass lines, drums and trumpet) engaging for over an hour. The band’s second vocalist is remarkable for two reasons – one being his vocal delivery and two his ability to keep his trousers up when they are hanging halfway down his backside. Mixing originals and covers (such as Millie Small’s ‘My Boy Lollipop’), Aranka’s Cackle are a good time party band who prove that ska can still excite people, even on a cold December night in Stroud.
https://soundcloud.com/arankas-cackle
STUDIO 340 About 20 years ago, when I was at the age where the biggest worry I had was whether I could get home from Cub Scouts quick enough to watch The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, I was scared of walking down the Lower End of Cheltenham’s High Street. It was run-down, grubby and filled with some sketchy characters (at least that’s how it seemed to me). Fast forward to today, and although the area is still a bit rough around the edges, it’s full of hidden gems. The Frog & Fiddle puts on some of the best bands in the country, Aroundabout Sound will fix your guitar for a reasonable price and, situated next to The Royal Oak, Studio 340 is a community creative arts venue that I’ve walked past hundreds of times that I didn’t know existed until recently. So, to broaden my (and hopefully your) knowledge of the place, I asked Malaki from Studio 340 about the whys and wherefores of the project. “We aim to help develop all musical, technical, and artistic talent,” says Malaki. “We have a strong focus on supporting young people in challenging circumstances or from disadvantaged backgrounds and engage them through music .” Studio 340 is not just about music – although this is their focus, they add all art forms within the music projects they deliver. Malaki says that, “It is quite hard to deliver just music as most art forms naturally intertwine and the young people find themselves involving other art forms as the music develops.
Commercially, Studio 340 offers rehearsal and recording sessions, music lessons, music production lessons as well as one to one and group mentoring sessions and workshops. What a great resource for any band in Gloucestershire to have on our doorstep (and only a stone’s throw from several dozen takeaway’s too). You might know Studio 340 under it’s previous guise - ‘CCP Musical Youth.’ So why has it gone under a new name? “We decided to rebrand because we have a lot more young people on board who are helping grow the direction of our provision and we want them to be able to feel like they have some ownership. The young people decided the name and the design of the logo.” And a very nice logo it is too. So how is the studio funded? “We find it very difficult to get funding,” says Malaki. “However, being under a great charity like CCP they are happy to support the great work we do with young people and enable us to maintain the premises and offer free or cheap music services for those who cannot afford it.”
In 2013, Studio 340 has been involved in all sorts of community projects. They have delivered a Summer Arts College, which is an intensive educational project designed for young people on Detention and Training Orders (DTOs) and subject to Intensive Supervision and Surveillance (ISS). This re-engaged these young people in education, training and employment through the provision of music. They also helped to write and record a charity single ‘We Are Hope’ with Hope Support Services and The Voice contestant Vince Freeman. And they have just finished a year long music project with Marlowe School, in which they produced 10 tracks and 3 music videos with 6 of their students. Marlowe is a LAC School who provides care, education and therapy in homes for children and young people with high dependency needs.
It sounds like 2013 has been a busy one and I’m sure that 2014 will bring much of the same. With so much going on at Studio 340, who are the local acts that have passed through that might just make it? “We have had so many good local acts that have come to rehearse and recorded with us I could be here all night!” remarks Malaki before settling on a few: Chloe Foy, Emi McDade, Scott James & The Revolution, King Solomon, Holly & Zoe, Alluezion, Griz-O and Black Canvas all get a mention but he is eager to point out, “I have probably missed out so many more good acts so I hope I haven’t offended any one I have missed off.” I’m sure you haven’t!
Studio 340 can be contacted via: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/studio 340
Instagram http://instagram.com/Studio_340 Twitter https://twitter.com/Studio_340 Website http://www.ccprojects.org.uk/ Studio 340 CCP 340 High Street Cheltenham GL50 3JF
Local band Grayscale rehearsing at Studio 340
Follow us on twitter @behindsceneglos
DECEMBER GIG GALLERY
Clockwise from above: 1. Sons Of Delta @ The Brunswick, Gloucester 2. Jay-L & The Band of Life @ Brunswick, Gloucester 3. Heartland @ The Bayshill Inn, Cheltenham Photos courtesy of: John Plane (Local Music Events) https://www.facebook.com/groups/3178974783 24881/permalink/492177640896863/ Katie Thomas (CC Photography) https://www.facebook.com/katie.ccphotography
GLOUCESTERSHIRE GIG GUIDE FOR JANUARY When?
