Southampton Music - February 2015

YOUR ONE STOP GUIDE TO THE BEST MUSIC IN THE CITY!

FEBRUARY 2015

SOUTHAMPTON

C I S U M ALASKA’S BIGGEST ROCK EXPORT HITS THE ENGINE ROOMS

charlie simpson

talks takedown festival

jettblack

interviewed by western sand

also this month - emp!re / common people / win tickets for of mice & men!

www.southampton-music.com

/southamptonmusicmag @sotonmusicmag

WELCOME YOUR ONE STOP GUIDE

TO THE BEST

MUSIC IN THE CITY!

PTON

FEBRUARY 2015

SOUTHAM

MUSIC ALASKA’S BIGGEST

charlie simpson

talks takedown festival

ROCK EXPORT HITS

We also get to chat to Alaskan rockers 36 Crazyfists who visit the Engine Rooms this month, we ask some dumbass questions to Emp!re and local lads Western Sand interview rockers Jett Black.

THE ENGINE ROOMS

jettblacbykwestern sand

All this plus previews, listings and announcements for all of the best venues and events in the area and a chance to win tickets for Of Mice & Men at the O2 Guildhall.

interviewed

/ common people also this month - emp!re

/ win tickets for of mice

-mu www.sou tham pton

sic.com

Thanks for picking up the February 2015 issue of Southampton Music Magazine, your one stop guide to the best music in the city and surrounding area.

This month we bring you news of a new festival for Southampton, the return of the much missed Frog & Frigate and final line-up details for Takedown Festival.

& men!

ag /sout hamp tonm usicma g m @sotonmusic

w w w. s o u t h a m p t o n - m u s i c. co m

For news submissions and editorial enquiries email info@southampton-music.com If you are interested in advertising with us email sales@phmusicmedia.co.uk or call us free on 0808 147 1106

WEDNESDAY 25 MARCH • SOUTHAMPTON JOINERS TICKETS: KILILIVE.COM | SEETICKETS.COM S/RAGNBONEMANUK RAGNBONEMANMUSIC.COM A/RAGNBONEMANUK A Kilimanjaro & ADVANCE PROMOTIONS presentation by arrangement with Coda

/southamptonmusicmag @SotonMusicMag

FEATURE

Founded way back in 1994, when nu-metal was all the rage, and we all had the rage, 36 Crazyfists have just celebrated their 20 year anniversary. So it’s fair to say that if forced to describe the Alaskan heavy metal unit in just a single word, you might choose the word ‘persistent’.

Since their formation, the band have released six studio albums through three different labels, lost members to everything from the usual band in-fighting to fatal car crashes, and shared the road with the likes of Alice in Chains, Atreyu, Killswitch Engage, Chimaira, Diecast, God Forbid, Walls of Jericho, and Poison the Well. They ploughed through the 90’s and 00’s and steadily made a name for themselves as they You’ve got a new album coming out soon, tell us a little bit about that…

The album is called Time and Trauma and it feels wonderful to be getting close to its release. We wrote the album over the last couple years and its a collection of songs that really reflects on the subject of loss and the fragility of life.

Is there an emotive theme running through this one as there was with ‘Collisions & Castaways’?

My mother passed away in 2011 and the songs are all about the process of losing loved ones and how you pick up the pieces and carry on, so in a sense the theme is re occurring on that subject with a few other ideas thrown in as well.

You’ve just celebrated your 20th anniversary. How does it feel to have reached that milestone?

Feels very good, very proud of the length of this bands career and it feels like we are just hitting our stride with this new record.

faced several ups and just as many downs. This month, Alaska’s finest exports will return to the vibrant metal scene it helped forge with a UK tour, and they’re bringing a new album with them.

‘Time and Trauma’ will be the follow-up to 2010’s ‘Collisions & Castways’ which was arguably the band’s heaviest effort to date. A fierce, dark, crushing collection of tracks that rip from the speaker like a runaway train it dealt with many of the personal issues faced by frontman Brock Lindow, and with a title like ‘Time and Trauma’ we’re wondering whether this latest effort will be just as heavy, or perhaps slightly more reflective.

We caught up with 36 CF to find out a little bit more…

What’s been the biggest challenge of your career, and what’s your proudest moment?

The challenge is keeping that creative flame alive and without that challenge I think we would have hung it up long ago, So being hungry is still what keeps the drive climbing. There are so many mountains that we have climbed and being proud of all those accomplishments , Playing Download Main stage a few times is pretty amazing and very grateful for those opportunities.

You celebrated with a big hometown show, is coming home the best?

Home is the best and we feel so grateful for the Alaskan faithful that have always had our back.

What are you looking forward to about touring in the UK? We have a very special bond with our people over there and we cannot wait to get over and connect with our 36 family again.

What do you think has been the biggest change within the music industry since you started out?

Well in the early days there was no cell phones and map quest papers were all over the van trying to help us get to each venue, people still bought physical copies of records and the future was bright....enter the internet and everything changed, some for the better and plenty for the worst in regards to making a dime in this biz. Now you have to get much more creative to stay alive out there and its pretty much adapt and improve or sink.

Who’s got the worst habits on the bus and what are they?

Our sound man Rumble has the worlds worst smelling feet but we love him so we just deal with the funk!

What do you think it is about 36CF that’s kept you in the business so long?

Coming from Alaska we have a brotherhood that is solid, we are a family and we wanted this to be our career, the bond between us is one of respect and love for one another and overall we still love seeing the world and jamming with each other.

What can fans expect from the live show?

They can expect the boys to deliver...can’t wait!

SOUTHAMPTON MUSIC | FEBRUARY 2015

If you could go back and play one show over again, which would it be and why?

I guess I would go back to our very first gig back in 1994 when our original bass player JD was alive, it would be awesome to jam with him one more time.

