The Monograph - Issue#02

N E W S , R E V I E W S A N D G IG UIDE ALL IN SIDE!

CK PI

ME UP ,

PLUS...

I’M

FREE

E C A R G E I R T E P

DEAN JACKSON • JERSEY BUDD • YOUNG KNIVES • GREAT IMITATION • KASABIAN • WHITE NOISE CHRISTMAS • OXJAM 2011 FLIP LIKE WILSON • MARTHA BEAN • DREAM OF SLEEPING • EXPORTS02 • THE WILDEST SMILING FACES • AND MANY MORE...

A NOTE FROM

THE EDITOR Jo n D o d d

H

ello again, we’re back and bigger than ever! After the rip roaring success of Issue#01, we thought we would do it all again, giving it the rather appropriate (but nevertheless impactful) name of Issue#02. With a new issue, comes growth

and a fresh, forward thinking approach to upcoming, exciting projects.

Since we last spoke three months ago, the wheels have been in motion all over the shop and we have been busying ourselves to bring you your latest Monograph packed full of juicy words and pictures, and as you can see from the packed page that surrounds this note, we have been true to our word.

We have also found time to expand our ever growing team with new writers, photographers and columnists in the shape of Holly, Mary, James, Patrick and Tiernan, who we welcome to our squad with open arms. They all have a unique skill in what they do and we are pleased to house their ideas, thoughts and creativity. Additionally, regular writer Jack Richardson has moved up the ranks to Reviews Editor, bringing new scope and breadth to The Soundcheck.

Our other, jump on the desk and shout, news is that this Christmas we will be hosting our very first festival stage! Just as the NME has Leeds and Reading, Last.fm has Summer Sundae and the Beeb has Glastonbury, we can also be added to the list with the first Monograph Stage at this year’s White Noise Christmas, which sees the festive-al return to welcome ears after a two year hiatus. We are hosting a positively mammoth line-up which features names such as Kyte, Her Name is Calla and our cover girl Grace Petrie. Details of the full line-up and the other stages can be seen on the page opposite or why not turn to our exclusive preview piece written by the organisers themselves on page 17.

In other news, I have recently returned from a three week driving holiday on the West Coast of America, where I saw the Hollywood sign, got absolutely spangled in Vegas, went swimming in Death Valley, wandered around Alcatraz at night, and... oh yeah proposed! She said yes in case you were wondering.

So once again it comes to that time where I sign-off and hand over to my team who are here to fascinate, delight and educate you in all the things Leicester music scene has to offer.

See you next time and in the new year!

CONTENTS 04

Newsfeed

07

Young Knives

09

The Insider

09

New Blood

10

The Interrobang: Grace Petrie

13

The Alternative Reality Tour

14

GIGUIDE

16

Jersey Budd

17

Spotlight: Dean Jackson

17

White Noise Christmas

18

Ten Thousand Emails Later...

19

Great Imitation

19

The Non Music Fans Guide

21

Hidden in New York

21

Oxjam 2011: The Review

22

The Soundcheck

26

Trap Hoot

INSIDE THIS ISSUE...

16

23

21

07

17

22

22

23

TEAM MONOGRAPH Editor-in-Chief: Jon Dodd j.dodd@themonograph.co.uk Production Editor: Tash Walkerdine t.walkerdine@themonograph.co.uk Head Writer and Sub Editor: John Helps j.helps@themonograph.co.uk Reviews Editor: Jack Richardson j.richardson@themonograph.co.uk New Music Supervisor: Andy Winfield a.winfield@themonograph.co.uk Giguide Designer: Scott Dillon s.dillon@themonograph.co.uk Feature Photographer: Amy Brammall a.brammall@themonograph.co.uk Photographer: Mary Ann Varley mary.v@themonograph.co.uk Columnist: Tiernan Welch t.welch@themonograph.co.uk Columnist: Annie Dressner a.dressner@themonograph.co.uk Features Writer: Raegan Oates r.oates@themonograph.co.uk Writer: Erica Harris e.harris@themonograph.co.uk Writer: Glyn Allen g.allen@themonograph.co.uk Writer: Joe Phipps j.phipps@themonograph.co.uk Writer: Holly Benfield h.benfield@themonograph.co.uk Writer: Charlotte Fincham c.fincham@themonograph.co.uk Writer: James Kendrick j.kendrick@themonograph.co.uk Writer: Emily Parish e.parish@themonograph.co.uk Writer: Patrick Daniel p.daniel@themonograph.co.uk

WIN!

10

Tickets to the grand opening of the Cookie Jar! See page 13 for details on how to enter.

SPECIAL THANKS...

The Monograph would like to thank Tinny at Crumblin’ Cookie, Adam Kirk at Fabrika, Dean Jackson at the BBC, Jon Reeves, Jed at Manic Music, Ian at Abbey Park Studios, Jono at Yellow Bean, Angus at Far Heath, Nick at Something Creative, Amber Gibbs, Danny at Leicestershire Luthier, Tom Dartnall, Gabrielle Miller, Laura Walkerdine Jersey Budd, Grace Petrie, David Wilson Clarke, Christ Wright, Gemma Williams, James Bolton, Steph Humes, Adam Lang and Joe Foxton for all their help with Issue#02... we owe you all a beer!

C o v e r P h o t o : A m y B r a m m a l l w w w. a m y b r a m m a l l . c o m Disclaimer: The Monograph takes no responsibility for the content held on external links or that of claims made by advertisers and contributors. All content is checked at time of print for accuracy but may be subsequent to change.

W W W. T H E M O N O G R A P H . C O . U K

3

NEWSFEED YOUR N o. 1 LEICESTER M U S I C NE WS RE S OU RC E WWW. THEMO NO GR AP H.CO .UK/NEWS

T H E M O N O G R A P H T O H O S T S TA G E AT W H I T E N O I S E C H R I S T M A S 2 0 1 1 On Sunday 18th December, Leicester’s greatest indie venue Firebug, along with the newly opened Red Tent, plays host

their roof and is a truly remarkable label, bringing you the

to some of the biggest and brightest musical stars in what is

latest bands and even going as far as to release a series of

looking like the best Christmas present our city could get.

free compilation albums. Their latest free release, Exports02

With a plethora of talent available, The Monograph stage hosts the likes of multi-county mega stars in Her Name is Calla, shoegaze kings Kyte, spiky indie trio Little Night

was recorded live at this Summer’s Fringe Festival, a review of which can be found on page 23.

The newly established Red Tent, located on

Terrors, Radio One darlings I Am In Love, new sensation

Pocklington’s Walk, joins forces with Exposure Live, the

Elizabeth Cornish and, our own new cover queen, Grace

team who are responsible for showcasing some great audio

Petrie. Yes that’s right, for one day only you can see all these

and video in the city and in the true style of togetherness

brilliant acts on one unique stage.

join The Monograph and RNH to complete the trio.

Curated by Maybeshewill and Codex Leicester, White

Festival organisers were also kind enough to provide a

Noise Christmas makes a welcome return after some time

preview piece to the event, which lets you know first hand

off, while its Summer cousin continued to raise some much

what visitors to this years gathering can expect. Read more

needed funds for local charities.

of that on page 17.

Not only does WNC have a Monograph stage, it also

I

Firebug, have some of the greatest names in the city under

Rest assured The Monograph will be providing full

houses stages from local record label, Robot Needs

coverage of the weekend and all of the team here can’t

Home and the guys and girls from Exposure Live, with

wait for what is shaping up to be an extremely epic Sunday.

t is with great joy that we bring you the news that this

acts such as Buenos Aires, Herra Hidro, Acid Pony, Hey

Tickets cost just £5 and can be purchased on the day of the

Winter sees the return of White Noise Christmas, and it

Nostradamus, Laser Beast, Peter Wyeth, The Daydream

event at the venues themselves, with all proceeds going to

is with even greater joy that we are pleased to announce

Club, Humble-He and many more to be announced in the

local charities.

that The Monograph will be hosting a stage at this years festival.

run up to the event.

Robot Needs Home, whose stage will be upstairs at

T H E M S E LV E S H I T T H E T O P I N R E V E R B N AT I O N R O C K C H A R T S

For more information and to get line-up announcements, head over to www.whitenoisefestival.com

T H E L O V E LY E G G S T O P L AY T H E D O N K E Y

C

oalville four piece Themselves, who are currently drawing up a loyal fan base and creating ear bashing rock, have achieved the brilliant task of

topping the Reverbnation charts.

A year ago the band started working with Leicester born producer Scott Ashby and as soon as they released their new EP ‘Beyond This Point’ they have been nothing but super busy. Just to start with the band got play listed

by Kerrang Radio and endorsed by DJ’s Alex Baker and Emma Scott saying “As soon as I heard it, it blew my mind”. After all this, Themselves go and spend thee weeks at the top of the Reverbnation rock charts only being

Northern punk/rock husband/wife duo The Lovely Eggs are

knocked off just recently.

set to perform a sell out show at The Donkey on December

Mark from Themselves says “We didn’t expect everything to kick-off so quickly, we work really hard with this band so it’s good to start getting back what you give.”

2nd as part of live shows to celebrate new release ‘Allergies’.

