MAY 2015
YOUR ONE STOP GUIDE TO THE BEST MUSIC IN EXETER, PLYMOUTH & THE DEVON AREA!
N O V E D
MUSIC The UK’s most exciting new alt. rock trio head for The Cavern
coal chamber
exclusive interview
ugly kid joe win tickets!
fearless vampire killers answer dumbass questions
TIVERTON COMMUNITY ARTS THEATRE
w w w. d e v o n - m u s i c . c o m
/d e vo n m u s i c m a g @devonmusicmag
WELCOME
Thanks for picking up the May 2015 issue of Devon Music Magazine, the first of our annual bumper festival specials. This month we chat to exciting new rock trio Arcane Roots, we catch up with recently resurrected nu-metal legends Coal Chamber and we ask some dumbass questions to Fearless Vampire Killers. We also round up the best of the fests in the first of our 2015 festival round ups. All this plus previews, listings and announcements from all of the best venues and events in the Devon area and a chance to win tickets to see the legendary Ugly Kid Joe in Plymouth later this year.
w w w. d e v o n - m u s i c . c o m For news submissions and editorial enquiries email info@devon-music.com If you are interested in advertising with us email sales@phmusicmedia.co.uk or call us free on 0808 147 1106
/devonmusicmag @DevonMusicMag
FEATURE
This Surrey trio have been making noise for a while now but it was 2013’s ‘Blood & Chemistry’ which really put them on the map. Like a gorgeous combination of Biffy Clyro (sorry Andrew!) mixed with as much rock as there is pop, their sound has enough Bastille-esque melody to keep the mainstream happy but more than enough balls to entertain far tougher crowds. Their live shows are a guaranteed bundle of energetic antics fuelled by an outpouring of pure emotional release. DO NOT miss these guys when they roll into the Cavern this month. You can thank us later. This year Adam, Andrew and Daryl have been kept pretty busy with a European tour with none other than Enter Shikari kicking things off in style and a whole heap of festival announcements promising a busy summer following their headline tour this month and they’ve even found time to get back in the studio and record album number three. Frankly, we’re excited about this band and you should be too. We grabbed a few minutes with guitarist Andrew Groves to discuss pastry, passport photos and what it’s like being an awkward English frontman in the world of rock… So you’re off on tour next week, are you excited? Yes, it’s been a long journey to get here but we’re excited. It’s amazing how quickly that the last run of shows we did, I think in November, feels like forever ago. We’ve really been hard at work. It’s a strange thing to be working so hard behind the scenes, but no one knows that and we have to keep it secret so it’s nice to finally have something. I really enjoy the live thing; it makes you feel like a band. Every day we’re meeting people who like our music and playing it to them and even for ourselves to just be playing our songs every day and getting better, naturally, every time we play them is really rewarding and it feels good to have that instant connection rather than being at home. I mean, it’s nice being at home, I had a BBQ yesterday and that was lovely but it feels like you’re really working when you’re out playing shows. There’s nothing like getting out and playing your music every day… Exactly. It’s a new phenomenon for us, having these two lives. There’s your public life and our actual life and I think of it like having a passport picture – all anyone sees is the last picture
DEVON MUSIC | MAY 2015
you took of yourself and if they haven’t seen you in a while so much has changed and we feel like we’re a much better band…but no one knows that! In February you were in Europe with Enter Shikari, how was that? It was amazing. We got to play with them about a year ago in Paris and we really got along well with them and their team and they’ve just put out this amazing new album. They were always a band I liked but I didn’t have all their albums or anything and it’s funny how the bands that we play with, it forges another connection with their music and we end up loving their music because we’ve seen it live every single night. It was awesome to see them be the band that they are and that’s become homework for us as we try to climb the ladder and I guess get over the hump of the British stiff upper lip and to actually enjoy yourself at your live show and give an amazing performance. I think it really requires you to elevate yourself out of the feeling that you’re showing off, you need to escape that to give these incredible performances and to see Rou crowdsurfing on an amp whilst singing a song, it was really inspiring for us. Their new album is incredible. I always think that when we’re on tour with bands, whether it’s our tour or someone else’s, everyone’s in
ARCANE ROOTS
the same boat and in the same travelling circus together and it doesn’t really matter whether you’re the lion or the lion tamer, you’re just all there and you’re just as proud for them having a good show as we were when we had a good show. What’s the difference between touring as a support artist and your own headline run? It’s two different things. We like one when we’re doing the other, if that makes sense. The good thing about a support tour is you get to be the underdog and there’s less pressure on your head. You can just go in there and play your show and it’s more than likely that nobody knows you as a band. I think some of the best tours we’ve done are when we’re announced as support really late, so none of our fans get tickets and it’s a completely new crowd because I like that challenge of having to win people over. That’s fun and exciting. Even if it’s just one person in 500 saying ‘I’d never heard of you but that was great’ it’s always really appreciated. But once you’ve done that you’re like ‘ah, I wish some people knew us’… And then when you play your own shows, then that’s like coming home to friends you haven’t seen for a while. We’re really lucky to have people who follow us around (in a nice way) and the front row looks strikingly familiar most nights and that’s as shocking as it is humbling. I could be having a bad day or ill, as I like to get on tour, and as much as I don’t get a night off anymore, it’s nice to have those smiling people there excited to see you play. We’re so grateful that they’re there and it’s changed a lot of things this past