Words: Zan Lawther

Catch 36 crazyfists live @ engine rooms | 18th feb

36 CRAZYFISTS

THEAUSED DECADES FUNERAL FoR FRIEND

LANDSCAPES No BRAGGING RIGHTS

BETRAYING THE MARTYRS

cREEPER FjoRT TEXAS IN JULY MORE THAN A THOUSAND UPON THIS DAWNING

AMoN AMARTH

SNOT

ENGINE ROOMS | 05/02 1865 | 23/01

JOINERS | 05/02

1865 | 31/01

JOINERS | 10/02

ENGINE ROOMS | 05/02 THEEMPIRE USED CROWN THE JOINERS | 05/02 BETRAYING THEINCITE MARTYRS JOINERS | 10/02 FIREHOUSE | 15/02 SNoT MALEFICE ENGINE ROOMS | 13/02 JOINERS | 16/02 cRoWNJETTBLACK THE EMPIRE JOINERS | 14/02 36 CRAZYFISTS HAWk EYES GoD DAMN JOINERS || 16/02 22/02 GUS G JOINERS jETTBLAck JOINERS | 23/02 HAIL THE YETI SEAFOAL ALL ENGINE ROOMS | 18/02 cYToTA 36 cRAZYFISTS JOINERS | 03/03 MAN WITHOUT COUNTRY GUS G SILENT SCREAMS JOINERS | 22/02 ATTILA FATHOMS TALKING HEADS | 05/03 ATTILA JOINERS | 08/03 WEDNESDAY 13 JOINERS | 08/03 DIRTY YOUTH WEDNESDAY 1865 | 14/03 DENDERA FOZZY 13THE THE DIRTY YoUTH 1865 JOINERS| 14/03 | 20/03 DENDERA FoZZY SKYHARBOR BONAFIDE JOINERS | 20/03 HARDCORE SUPERSTAR SkYHARBoR NITRODIVE SLEEPMAkESWAVES TFN JOINERS | 25/03 JOINERS | 25/03 RAG NN BoNE BONE MAN MAN RAG GUILDHALL | 26/03 AMITY AFFLIcTIoN OFMIcE MICE && MEN MEN THE GUILDHALL | 26/03 VoLUMES oF 1865 | 27/03 MONUMENTS KARNIVOOL 1865 | 27/03 MoNUMENTS kARNIVooL 1865 | 28/03 THE ANSWER 1865 | 28/03 THELORDI ANSWER ENGINE ROOMS | 29/03 LoRDI JOINERS | 05/04 OBEY THE BRAVE JOINERS| 10/04 | 07/04 1865 coLLISIoNS GINA YASHERE JOINERS | 15/04 1865 | 10/04 MARIKA HACKMAN GINA YASHERE DOLOMITEMINoR MINOR TALKING HEADS| 18/04 HYENA TURBOWOLF DoLoMITE HYENA TURBoWoLF DUKE TALKING HEADS | 24/04 DUkE SPECIAL SPEcIAL GUILDHALL CALABRESE BOX OFFICE (CIVIC CENTRE - Tel: 02380 632601)

THE BASTARD SONS

SET IT OFF DANGERKIDS ALIVE LIKE ME TEXAS IN jULY MoRE THAN A THoUSAND UPoN THIS DAWNING

ENGINE ROOMS | 13/02

TALKING HEADS | 14/02

SET IT oFF SONS OF LCARUS DANGERkIDS LTNT ALIVE LIkE ME WESTERN SAND

ALL HAIL THE YETI CYTOTA

ENGINE ROOMS | 18/02

ARTHEMIS SKARLETT RIOT DENDERA

ARTHEMIS SkARLETT RIoT DENDERA

TALKING HEADS | 05/03

TIDES FROM NEBULA SLEEPMAKESWAVES

TALKING HEADS | 20/03

THE AMITY AFFLICTION VOLUMES

BAD TOUCH THE PICTUREBOOKS

ENGINE ROOMS | 29/03

MALEVOLENCE NAPOLEON KUBLAI KHAN RSj cYPHER 16 SEETHING AkIRA

TALKING HEADS| 18/04

TALKING HEADS | 24/04 THE HOBBIT | 05/05

GUILDHALL BOX(EAST OFFICE (CIVIC CENTRE - Tel: 02380 632601) OXFAM MUSIC ST) / www.southampton-music.com OXFAM MUSIC (EAST ST) / www.southampton-music.com

FEATURE

What is the most Spinal Tap moment that’s happened to you?

Well we have them all the time! This year Tom fell over on stage and our roadie ran on and picked him up exactly like Spinal Tap. We rarely have a tour without a Spinal Tap moment to be honest. Jon’s head blew up on stage and we had a spare but we had left it in the van.

Matt had the van keys for some reason. The rest of the band were trying to carry on like the pros whilst Jon and our roadie were trying to communicate to Matt that they needed the keys from his back pocket.

What was your favourite show of 2014?

We played a great show with Skindred down at the Boardmasters Festival opening shown in Cornwall which was amazing. Great crowd and great party atmosphere right on the beach.

What are your plans for after this tour?

Release the album and try and get on as many shows and festivals as possible throughout the summer. UK and Europe and anywhere else where possible.

If you could tour with anyone who would it be and why?

That’s a tricky one. Between us we like so many bands of different genres but if we had to choose one we all agree on it would probably be Rammstein even though we would literally get blown off stage every night but on the plus side you would get to see the spectacle of Rammstein each night which would be well worth it.

Here at Southampton Music HQ, we love a bit of hard rock and roll and these days, no one does it better than long haired Londoners, Jettblack. They’re back out on the road this month with new single EXPLODE hot off the press and an album due any minute now.

Theirs is a hard-hitting blend of melody and power that takes a massive influence from the hair metal of the 80s and early 90s, not dissimilar to the sound of local lads, Western Sand, who will be opening proceedings at Joiners on the 16th.