Comprised of Holly Ross (vocals and guitar) and David Blackwell (drums and vocals), they began life in Paris in 2006

Themselves recently travelled to Milton Keynes to the

with the intention of writing and performing music “with no

Marshall HQ Auditorium where they played a show stopping

rules”, a commitment that has seen them produce songs of

performance for one of, if not the most famous amplification

varying length about subjects ranging from death to crap jobs

maker in the world, Marshall.

and everything in between.

You can catch Themselves in Leicester on Saturday 12th

Allergies encapsulates everything that is wonderful about

November at Firebug. Themselves are a band definitely on the

The Lovely Eggs, raw guitar, clattering drums coupled with

rise, so go and see this band before they break it big to catch

lyrics that can only be described as surreal, so we’re sure it is

the awesome raw sound and energy in every single track.

a show not to be missed!

4

T H E M O N O G R A P H LEICESTER MUSIC NEW S

BY THE RIVERS REACH No. 2 After a year that saw By the Rivers adorn the inaugural cover of The Monograph, play sell out shows, be the talk of Summer

THE SCREENING FA L L I N T O T H E G A P The Screening are now to add

Sundae and most recently complete a 15 date arena tour

another badge of cool to their

with none other than The Specials, the lads show us again

already impressive collection, with

they have no intention of being a flash in the pan by hitting

the recent news of being snapped

number two in the iTunes UK reggae album charts with EP1 +

up for the new ad campaign by

EP2, being pipped to the post by none other than Bob Marley

Gap. The bands ‘Colour’ has

himself.

been carefully selected to be the

Jordan and Nile et al also managed to climb to number

soundtrack to the retailers ‘Joy it up’ Christmas campaign,

21 in the reggae singles chart with their single ‘One Word’

aiming to make this Christmas “bolder, brighter and louder.”

simultaneously, beating the likes of Eddie Grant and The

Standing alongside The Boxer Rebellion, The Joy

Wailers. The lads seemed over the moon with the result,

Formidable and Rival Sons in this new strategy by Gap, the

saying on their official facebook page “A BIG thank you to

boys (and now girl) are over the moon to be given such a

everyone who bought our EP’s and single... Also to everyone

having a ripple effect across the nation. The band are a true

prestigious slot: “I think it could give us massive exposure

who has shown their support, means a lot.”

testament to the fact that talent will get you where you want

because millions of people shop at Gap.” Tom Lewitt said in a

to go, which in their case was a massive tour.

recent interview with the Leicester Mercury.

The surprise chart success has no doubt been helped

BTR received an extremely warm welcome to latest single

In other exciting news for camp Screening, the band have

Specials. The tour itself came about by a chance exchange of

One Word, which was launched in true Rivers style with a sell

recently recruited keyboard player Amy Horsley, who couldn’t

music, with the boys handing their single to one of the band.

out show at The Donkey this October.

have joined at a more exciting time.

along by the aforementioned tour with ska legends The

A couple of days later they got the call, and they were off.

With the onset of 2012 on the horizon (the new year not

To see how we said it was a belter first, watch our

apocalypse) we now cast our gaze to the future and can only

exclusive session with The Screening performing Colour filmed

and been the toast of the town, and now it appears to be

dream what will be in store for the band.

all the way back in January… keep up Gap!

J E R S E Y B U D D T O P L AY HOMETOWN SHOW

GO PRIMITIVE COMPETE FOR COVERTED SUPPORT SLOT

Local crooner and LCFC favourite,

The five-piece alt-rock outfit known as Go Primitive are facing

Jersey Budd is set to play a rare

their latest challenge, convincing McFly fans worldwide that

hometown show at Leicester’s O2

they deserve the sought after position of support slot on the

Academy 1 on December 16th.

bands 2012 tour.

By the Rivers have really started to make waves this year

Jersey recently found himself

In a new an innovative method set up by the pop group,

thrust back into the spotlight with

McFly are letting their fans, and indeed anyone who wants to,

the single ‘When You’re Smiling’, a

put forward bands they think would be good to play. The world

cover of the famous Leicester City

now seems to be saying the Leicester’s own Go Primitive are a

terrace classic, to a warm reception at the club, both on and

runner, currently ranking number 28 at time of print.

off the pitch, with fans and players alike singing it’s praises.

Jersey also informs us that a follow up album to his

This summer MycFly performed a controversial headline slot at the 11th annual Summer Sundae Weekender, but

debut ‘Wonderlands’ is definitely on the cards for next year

seemed to win over most with their brand of recently reinvented

commenting: “ I can’t wait for people to hear the new tunes.

pop tunes.

They are going to make people stand up and take note.”

We recently sat down with the man himself to hear what he

Although there will always be nay sayers who try to demonise the work of pop and a band such as McFly,

has been up to and his thoughts on work with the club. For the

the support slot will raise exposure far beyond the reach

through facebook and is restricted to one vote per account, so

full interview, see page 16.

of Soundcloud for whoever does win. Voting couldn’t be

tell your mates (although it appears on your wall anyway). We

more simple, simply log on to www.supercity.mcfly.com/

wish the lads all the luck in the world and hopefully are in with a

battleofthebands and search for ‘Go Primitive’, voting is done

shot. Go Go Primitive!

For more information on the gig and to purchase When You’re Smiling, visit www.jerseybudd.com

ROBOT NEEDS HOME PRESENTS: J O N A H M AT R A N G A + G U E S T S In addition to their annual contribution to Leicester’s White

MARTHA BEAN HOSTS I N T I M AT E A C O U S T I C S H O W F O R O X FA M

Noise Festival, they also put on shows by artists from

Martha Bean is set to perform an

beyond their record label’s roster. On the 25th November

exclusive acoustic gig at The Priory in

they are delighted to announce a special acoustic show at

Loughborough, the town she grew up

Leicester’s brand new Red Tent venue on Pocklington’s Walk

in, but never played in, on December

(behind Firebug).

6th 2011.

Ex front man for the legendary Far and Gratitude, singer songwriter Jonah Matranga returns to Leicester for this intimate solo show.

Also on the bill is Verse Chorus Verse and Howard

The night is all in aid of Oxfam, with tickets costing just £3.

Martha also plays another charity gig at the O2 a mere five days later, this time in aid of the Kolla Diba Health Centre in

James Kenny. Having recently parted ways from his former

Ghana, Africa. Unlike the previous gig she will be going all out

And So I Watch You From Afar band mates, Tony Wright has

playing with full band and strings section.

been forging ahead under his Verse Chorus Verse moniker.

Cape of Good Hope guitarist Howard James Kenny makes loop-laden acoustic folk influenced by Nick Drake and Stars of the Lid. Tickets are £5 from www.wegottickets.com

W W W. T H E M O N O G R A P H . C O . U K

For information on both gigs, visit her facebook page at www.facebook.com/marthabeanmusic She recently released the haunting EP titled ‘State of the Art’ which is truly mesmerizing. Read our full review on the EP on page 23.

5

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Y O U N G K NI V E S

Y

oung Knives are an ever evolving “power trio”

originally hailing from Ashby de la Zouch, and this Summer saw their return to home ground playing at

Leicester’s Summer Sundae Weekender. Made up of Henry Dartnall (vocals, guitar), brother Thomas Dartnall (vocals, bass guitar) and Oliver Askew (drums, backing vocals) their unique brand of tweed rock has seen them achieve chart success and a nomination for the Nationwide Mercury Prize. The release of their third album ‘Ornaments from the Silver Arcade’ heralds another dose of their usual effortless, unconventional lyric writing and the endearing awkwardness that we’ve come to expect from Young Knives. Speaking to them back stage fresh from their set, The Monograph discovers that whilst there will always be something quintessentially and politely British about this band behind those chic NHS specs they disguise a somewhat cheekier and darker side...

It’s great to have you back in Leicester, how are you?

Thomase: Great! Thanks for having us.

Did you enjoy the gig?

Oliver: It was good. I’ve now got a blister but apart from that it

“We ha ve a b a d histo r y of gigs in Le ice ste r. I like Leic ester b ut so mething a lw ays goe s horribly wrong.”

THOMAS DARTNALL

was fine.

T: We have a bad history of gigs in Leicester. I like Leicester but

Do you find it difficult to stay motivated when you’ve have

you got to go backstage. I remember seeing Public Enemy

something always goes horribly wrong doesn’t it?

to self manage a new project?

backstage at Reading Festival and Ice T and Bodycount. They

O: Yeah

T: A little but we’ve reached the point now where if we have a

were both in the same area and hanging out and high fiving.

T: The last one we didn’t get paid. We were arguing with the

day where we are feeling a bit lax we just go “Right shall we all

promoter and people were crying. It was horrible!

just have a day off?”

Should I be a bit worried that you might make me cry if I

What else have you been doing with your summer?

get me in the photo to make it look like I’m with them?

don’t ask you some nice questions?

T: We’ve been doing a lot of festivals. It’s not a bad life.

T: Yeah. I was quite impressed as a very young white middle

T: No, we’ve been paid so you’ll be alright.

Weekday face is writing rock songs and then on the weekend

classed kid, seeing them.

O: This wasn’t bad, the last three or four have been really bad.

getting around and doing a festival or two.

Something has always gone wrong. This was good.

O: We’re doing Leeds.

Finally talking of the middle classes with everything that’s

T: We’re doing a weird thing where we are doing a night

going with the riots in the UK, what are you view on what’s

Now you’ve said that, you do realise something

before Leeds. On the Thursday night before it all starts. We’re

been happening? Do you think many songs are going to

horrendous is going to happen, you’ll get electrocuted or

doing a surprise secret show.

be written about this?

something as you’re walking past the main stage and that

O: Shh don’t tell anyone.