year. Even writing a record, that becomes a consideration. What would give them a good time? Whereas before everything was quite selfish and you just wanna write the best thing that you like, but now I like the feeling of them singing along and jumping up and down with us and enjoying themselves and so I wanna make that happen for them. You’re currently working on a new album, did you bust some of it out on tour and will we get to hear some of it at the Exeter show? Absolutely! We’re pretty restless when it comes to new music. Usually from the day I write something I’m wrapped up in the idea of playing it live because, ha, that’s our most relevant passport picture! That is us now. By the time music comes out, you’re already a year ahead in your writing process and you feel like you’re a better musician so we’ve been really keen to write and use what we’ve learnt over the past year. Do you feel the recording of the new album has been a positive experience? I’m really proud of this record. I really feel like I’m rolling out catchphrases but I feel like this is the record we intended to make and I probably said that last time but I really mean it! We have a thing in Arcane Roots where we try and write out our problems or things that we feel like we’re lacking as a band. We’re glaringly aware of anything that we think we might not be strong on, like you would normally. If you were good at cooking but your pastry was not so good you would concentrate on that…my analogies are fantastic by the way! So this time I wanted to try and write things to an effect in a way. So literally every song is written about
DEVON MUSIC | MAY 2015
trying to encapsulate a moment. Can you tell us about your current favourite track of the new album…? Well it changes every day but I think this song will be The Single, and when I wrote it I knew in my mind what the lighting direction looks like, and I know what the stage looks like and I know what happens when we play this song and I know that I want everyone to jump up and down to it. I wanted to aim for the experience rather than our own egos of writing something complicated and when you set yourself a little box it becomes sort of easier and harder at the same time. So we picked the tempo and I just wrote to the metronome and I feel like most of it was written via daydream and it was like ‘right, what do I want to see when I’m watching our show and how do I want it to be?’ and with this song I want people to jump up and down and sing and partly it’s going back to the British frontman thing, I don’t wanna be a Hugh Grant and all crumbly. I ramble, I mumble and I speak really quickly and I wanted to make it impossible for me to do that and so I’m describing that, in the lyrics, as openly as I can and I feel like it’s a little disclaimer. And so far it’s been fantastic. We played it on the Enter Shikari tour and people did jump up and down! It’s called ‘If Nothing Breaks Nothing Moves’ What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to (not your own)? Oooh. The most recent best gig I’ve been to was Bring Me The Horizon at Wembley and that was really good. But then…there’s a lot of good gigs! I got to watch Biffy Clyro at Reading from side stage, which was pretty good. You guys must get compared to them a lot. How do you feel about it? Yeah. My hair and facial hair seems to be the main basis of the comparison! For us it’s become the go to thing and we get it, people need things to fall in line with something but having played with them, we took a lot from their showmanship we can’t deny that, but my biggest influences are people like Coldply, KT Tunstall, Sigur Ros and Thom Yorke. I’m like the poor man’s Simon Neill and when I met Simon I said ‘one day, someone is going to come up to you and say ‘you look like Andrew from Arcane Roots’ and on that day I will die a happy, happy man’ hahaha! Words: Zan Lawther
Catch arcane roots live @ Exeter Cavern – may 19
ARCANE ROOTS
FESTIVAL ROUND UP
So it’s that time of year again, time to brush off the trusty tent, dig out the wellies and head to the fields or if camping isn’t your bag, maybe grab some real ale and take in an all-dayer at the local. Whatever your bag, we seek out the best of the fests in our 2015 FESTIVAL ROUND UP!
Newnham Park, Plymouth may 22 - 25 Volksfest 2015 promises to bring you more of the names you know and love, as well as exciting local and national breakthrough acts for those who enjoy discovering new music. Way back in 2007 five friends thought it would be a good idea to try and do a Vee Dub show with a difference and go back to what we used to buy our beloved dubs for - camping, partying and festivals. 8 years later it’s still going strong and boasts a wide range of music from classic oldies to the freshest cabaret acts around, a cinema, comedy and glamping in the form of hobbit huts and VW tents. Already announced are Ocean Colour Scene, Wilko Johnson, Atomic Kitten, East 17, Mad Dog Mcrea, Finlay Quaye, Moriaty, Tony Law, Martin Davis, The Lounge Kittens, Knotslip, The Freestylers, Judge Jules, Phil Hartnoll (Orbital) and many more…
newton abbot racecourse may 30 Lemonfest is Devon’s best one day party, mixing top quality national acts with homegrown Devon bands and DJ’s a plenty to help you party the night away. This year’s festival sees Glastonbury’s Arcadia favourites the Lords of Lightning do their thing, a late night silent disco, fairground and more craft ales and ciders than you can shake a stick at. So who’s playing? Already announced are Dub Pistols, The Subways, DJ Yoda, Beans on Toast, Too Many T ’s, Moriaty, 3 Daft Monkeys, Matthew & Me, DC Breaks, Jamie Trench, Raul Pindi’s Disco Vortex and many more…
Fistral beach, newquay June 12 - 13 Two action packed days with some of the best acts from around the world, including Australia’s best loved festival act - The Cat Empire headlining the Saturday evening and the notoriously rambunctious Alabama 3 kickstarting Electric Beach with a bang. Don’t miss the FAMOUS VIP AFTER PARTIES at the Chy Bar and Koola club with DJ sets from Dreadzone, Jelly jazz and Hong Kong Ping Pong, plus live performances So who’s playing? Friday: Alabama 3, Babyhead, Shanty, Anti Matador, Ushti Baba. Saturday: The Cat Empire, Dreadzone, Renegade Brass Band, Backbeat Soundsystem, The Velvet Hands
Weekend with camping around £100 for non-club members
Tickets are £30 in advance with camping.