Bournemouth based rockers Western Sand have been climbing the ladder of awesome for a few years now, having supported the likes of Black Star Riders, Michael Schenker, Phil Campbell and landing slots at festivals such as Takedown and Hard Rock Hell. “The last few months have been busy for us.” guitarist Jimmy Bradshaw tells us “We released our new EP ’Cut You Down to Size’ in November and played a run of dates around the country to promote it including playing the second stage at Hard Rock Hell festival. We opened for Phil Campbell in December before supporting Michael Schenker on his UK leg of the Bridge the Gap world tour, finishing last year playing Shepherds Bush Empire. This year we plan some more festival appearances and more headline shows around the UK.” And as this isn’t the first time these two bands have shared a stage “We love playing alongside our mates in Jettblack because ours and their fans together in a room make for a crazy crowd and an awesome night” explains Jimmy. So we thought it would be fun to get the bands chatting to each other in the run up to this powerhouse of a show. This is what happened when Western Sand interviewed Jettblack...

Jon and Will….if for one show, only one of you could play guitar and one of you could sing, who would play guitar and who would sing?

I think if we had to choose Will would probably sing as he enjoys it a little bit more than jon but they could both handle either activities as they do at the moment. When Will was gallivanting in stadiums around the country in the War of the World’s show, Jon did a few shows alone, so we know he can step up to the plate.

SOUTHAMPTON MUSIC |FEBRUARY 2015

How would you describe the sound of your new album compared to the last?

The new album is fairly different all round. We took a completely different approach to the recording. It was recorded and produced by James Loughrey who did Skindred’s last album which was a change for us after having worked with Dan Weller on the first two. We have stripped it back completely so there isn’t the big reverb there that was on the last two albums and the songs have taken a more organic feel as a result. Some heavier and some not so much. The softer stuff feels more real for some reason. Lyrically it’s less tongue in cheek and perhaps deals with more serious subject matter. We are really pleased with it and hope our fans embrace it.

How did your pledge campaign go? What packages did people buy?

The pledge was a lot of fun but a lot of hard work. We started it over a year ago and only just completed it apart from delivering the album.

The packages ranged from a signed cd to going on a weekend bender in London to us playing in your house or local pub. It was really fun and great to see what fans wanted. And we are so grateful for everyone’s support generally and financially.

You all live in different parts of the country, how do you find time to all write and practice?

It’s great as we don’t have to see each other as much haha. It’s fine to be honest we all travel to London or down south to Will’s to write as it is nice and chilled down there and not so damn expensive haha. We still rehearse the same amount so it hasn’t really affected us at all.

WESTERN SAND Words: Zan Lawther

Catch jettblack & western sand live @ Joiners - Monday 16th Feb

WESTERN SAND INTERVIEWS JETTBLACK

news

The Frog & Frigate Returns!

For those of you who don’t remember the foot stomping, table dancing (no, not THAT kind of table dancing), singalong knees up of a pub that was the Frog & Frigate…..well, we’ve pretty much just summed it all up for you right there. And for those that DO remember, IT’S BACK! Located down by Ocean Village the Frog & Frigate was a staple for anyone wanting a right ole boozy party with a traditional edge and the late nights spent dancing on tables (whilst actually being encouraged to do so) now seem like the stuff of legends, a long lost distant urban myth. But we at Southampton Music couldn’t be happier to hear that once again the pub is flinging its doors open and inviting punters in for a pint of ale (or six!) and a proper catch up.

Opening weekend is Thursday 5th to Saturday 7th March, tickets will be available from www,southampton-music.com For more info visit www.frogandfrigate.co.uk

SOUTHAMPTON MUSIC | february 2015

FROG & FRIGATE

Brighton Skate Punx GNARWOLVES descend on the Joiners for their first ever headline show! After tearing up stage recently with friends in THE STORY SO FAR on their 1st first U.S tour and being one of the only UK DIY punk bands to ever grace the mainstage at Reading & Leeds we predict a bright gnarly future for the trio. Beers and Pizza all round you will be seeing a stage dive or 12 throughout the course of the night, don’t miss what

Max Raptor +Yearbook +Swim Good

11th

4th 6th

Tim Barry + Cory Branan

26th

Our Hollow, Our Home

Bob Nanna (Braid) + Koji

21st

Blossoms

Jettblack

17th

Mineral +Solemn Sun

16th

One Night Only

8th

may be your final chance to catch the CRU in such intimate surroundings!

141 ST MARY ST, SOUTHAMPTON SO14 1NS 02381 782021 access: one step

info@joinerslive.co.uk live room: 14+ bar: 18+

ALL TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM: JOINERSLIVE.CO.UK - 02380 632601

FEATURE

It’s nearly here! The biggest day on any Southamptoner’s alternative calendar; the festival that kicks off what is bound to be another festy filled summer; the bringer of carnage that releases us all from our post-Christmas, post dry-January fuzz…... We’re talking, of course, about Takedown Festival. One huge day where festival organisers cram as many of the leading national and local rock and metal bands into Southampton University’s SUSU facilities and we all party our heads off!

This year’s line up is arguably the festival’s strongest ever with Radio 1 favourites Mallory Knox heading things up on the main stage; heavyweight stalwarts Heart of a Coward & Bleed from Within keeping things metal on the second stage; the anarchic Baby Godzilla (whose set last year was many people’s highlight of the day) are back by popular demand to headline in the Stag’s and goth-rockers Fearless Vampire Killers curating their own stage with their favourite up and coming artists and even a magician! Takedown is THE place to be to check out those bands on the cusp of exploding into the mainstream and they’ve really upped the stakes this year…..catch The One Hundred who’ve just been announced to open for the mighty Papa Roach, as well as Allusondrugs who are about to hit the road with Enter Shikari and don’t forget to check out More Then Most who won the Your Band Here unsigned competition as voted for by Takedown fans..…next year’s BIG names all under one roof.