T: Maybe. It’s just made me very annoyed at how right winged

will be it the end of the Young Knives.

T: Then we’re going to go back out on tour.

the UK is. How everyone has come out, and I said to my wife

Did you try to make it look like you were hanging out with them by looking busy in the background? A case of quick,

the other day you know what’s going to happen now they’ll

T: Haha probably.

Did you go to many festivals when you were younger?

try to bring in national service or something else that the

You have roots in this area of the Midlands. Do you think

O: We used to work at Reading Festival.

Conservatives are going to jump on. They’re going to use it

festivals like this are important for the local music scene?

T: We sold programmes at various festivals which were good,

as an excuse for getting the whole of the youth in the UK and

O: This one in particular I think is really well run. We played

but then we didn’t see many bands.

making them pay for it. Doing something that is saying that

here about five or six years ago. We noticed that there were

O: We did alright, you got in free if you sold programmes and

young people are all criminals and punishing the whole of young people for it. Already on some debate TV show there

loads of family areas out there.

T: I’m not a fan of children but if you’ve got them then you

Tom playing at Summer Sundae back in 2006

was some talk about oh should there be national service and

have to bring them.

apparently 80% of people that phoned up and said yeah there

O: Yeah, there’s loads of space.

should be and a good idea. I find it worrying, think about how many people it was that where rioting, a tiny minority of idiots

Tell me about the new album?

and there have always been idiots and there have always been

T: It’s doing well but we’re writing new material and we’re setting

criminals.

up our studio to record to record the fourth. The last three

O: They’re just more organised now because they can use

albums we’ve gone and recorded and produced with producers

Twitter and stuff.

and stuff but for this one we’ve decided that we’re ready.

T: If people commit crimes then you just have to put them

O: That we’re the producers.

through the normal court process and send them to prison for

T: We’ve bought some kind of equipment that we don’t know

committing a crime.

how to use and we’re gradually working it out.

O: The mixing desk is apparently Right Said Fred’s old mixing

Agreed. Thanks for the interview and I hope that you enjoy

desk, that’s what it was sold as.

the rest of the festival.

T: Thanks!

I bet that could tell some stories?

Wo r d s b y R a e g a n O a t e s

T: God yes.

W W W. T H E M O N O G R A P H . C O . U K

7

NEW

BLOOD

GOES TO DERBY

W

hy? I imagine is the first question you’d ask but

bear with me. Think of a city in the East Midlands with a slowly dying industrial heritage, an ugly modern shopping centre which sticks out like a sore thumb, a crap football team playing in a new stadium, perceived as culturally inferior to it’s “cooler” neighbour Nottingham and having a slightly wonky infrastructure of venues mostly held together by small bands/promoters doing it for the love of it. Sound

TH E I N S ID E R

New m usi c su p e r v is o r An d y Wi nfi e ld i s a ma n on the i ns i d e, worki ng w i t h s o m e o f t h e b igge s t na me s i n the r e c or d la b e l i nd us t r y as th e m an t h e o t h e r s id e o f t h e d e s k. . .

T

his past week I was called to London to sit in on a few meetings and whilst I had a couple of hours to spare I decided to prop up a bar in a city centre boozer.

Just behind me were two gentlemen that seemed to be

having an argument, then on a closer listen (yes I was listening

of a modern day band?

familiar? Derby needs our love as a fellow underdog and, besides, you can get the bus there twenty 24/7 for a tenner return.

Anyway, on a pissing down Monday night when all the guestlist whores are sat on a manky Jumbo sucking Kasabian’s scaly pecker, I head to the Vines for a night organised by Buttonpusher (Marty Toner from local instrumentalists Alright The Captain). I muddle my way through the deserted streets until I hear Trail Of Dead blaring from a back alley; happily this is the right place and the booze is cheap. The upstairs venue is nice and

Bands and artists that take the leap and decide to go it

cosy and healthily busy for the start of the week. Local

alone are on the frontline of the music biz, these are the people

lads My Psychoanalyst kick off proceedings with a set

who will shape our future industry.

that knocks me sideways; the last time I saw them play

I don’t believe that the industry is broken or stale, but I do

they were a much wonkier and ramshackled beast. A

in, and don’t say you don’t do it) they were actually talking

believe a big change is in order, a revolution to change the way

year later and they unleash a tight-as-fuck righteous

about the state of the music industry, words such as “stale”,

an artist is signed up, managed and then distributed.

roar that mingles twee indie moments with full on blasts

“out dated”, “broken” and “bias” were thrown around like

There is no argument against the fact that iTunes changed

of gleeful arty noise that brings to mind My Bloody

this industry forever, when I was at school if I wanted an album

Valentine kicking off with Her Name Is Calla with Built To

of a band who were only predominantly in the US, I would

Spill’s Doug Martsch on vocals. One of the songs has a

have to order the album from a shop, if I wanted the entire

beautiful, something in my eye moment with all the band

back catalogue of a band I would have to search high and low.

hollering to the ceiling seemingly lost in their art; sounds

know how a restaurant works but in music if you are not in the

Now all you need to do is search from your very own arm chair,

wanky but a truely affecting piece of live music.

industry you don’t necessarily know the operation and working

or your phone and download, so the platform of buying music

cream cakes at a posh food fight.

This got me thinking of the industry and the difference between opinions, perception and the truth.

The music industry is described as a closed industry, we all

Headlining tonight are Glasgow’s United Fruit, a

process of releasing a record, branding an artist and putting

has changed but the way that an artist carves out a career in a

band who are new to these ears but soon draw me in

that artist into the charts.

closed industry has not.

with a heady noise-rock concoction bringing to mind the

What is described as “the good old days” of the industry,

So, as I headed home from a rainy London on a busy

gleeful chaos of McClusky and the foot on the monitors

where a band or artist would be scouted, they would receive an

train journey, a working light bulb strangely lit up above my

rock outs of Lafaro. The set is short but even through the

advance from the record company, they would then jet all over

head and I thought how about the readers, so I want your

dense wall of noise, these chaps clearly have an ear for

the world recording an album and then have the time of their

opinions on the industry, whether you are a reader, an artist,

a pop hook. It’s a neat trick to be able to sound like Trail

lives on tour, has changed dramatically over the years. When

a label owner, promoter, venue owner or whoever, I want to

Of Dead in the context of a three minute pop song but

I was touring and signed to an independent it was our main

know what you think about the industry and do you think it

United Fruit nail it every time.

aim as a team to get the attention of a major label, but with

needs to change? If you are feeling particularly adventurous

the invention of such sites as Zimbalam, Tune Core and CD

tell me what you feel would change the industry? Email your

to hit the road so no time to catch a few words with

Baby, which makes worldwide digital distribution available to

thoughts to a.winfield@themonograph.co.uk.

the bands, but it’s great to know that quality live bands

artists from all walks of life, and sites such as Band Central and

We live in times where we can all pull together by way of

Unfortunately as soon as the gig’s finished I have

being put on by people with their hearts in the right place

Reverbnation which allow the artist to take complete control of

social networking, so is it time to create a completely new

elsewhere in our area.

their careers, is there still a need for a major labels intervention?

music industry formed by people who share a similar belief

This is a question that was brought up a while ago at a

and passion? The fact is regardless of anything, it has to be

Buttonpusher: www.buttonpusherbookings.tumblr.com

seminar with the director of The Official Charts company and

and should always be about the music, if we don’t act on

his opinion mirrors my own.

our actions and take responsibility for our inventions, we as

If an artist distributes online, and all parties involved use their time wisely promoting the artist or band, an unsigned

a generation will see the day the music died…. Or have we already?

artist can make it into the charts with enough sales.

Having delved a little further and deciding to take this argument nationwide by way of a survey, what are the needs

Wor d s b y An d y Wi n fi e ld

W W W. T H E M O N O G R A P H . C O . U K

My Psychoanalyst: www.mypsych.bandcamp.com United Fruit: www.unitedfruit.bandcamp.com

Glyn 9

GRACE PETRIE:

...

G N U O Y E B , NT E I L I S E R E B , BE STRONG

BE F**KING BRILLIANT Photo: Amy Brammall

THE

INTERROBANG

Words by Joh n He l ps

Grace Petrie is a rare treasure amongst not just the Leicester music scene, but on a national scale. She writes love songs alongside protest songs and demands attention with a confidence that belays her slight stature. Having just spent ten days in a minibus playing improvised venues the length and breadth of the countr y with comedian Josie Long, The Monograph caught up with her for a chat about Glastonbur y, politics, protests and tr ying to give voice to a generation...

I

t’s been a good few years since we first came across

Over the last year her writing has been directed at

Grace Petrie, when she was playing glorious folk love

the government, covering a broad spectrum from the

songs and covers of Basement Jaxx in venues around

deplorable personal views of Therasa May, then home

the city whilst working behind the bar at Firebug, but she

secretary, to the protests and cuts. We asked her whether

fell in to music from a young age: “Growing up in my house

that change of focus was directly related to the inbound

there was always music on. I started playing the piano,

coalition? “Yes and No. Obviously I am massively opposed

and then in my teens I kind of drifted into the guitar without

to Conservatism and I think the cuts are quite simply

really planning to. I stated writing songs and when I was

going to ruin an entire generation, but I’ve been involved

about 15 I realised that it was the only thing I could ever

personally in politics for a long time and been heavily

imagine doing for a living.”

influenced by protest singers. There’s so much to criticize

Having departed our fair city for university in Sheffield,

with the the system, and it’s so ingrained, so impenetrable

she’s now back in the city she calls home, full of the same

that even trying to challenge it as a song writer seems

hope and passion for music, but brandishing a political

intimidating.”

energy and a fist full of protest songs.