A weekend ticket is between £35 and £50 depending on when you book and how VIP you wanna go
plymouthvolksfest.co.uk
lemonfest.co.uk
electricbeachfestival.co.uk
devon MUSIC |MAY 2015
festival round up
Croyde, North Devon june 19 -21 SURF & MUSIC is what makes the GoldCoast world tick! Simple enjoyment for all – sucking in fresh sea air whilst taking in the oceanside panorama allowing even the most weary of souls the opportunity to appreciate the good things in life. The GoldCoast Oceanfest midsummer weekend is all about good times, great music, keeping fit and looking after the environment. Grown organically, with great care and affection since 1999, Oceanfest has become famous for presenting an eclectic mix of musical talent that goes some way to sprinkle that special ’GoldCoast’ vibe. Appearing this year are Roots Manuva, Michael Kiwanuka, Gaz Coombes, Ghostpoet, Luke Friend, Hudson Taylor, Twin Wild, Habitats, Hidden Charms, Bite the Buffalo, Tom Williams and more to be announced! Plus there’s LOADS of sports to get involved or spectate
pilton, nr glastonbury june 24 - 28 The mecca of all festivals, Glastonbury tickets are hot property. A festival that is about so much more than just the music there really IS something for everyone in the acres and acres of fun on Worthy Farm. Every year it grows just a little bit bigger, now boasting over 100 stages with literally 1,000’s of acts performing across the weekend you’ll be spoilt for choice. This year’s event features Foo Fighters, Kanye West, Florence & the Machine, Pharrell Williams, Lionel Richie, Alt-J, Motorhead, Mary J Blige, Alabama Shakes, Paloma Faith, The Waterboys, The Fall, George Ezra, Rudimental, Future Islands, Suede, The Chemical Brothers, Ben Howard, Mark Ronson, La Roux, Death Cab for Cutie, Lianne La Havas, The Moody Blues and tonnes more still to be announced. Listing artists simply doesn;t do the festival justice, you could go days without seeing a band and still be having an incredible time!
£50 for the weekend, pure and simple
If you don’t already have a ticket you’re probably not going, totally sold out already folks!
goldcoastoceanfest.co.uk
glastonburyfestivals.co.uk
Over Farm, Gloucestershire july 3 - 5 An intimate, folk-orientated music festival held in several barns, on a farm, in Gloucestershire. Created in 2010 as a small venture, driven by a passion for decent, new music and the vision of putting on a festival that the organisers would love to attend, it’s now in its sixth year and has gained a reputation as the place to see the next big thing while meeting some great friends. Keeping intimacy at its heart, Barn on the Farm bridges the boundary between the mainstream festivals and your typical village hall shenanigans, whilst bringing you the best up and coming artists, food, atmosphere and chilled beverages. So who’s playing? The Staves, James Bay, Jack Garratt, Prides, Rhodes, Amber Run, Little Comets, Foy Vance, Lauren Aquilina, Rag & Bone Man, Nothing But Thieves, Sunset Sons, Chasing Grace plus loads more still to be announced A weekend ticket is £100 with camping, simples.
barnonthefarm.co.uk
We spend most of our summer with a car boot permanently packed, ready for another festival at a moment’s notice. Our top tips for festival survival? Always pack a waterproof jacket and something warm to wrap up in, you can never trust the UK’s weather – baby wipes are essential – never leave the tent without some bog roll in your bag – with gaffa tape and carrier bags you can fix pretty much anything, including leaky wellingtons!
devon MUSIC |MAY 2015
O N D E V
MUSIC
festival round up
3-DAY TICKETS FROM £55
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S K E P TA
JME
K AT E T E M P E S T
ALABAMA SHAKES
EACH TICKET IS EXCHANGED FOR A FESTIVAL WRISTBAND ALLOWING ACCESS TO CORE PROGRAMME VENUES, SUBJECT TO CAPACITY. TO ACCESS THE BRIGHTON DOME CONCERT HALL SHOWS AND THURSDAY NIGHT BRIGHTON DOME CORN EXCHANGE SHOW. TOP UP YOUR FESTIVAL WRISTBAND FOR £8 PER SHOW, WOR PURCHASE SEPARATE GIG TICKETS. *IN ASSOCIATION WITH BRIGHTON FESTIVAL.
FESTIVAL ROUND UP
Did you know that music festivals are believed to go all the way back to ancient Greece in the 10th century BC? Ethereal deities, rather than rock gods, were honoured though times haven’t changed so much with the recent emphasis placed on looking your absolute best (weather permitting!) in the field. Dry shampoo has been around since the 70’s but last year Asda reported sales were up a whopping 37% as we all struggle to keep our barnets fresh for five days without a shower!