True to form, they’ve also managed to squeeze some of the nation’s most beloved veterans onto the bill. We’re particularly excited about InMe playing the entirety of their seminal album Overgrown Eden. The announcement of this set the Twittersphere on fire and it’s certainly looking to be the crowning glory on a lot of Takedowners’ days. We grabbed a few moments with Dave McPherson to see how the band were preparing for the trip down memory lane…

The fact that you’re playing Overgrown Eden in its entirety has been hugely popular with Takedowners, how has the response made you feel?

Very nice, if not a little bit older! It’s refreshing to revisit our past after taking a breather from earlier stuff. The reaction has been overwhelming, I can be an insecure sausage so it’s nice to know people still care and are being so enthusiastic and nice.

What are you most looking forward to playing and are there any songs on the album that you’ll have to completely re-learn?

If I’m being honest it shouldn’t take long to pick things back up with our debut album. It’s pretty simple compared to some of

SOUTHAMPTON MUSIC | FEBRUARY 2015

our later stuff which means I can rock out more and get lost in the moment with the crowd. I’m most looking forward to Firefly, Her Mask (P.A) & Crushed Like Fruit as I reckon they’ll get the best singalong. We have a special secret surprise in store for Neptune too!

How have those songs changed for you over the years, or does playing them feel the same as it always did?

I was a teenager when we recorded and wrote this album and now I’m a man in his thirties so it is a bit strange. It feels like another person’s life. I’m not as uptight about music as I once was and enjoy it all a lot more so there’ll be more beaming smiles than the old moody days!

What do you think of the trend for playing/touring an album in its entirety? As a performer is it nice to have the luxury of playing an entire album from start to finish?

I think artists can do whatever they like really, it’s nice to try themed ideas like this rather than just playing the same mix of songs every show/tour. It’s a fun challenge as a performer and also feels like a bit of a celebration.

You played Takedown last year with new outfit Centiment, what did you like most about the festival?

Jamie Lenman telling me he loved the Centiment album was a personal highlight. I enjoyed the band camaraderie and didn’t witness any rock star ego nonsense. I also loved the enthusiasm of the crowds and the whole affair was perfectly organised too.

It’s also nice to go to Southampton University as I have some very fond memories playing there, not least with Biffy Clyro back in the day plus once on my birthday with 800 folk singing Happy Birthday!

And he’s bloomin’ well right, you know! One of the best things about Takedown is how involved the bands get with the festival itself. Keep your eyes peeled as you move around the site because you never know who’s stood next to you in the queue for a beer. Bands come out into the crowds to watch other bands and hang out with fans, everyone gets involved with the different genres across the stages and EVERYONE stays for the killer Uprawr aftershow at the end of the night.

INME

memories of it all. It was a weird time, going into Fightstar and I wanted to step away from it all but now with distance I look back with fond memories.

Was it hard pushing through people’s idea of who you were when you formed Fightstar?

Exactly. I feel like now people understand who I am and they know what I’m about but I was so young at the time and it was a lot of pressure but now it’s great that we’re all doing what we want to do.

It’s all part of what makes you who you are now…

Exactly. And right now I’m exactly where I want to be so I see my entire history as leading me up to this point.

One man who’s not afraid to leap (or given the length of his legs, probably just a small step will do!) across the genre divides is former Busted teeny-pop heart-throb, then hard rocking Fightstar frontman and now acoustic solo, let’s face it, still heart-throb Charlie Simpson. He joins the Takedown ranks for the first time this year and we can’t wait to catch his set on the main stage. We managed to wangle a few minutes on the telephone with him recently to talk briefly about his career, which given that he’s still only 28, is really rather extensive…

You’re just about to go out on the road with your solo acoustic show, are you looking forward to that?

Yeah it’s gonna be great man. I’ve never done shows just me and a guitar but I write the songs with just an acoustic and no one really gets to hear them in that raw form so I thought it would be nice to go out on the road and play a back to basics, stripped back set so yeah, I’m looking forward to it.

Is it more nerve-wracking playing just you and the guitar?

Definitely, definitely and I’ve never done it so I am actually quite nervous. I never used to get nervous but I am about this one.

Usually you share the nerves amongst your band members and I usually have 5 guys on stage with me but this is just going to be a completely different thing but I am really looking forward to it because it’s something I haven’t done before.

Do you prefer performing as a solo artist or in the comradery of a band?

I do like the comradery. Especially on tour when you’re away for a long time and it’s just fun to have other people around you but I think this is going to be great and it’s just delving into something new and I think it will be nice for the audience to see the songs in a completely different way.

Quite a lot of the shows are already sold out…

Yeah, the reaction’s been great so I’m really pleased with that.

And that does take the nerves away a bit because people are obviously keen to see it so that makes me feel much better to be honest.

OK, my team would never forgive me for interviewing you without bringing up Busted and admitting to you that I had a MASSIVE crush on you in those days…..how do you feel now about your time in Busted?

Oh really? Niiiice. Haha. I look back and I think it was great fun.

In the last year I’ve got back in touch with Matt and James because they’ve been doing McBusted and it’s been really nice to rekindle that friendship. McBusted was obviously never on the cards for me because I’m totally focussed on my own stuff.

It’s taken me a long time but I look back now and I’ve got fond

SOUTHAMPTON MUSIC | FEBRUARY 2015

You had a really good Fightstar show in London the other day…That was mental man. We hadn’t played a show in five years and it was absolute carnage. People just went absolutely mental so that was good fun and then we’ve got a couple more shows at the end of February as an extension of the ten year anniversary and then I’m looking forward to doing festivals myself over the summer. It’s going to be quite a busy year!

And your solo stuff is a different sound again, how do you think it will be received by an audience such as the Takedown crowd?

It’s a weird one, I guess if I wasn’t in Fightstar it would be a weird thing for me to do but I have played a couple of rock festivals in my time and it went down an absolute storm. I don’t think the jump with people’s tastes is as far as people think you know, I love rock music and I love acoustic music so the two kind of go hand in hand for me.