Who?
Where?
Where?
4th
Tempestora, Oakhaart.
The Brunswick
Gloucester
4th
Bowie Night
The Prince Albert
Stroud
4th
Snog The Dog, Scene Of My Demise
St Paul’s Tavern
Cheltenham
4th
Ray Guns (2.30pm)
Railway Inn
Newnham
4th
Posh Frock & Beatbox (6.30pm)
Railway Inn
Newnham
5th
Leo James
Priory Inn
Tetbury
6th
Baroque Night with Dave Ayre & Friends Open Mic (every Wednesday from the 8th) Solid Blues feat. Solid Gone, Damon T Lanre, Folklaw, Tickled Pink, Steve Ferbrache Powerslave: A tribute to Iron Maiden. Jazz Monkey
Prince Albert
Stroud
Cross Keys Inn
Gloucester
Sound Music Venue
Cheltenham
New Brewery Arts
Cirencester
The Brunswick
Gloucester
Sound Music Venue
Cheltenham
Two Pigs
Cheltenham
12th
Fandangle, Enziguri, The Heartless Hero, Woodpusher Louise Latham
The Prince Albert
Stroud
12th
Jay Terrestrial & Chezney
Railway Inn
Newnham
15th
Bayshill Inn
Cheltenham
16th
The Drawing Of The Three, Damon T, Feral Waves Musiclab Open Mic
Guildhall
Gloucester
16th
Ezekiel Butler, Jim Blair
Frog & Fiddle
Cheltenham
17th
Mumbo Jumbo
The White Heart
Winchcombe
17th
The Brunswick
Gloucester
17th
Two Bucks Promotions Live Music Showcase. Just Call Me W
Railway Inn
Newnham
19th
Open Mic
Railway Inn
Newnham
8th 10th 10th 11th 11th 11th
PLEASE CHECK WITH THE VENUE FOR PRICES & START TIMES
GLOUCESTERSHIRE GIG GUIDE FOR JANUARY When?
Who?
Where?
Where?
10th
Solid Blues feat. Solid Gone, Damon T Lanre, Folklaw, Tickled Pink, Steve Ferbrache Powerslave: A tribute to Iron Maiden. Uke Junkies, King Swingers, Blue & Beyond, Cheltenham Ukulele Ensemble Fandangle, Enziguri, The Heartless Hero, Woodpusher Louise Latham
Sound Music Venue
Cheltenham
New Brewery Arts
Cirencester
The Brunswick
Gloucester
Sound Music Venue
Cheltenham
Two Pigs
Cheltenham
The Prince Albert
Stroud
Bayshill Inn
Cheltenham
16th
The Drawing Of The Three, Damon T, Feral Waves Musiclab Open Mic
Guildhall
Gloucester
16th
Ezekiel Butler, Jim Blair
Frog & Fiddle
Cheltenham
17th
Mumbo Jumbo
The White Heart
Winchcombe
17th
Two Bucks Promotions Live Music Showcase Tripwire
The Brunswick
Gloucester
The Feathers
Coleford
Sound Music Venue
Cheltenham
The Brunswick
Gloucester
18th
New Lake, Welcome To Marathon, Tommy Drums Avenge the Heartache, Griever, To Catch a Killer, Sharkface. Carmen, All Ears Avow
Two Pigs
Cheltenham
18th
Bleeding Noses
The Prince Albert
Stroud
23rd
Limehouse Lizzy
Subscription Rooms
Stroud
24th
Funky Jets
Sound Music Venue
Cheltenham
24th
The Worried Men
The Brunswick
Gloucester
24th
Life MC & Fingerfood, Enterprise, Zebedee & Goods
Two Pigs
Cheltenham
10th 11th 11th
11th 12th 15th
17th 17th 18th
DJ Nappa, DJ Chequelectric, Motion Profound Poets, Ryno, KSH & The Going
GLOUCESTERSHIRE GIG GUIDE FOR JANUARY When?
Who?
Where?
Where?