South Molton’s Riverside Caravan and Camping Park will be hosting the 50’s & 60’s Rock And Roll Weekend from Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd May. Now into its 13th year, The Gathering begins the UK’s didjeridu festival season and is a great chance to catch up with old friends, make some new ones and listen to what everyone’s been doing with their didjes over the winter break, 1 - 3 May 2015. Yellowfest, a one day event at Torquay United Football Club, takes place Saturday 9 May with 10cc, Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford, These Reigning Days and more. Saturday 10 May sees the return of St Ives Blues Festivals in Cornwall after a triumphant debut last year. Pigstock is back for a second year on Saturday 16 May. The one day music festival returns bigger and bolder, packed full of activities and attractions for all the family. Taking place at the Pig on the Hill, Westward Ho!, Devon with an alternative country fayre theme. The Dart Music Festival 15 to 17 May in Dartmouth offers an eclectic mix of orchestral, rock, choral, blues, opera, folk, and jazz performances at a variety of venues including two churches, the bandstand in the Park, outside the castle and various hotels, pubs, and restaurants throughout the weekend. 22 – 24 May head down to Newton Abbot for the 7th Ashburton Blues Festival or jump in the camper (or tent) to Volksfest in Plymouth and celebrate all things VW with a selection of awesome bands, old and new. The 9th Bude & Stratton Folk Festival takes place from 22 - 25 May in the Rugby Club, the Falcon Hotel and elsewhere in and around the North Cornwall coastal town of Bude. The festival is a friendly mix of folk concerts, workshops and themed events featuring dance displays, music and song. HIJACKED FESTIVAL
Eastville Park in Bristol is the new home for Love Saves the Day festival 23/24 May. Definitely one for the ravers it features the best dance music and DJs around.
Eight days of music, art and activities come to Manor Gardens as Exmouth Festival arrives 22 – 28 May. Featuring the best in jazz, folk, ska and reggae music this festival takes place right across the town and is completely FREE, so no excuses! Also that weekend, Run to the Sun in Newquay for DJ fun with Jaguar Skills, Mistajam, The Freestylers and Utah Saints alongside live comedy and a silent disco. This year’s Dot to Dot festival, held across multiple venues in Bristol takes place on Saturday 23 May. The festival offers two days of indie, rock, dance and pop music. RUN TO THE SUN Laid back, homely and family friendly Wychwood Festival returns to Cheltenham Racecourse 29 - 31 May, with 100 bands across 4 stages and Boney M, Ali Campbell and Ladysmith Black Mambazo at the helm. The 2nd annual Hijacked Festival breezes into Exeter on Saturday 30 May in the picturesque grounds of Powderham Castle, the 600-year old home of the Earl and Countess of Devon. The ultimate 80’s party comes to Ashton Court Estate, Bristol in the form of Let’s Rock 5 – 7 June.
devon MUSIC |MAY 2015
festival round up
Plymouth’s Premier Live Music Venue & Nightclub
MAY 1st - dBs Project Warp (16+ - Doors 8pm) 2nd - Tidy Plymouth feat. Tidy Boys (last ever set in Plymouth) + BK, Sam Townend + more (18+ 10pm-5am) 6th - Fearless Vampire Killers + Annisokay + Myth City + Embers of Eden (15+ Doors 7:30pm) 8th - The Mouse Outfit Live feat Dr Syntax, Sparkz & Special Guests + Beat Den Live,, BAttlestations DJ’s + more (18+ 10pm-4am)
9th - The Sherlocks + The Paisley Strays + Double Denim (16+ Doors 8pm) 16th - Unit 37 present the Outlook Launch Party with DJ Hype + MC Texas and Spectrasoul (18+ 10pm-5am)
23rd - Liquid Pulse & WTF present Mark EG & Lab 4 + many more (18+ 9pm-6am) 24th - ONE LOVE Summer Send Off feat Billy Kenny, SG Lewis, Apres, Panda & Darko (18+ 9pm-6am)
30th - WTF with Destructive Tendencies, R3verze Psychology, The Doctor + Scott Brown, Smurf + many more (18+ 9pm-5am)
The Hub is available for hire for live events & clubnights. For details on our great rates and outstanding tech spec please email: ian@PlymouthHub.co.uk
9 B a t h S t r e e t, P ly m o u t h , P L 1 3 L T ( B e h i n d P ly m o u t h P a v i l i o n s )
COMPETITION
Our favourite good time hard rockers are back. Not content with blowing Skid Row off stage at the Lemmy last year, Ugly Kid Joe return to Devon with their ‘Uglier than they used to be’ tour and are headed to The Hub in Plymouth. You could be rocking to hits like Neighbour, Cat’s Cradle and Everything About You with a friend, just answer this simple question...