Do you think there’s more crossover between the rock/heavy world and the pop world than there was back in the Busted days?

Yeah I think so and also there’s a big cross between rock music and acoustic music. So many singers in rock bands do acoustic solo projects and the whole Punk Goes Acoustic compilations and bands like Dashboard Confessional back ten years ago that bridged the gap between the two genres and also with bands like Fall Out Boy and Paramore, that’s bridged the gap between pop and rock and the lines have been blurred now whereas that wasn’t the case ten years ago.

Tell us about your latest album. There’s a lot of vocal layering on there and harmonies, how did you arrive at this sound?

Yes! Love the harmonies. Harmonies are actually my favourite thing in music, like the Beach Boys, Pet Sounds, Crosby Stills & Nash, Eagles, all that stuff, I just can’t get enough of it. Growing up my Dad used to play me all that 70’s stuff which is really where I formed my love for harmonies and when I started writing on the acoustic that’s what came out. I didn’t really think about it I just tapped into the influences I had growing up.

And what can we expect from the live show at Takedown?

Well I’m going to have my band for the Takedown show. We have a lot of fun on stage, I’ve got a brilliant band behind me who are all very talented musicians and we just have a lot of fun.

I think ‘fun’ is the word of the day for Takedown.

True dat, Charlie, true dat. FUN is definitely the name of the game for Takedown Festival and we can’t wait for the 7 March to roll around.

Words: Zan Lawther

takedown festival |7th march at southampton uni Tickets available from www.takedownfestival.co.uk

CHARLIE SIMPSON

SATURDAY

FEBRUARY 14TH

DO VALENTINES

After an amazing Year including Glastonbury and Sonisphere the kittens are back home to rock your socks off, all in three part harmony.

TICKETS ÂŁ6 - DOORS 7PM-2AM Tel: 02380 710169 email: Info@marshalsbar.co.uk

MARSHALSBAR.CO.UK 74 LONDON RD, SOUTHAMPTON

THURSDAY

FEBRUARY 5TH

FEAT.

THE Sweetchunks Band Steampunk Frivolity & 2-4-1 Cocktails!

TICKETS £6 - DOORS 7PM-2AM Tel: 02380 710169 email: Info@marshalsbar.co.uk

MARSHALSBAR.CO.UK 74 LONDON RD, SOUTHAMPTON

13 1

2 2 5

3

6

4 5 6 7 4

11

13

12 14

1

10

8

9

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

8 3

15

14

9 10

11

7

12

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Engine Rooms O2 Guildhall Orange Rooms The 1865 Platform Tavern Firehouse The Old Farmhouse Popworld Lennons The Rockstone The Shooting Star The Hobbit The Joiners Marshals The Alexandra O2 Guildhall Box Office Mutant Lab Studio Tattoo Monkey Oxfam Music Asgard Guitar Central Lucid Beatnik Emporium Ph Music Media Mango Planet Sounds Harbour Lights The Guitar Store Academy of Music & Sound

Would you rather be able to run 100 miles per hour or fly at 0.01 miles per hour?

Run 100 mph Would you rather have a photographic memory that can only retain disgusting thoughts for life or have a 1 minute memory where you constantly introduce yourself to everyone?

We would risk the photographic memory - because we never look at disgusting things! ;) If you could have any celebrity as a tamagotchi, who would it be?

Jim Morrison - just so you could watch the carnage, mayhem and craziness but ultimately save him from going out too early!!

If you had to play one of your songs on stage, on the spoons, which song would it be?

Probably our new single out February 9th through all good outlets.

The spoon version might be also released as an instrumental version...

If you could be any historical British monarch, what would you be?

Elizabeth I ruled England and Ireland from 1558 to 1603. The daughter of Henry VIII, the “Virgin Queen” rose to the throne at age 25 and was beloved by her subjects. Her navy famously defeated the Spanish Armada in 1588. She reigned over a golden age for art and science. Kudos Lizzie!

You can pick four people to form a band to cover your songs, but they must all be called Steve. What Steves would you have in your band?

Stevie Wonder, Steve Gadd, Stevie Nicks, Steve Vai - Seasick Steve as roadie.

How many fingers am I holding up?

100 percent 4 and a thumb we know it to be fact!

Joe, how do you look after your voice in order to hit the range you have in your vocals?

Honey and lemon, loads of sleep and at least 3 nights out a week partying.

Who would win in a fight, Jeff Goldblum, Sanda Bullock or Bono?

Sandra Bullock - girl clearly got game, have you seen Speed?

Goldblum a solid second by either out-thinking the other two or going all Fly on their ass! Bono will lose here, a left hook by bullock and some witty retort by Goldblum would be the end for him.

What was your best subject at school?

Creative Dance, Applied Science, Astro Physics, Textiles, PSHE What is your worst tour story?

We had an old van and and we were driving late at 3am down the motorway and the side of the van came off, completely fell out. We only just recovered from the fear and now we believe we styled it out like the A-Team or something.

Tell us your favourite joke…

I bought a dog off a Blacksmith the other day, as soon I got home it made a bolt for the door! Waheyyy! :) CATCH EMP!RE @ TAKEDOWN FESTIVAL - 7TH MARCH

COMPETITION

Of Mice & Men was Southampton’s hottest rock ticket last Spring and 2015 looks to be no exception with tickets flying out again for the Californian metallers. You could be front row with a friend by answering this easy question...

Q: Which US metalcore band did Austin Carlile sing for before Of Mice & Men?

Email your answer to:

competitions@southampton-music.com or send us a direct message via Twitter or facebook. Competition closes 01/03/15 /southamptonmusicmag @S o t o n M u s i c M a g

SOUTHAMPTON MUSIC | february 2015

of mice & men

news

Rob da Bank brings his Bestival magic to Southampton Common!