“I will say this, unashamedly and unreservedly, that I

“I guess for me the big turning point was Nick Clegg. I was living in Sheffield when the phenomenon they called

love Leicester. I’ve lived in a few other places and they’ve all

‘Cleaggmania’ happened. I was there when he greeted

had their own charm but I can’t imagine ever really feeling

crowds of students outside the city hall. I watched the

like anywhere else will be home. The further I go the more

TV debates and thought “he’s different, he really wants

I realise that I love the culture of Leicester, and I think it’s

to do positive things that matter to people, that will make

one that should be celebrated and defended. I love living

a difference”. Then he went on to not just break those

somewhere where the Diwali lights and celebrations are as

promises, but to actually facilitate the opposite things

widespread as the Christmas ones. I love living in a place

happening. But the really amazing thing, the thing that

where LGBT people have a community centre, something

inspired me, was the complete reaction to that from so

which is very rare in the UK. These are things that you take

many people, and how resigned people were to the idea of

for granted when you’ve grown up with them.”

being lied to. I had arguments with people and they would

She’s quietly released three full length albums in her

say “Yeah, he lied, but it’s your fault for believing him” and

musical career, the most of recent of which ‘Tell Me A

that was such a revelation to me. I realised how big the

Story’ emerged in December 2010, having been written

problem is, That our political system is THAT broken, that

over the course of three years. “I had this crazy period

people had come to expect, and even worse accept the

when I couldn’t write anything, and then something just

idea that politicians will just lie to you. That once they have

clicked and I wrote pretty much the whole thing in about

your vote they’ll do whatever the hell they want, because

nine months.”

they don’t have to worry about getting another one for five

The record spans a sea change in her writing, from the

years. That was the first big light bulb in my head, was that

quirky love songs of old to the more socially and politically

we have to start again, with politicians attitude to voters

aware material that now fills her set lists: “The two political

and definitely vice-versa, and that the first step on that

songs on the record were the last ones I wrote. I’ve

ladder is getting people to realistically expect better. It’s as

songs seem to have fallen from grace with the public

gotten a lot more political and a lot more involved with the

simple and as difficult as that.”

as much as the music industry, becoming a cliché that

activism side of things, and with that has come a lot of new

Photo: David Wilson Clarke

Since the end of Thatcher’s term in office, through

few dare to approach. Grace is part of a new generation

material. I sometimes feel like the album has aged quite

New Labour and the global financial crisis, It’s increasingly

that are putting the message back in to music; “I think it

quickly in that it doesn’t necessarily reflect me as a whole,

common to be criticised for daring to express a political

is important for music to have a message of some sort,

but then I’ll always, I hope, write love songs too”.

opinion, especially when it’s through your music. Protest

whether that’s about society or about love or whatever, so long as its something that was important enough to somebody to write. I suppose the protest song isn’t an

“ I R E A L I S E D H O W B I G T H E P R O B L E M I S - T H AT O U R P O L I T I C A L S Y S T E M I S T H AT B R O K E N T H AT P E O P L E H A D C O M E T O E X P E C T, A N D E V E N W O R S E A C C E P T, T H E I D E A T H AT P O L I T I C I A N S W I L L J U S T L I E T O Y O U ”

easy sell, but at the same time I like to think that I’m writing lyrics that people can identify with in their everyday lives. Political singers have been trying for decades to write songs that the masses can enjoy, and not just the politicised few. I think the key to that is finding a way to express the dissatisfaction people are experiencing, and writing something which helps to link that to the wider context. That’s the way to engage non-politicised people

W W W. T H E M O N O G R A P H . C O . U K

11

“ T H E FA M E A N D M O N E Y E L E M E N T S O F B E I N G A M U S I C I A N H AV E O V E R R I D E N T H E D E S I R E T O M A K E S O M E T H I N G I M P O RTA N T, T O W R I T E A S O N G T H AT W I L L S TA N D I N T W E N T Y Y E A R S A S A P O W E R F U L P I E C E O F A RT. ” in politics, to give voice to the feelings of disenfranchised

this stage with Billy, Frank Turner, The Agitator and Beans

people. I just wish I could do it as well as Paul Weller!”

on Toast, and the tent was full to the brim and I had this

Photo: Amy Brammall

The broken music industry and pop culture itself

moment where I was like ‘I’m the only unsigned person

doesn’t escape her either: “I can’t stand how the music

here - these are professionals, what the hell am I doing

industry has been utterly savaged by consumerism and

here?’ but then I managed to put that out of my head

a lot of the music in the chart isn’t just solely there to

and just close my eyes and play. By the time I got there

make money, but often that’s what they’re singing about.

this year, I think I felt a bit more comfortable. I’d done a

The fame and money elements of being a musician have

lot more festivals, I’d toured with Emmy the Great - I was

part in demonstrations for the first time in their lives. I

completely overridden the desire to make something

starting to feel like I deserved my place just a little bit

guess I’d rather be idealistic and naive if that means trying

important, to write a song that won’t just get you a lot of

more.”

to affect positive change than I would want to be resigned

money in the short-term but that will still stand in 20 years as a powerful piece of art.”

It’s interesting that when we ask Grace whether she finds it difficult to get her opinions across to audiences -

to failure, and think there’s no point in trying”.

As we conducting this interview, Grace feels she has to

whether she gets challenged on them, she feels pressure

apologise for the length of her answers “Sorry for the delay,

respect and admiration not just of listeners but of her peers

from the Left as well as the Right; “I think a lot of hardcore

once I got started I found I liked the sound of my own

and her influences too. Having emailed him in a moment

protesters and activists on the left find me too naive

voice, apparently.”

of desperation Grace was invited to play Glastonbury by

and idealistic, and that’s fine. I’m fairly new at all this, I’ll

Billy Bragg, and has been back again since; “The whole

concede that - but I’m also part of a generation that’s

Monograph website. For more inforation on Grace visit her

thing was a blur, and it was very surreal. I was sitting on

waking up to political activism. Some of them are taking

official website at www.gracepetrie.com

Her songs and incredible passion have earned her the

To read the full interview in all it’s glory vist The

“ I T H I N K I T ’ S I M P O RTA N T F O R M U S I C T O H AV E A M E S S A G E , W H E T H E R T H AT ’ S A B O U T S O C I E T Y O R A B O U T L O V E O R W H AT E V E R , S O L O N G A S I T ’ S S O M E T H I N G T H AT WA S I M P O RTA N T E N O U G H T O SOMEBODY TO WRITE.”

12

T H E M O N O G R A P H LEICESTER MUSIC NEW S

THE WINTER OF OUR DISCONTENT

G

race spent a good chunk of October on tour

What were you aiming to get across to get across with

with comedians Josie Long and Tom Parry,

the shows?

accompanied by an ever changing roster of

I think everyone involved had different reasons for doing it.

funny and/or musical people playing in improvised venues

Josie was hoping to draw attention to the cuts agenda and

for the Alternative Reality Tour, or ART for short. In addition

show people that there is another way, it doesn’t have to be

to the main interview, we asked a few questions about the

like this, society and reality could be different. Hence the

idea and aims behind it...

name. For me, I wanted to get young people talking about politics, I wanted them to be engaged. I’m sick to death

We were lucky enough to catch you and Josie Long

of people calling my generation and younger “politically

et al at your Leicester stop-off in the old underpass

apathetic”. It’s not apathy, apathy is a decision. It’s a

opposite The Criterion. How did the tour come about?

complete and utter lack of empowerment. People need to

At Glastonbury we were both playing the Leftfield stage,

realise that we can’t expect new generations to talk about

and she came up to me after my set and said “I’m hiring a

politics in the same old language. If you talk to the average

minibus in October for 10 days, going around doing guerrilla

teenager they don’t know what you mean by left-wing or

gigs... will you come?” It was probably the most rewarding

right-wing. They don’t know what you mean by ideology. I

thing I’ve ever done. Exhausting, but so so worth it.

wanted to talk to kids about politics in their own words, on their own terms. We did this gig on the Isle of Sheppey, and they kids there didn’t know what “tory” meant, but when I talked to them about the expenses scandal, they were

Photo: Tim Morris

outraged, they were saying “well that’s not fair, anyone else would get fired or go to prison.” That’s politics. And

The Block The Bill Protest on Westminster Bridge was

telling them that, that they had an opinion about politics,

one of the stop offs too?

and even more that they were ENTITLED to one, whoever

Yeah, we had two UKuncut organisers on tour with us so

they were, was a really invigorating experience. It changed

from the start of the week we heard how the demo was

my outlook on everything, from activism to music. I realised

getting bigger and bigger and I couldn’t wait to do it. When

fully that that’s what we have to do, that’s what I want to be

I got there I just couldn’t believe how many people had

doing.

come, it was amazing. It was a really inspirational day, and I look back at it now and I find it hard not to feel quite sad

Along with the aforementioned underpass, how

because obviously we didn’t stop the bill being passed but

were the venues on the tour? Any other particularly

we saw so many people willing to fight for it that day, it was

interesting locations?

a really heartening thing to see.