25th
Cambion
The Brunswick
Gloucester
25th
Hip Route
Railway Inn
Newnham
25th
Stressechoes, Kitten & Bear
Secret Gig
25th
El Born, Lost In The Light
Sound Music Venue
It’s a bloody secret! Cheltenham
26th
Stevie Ray Lathem, Damon T
Black Book Café
Stroud
26th
The Drawing Of The Three
Rise Records Instore
Cheltenham
31st
G-Shire Live Launch with Motion Enterprise, Chequeletic and Methodical Concept Friday Night Live
St Paul’s Tavern
Cheltenham
Subscription Rooms
Stroud
31st
*** VENUES & PROMOTERS *** Please send me your February gigs in a nice plain format similar to: When? Who? Where? averagemanzine@yahoo.co.uk PLEASE keep sending me your gigs for the gig guide. PLEASE keep sending me photos for the gig gallery (this is something I’d love to expand).
PLEASE let me know if have a gig in January you’d like me to review or a gig in February you’d like me to preview.
PLEASE e-mail if you would like to contribute in any way!
OLD GIG PHOTOS REUBEN @ BOOM BAR, CHELTENHAM 18.04.2001 Reuben played at Boom Bar on the floor in front of about 8 people shortly before their first album came out. They still played like their lives depended on it and threw down their equipment and tied their ties around their heads. It was rock ‘n’ roll - it was just a shame that there was hardly anyone there to see it. Boom in Cheltenham is now the downstairs of Dakota or Sekushi or whatever it is called on the Bath Road next to G's Bar. I haven’t been there since it was the Fez club when the queue snaked past Wetherspoons and you could get a vodka/shark for a pound on a Monday night.
Now lots of people want Reuben to reform. This begs the question: Why didn’t you bother to see them the first time around?!
Follow us on twitter @behindsceneglos
GIG REVIEW Oxygen Thief, Welcome Back Delta (08.12.13) It’s a sleepy Sunday night in Cheltenham. Everyone must be either hungover or watching Songs of Praise because the Frog & Fiddle is pretty damn quiet. Sometimes it’s nice like that though because there’s nobody there to spill your pint and you don’t have to queue at the bar. They even sell coffee, which makes my girlfriend happy. She likes being mentioned in these reviews and often finds that the bartenders tell her the machine is broken or the dog ate their coffee beans when, in actual fact, they can’t be bothered to make a latte past six o’clock in the evening. So well done The Frog & Fiddle. Cheltenham four-piece Welcome Back Delta are best served with a whisky in one hand and shotgun in the other. Their bluesy redneck rock sits somewhere in between Deep Purple and the deep south of the USA.
Welcome Back Delta guitar and added bass and drums to complete his transformation into Reuben – if Jamie Lenman had a Bristolian accent. The songs are so loud they’ll melt your face, even though it’s about 9 degrees in the Barn. The energy in his performance has been cranked up a notch, but the vocals are now lost a little in the frenetic pace of the performance. I like old Oxygen Thief more, but then I also prefer Only Fools & Horses with Grandad in it and A Question Of Sport before Matt Dawson and Phil Tufnell ruined it.
The audience gradually shuffle a little closer to the stage and are hooked by their…well…hooks. The singer growls and a couple of people whip out their air guitars. It’s nearly Chirstmas so why the bloody hell not? One quick changeover later and Oxygen Thief is on stage. Or should I say Oxygen Thief are on stage? ‘He’ is now a full band, having ditched the acoustic
Oxygen Thief (or should that be Oxygen Thieves?)
ALBUM REVIEW THE HOOK-LINE RIOT SIRENS This is punk rock for the 30-somethings from a band who are two-fifths of Cheltenham skate-punks 4ft Fingers. The Hook-Line Riot sing of 60 hour weeks and real life getting away from you. It’s not a mid-life crisis album, but more of a statement about growing up and swapping your baggy t-shirts for a more sensible checked number that can be worn both down the pub or when meeting your future mother-inlaw for the first time.
Title track ‘Sirens’ wouldn’t feel too out of place on one of the later Gaslight Anthem albums, whilst standout track ‘Calling All Cobras’ with its shouted gang vocals is instantly catchy. Every song is a three-minute slice of well thought out, Strung Out-inspired pop-punk. The band rarely stray from the verse, chorus, verse formula, but I guess if it isn't broke, then why fix it?
You can tell that this isn’t just five teenagers picking up their instruments for the first time on the back of hearing a Green Day album they nicked from their older brother’s bedroom. The Hook-Line Riot aren’t reinventing the punk rock wheel over the 12 songs that make up debut album ‘Sirens,’ but what they do they do well – very well indeed. The Hook-Line Riot play on January 29th at the Stag & Hounds in Bristol.
http://www.twitter.com/thehooklineriot http://thehooklineriot.bigcartel.com/
GIG PREVIEW Holly Fest is the third event since 2011 that aims to raise money for Rett Syndrome. It will be held at Pittville Pump Rooms in Cheltenham on 15th February and brings together a varied line up.