Who wants to live like Common People? WE DO! And so does Bestival mastermind Rob da Bank. He’s bringing a two-day metropolitan adventure featuring world renowned DJs, pop behemoths, underground legends and more, all with lashings of Bestival’s unique magic, mayhem and merriment thrown in to the Common for a truck load of bank holiday high jinx this 23rd & 24th May. “It’s been a long time coming to launch a new show from the Bestival family. We thought long and hard before deciding to base our new show in Southampton… I played my first ever DJ gig in Southampton when I was 16, so this is a real homecoming for me” says Mr da Bank “As with everything we do at Bestival HQ, we have really put our heart and soul into this show, from big headliners to very hot new talent and old faves, the music is so important, but equally the food, the cocktails, the layout of the show, the kids area, the sound and lights and the decor will be second to none. Viva Common People!”

With a stellar line up just announced and a whole host of fantastical fun, daytime diversions and amusements and it’s clear to see that there ain’t no party like a Common People party.

SOUTHAMPTON MUSIC | february 2015

For more info visit commonpeople.net

COMMON PEOPLE

SAT 28 7.30pm £7

FRI 27 7.30pm £8/£6 FRI 27 11pm FREE!

THURS 26 8pm £12.00

WED 25 8pm £12.00

SAT 21 8pm £6.00

FRI 20 8pm £10.00

WED 18 8pm £10.00

MON 16 7pm £6.00

SAT 14 sold out!

FRI 13 7.30pm £8/£6 FRI 13 11pm FREE!

WED 11 8pm £11.00

TUES 10 8pm £13.00

SUN 8 7pm £14.00

SAT 7 8pm £12.50

FRI 6 8pm £10.00

THURS 5 8pm £10.00

SUN 1 6pm FREE

MARMOZETS + STEAK NUMBER EIGHT + THOUGHT FORMS THE SEX PISTOLS EXPERIENCE + ED TUDOR POLE THE RACKETEERS + HIPSHAKER DJs + DJ ALEX LITTLE COMETS + SPECIAL GUESTS KING CHARLES + SPECIAL GUESTS COMEDY CLUB JAKE LAMBERT + EDDIE BRIMSON + GUEST IT’S A SIN RETRO ANTHEMS & GUILTY FAVOURITES THE CHASE + SPECIAL GUESTS

DANCE AFRICA RAISING FUNDS FOR CHISMO-CHILDREN’S PROJECT MOST WANTED DANCE CREWS + KELSEY MILLER + DOMINIC HAMILTON

CONFERENCE FOR LOCAL BANDS ALL WELCOME TO ASTHMA UK OFFBEAT OFFENSIVE +PROFITS THE MIGHTY SHRIMP T-REXTASY + THE MEN FROM MONTGOMERY KATE TEMPEST + LOYLE CARNER PERFORMED BY CHARLES DICKENS: GREAT EXPECTATIONS GERALD DICKENS JACK SAVORETTI + SPECIAL GUESTS RAE MORRIS + FRYARS COMEDY CLUB DAN EVANS + IAN SMITH + SPECIAL GUEST IT’S A SIN RETRO ANTHEMS & GUILTY FAVOURITES THE CRIBS + SPECIAL GUESTS

FEBRUARY 2015

THUNDERDOME ROCK • METAL • ALTERNATIVE CRIBS AFTER PARTY TILL 2.00am WOLF CUB CLUB FREE 2 SICK MONKEYS + STRENGTH IN BLUNDERS DEAD BY DAWN + SHOOTING FISH + THE SLM A NIGHT OF ACOUSTIC FOLK WOLF CUB CLUB FREE TILL 2.00am REFORM DNB/DUBSTEP/HOUSE/BASS IT’S A SIN ROOM TWO SIDEWINDER CLUBNIGHT FREE TILL 2am

ST VALENTINE’S DAY MASSACRE MUTILATING CLASSIC LOVE SONGS IN SUPPORT OF YOUTH MUSIC

HOGWASH + NO BLAME + D NECK + SOMBULANCE WOLF CUB CLUB FREE TILL 2.00am SIDEWINDER CLUBNIGHT FREE TILL 2am OXYGEN THIEF + STRANGE PLANES

29 FOUR YEAR STRONG £14 30 THE CORONAS £9 31 MARTHA TILSTON £11 THE FLIKS £6 KASSASSIN STREET £7 THE BOOTLEGS £5 CARA DILLON £16.50 THE MODFATHERS £8 BIPOLAR SUNSHINE £10 CIRCA WAVES £10 ARE YOU EXPERIENCED? £8 RICHARD HERRING £15 THE SHIRES £12 FRNKIERO ANDTHE CELLABRATION £12 Check website for availability of tickets for other events on sale through the venue Box Office. Please note these may be subject to a booking fee

03 04 05 09 11 14 16 18 19 21 29

APRIL 2015

MARCH 2015 cont.

MARCH 2015 06 CONCRETE tbc 07 MONKEY LOVE STUNT TEAM tbc 12 FAUSTUS £13.50 13 COMEDY CLUB £8/£6 14 TOM BERTRAM £6.00 15 TALBOT HOUSE £12 18 BIG CLASH GAMESHOW £tbc 20 SOUTHSEA BEEREX £10 21 SOUTHSEA BEEREX £10 22 ROMESH RANGANATHAN & SUZI RUFFELL £12/£10 23 LONELY THE BRAVE £8 25 FAREHAM COLLEGE tbc 26 LAGWAGON £18.50 27 COMEDY CLUB £8/£6 28 WHOLE LOTTA LED £10