We played a bus shelter thing in Margate, the beach on Sheppey, and there was also a commune near Colchester

You can read more of this interview online at

which was quite cool.

www.themonograph.co.uk

MISHKIN LOCK 42 / £5

WILLIE NILE BAND + MICKEY KEMP THE MUSICIAN /£10 ADV / £12 OTD

GARY J ARMSTRONG + PHIL RILEY THE MUSICIAN / £5 ADV / £6 OTD

ISLAND REPUBLIC + HYBRID TREND + SMIGE + THOMAS ELLIOTT ROSE THE SOUND HOUSE / 19:30PM / £3 OPEN MIC FIREBUG PATRICK FITZGERALD + RUTH POL +KEVIN HEWICK THE MUSICIAN / £7 ADV / £8 OTD

NEVER MEANS MAYBE + CURRENTLY WITHOUT ABODE + REPLICANT + FOUR POINT OH THE SOUND HOUSE / 19:30PM / £4 ADV / £5 OTD OPEN MIC FIREBUG

OPEN MIC W/ RHETT BARROW THE SOUND HOUSE/ 19.30PM / FREE

TEXAS IN JULY LOCK 42 / 19.30PM / £6

BRITPOP TRIBUTE NIGHT FEAT. WRY DOGS + SOLARISE + JACK WHITNEY + COSSERAT + LIVE FOREVER THE MUSICIAN / £5

KIM RICHEY THE MUSICIAN / £8 ADV / £10 OTD

TURIN BRAKES + JERSEY BUDD O2 ACADEMY / 19:00PM / £18.00

TURISAS + SUB LIVE + KIUAS SUB 91 / 19:30PM / £12 JANE KIDDER THE SHED / 20:00PM JIM LAUDERDALE + DANNI NICHOLLS THE MUSICIAN / £10 ADV / £12 OTD

OPEN MIC FIREBUG THE CITY ACOUSTIC CLUB THE MUSICIAN / FREE

OPEN MIC W / RHETT BARROW THE SOUND HOUSE / 19:30PM / FREE

MAGIC TEAPOT JOSH T PEARSON + WE THREE AND THE DEATH RATTLE THE MUSICIAN / £10

EMILY PORTMAN + LUCY WARD THE MUSICIAN / £8 ADV / £10 OTD

THE TWILIGHT SAD + SUPPORT FIREBUG / 20:00PM THE MOONS + THE RASSOODOCKS + MOVE! + THE FLEETING MINDS THE SOUND HOUSE / 19:30PM / £7 PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA DE MONTFORT HALL / 19:30PM

OPEN MIC FIREBUG

OPEN MIC W / RHETT BARROW SOUNDHOUSE / 19:30PM / FREE

THE CITY ACOUSTIC CLUB THE MUSICIAN / FREE

SIMON MCBRIDE THE MUSICIAN /£10 ADV / £12 OTD

ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK DEMONTFORT HALL / 19:30PM

MICK RIDGEWAY’S MOJO HAND THE MUSICIAN / £5

AC/BC THE MUSICIAN / £10 ADV

THE OUTWOODS COUNTRY RIDERS THE MUSICIAN / FREE

GLORY FOR A DEADMAN + CLOUDS IN CONTRAST THE SOUND HOUSE / 19:30PM / £4

WE’RE NOT WORTHY – EP LAUNCH FREE THE SOUND HOUSE / 19.30PM / FREE

THE CHAPMAN FAMILY + CHERRY CHOKE + 88 MILES PER HOUR LOCK 42 / £5.50 ADV

JOEL OWEN AND THE ANTOINE BAND FIREBUG / 20.00PM

STRAWBS + FAY BROTHERHOOD THE MUSICIAN / £13 ADV / £15 OTD

THE BLOCKHEADS SUB 91 / £16.50

VOODOO SIX + HELLS ADDICTION + LOVES SINISTER CHOIR LOCK 42 / £7 THE VIOLET BONES + SHORTWAVE FADE + THE FORES + RAPTUSOUND THE SOUND HOUSE / 19:30PM / £4 OYSTERBAND WITH JUNE TABOR DE MONTFORT HALL / 20:00PM FAIR PLAY GIGS: BRIGADE, VERSES, KILL GOLIATH + THE RUPTURE DOGS FIREBUG / 20:00PM

THE CITY ACOUSTIC CLUB THE MUSICIAN / FREE

ABBA THE SHOW DE MONTFORT HALL / 20:00PM

GOING UNDERGROUND LOCK 42 / 8.00PM / £3

BLUEBIRD PARADE THE MUSICIAN / £5

THE LEGENDARY JOHN MAYALL IN CONCERT DE MONTFORT HALL / 19.30PM

OPEN MIC W / RHETT BARROW THE SOUND HOUSE / 19:30PM / FREE

STEPHEN AND THE HEATHENS SUMO / 8PM / £5

DAVID R BLACK + THE BLACK TEARS + THE UNKNOWN BULLET THE SOUND HOUSE / 19:30PM / £4 JOOLS HOLLAND & HIS RHYTHM & BLUES ORCHESTRA DE MONTFORT HALL / 19:30PM

THE MICK RALPHS BLUES BAND THE MUSICIAN / £12 ADV / £14 OTD

10 YEARS OF DEVILS OWN TATTOO CELEBRATION KARL PHILLIPS AND THE MIDNIGHT RAMBLERS + HELLS ADDICTION + PLEAD THE SECOND + INHOUSE TATTOOING + ART DISPLAYS THE SOUND HOUSE / 19:30PM / FREE DONATIONS TO HELP FOR HEROES WELCOME ONSLAUGHT PRESENTS: LOCK 42 / 18:00PM / £7 HOLD YOUR HORSE IS, LAFARO, HEY NOSTRADAMUS + SUPPORT FIREBUG / 20:00PM

SMOKEY BASTARD + 88 MILES PER HOUR + IVY MIKE + FIRST WAVE THE SOUND HOUSE / 19:30PM / £4 LIBERATION PACT + FRESH EYES FOR THE DEAD GUY LOCK 42 / £4 CASHIER NO.9 + KOWALSKI THE MUSICIAN / £6 TWESTA PRESENTS: STANDARD FARE + KID CANAVERAL FIREBUG / 20:00PM

ACID PONY + SISTERLAND + FRIENDSHIP + JOHNNY EAGER THE SOUND HOUSE / 19:30PM / £5

SWORN TO OATH + LOVES SINISTER CHOIR + COLD STONE THE SOUND HOUSE / 19:30PM / £4.50

BABBLE SOUND SYSTEM COLLECTIVE SUMO / £5

I DREAM IN COLOUR LOCK 42 / £5

LIMEHOUSE LIZZY Y THEATRE / 8PM

FUTURES SUB 91 / 19:30PM / £7.50

RADIO CLASH (TRIBUTE) LOCK 42 / £6

A NIGHT OUT WITH PEGGY & PJ + ANNA RYDER THE MUSICIAN / £10

MAGIC OF MOTOWN DE MONTFORT HALL / 19:30PM

BARDI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA DEMONTFORT / 19:30PM

ZAPPA PLAYS ZAPPA DE MONTFORT HALL / 20:00PM

I AM IN LOVE + SILENT DEVICES FIREBUG / 20:00PM

DANFEST: ALL-DAY PROG ROCK EXTRAVAGANZA THE MUSICIAN / £20 ADV / £22 OTD

LIVE MUSIC TBC FIREBUG

BLACK CARROT + JENNIFERS GARDEN + ECHOLOCATION + ABSENT FRIENDS THE SOUND HOUSE / 19:30PM / £5 GENETIC 10TH BIRTHDAY (DRUM&BASS) SUB 91 / 21:30PM / £10ADV LARRY MILLER BAND THE MUSICIAN / £8

FUNK SOUL BROTHER THE MUSICIAN / £5

ROB JOHNSON & THE IRREGULARS + GRACE PETRIE THE MUSICIAN / £8

FORMAL WARNING SUMO / £5 AYNSLEY LISTER + CLARE FREE THE MUSICIAN / £10 ADV / £12 OTD

THE UKULELE ORCHESTRA OF GREAT BRITAIN DE MONTFORT HALL/ 19:30PM

US WOLVES – SINGLE LAUNCH THE SOUND HOUSE / 19:30PM / £6

MY REVIVAL + MORE TBC THE SOUND HOUSE / 19:30 PM / £4

SURRENDER THE COAST E.P LAUNCH. O2 ACADEMY / £8

JIMI HENDRIX NIGHT THE MUSICIAN /£2

WRECKLESS ERIC & AMY RIGBY THE MUSICIAN / £9

HAVOK / ERADICATION LOCK 42 / £6

GOING UNDERGROUND LOCK 42 / £3

GUNS 2 ROSES THE MUSICIAN / £10

PROUD MARY + THE FLEETING MINDS + CITIZEN SMITH + THE CHASERS THE SOUND HOUSE / 19:30PM / £7 BOOTLEG BEATLES DE MONFORT HALL / 8.00PM