Q: What US hardcore band
did frontman Whitfield Crane briefly sing for in the early noughties? Email your answer to:
competitions@devon-music.com or send us a direct message via Twitter or facebook. Competition closes 01/06/15
/devonmusicmag @D e v o n M u s i c M a g
devon MUSIC | may 2015
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FEATURE
OK, it’s 1998, nu-metal is THE thing for angsty teenagers with too much time on their hands (this is before the internet had produced Facebook, Buzzfeed and an endless supply of ridiculous quizzes to keep us entertained). Everyone is wearing jeans as wide as they are long, with their wallet strapped to their side on a dog chain, hair is slick, make up is dark and we are so bored we’re literally going LOCO. This is Coal Chamber’s time to shine. They burst onto the scene bringer a darker, stormier edge than their peers and across the land, rockers, goths and weirdos get their mosh on as there isn’t a rock night to be found that won’t grant us the pleasure of banging our heads and calling out to ‘let the motherf**ker BURN!’ Despite being together for a decade, the reign of this particular band was fairly short-lived and they went their separate ways in 2003. Vocalist Dez Fafara went on to forge a successful new outfit in the form of the face melting DevilDriver but eventually in 2011 differences were settled and slowly but surely Coal Chamber started putting the pieces back together and making various appearances at festivals across the globe. At the start of this year they released their first new work in over ten years and excitement started building for the release of the album ‘Rivals’ which comes out this month. A blend of intense, pummelling metal thuggery combined with their signature goth rock imagery, this new and improved, grown up Coal Chamber could be just what the metal doctor ordered – or is this resurgence in the popularity of these bands from a certain era just a welcome trip down memory lane that perhaps won’t stand up for the long haul? Well, we’re certainly going to have a bloomin’ good time finding out. We caught up with frontman Dez to see what he thinks… So, Coal Chamber are officially back. It’s about time. Tell us how it happened… Well in 2006 Meegs came up with DevilDriver and did Loco. After that in 2009 we started discussing getting back together and I think communication and a whole lot of things had to be opened up and talked about. So we toured the world in 2012 and during that time, in Australia, Meegs was listening to some tunes on his headphones and I said ‘what are you listening to?’ and he said ‘just some music I’m writing’. I listened to it and I said ‘I don’t know what this is but I wanna lay vocals to it’ so from there it kind of took another year, year and a half to really put music down together as well as get a label in place. So we started tracking demos in 2013 and then really hitting it hard in late 2013/2014 in order to get the record out. That’s really how it happened, me just hearing music from him and going
DEVON MUSIC | MAY 2015
‘what is this!?! Who are you writing for right now’ and he was like ‘I’m just writing music’ and I was like ‘I gotta sing to this, man’. You’ve got a new album coming out. Can you tell me a little bit about the process for writing the new album? The process was very much the same as we did back in the day. We locked ourselves in a room and wrote songs. We locked ourselves away in pre-production for weeks with a producer and went over things and then we went in and did our individual process and it came out, I think, fantastic. So the process has always been the same for this band, which is old school, lock yourselves in a room and write songs. None of us wanted to be part of some 90’s throwback record whatsoever so going into it was basically a process of saying listen, let’s write what we write. Whatever you’re writing now, I’m loving. However I’m gonna sing, then that’s how it’s going to be. And I think we created something different, unique and fresh sounding because we did that. You’ve been teasing us with new tracks. What can we expect from Rivals as a whole? A real well thought out, well arranged, big hooks, great soundscapes on music in general and on guitar I think Meegs is a soundologist (if that’s even a word!). I can only put him in the same
COAL CHAMBER
category as Rage Against the Machine y’know on how he comes up with his sounds and the things he does so I think what you can expect is something dark, different and fresh.
we just bring something different. And like I said before we didn’t want to make a throwback record, we wanted to bring something fresh and I think we’ve done it.
It seems that in the UK recently there’s been a resurgence in the popularity of bands from Coal Chamber’s era. Is that the same in the States or did nu-metal never really go away? You know it’s really crazy, I don’t think it ever really went away anywhere because one of the biggest bands on the planet, arguably enough below Metallica, is Slipknot and that’s about as nu-metal as it gets so Slipknot, System of a Down, Korn, the Deftones they never really went anywhere and all the kind of underling bands that were around us are all still around and really doing their thing. So where everybody’s now saying nu-metal is having a resurgence, I think it’s always been there. Even bands like Five Finger Death Punch, listen to them and tell me they’re not nu-metal. And then what’s really cool is younger bands that are heavily influenced by the genre. I mean, talk to Suicide Silence and they’ll tell you what they’re favourite bands are. Korn will be on that list and a bunch of other nu-metal bands. I think the influence has always been there and it’s influenced these younger bands but if people wanna say it’s coming back because Coal Chamber is doing a record, then I’ll take it haha!
I’ve moved forward as a musician, the way I sing and we all have in the way we write and then there’s like, giving me music like Coal Chamber to write to it’s like, wow I haven’t seen these colours in 13 years, I haven’t used this palette. I can go high, I can low, I can go clean, I can go heavy melodic vocals. This was like a blessing for a lyricist to be able to get so for me, I wanted to do it straight away so I can’t wait to release it and just see what happens.