WEDGEWOOD ROOMS ALSO BOOKING

SAT 28 10pm FREE

SAT 21 9pm FREE FRI 27 10pm FREE

FRI 20 11pm FREE

THURS 19 7.30pm £5.00

SUN 15 7.30pm £4.00

SAT 14 11pm FREE

THURS 12 7.30pm £3 FRI 13 11pm FREE

SAT 7 10pm FREE MON 9 7.30pm £5

FRI 6 11pm FREE

WED 4 7pm £5.00

Advance prices shown Tickets are non-transferable as per terms & conditions of sale

www.wedgewood-rooms.co.uk

Edition 2

The Brook 466 Portswood Road Southampton SO17 3SD Box Office 1pm - 7pm Mon - Sat 023 8055 5366

plus

Sat 21st Feb

Fri 27th Feb STU LARSEN ~ WORLD FAMOUS REDSOX ~ JOHN COGHLAN’S QUO ~ PINK FAIRIES ~ DR HOOK FEATURING RAY SAWYER ~ FOCUS ~ THE KORGIS ~ KARNATAKA ~ STEVE HOWE ~ KING OF POP – STARRING ‘NAVI’ ~ FINLEY QUAY ~ CURVED AIR ~ CORRESPONDENTS ~ DUP PISTOLS + Lots of Quality Tributes...

the-brook.com SOTON music FEB 15.indd 1

facebook.com/thebrook

twitter.com/TheBrookSoton 21/01/2015 19:07

previews Spend some time in HELL

Now well into their second decade, Incite remain one of the most formidable and fresh forces in heavy metal music. The Phoenix, Arizona quintet will unleash a torrent of staggering grooves, thrashing riffs, and pummeling rhythms to melt your face off when they come crashing into town this month. Expect a brutal onslaught that’ll have you staggering out a sweaty mess.

FOR FANS OF: SOULFLY / SEPULTURA / DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN

MALEFICE

FEB 15 | FIREHOUSE

Brutal, Belligerent, Bold and undeniably British

FOR FANS OF: SYLOSIS / THE DEFILED / BLEED FROM WITHIN

Her cover of Bring Me the Horizon’s ‘Drown’ shot her into the public forum, knocking her up over 1/2 million views and counting. Her stripped back ambient-folk style melds with a youthful innocence that captivates the listener throughout debut EP ‘Lucid Living’. Get in the with in crowd and catch little Seafoal now as she embarks on her first ever solo tour.

FOR FANS OF: CHARLIE SIMPSON / BEN HOWARD

MAR 03 | JOINERS Filthy sleazy rock and…..metal

FEB 14 | TALKING HEADS

Since bursting on to the UK metal music scene in 2007 with their critically acclaimed debut album ‘Entities’, Malefice have never been about compromise, doing exactly what they felt was right for them, their music has always been the backbone of this furious five piece from Reading. With their punishing and energy driven live shows a stand out trade mark, don’t miss your call to arms.

YouTube sensation heads out on first headline tour

MAN WITHOUT COUNTRY

INCITE

SEAFOAL

FEB 23 | JOINERS Electronic dream-pop

Man Without Country aren’t your typical electronic act or your average band. At a time when genre boundaries have become effectively meaningless, Ryan James and Tomas Greenhalf fuse electronic precision with a love of timeless melodies and James’ hypnotic, fragile vocals. By the time you work out how to label their new album Maximum Entropy, chances are you’ll have already fallen under their spell.

FOR FANS OF: PET SHOP BOYS / TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB

HARDCORE SUPERSTAR

Many bands play it safe – Hardcore Superstar don’t. This Swedish four-piece had the balls to marry two styles that grew up hating each other. We’re talking about thrash metal and sleaze rock. The former hard, aggressive and ugly, the latter catchy, melodic and decadent. The bastard child’s name?

Street metal. And that’s all you need to know. Enjoy!

FOR FANS OF: CRASHDIET / BUCKCHERRY / BACKYARD BABIES

SOUTHAMPTON MUSIC | FEBRUARY 2015

MAR 20 | TALKING HEADS

previews

previews THE TURNING

MAR 21 | LENNONS

Putting the ‘mod’ into modern

It’s plain to see from their simplistic yet effective tunes that The Turning are heavily influenced by The Kinks, The Stones, The Doors and all things indie-mod. With a sound rooted way back in the 60’s and 70’s but taking the production quality right into the here and now these guys will have you toe tapping in no time.

FOR FANS OF: TELECAST / THE ROLLING STONES / THE STRUTS

Relentless moshable hardcore

Aggressive might, old-school attitude and pit-demolishing anthems propel Obey the Brave throughout their punishing live shows. They catapulted to the top of the metalcore pack in less than two years, thanks largely to experience gained through hard touring and the amassing of mercilessly heavy discographies in prior outfits. And they show no signs of slowing down!

FOR FANS OF: WHILE SHE SLEEPS / THY ART IS MURDER / EMMURE

MARIKA HACKMAN

OBEY THE BRAVE

APR 05 | JOINERS Ethereal songstress

Having already toured with Laura Marling, modelled for Burberry and now teetering on the edge of releasing her debut album, this 23 year old has already achieved more than most.

Her harmonious and ethereal style envelopes the listener with its natural beauty and clarity. Laid back and charming but never twee we get the feeling Marika’s only just getting started.

APR 10 | JOINERS FOR FANS OF: WOLF ALICE / ARTHUR BEATRICE / LAURA MARLING Godzilla guitars battling broken junkstore keyboards TURBOWOLF Bristol rock band Turbowolf have recently blown the minds of music critics worldwide, virtually impossible to define as a particular genre as the support to the popular rock duo Royal Blood. These electronic, psychedelic, punk rockers are arguably the most versatile new arrivals to the music scene and they’re coming to create a whirlwind of sound near you! Support comes from local lads Dolomite Minor.

FOR FANS OF: RED FANG / ROYAL BLOOD / PULLED APART BY HORSES

DUKE SPECIAL

APR 18 | TALKING HEADS Hobo chic pianist

With a potent Irish accent and a romantic style, Duke Special has been solo performing since 2002, with 7 albums, 5 EP’s and 10 Singles under his bohemian belt, he sure knows how to please his fans. With a great variety of instruments used, his live performances are filled with theatrical style, percussion and soft, timeless vocals.