BONAFIDE + SILVERJET + SKAM THE MUSICIAN / £7 ADV / £9 OTD

OPEN MIC FIREBUG THE CITY ACOUSTIC CLUB THE MUSICIAN / FREE

OPEN MIC W / RHETT BARROW SOUNDHOUSE / 19:30PM / FREE

THE UKULELE ORCHESTRA OF GREAT BRITAIN DE MONTFORT HALL/ 19:30PM

US WOLVES – SINGLE LAUNCH THE SOUND HOUSE / 19:30PM / £6

MY REVIVAL + MORE TBC THE SOUND HOUSE / 19:30 PM / £4

SURRENDER THE COAST E.P LAUNCH. O2 ACADEMY / £8

SIMON MCBRIDE THE MUSICIAN /£10 ADV / £12 OTD

JIMI HENDRIX NIGHT THE MUSICIAN /£2

WRECKLESS ERIC & AMY RIGBY THE MUSICIAN / £9

HAVOK / ERADICATION LOCK 42 / £6

GOING UNDERGROUND LOCK 42 / £3

GUNS 2 ROSES THE MUSICIAN / £10

PROUD MARY + THE FLEETING MINDS + CITIZEN SMITH + THE CHASERS THE SOUND HOUSE / 19:30PM / £7

BONAFIDE + SILVERJET + SKAM THE MUSICIAN / £7 ADV / £9 OTD

BOOTLEG BEATLES DE MONFORT HALL / 8.00PM

OPEN MIC FIREBUG THE CITY ACOUSTIC CLUB THE MUSICIAN / FREE FOUR SEASONS BY CANDLELIGHT DE MONTFORT HALL / 19.30PM

OPEN MIC W / RHETT BARROW THE SOUND HOUSE / 19:30PM / FREE WILDFIRE SESSIONS XMAS PARTY + STEVIE JONES & MARK GILL + FERRIS + HANNAH FAULKNER THE MUSICIAN / £5

BLUESHOUSE - ACT TBC THE SOUND HOUSE / FREE SHAUN WILLIAM RYDER SUB91 / 19:30PM / £16.50

THE URBAN VOODOO MACHINE THE MUSICIAN / £10 ADV / £12 OTD

THE DYLAN PROJECT THE MUSICIAN / £12

ENTITY WITH SPECIAL GUESTS TBA. LOCK 42 / £5

JERSEY BUDD O2 ACADEMY / £8

JON WINDLE (EX LITTLE MAN TATE) + JONPAUL PALUMBO + THE CHIZZITS THE SOUND HOUSE / 19:30PM / £8

SMOKING THE PROFIT, THE DARK LIGHTS, TRIBAL RIOTS, VETOES FIREBUG

DAN BAIRD & HOMEMADE SIN + DAWSON SMITH + THE DISSENTERS THE MUSICIAN / £13 ADV / £15 OTD

APOLOGIES, I HAVE NONE + HOSTAGE CALM + EVEN MORE THAN YOU + ONE CURE FOR MAN THE SOUND HOUSE / 19:30PM

OPEN MIC W / RHETT BARROW THE SOUND HOUSE / 19:30PM / FREE

OPEN MIC FIREBUG

12 DIRTY BULLETS + THE WAYWARD CHARM + MORE TBC THE SOUND HOUSE / 19:30PM / £5

BETRAEUS + ONE LESS FINGER + MORE TBC THE SOUND HOUSE / 19:30PM / £5

BOO HEWERDINE + JENNIFER CROOK THE MUSICIAN / £8 ADV

AN EVENING WITH CHRIS CONWAY THE MUSICIAN / £4 ADV

THE CITY ACOUSTIC CLUB THE MUSICIAN / FREE

OPEN MIC FIREBUG MAGIC TEAPOT - THE PIPETTES THE MUSICIAN / £10 ADV

OPEN MIC FIREBUG

LENNERD SKYNNERD – LYNARD SKYNARD TRIBUTE + THE BEAUTIFUL SLEAZY THE SOUND HOUSE / 19:30PM / £5 MAYBESHEWILL SUMO / £6 FRED ZEPPELIN THE MUSICIAN / £6 ADV / £8 OTD

OPEN MIC W / RHETT BARROW – XMAS SPECIAL THE SOUND HOUSE / 19:30PM BLUE HARP HEROES FEAT. MICK RIDGEWAY + TRISTRAM HOOLEY + ALAN SHOTTER + SEAN CLUTTERHAM THE MUSICIAN / £4 ADV / £5 OTD

EL PUSSYCAT + KINGSIZE THE MUSICIAN / £7

ECHOLOCATION + GESTALT + JESUSCARFISH + COURTNEY ASKEY THE MUSICIAN / £10 ADV / £12 OTD

BY THE RIVERS SUB 91 / 19:30PM / £7

RAGEFEST THE MUSICIAN

SIMON ‘ HONEYBOY’ HICKLING THE MUSICIAN / £7 PHILHARMONICA ORCHESTRA DE MONTFORT HALL / 19.30PM

GLAMOUR OF THE KILL + DEAR SUPERSTAR THE SOUND HOUSE / 19:30PM / £8 RAUCOUS RECORDS 25TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY PARTY. LOCK 42 THE KITE RUNNERS THE MUSICIAN / DAYTIME / £5 XMAS GIG FOR LOROS THE MUSICIAN / £7 ADV

DIESEL PARK WEST THE MUSICIAN / £10

THE ANNE DUGGAN BAND THE MUSICIAN / £5 ADV

JOEL OWEN & THE ANTOINE BAND THE MUSICIAN / £4 ADV / £5 OTD

DIMEBAG MEMORIAL TOUR WITH 101% PANTERA SUB91 / 19.30PM / £7

NEW YEARS EVE PARTY FEAT. THE MOONLIGHT SINATRAS THE MUSICIAN / £8 ADV / £10 OTD

WHITE NOISE CHRISTMAS: HER NAME IS CALLA, BUENOS AIRES, LITTLE NIGHT TERRORS, I AM IN LOVE, PETER WYETH, GRACE PETRIE AND MANY MORE FIREBUG NINE BELOW ZERO THE MUSICIAN / £12 ADV / £14 OTD

IN PICTURES: O X J A M 2 011 Since we saw such an array on Leicester musical goodness at this year’s Oxjam, we thought it was only right we brought you some of our favourite snaps of the day!

ALL IN A DREAM FOR JERSEY BUDD

J

ersey Budd is a man with a unique sound, burning ambition and also someone who can claim to have the whole of the Leicester City squad as backing singers.

With one album and a terrace classic under his belt, he gave us the low down on some of his highlights so far, first gigs and most importantly... When the new album is out.

Firstly, tell us about some of your early memories of Leicester. What was it like to grow up in the area and what were some of you first gigging experiences?

My mate Danny Archer and me used to go down to the college music rooms at lunch everyday, he was the one that taught me the guitar. We used to belt out all these Beatles and Oasis songs to anyone who’d listen. I would be bricking it with all the girls watching! You could say they were my first Photo: Soar Photo

gigs! I was in a band with John Meighan (Tom Kasabian’s brother) and our first gig was at The Tom Thumb in Blaby. I remember being scared to death at the thought of playing

Tom and Serge are good friends of yours and are always

to a crowd so I basically did the worst Liam Gallagher

mentioning you. Has there been any advice imparted onto

impression you could do! As time went on and I got a bit more

you from the lads?

confidence it got easier to perform, I knew when I started

Not really, they just tell me to keep believing in what I

writing my own songs that I wanted it.

do and basically just to enjoy every second of it. They love what I do and we always play each other new tracks

Your first album ‘Wonderlands’ was received well in the

when we get together. They are like musical brothers to

city. What are some of your memories of making the

me and they have set the benchmark for up and coming

album? Tiring slog or a laugh a minute?

artists. Kasabian have shown it’s possible with a bit a belief

We recorded it in a converted garage in Earl Shilton and

and obviously a lot of class.

looking back it was a magical time. I chucked my heart and soul into it and I was blown away by the result and for the

You recently released your cover version of ‘When You’re

album to be so well received it made it all the more special to

Smiling’ in association with Leicester City Football Club.

me. We had such a laugh making it and those memories will

Tell us a bit about how that all came about.

be with me forever.

It was Dean Eldredge from Soar Media who really got this idea off the ground. He works closely with Leicester City and went

You’ve supported some colossal names in addition

to them and basically said that i should record ‘When You’re

to playing some major headline gigs. What have been

Smiling’ and make it the anthem for the club. I borrowed

some of the highlights of touring and are there any

Serge’s studio for a couple of days and even got the City

performances that stand out?

squad to come in and lend their talents to it! I’m proud to be

It has to be the Royal Albert Hall gig with Kasabian. Serge

associated so closely with the club it’s a dream come true.

asked me to do it only a few weeks before. I went round to see him and just came out with it “fancy playing it?” It was

Is the music scene in Leicester something you follow and

like asking if you wanted ketchup with your chips to him but I

if so who are you watching right now?

was blown away. I remember the whole night and one of the

There are a load of good bands around Leicester at the

first things I thought about when I walked on stage was all

minute but being away so much I don’t really have the time to

the famous names that had played the stage, all my heroes

go to many gigs. I like By The Rivers, David Wyatt and a new

had stood where I was standing. I remember having a lump

band who are called Stoss Bent and The Marraballs they have

in my throat before the first song and at one point didn’t think

only had one gig together but I love them.