Well you’ve gotta appreciate that people are so excited to see you come back after more than ten years away… Well we are absolutely. After 13 years, we just got off a six week tour in the United States, 35 shows and the crowds were immense and the people were of all sorts of age groups and everyone just going off and loving the fact that we were back together. So that makes you feel, first of all it’s a very humbling thing, and then you become very appreciative and then you’re like, OK we better not let anybody down. That’s what happened to us in 2012 we were like, OK if we’re going to do a record, let’s make sure to not let anybody down and do something that’s fresh and heavy and balls out. When we came out there wasn’t a lot that sounded like us, but now we don’t even want to release a record unless it’s going to be something different, something fresh and we can actually bring something to a new scene, which I think we’ve done. So that, with the touring, it’s all just extremely positive right now. What do you think is going to set Coal Chamber apart and steer you away from being a nostalgic step back in time for some of your original fans and help reinvigorate those fans and engage with new music fans? Well it’s pretty crazy cos at our shows it was mostly between 14 and 22 year olds. There were people that were reliving their youth coming out, most definitely, but for us it was a huge young fanbase. Here’s the thing about that music back in the day, and even now those bands that are the progenators of that late 90’s nu-metal sound. It was so different back in the day and it had something different to offer and I think what we’re going to offer is something dark, something heavy, lyrics that are completely relatable to everybody’s life. Even to solve a problem, if you want to get to it y’know. And I think that how we’ve always been apart from those who started with us or around us is that we’ve always been that band that brings a goth style to heavy music. I mean, I listen to Bauhaus to Black Flag to Black Sabbath. So that’s what Coal Chamber brings. We’re the only one within that whole genre from all of us that actually incorporates those kinds of bands in our records. So say some 16 year old kid who’s never heard of Coal Chamber is going to hear this record, I mean I’m pretty sure he’s going to be floored and that’s only because I’ve got a house full of 16/17 year old kids running round listening to music and they’re like ‘Who is this?’ and my kids are like ‘that’s my Dad’s OLD band!’ and they’re like ‘holy sh*t, we wanna hear this’ so y’know, I think
DEVON MUSIC | MAY 2015
During Coal Chamber’s hiatus you forged a successful career with DevilDriver. What do you see as the main differences between the two bands? Devildriver is like let’s get it on, full on, in a rocket fuelled by nitrous, jamming across a comet, leaving streaks of LSD – it’s a totally different ballgame than Coal Chamber. Coal Chamber is like, let’s go into this mansion where’s there’s many rooms and it’s totally separate to write to. I could never use a Coal Chamber lyric for a DevilDriver lyric or a DevilDriver lyric for a Coal Chamber lyric but I definitely have many different sides to the music I listen to. I love ALL music so I need different sides of myself. DevilDriver is my like, let’s knock this person in the teeth, leave them in the alleyway and just walk away. Coal Chamber is a different story. You wanna grab their neck and kill ‘em slowly. It’s a more gothic process. And not to say that DevilDriver isn’t dark because if you read my lyrics it is, we’re a very dark band but Coal Chamber just has a certain something and being able to record to this music I guess was refreshing to me to be able to use all these palettes. There’s a song on the record called Orion that was supposed to be a minute and a half interlude with no vocals and I ended up on the last day laying vocals to that song and now it’s one of my favourites. It’s real clean and real smooth and mellow and totally separate to anything I’ve done in like 12 or 13 years. Do you still get just as much of a kick out of playing the old classics like ‘Loco’ and ‘Sway’ live? Absolutely! Cos now they’re on a whole other level. They’re heavy as hell! I mean live, hearing them now it’s no wonder we toured the world with Pantera and Megadeth and Black Sabbath cos we’re heavy as hell. And especially for the time, y’know LA had just come out of hair metal and here we come with down tuned bass strings on a guitar and heavy, growly vocals. It was heavy back then, it’s heavier now and we’re tighter now! And my voice has grown since I was a child. Now when I sing it’s like heavy balls out. Sway! We always play Sway last, we always did, and it never fails to astound me the crowd, what happens when we’re singing that song. I mean people go insane! The last 6 weeks it’s been phenomenal. We don’t do encores cos that’s for rockstars and ego-maniacs, I’ve always hated that, it’s bullshit and then we go into Sway and people go nuts. It’s been a good time to relive these people and relive this music, it’s been wonderful. And far from nostalgic because it feels fresh! Finally, what can fans expect to see when they rock up to see you guys live? We’re 100% on point right now. Way more than even from 2012 when we revisited it. Now it’s like a machine so expect a really killer hour and ten minutes, 15 – 16 songs, it’s gonna be tight as hell. I don’t know what kind of production we’re going to be able to bring but just hone in on the band and get ready to hear some really tight music! Words: Zan Lawther
Catch them live @ Exeter Lemon Grove – may 27
COAL CHAMBER
If you could live in any place, where would it be? I’d like a few places one day. A Country house in the UK, a condo in the US maybe California and a villa in italy or France. Not much ay? What’s your favourite eyeliner? Any that is waterproof. I cry a lot... nah I sweat on stage. If you had a catchphrase, what would it be? I have many! “Shit to do MOTHER FUCKERS!” is one. What was your best subject at school? I was pretty good at English! What’s your favourite joke? I wouldn’t be allowed to write any of them. I generally like the dangerous ones. Have you ever wielded a sword? Many times. Real ones too.
TIVERTON COMMUNITY ARTS THEATRE
A Vision of Elvis Saturday 9th May £15.00
Full Bar and Hot Snack Food Tickets from our Box Office within The Busy Bee, Tiverton or online at www. tivertontheatre.com Full Bar and Hot Snack Food Bolham EX16busy 6SQ bee Tiverton Tickets from our Box Road, OfficeTiverton, within the
or online at www.tivertontheatre.com Bolham Road, Tiverton, EX16 6SQ
What’s your favourite song to play live and why? It changes weekly! Although I’ve really been liking “Say What You Want From Me” recently. What’s on your iPod RIGHT NOW? I lost my iPod in Margate... I’m listening to Nothing More though! If you could breed 2 animals together and defy the laws of nature, what would you create? A Lion and a Tiger... it’s called a Liger. If you get that joke then I love you. You can pick four people to form a band to cover your songs, but they must all be called Paul. What Pauls would you have in your band? Paul McCartney, Paul Gray and Sean Paul Which character from the Simpsons are you most like? Lisa. What would your Pokemon name be? Pikierchu Who in the band would make the best girl? Drew. He’s dressed as one before. Why should we pick up your new album Unbreakable Hearts? Because it’s the most ambitious album to be written by a British band in the last decade. If you had to go on a reality TV show, which one would you choose? Big Brother. Seems easy!