APR 24 | TALKING HEADS

FOR FANS OF: PAUL WELLER / BADLY DRAWN BOY / ELBOW

SOUTHAMPTON MUSIC | FEBRUARY 2015

previews

HIGHLIGHTS FEBRUARY - MAY HIGHLIGHTS

Portsmouth’s Biggest Small Music Venue!

56, Cromwell Rd Southsea PO4 9PN

06/02 - CC SMUGGLERS 18/02 - WILL McNICOL 19/02 - THE TURNING 20/02 - BEATS & SWING: MR WOODNOTE & LIL RHYS 21/02 - CAPITAL FUZZ 22/02 - ELEANOR McEVOY 25/02 - GARLAND JEFFREYS 27/02 - BILL KIRCHEN 07/03 - AZIZ IBRAHIM 10/03 - JUDITH OWEN 16/03 - SHE MAKES WAR 19/03 - CITY OF LIGHTS 20/03 - AN EVENING WITH ARTHUR BROWN 21/03 - THE STEVE YOUNG BAND PLAY NEIL YOUNG 31/03 - WAVES 02/04 - RITA PAYNE 08/04 - LOTTE MULLAN 24/04 - THE KAST OFF KINKS 26/04 - BENJAMIN FOLKE THOMAS 29/04 - SHARON SHANNON (REARRANGED DATE) 03/05 - THE BOG-ROLLING STONES (AFTERNOON SHOW) 08/05 - CREGAN & CO.

For info call 023 9282 6249 on advertised gig days ONLY, from 5pm.

Tickets also available from Eastney Community Centre Bransbury Park 10-3 weekdays.

www.thecellars.co.uk /thecellars @cellarseastney

S ’ N O T P M A H T SOU

k u . o c . o i d a r m f voice Southampton’s own local FM radio station voicefmradio

∙ ∙

@voicefmradio

B

X

A

Your one stop shop for Piercing Jewellery, Plugs & Tunnels!

Tunnels

Stretchers

Hairdyes

Smoking Accessories

Grinders

Shisha

Bongs

Scales

Rolling Tobacco

Cuban Cigars

CD Packs

Tickets

Find us at...

111 East Street, Southampton SO14 3HD Tel: 02380 636 636

Scan and like our facebook page for special offers & updates

Monday - Saturday: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm Sunday: 10:30 am - 4:30 pm

C www.facebook.com/lucid.southampton

ones to watch

Pop punk rockers 3TO lighten the mood of the stage somewhat with their catchy and emotive songs you won’t be able to resist singing along to. This 4 piece from Eastleigh are just gagging to get out on stage and show you what they’re all about. www.facebook.com/threetimesover3TO

special!

We are totes excites to be curating our Southampton Music INtroducing Stage at this year’s Takedown festival and have worked hard to bring you the region’s top breakthrough bands. We handpicked our bands from shows we’ve seen over the past twelve months, bands that are working tirelessly towards achieving their goals and who have something a little different going on in their musical styles. So we are proud to INtroduce to you…

This versatile alt rock with a dollop of prog band that burst onto the scene with their songs which range from melancholy instrumentals to heavy rock with a solid dose of prog and metal mixed in and it’s this refusal to slot into a defined genre that keeps us interested and listening. Their material is packed with soft and heavy guitar riffs, soaring choruses and warm vocals. www.facebook.com/circleofreason With an ambitious aim to create a new brand of heavy music and a dedicated commitment to bringing crowds an intense live show, Old Boy are striding across the Bournemouth competition. We caught them opening for Baby Godzilla not long ago so look out, if they’ve taken any tips from those guys things are bound to get messy! www.facebook.com/oldboybanduk

A powerful and dominating live show is what you can expect from Southampton metalcore quintet Gone By Tomorrow.

Having been on our radar for a while now, we were impressed by their opening slot for The Word Alive last Autumn and we knew we had to have them on our stage. www.facebook.com/gonebytomorrowuk

Formed in late 2010, We Deny are fast becoming popular faces on the local Southamptonmusic scene, unashamedly blasting out their upbeat, rocky sounds with a huge dose of pop-punk flavour. Their energizing performances coincide with their upbeat set list to make them an act worth watching! www.facebook.com/wedeny Portsmouth based hardcore dub steppers Seething Akira combine hooking beats like The Prodigy and a unique style like Enter Shikari and are determined to show the world their style. These guys are breathing new life into the underground scene and if you ask us, they’ve got the ability of becoming front runners in this popular genre. www.facebook.com/seethingakira Our wild card comes in the form of Essex quintet Forever Never who combine a veritable truckload of melody with some balls out metallic rock n roll. Check out their cover of Shaggy’s ‘Boombastic’ featuring Benji from Skindred – it’s aces! www.facebook.com/forevernever Combining slamming riffs, crushing breakdowns, technical solos and emotive melodies and choruses, Griever are quickly establishing themselves as an accomplished modern metal act. Hailing from Bournemouth they pour buckets of energy into their live shows. Truly a force to be reckoned with. www.facebook.com/grieverofficial

Brace yourselves, for the melodic deathcore force of nature that is Refuge of the Fallen has arrived and they mean business. This 5 piece found their feet by studying their contemporaries in the local Plymouth music scene and we just had to bring them up here to show you what they’re made of. www.facebook.com/RefugeOfTheFallenUK

SOUTHAMPTON MUSIC | february 2015

TAKEDOWN FESTIVAL O2W SPECIAL

regular £3.89

large £4.89

PASSIONATE PARIS

ROMANTIC ROBBIE

BESOTTED BENJY

strawberries & meringue topped with mini marshmallows

choc brownie & chocolate topped with maltesers

maltesers & oreo cookies topped with mini oreos

S.W.A.L.K. SOPHIA

DREAMY DANIEL

ADORING ADAM

love hearts & bubblegum millions topped with jelly tots

battenburg & vanilla topped with custard

strawberry cheesecake & white kinder bueno topped with milkybar buttons