A Neurological Syndrome that effects mainly girls around the time of their first birthday, Rett Syndrome affects nearly every aspect of life. Many girls have problems with breathing and eating and many have seizures. Holly, who attends Battledown Centre for Children and Families, was diagnosed at two and a half years old. Slowly over time Holly has lost the use of her hands, the ability to feed herself and eat like any other girl her age. She now has a feeding tube and cannot walk, talk or do any of the things she most enjoyed. ‘Friends of Holly’ is a way for people to raise money specifically for Holly’s equipment and therapies in order to improve the quality of her life, as well as raising money for the Cure Rett charity. With his new album ‘In The Company Of Thieves’For more information out this month, hard travelling folk storyteller visit Gaz Brookfield returns to Café Rene in http://friendsofholly.co. Gloucester. Taking cues from Frank Turner and uk/ The Levellers, he’ll sing you songs of love and life on the road. Here’s a word from Gaz himself: “IOr to buy tickets love playing at Cafe Rene! It has a great direct atmosphere and it's always a great night there!”http://www.wegotticke The gig is free entry. ts.com/event/216486
BUYING LIES On the face of it, Buying Lies are a band that are quite easily pleased. “We want to play as many gigs as possible, create some lasting memories like a good quality recorded album and sell the odd t-shirt!” says bass player Joe. “And maybe, just maybe gain a fan base and make the best music we can.” Well, I suppose nobody goes out to make the worst music they can (except the makers of that Crazy Frog song – remember that travesty?) but you can tell after performing in various bands in Gloucestershire over the last 5 years, Buying Lies aren’t expecting superstardom straightaway. Sounding like a punked up Soundgarden, main songwriter Joe is a, “massive fan of leaving a hook or a catchy sound in a song because even if it's aggressive it will still stick in your head. My writing influences include Rage Against The Machine, Alice in Chains, Biffy Clyro and Nirvana.”
Buying Lies formed when the member’s other bands (such as The Vigil, Naked Flame and Shotgun Preachers) came to an end. “I spent my time writing and recording on my laptop, managed to stockpile around 35 songs and decided to form a group. After organising a jam with Mike on drums and me on guitar we found a base at Lansdown studios in Cheltenham. We rehearsed around 4 songs before inviting Rob to play guitar so I could move on to bass. He exceeded expectations so we placed an advert on joinmyband.co.uk for a vocalist. Josh (who is at University in Cheltenham) answered it and we've managed to complete 10 songs in 4 months.”
Although the band have secured gigs at the Frog & Fiddle and the 2 Pigs in Cheltenham in recent months, they realise that they now need to get something recorded to widen their audience.
https://www.facebook.com/BUYINGLIES https://twitter.com/BUYINGLIES
So with 10 songs (and more) in the bank, is it time to put out a triplealbum a la The Clash’s ‘Sandinista?’ “In the next few months we're hopefully going to organise the recording of an EP or album with producer Dave Draper who I've worked with previously and is an absolutely amazing bloke,” says Joe. “Then hopefully gain a bit of a reputation in Bristol and sneak our way onto some bills at the Fleece, the Louisiana and more.”
Sod Bristol (only joking – it’s got a fantastic harbour), who are the local bands in Gloucestershire to watch out for? “Out of the local bands we've played with I'd heavily recommend Welcome Back Delta, they've got the music and vocals absolutely nailed. The perfect example of keeping a groove whilst retaining a heavy sound. Other bands that I've seen and enjoyed include Stillbust, Cynotia and The St Pierre Snake Invasion.” With plans for more gigs, a recording and that print run of t-shirts mentioned earlier, Buying Lies will be keeping themselves busy for the foreseeable future. “For the next year,” Joe notes, “we just want to get out there and get things done!”
BEHIND THE SCENE GLOUCESTERSHIRE ISSUE #3 JANUARY 2014 Content created by BEHIND THE SCENE GLOUCESTERSHIRE. Thanks to all contributors who have been fully credited next to their photos.
Contact via E-mail: averagemanzine@yahoo.co.uk Twitter: @behindsceneglos Facebook: facebook.com/behindthesceneglos Tumblr: behindthesceneglos.tumblr.com/