Catch fearless vampire killers live @ the hub | plymouth | may 6
U FO
t h e st ry p e s
Sat 2 May, doors 8pm, £20.50
Sun 17 May, 8pm, £12.50
gy p sy F i r e
t h U r stO n mOOre
Sat 2 May, 7.30pm, £15 (£13) g r a h a m pa r k e r & b r i n s l e y s c h wa r z
Sun 3 May, doors 7.30pm, £21
Mon 18 May, doors 8pm, £15
Fa i r p O r t cOnventiOn tue 19 May, 8pm, £21
b e l l a h a r dy
t e r ry r e i d
Wed 6 May, 8pm, £12 (£10)
Wed 20 May, doors 7.30pm, £18.50
marenje
m i st y i n r O Ot s
Sun 10 May, 8pm, £10 (£8)
Fri 22 May, doors 8pm, £17
r O ry m c l e O d
jac k i e Oat e s
Sun 10 May, 7.30pm, £10
tue 26 May, 8pm, £12 (£10)
eska
evil s c a r e c r Ow
Wed 13 May, 8pm, £10 (£8)
thu 28 May, doors 8pm, £8.50
See the website for many more gigs at exeter phoenix 01392 667080 | exeterphoenix.org.uk | Bradninch place, gandy Street, exeter, ex3 4lS
previews Doom, doom and more DOOM
MOSS
This doom-laden shindig is a must-see for any metal fans. Originally hailing from Southampton but now flung across the globe, the band have no time for nonsense prefixes such as ‘sludge’, ‘stoner’ or ‘drone’. Those terms do not apply here: this is pure DOOM metal. A celebration of horror , the arcane and the unknown. Grindy, heavy, rolling riffs as big as mountains combined with chunky shouty vocals. FOR FANS OF: BLACK TUSK / CATHEDRAL / ELECTRIC WIZARD
JACK GARRATT
MAY 13 | EXETER CAVERN
MAY 04 | PLYMOUTH UNDERGROUND
Acoustic dance with soulful vocals
This 22 year old singer and multi-instrumentalist has enjoyed support from BBC Introducing and his powerful songwriting and incredible vocals have set blogs around the world alight with excitement leading him to a number of festival appearances this summer. Jack has crafted a mesmerizing live show, triggering samples, throwing out guitar solos and delivering spellbinding vocals. FOR FANS OF: KATY B / RAE MORRISS / TEI SHI
Happy 10th birthday you crazy punks
Devon roots-punks, Crazy Arm, have been at it since 2005. Celebrating a whole decade this month theirs is a creative and grizzly mesh that pays tribute to post/hardcore, ‘60s protest song, American and British folk, anarcho-punk and classic rock’n’roll in equal measure. Combined with a grass-roots political slant, it makes for a thrilling and thought-provoking listen. FOR FANS OF: BILLY BRAGG / JIM LOCKEY / SUNDOWNER
UB40
MAY 17 | PLYMOUTH PAVILIONS Mind battering metalz
CRAZY ARM
MAY 16 | PLYMOUTH UNDERGROUND Legendary reggae-pop Gods
British reggae-pop band UB40 are known to pretty much everyone, if you don’t know who they are, I don’t know where you have been for the last 30 years! Selling over 70 million records, they are one of the worlds best-selling music artists. With their funky pop melodies and soulful vocals, UB40 never fail to entertain an audience. FOR FANS OF: BOB MARLEY / EDDY GRANT / THE SPECIALS
CAPSIZE
Sending out an endless volley of rapid-fire barbed wire guitar riffs and howling, blast-furnace, melt your face vocals, Capsize combine the anger and agility of punk rock with the blunt smack you round the head force of metal, laying out music that’s full of sound and fury. Get into the pit ‘cos this one’s gonna go off! FOR FANS OF: CLIMATES / LANDSCAPES / HEIGHTS
DEVON MUSIC | MAY 2015
MAY 22| PLYMOUTH, JUNCTION
previews
previews THE STORY OF GUITAR HEROES
Awe inspiring show for all music lovers
This brand new show, presented by Phil Walker is a live concert ‘rockumentary; paying homage to some of the greatest guitar heroes of all time. Sit back and relax as they take you on a journey through the decades from the first legends of the rock ‘n’ roll era through to the most creative, inspirational modern guitar heroes today.
MAY 23| PAIGNTON PALACE THEATRE
FOR FANS OF: JIMI HENDRIX / BRIAN MAY / SLASH
Tongue in cheek metallers
Nottingham’s Evil Scarecrow claim to be the finest heavy metal band ever to write a song about a robot… probably. Former winners of the Bloodstock Unsigned Competition, the current line-up features a devilish cavalcade of unruly characters; Dr Rabid Hell, Brother Dimitri Pain, Kraven Morrdeth, Princess Luxury and Ringmaster Monty Blitzfist. This is metal with tongue in cheek. FOR FANS OF: PANIC CELL / CRADLE OF FILTH / GOJIRA
THE DAMNED
JUNE 06 | EXETER PHOENIX Rock with a reggae twist
EVIL SCARECROW
MAY 28| EXETER PHOENIX Punk, pure and simple
Instrumental in kick-starting the original punk rock scene, The Damned have never been afraid to push themselves musically and throughout their years together have cruised through whatever areas of progressive, psychedelic, goth and pop rock that take their fancy. Smash it up with the original gothic punks – back with original members Dave Vanian and Captain Sensible. FOR FANS OF: BUZZCOCKS / STIFF LITTLE FINGERS / SEX PISTOLS
From his first performance in 1969, through such classics as ‘She’ and ‘Alison’, to present day, Elvis Costello is a true British classic. His last album Wise Up Ghost will purportedly be his last, and he is expected to rarely been seen performing live, catch this hero of British music while you still can.