I would come in with the opening line! I’ve since done some great gigs touring with Amy MacDonald, The Enemy, Ocean

What’s next on the horizon for Jersey Budd? An album

Colour Scene and they are all gigs I’ll look back on with

release fairly soon is looking probable our sources inform

amazement really, but its all about the future gigs for me.

us, can you divulge any more?

Your sources are correct! I’ve been demoing for the past year getting my songs to a standard and have just recently started to recording. I’ve been in the studio with Brendan Lynch (Paul Weller, Primal Scream) and have just started working with Jamie Ellis who worked with Paul Epworth on Adele and Florence and The Machine. I can’t wait for people to hear the new tunes. They are going to make people stand up and take note. I hope to have the album ready for early to mid New Year.

Jersey Budd is performing at The O2 Academy 1 in Leicester on Saturday December 10th, 2011. To buy tickets visit www.jerseybudd.com

16

T H E M O N O G R A P H LEICESTER MUSIC NEW S

SPOTLIGHT:

DEAN JACKSON Wi th J o n D o d d

D

ean Jackson is a name synonymous with the BBC

events like Glastonbury, T in the Park, Leeds and Reading. I

and indeed music in the Midlands, with an illustrious

think things like that are very important. Whilst it’s vital that the

career spanning back decades and working with

Leicester scene is nurtured, that’s being pretty well cared for

some legends of the music industry worldwide, I got to have a

in the Leicester with things like The Monograph and the music

natter with our favourite radio presenter at this year’s Summer

venues, we all know that there is a great spirit in Leicester of

Sundae to hear what he makes of such a unique career in

bands helping each other out. What can be the stumbling block

music and broadcasting.

is getting Leicester bands seen and heard outside the city, and

Dean first applied for a job with the BBC at the young 14, but it would be over a decade later before they would finally

this is where BBC Introducing comes in.”

So now looking inwardly to Summer Sundae Weekender,

see the light and open their doors to him, in what turned out to

as we sit backstage being sporadically attacked by wasps

be the right move.

hell bent on ruining every good interview and broadcast over

Working with names such as Coldplay, The Stereophonics

the weekend (Dean nearly had to abandon a live Newton

Director Rob Challice every year and I was intrigued about

and Glasvegas before they hit the big time I was interested

Faulkner interview live on air because of one such attack),

what stands out when looking for new music.

to hear if Dean could pick out some highlights. Speaking of

Deans tells me about how The Beat and Summer Sundae first

“The important thing for any band is to have a live

the early days of The Beat, Dean commented: “One of those

got intertwined. “In Summer Sundae’s second year, we initially

performance video, it doesn’t need to be expensive or well

life changing moments, when we started doing The Beat, we

just came down and did some short reports from it and then

filmed. What we look for is a band that can entertain the

weren’t just working with local bands but artists who were

over the years BBC 6Music got involved and they brought a

crowd.”

nationally starting out and we worked with a band called

big sound recording van down, they invited me along to work

Nirvana to start with and to this day I believe is the only radio

with them at the festival. They left the festival around three

enquire about people who he is watching right now, who are

interview Kurt Cobain did in Britain.”

or four years ago but we felt it was such an important part of

the ones to watch in the city?

Dean continued by telling me about more recent work with local acts and the ethos beind that. “BBC Introducing was born in what’s known as a wrap-around five years ago

Leicester we stayed on and decided we would do all we could to highlight some of the local and national talent on offer.”

I ask Dean what advice he would give to bands and artists

And so, before Dean ducks off to consume more music, I

“I saw Herra Hidro at the Leicester Fringe and they seem very promising. There is also a girl called Nancy Dawkins, her voice is to die for and her writing craft is phenominal!”

now, and The Beat is very much part of Introducing. We put

wanting to play Summer Sundae. In addition to having MC

If you want to hear more of Dean Jackson and the BBC

bands through to play at bigger festivals outside of Leicester,

duties for the festival, Dean puts forward bands to Festival

Beat Team, tune in Saturdays from 6pm on 104.9FM

W H ITE N O I S E X M AS Fes t ival o r ganisers t ell The M onog raph first hand what we can expect from White Noise this Yuletide

W

hat is White Noise? White Noise is the best

The first White Noise Festival came together when my band,

door money to charity. Every band involved plays for free

idea we’ve ever had, it’s something I’m really

Maybeshewill, and my friend Scott West’s then band, Death

and so we usually manage to raise about a thousand pounds

fucking proud of, and something which is

of London, wanted to play a show on the same weekend.

for LOCAL (and that’s an important bit) charities from each

effortlessly great fun to be involved in. The Monograph

Between us we very quickly realised that we couldn’t decide

weekend. White Noise is a festival for Leicester. Leicester

asked me to write a preview piece about the festival as the

which other bands wanted to play with, so we asked most of

bands, Leicester fans and all the money going to worthy

Christmas installment is on the horizon, so here’s a bit of

them. We ended up taking over the Firebug for a weekend,

Leicester causes.

history and what you can expect this year...

and White Noise Christmas was born. It was heartwarming,

So this year we’re running a special one day event -

exciting, mostly drunk, and totally rammed for the whole

rather than a full weekend in one venue, we’re putting on

weekend. As soon as it finished we decided we couldn’t

three stages on one day - to condense the uncontrollable

wait a full year to do it all again, and White Noise Summer

joy in to one more manageable Christmas chunk. Each

was quickly planned for the following June. When that came

stage is ‘sponsored’ (if you can call it that - there’s no money

around it was even bigger, better and drunker than it’s winter

involved) by a different Leicester music organisation. Robot

cousin. We’ve run one (almost) twice a year since then, and

Needs Home look after the noisy bands upstairs at Firebug

had more fun than is probably wise doing it.

with Buenos Aires (the only band to play every single event)

The ethos of the events is to force people in this city

heading up a line-up which includes Herra Hidro, Acid

to pay attention to the wealth of incredible talent that we

Pony, Hey Nostradamus and Laser Beast. Exposure Live

have in this city, and so give a platform to (mostly) Leicester

are hosting the return of the incredible Peter Wyeth to the

based bands we’ve discovered, watched, had pints with,

musical stage after a prolonged absence due to hearing

or just heard good rumors about over the preceding six

damage alongside The Daydream Club, Humble He and more

months. Nothing is excluded, and it’s grown far beyond our

in the Red Tent (next door to Firebug on Pocklingtons walk).

expectations already. Yeah, it probably sometimes seems a

Downstairs in Firebug this very publication, The Monograph

bit cliquey, but if we come across something good, it or they

are hosting something of a mega bill in the form of Her Name

WILL be playing the next event. If you want to get involved,

Is Calla, Kyte, Little Night Terrors, I Am In Love, Grace Petrie

the best thing you can do is email us (I guess

and Elizabeth Cornish.

j.helps@themonograph.co.uk is as good a place to start as any) and send us some music. We will listen.

As a side effect of putting the event on, we give all the

W W W. T H E M O N O G R A P H . C O . U K

There are still more bands to be announced, and we’re starting to get magnificently excited about it. Keep your eyes on www.whitenoisefestival.com for more information.

17

T E N T H O U S A N D E M A I L S L AT E R . . .

I

7 ) MER C H IS Y O UR PR IO R IT Y

thought it would be appropriate

being tired you have to sleep A LOT. Nights with no sleep are a

that as I’m writing this column

regular occurrence, even if you’re not the kind of band that likes

sat in the back of a van driving

to party. This tour we drove from Cork in the south of Ireland to

van hire, fuel, drinking, eating and smoking - as well as rent and

from Frankfurt to Berlin through some

London over night. It nearly killed us, and the following day we

bills at home - will suck away your money faster than you can

glorious autumnal countryside, that

had to drive to Paris. You sleep in back stage rooms, in the van,

bank it. Take good merch, and a variety of it. CDs are cool, but

I write a column about touring. We

behind the merch desk - anywhere except bed, really.

people will almost certainly have downloaded your music already

(Maybeshewill) have been on tour

Touring is expensive. Even if you’re getting good fees and riders

if they’re coming to see you. Vinyl sells well in Europe, T-Shirts

with the Japanese band LITE around the UK, Ireland, France,

3) EAT FRUI T

Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands for the last two

Or drink Barrocca (High Vitamin C stuff you can get from

in winter, but not in summer, as we discovered. We’ve got six

weeks, parting ways with them a few short days ago to

Boots). Tour flu kicks in about day 5, and it’s miserable.

shows left of this tour and we’ve sold out of everything important

continue across Germany and in to the Czech Republic. to do it, right? It is, in all honesty, one of the most enjoyable

4) DON’T PACK A BAG YOU COULDN’T CARRY HALF A MI LE

and inspiring experiences and one of the most hateful and

When you’re crashing on floors you need to be able to carry

demoralizing parts of being in a band, all at the same time. You

everything you need a good distance. Not taking everything

will learn to loathe and love your band mates in equal measure

will make your life infinitely easier. Make sure there are baby

and form bonds with the bands you tour with that will last a

wipes in said bag. You can’t always wash. Enough said.

If you’re in a band, going to tour is probably why you want

lifetime. It’s fucking brilliant.

sell well everywhere. Medium T-Shirts sell best. Hoodies sell well

because we couldn’t fit it in the van. Also, don’t fucking mill about in front of the merch desk. You want other people to see it.