ELVIS COSTELLO
JUNE 24 | PLYMOUTH PAVILIONS Gorgeous ladies with beautiful harmonies
FOR FANS OF: JOE JACKSON / GRAHAM PARKER / NICK LOWE
THE STAVES
Emily, Jessic and Camilla Staveley-Taylor are three Watford sisters with stunning voices currently leading the pack for the youthful folk revivalists in the UK. Blending the wistful cadences of classic British folk with breezy Laurel Canyon-era Americana their ability to harmonise is engaging and hypnotic.
NOV 04 | FALMOUTH PAVILION
DEVON MUSIC | MAY 2015
FOR FANS OF: MARTHA WAINWRIGHT / LAURA MARLING
previews
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ones to watch
If you had to describe your sound in three words, what would you call it? Ryan: As our friend Dan Kerr would say. Legit, banging and brutal. You’re about to release a new video, tell us about that… Ryan: The track’s called ‘Defeated’. We’ve been sat on it for a few months now and we’ve had a lot of problems with its release but we’re really stoked to finally get it out there. We recorded with Daniel Kerr from Avenue studios and the video was done by Zak Pinchin from In Archives (who are amazing by the way). It’s a massive step up musically for us and we really think we’ve found a direction with this single. As a whole it’s about overcoming a state of defeat. Whether that’s anxiety, depression or stress. Whatever. It’s about how losing faith in what you believe in and losing faith in yourself can make you forget about the incredible world that we live in and how much beauty there really is in this world.
Subject To Change are a five piece outfit that are bringing their own unique take on the genres of ‘Hardcore’ and ‘Metalcore’ and combining them to make a fierce and crushing sound. Having shared the stage with the likes of Climates, Martyr Defiled, When We Were Wolves, Sworn in and Continent, Subject To Change have been through the ringer a bit so far this year but are back on form with a new video. They really are ready to blow up in 2015 and show the UK what they’re made of so we dropped in for a chat to find out exactly when we can expect to see some new stuff and them back out on the live circuit… Who are you and what do you do in the band? I’m Ryan, lead vocalist. I’m Patrick, I play guitar. My name is Marcus, I play bass and sing. I’m Dan, I play guitar, drive and write. I’m Taryn, I play drums and write the tunes with Dan. How and when did you all get together? Ryan, Dan, Taryn: We formed back in 2011 through a music technology class in Launceston College. We started playing covers and then decided one day we were going to play a charity gig for the college and it just sort of went from there. We’ve had a few line-up changes over two years but I think as soon as the brothers joined we knew we had a solid line-up that really connected and that we finally had a band we could be serious with. The first show we played with Marcus was a big eye opener in that sense. Pat : I joined in late 2014, kinda knew everyone from school anyway so I was able to gel with the guys fairly quick and we just jammed the songs and here I am today. Marcus: I haven’t been in the band for long, I was originally just going to fill in for a couple of gigs but Dan found it too hard to see me leave, so I joined permanently.
What’s been your biggest achievement to date? Ryan: Supporting Martyr Defiled was pretty cool, as was supporting Climates. We’ve had some opportunities to support some of our favourite bands through Jamie at Live Sound in 2014 so it was a seriously crazy year for us. We’ve been all over the place as well, we had the chance to play in London and Brighton a few times and we’ve met some really cool bands and got the chance to gig with them so it’s been really hard to pinpoint any in particular. Tell us about your next show and why we should come check it out? Ryan: The next show is most likely going to be a single release show in Plymouth. We’ll have more information on that on our Facebook soon but you should come because one, we’ll be playing some new songs. Two, we’ve got some sexy merch you need to pick up and three, we’re all complete nut jobs on stage and you’re definitely in for a surprise. What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to (not your own)? Marcus: 36 Crazyfists gig this year in Plymouth. Pat: One of the best was in Bristol watching our good friends Heaven Asunder on their album launch. Mosh pits, stage dives and singalongs for like an hour straight was just insane. Dan: There’s been far too many to pinpoint one, but every Crossfaith show I’ve been to has been mental. Taryn: Architects have blown me away every time I’ve seen them. If Hollywood made a film about your band, who would play you guys? Marcus: Zac Efron obviously. Ryan: Marcus lives in a bit of a dream world as you can see. I reckon Michael Cera would play me, Zach Galifinakis would play Pat Pat: Leonardo DiCaprio so he can finally win an Oscar. What is on the agenda for 2015? Ryan: We’re planning on releasing more new music this year, what we’ve written already is by far our best to date so we’re really stoked on that. We also have a huge surprise for everyone in the next month or so which is going to blow your socks off. www.facebook.com/subjecttochangeuk
Who are your biggest influences? Ryan: We’ve got so many influences it’s really hard to define a list of who our main inspirations are, we try to take inspiration from them all but overall I’d probably say Architects, While She Sleeps and Underoath for myself. Pat: There’s too many to list but I guess Parkway Drive are the biggest influence for me. Dan: As a guitarist, my main influences would be Matt Heafy of Trivum and Tom Searle of Architects. Sam Osborne of Napoleon is insane as well.
DEVON MUSIC | MAY 2015
SUBJECT TO CHANGE
MYTH CITY MYTH CITY
MAY 06 // THE HUB
MAY 06 // THE HUB
MAY 04 // EXILE
MAY
MAY 19 // CAVERN
MAY 19 // CAVERN
MAY 20 // UNDERGROUND
MAY 20 // UNDERGROUND
AUG 05 // MARBLE FACTORY
AUG 05
MAY 20 // LEMON GROVE
MAY 20 // LEMON GROVE MAY 27 // LEMON GROVE
RICHARDS / CRANE
RICHA
SEP 23 // THE HUB