8 ) GET T IME T O Y O UR SELF Don’t be antisocial, but even if it’s just putting your headphones in and disappearing in to your thoughts for a bit you’ll get the benefit. You will argue with band mates at some point on tour, and this puts it off for as long as possible

1 ) P L A N P L A NP LA NP LA NP LA N

5) AVOI D SERVI CE STATI ONS LI KE THE PLAGUE

It’s a running joke in our band that I love admin, but before

This is a big one. The fuel and food are both way too

every tour I put together a tour book that has everything from

expensive. Fill up in cities, in both cases, which is often harder

off lose you money and cause incredible boredom. Avoid them

journey times, get in, soundcheck and stage times (so I know

than you might imagine when you’re on a schedule. It’s totally

unless you need them to travel somewhere

when to drag people out of bed to get to venues on time) to

worth making time for it.

whether the venues have showers or wifi. That kind of detail

9 ) D AY S O FF A R E K ILLER Well, kind of. Sometimes you feel like you need one, but days

1 0 ) BR A C E Y O UR SELF FO R T H E C O ME D O W N

sounds ridiculous, but if you can skip a shower in the morning

6) SHARE DRI VI NG

and have one between sound check and playing, you can

In our band our drummer and I split the journeys, and the

have an extra half hour in bed, which is surprisingly valuable.

driving after shows. When you’re doing 14 hour days of

You will be miserable. Touring is relatively care free and real life

driving sometimes, one person doing everything would

will pale in comparison when you have to go back to .

2 ) SL E E P W H E N Y OU C AN Being grumpy on tour is killer, and until you learn to cope with

probably, literally, kill you. Try not to drive for more than four hours straight.

Post-tour-blues kick in about three days after you get home.

John

A N O N - M U S I C FA N ’ S G U I D E T O . . .

A YEAR IN MUSIC

P

eople’s obsession with

music and the extent to which they will go to in order

to satisfy their needs is inconceivable to me. I’m a very different kind of guy, and those of you who have read my column on the website will be aware that I prefer black comedies to Black Sabbath, new boxers to New Order and Britain’s Best Dish to British Sea Power.

But since joining The Monograph, and working among true fanatics, I am no longer able to ignore your fascination, and even though I am unable to understand it, I am beginning to appreciate it… like the when Bill and Ted visit Socrates.

G R E AT I M I TAT I O N T his summer Great Imitation have swept through the

without us, buildings burn. We also played Strawberry

UK and Europe in a “Cavalcade of vaudevillian swag

Fields, which was the best one. We were on at 3pm on the

attention seeking” whilst playing a number of high

Saturday, a deservedly un-prestigious spot but despite the

profile gigs and festivals including Summer Sundae, Zeitgeist

obvious, we somehow managed to draw a massive crowd,

and Love Music Hate Racism. Propelling themselves with a

which was swag time 100,000! LMHR was incredible too

relentless energy and singer James’ intense mix of serial killer

and we also headlined a small festival called Samstock.

chic and appealing eccentricity, this band combines ravenous

Finally, hanging around the airport with the lads, waiting to

vocals with a dose of social commentary and political

board the plane to Budapest was amazing, it was a little

awareness and watching them live is akin to witnessing a

amazing to feel as though we were in a real band, if only just

verbal hurricane. However, underneath lyrics full of funny

for a few hours.

anecdotes, spine chilling confessions and exciting life stories, lays a heart of gold and new single ‘Hell is Being Locked in a

Why is it important that we have things like Hate Racism

Room with All My Friends’ shows off their usual impassioned

Love Music here in Leicester?

and complicitious song writing. Early next year expect even

Because the world is f**ked! Absolutely ruined by people

more deft rhymes when they release their new mix tape

forgetting the lessons what history’s attempted to (and

‘Sympathy with Average Gentleman’ or S.W.A.G for short.

apparently round failed to) teach us. Somehow it seems that

With busy times ahead, The Monograph sat down with singer

racist views are slowly becoming acceptable to more and

James to talk about the highlights of 2011 so far.

more people, the volume of explicitly right wing pages on Facebook is a terrifying indication of just how wide spread

What are you working on at the moment?

the problem is becoming. So anything that goes against the

We have a new single coming out soon called Hell is Being

tide of sewage is swag.

Locked in a Room with All My Friends. We’ve been playing it live all Summer and it seems to be going down well. It’ll

What has been your worst memory of the Summer?

be available on free download soon as we couldn’t, in good

The smell of Connors at morning after Samstock; dead old

conscience, ask people to pay for it. We’re also putting

lady in brine.

together material for a mix tape which we’re looking at releasing early next year what’s going to be called Sympathy

Who would you recommend The Monograph take a

with Average Gentleman or S.W.A.G.

listen to, from the local music scene?

Our friends Fans Of Faye are probably the best live band in

You appear have a special affinity with the word swag?

country. Karl Phillips and the Midnight Ramblers are super

Swag is a lifestyle choice like being a vegan or a serial killer.

swag. Karl did an acoustic version of a Ramblers tune what’s

It becomes a handy way of like... erm y’know... defining

about... erm... Shall we say, romancing the elderly, on a small

yourself. For example, if you meet someone at a social

radio station in the middle of the day? The YouTube video is

function they might say “Hello, my name’s Jeffrey. I’m

one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen, have a squizz innit!

secretary for an aggressive political pressure group that supports climate change and culling the weak” and I’m able

What don’t you like about the music industry?

to respond “I’m C*nt Swagula innit?” I’ve also offered up

The fact that it hasn’t offered me a million pounds and a

the space above my right hip bone to have ‘swag’ tattooed

Swarovski helicopter to join it.

there in a magnificent ellipse if 100 people tag themselves and Great Imitation in a photo with the word swag in there.

And finally, tell us about the person that we see on the

It’s a shameless exercise in attention seeking yeah?

stage when you perform.

He is a hideous, inappropriate, ugly megalomaniac with

What are your highlights of 2011 so far?

powerful sweat glands and no fear. I am the precious who

We played at the Zeitgeist festival in Budapest and during

brings his Gollum out.

our absence from this grey and stinking lands all the youths did a riot, so I suppose the main highlight of the Summer was finding out that we’re bastions of law and order and

Wor d s b y R a e g a n Oa t e s

W W W. T H E M O N O G R A P H . C O . U K

With that in mind, and as we edge into the Winter months of the year, I have looked back upon what has been a non-music fan’s guide to British music in 2011.

The year has seen many winners and losers, splits and reconciliations and sadly a number of high profile ‘home grown’ losses, perhaps most notably Amy Winehouse; a victim of success and another bitter admittance to the 27 club. Amy, like so many before her, will be mourned and remembered as we show our respect by dressing up as her at Halloween for the years to come.

PJ Harvey celebrated winning the coveted Mercury Prize with her seminal ‘Let England Shake’ which reflects upon this her time in Great Britain and lovingly celebrates its ‘damp grey filthiness’. I have sat with this record for some time now and have concluded that, despite what some harsher critics might say... I probably still would.

Summer came and went and, although they may have lacked the red and the white, Blue lived up to their name with a drab, lackluster and narcoleptic performance at this year’s Eurovision.

Locally we have fared well and Maybeshewill show that they are more than just the exit music to the credits of an indie film by releasing their third album to critical acclaim.

Meanwhile, having recently returned from their holiday with The Specials, By the Rivers continue to put more seasoned and experienced musicians to shame with their faultless commitment and abundant hairlines.

Leicester heroes Kasabian treated locals to two intimate shows, as well as releasing their third or fourth studio album, ‘Velocraptor!’ which is already being heralded as one of the releases of the year.

‘Director’s Cut’ by Kate Bush is equally full of surprises; most shocking of all is that Kate Bush isn’t dead as I had thought. Sticking with the girls (as I like to do), I was looking forward to hearing the debut record ‘Past Life Martyred Saints’ by EMA but the government cut it.

‘Cults’ by Cults. People name their cars, their pets and even their gentiles. So, when you have gone to the effort of writing an album, why would you not want to name it?

Bunch of Cults.

Obviously there were a large number of other credible albums this year as well as many, well, ‘less credible’ and, as we draw into the winter of the year we begin to notice various on-line petitions for ironic (but ultimately insidiously collusive) tracks to beat the X factor winner to Christmas number one slot. So with reference to reality talent shows I’m going to try and keep it short…

I think I did well.

Tiernan

19

HIDDEN IN NEW YORK w i t h Anni e D r e ss ne r

I

first came across Aunt Martha about two years ago at Pete’s Candy Store open mic in

Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Tim Noyes was singing an acoustic version of ‘Carolina’ and I couldn’t get the song out of my head.

It’s rare and exciting when you can hear a song once and remember many lyrics and the melody... and really enjoy it! Tim has a way of delivering his songs in a way that make you really want to listen to what he has to say both lyrically and melodically.

He started off playing the trumpet throughout middle school and high school. “I was absolutely

O X J A M TA K E S O V E R

terrible, so when I got to college I gave it up and picked up the guitar. Guitar is my kind of instrument because you don’t have to be very good to write songs. I wrote a song

T H E C U LT U R A L Q U A R T E R

O

xjam is a music festival like no other, happening

as soon as I learned two chords.”

Brian Kim and Garrett Leahy

Realising at this point we could stay all day in Ale Wagon,

in tows and cities all around the UK every year

which was by far the best venue for the day, we head across

complete the trio

to raise money for Oxfam. The main event for

the road to the newly opened Manhattan34 to catch Lynsey

and collectively they

Leicester was on Saturday 22nd October in the heart of

Murray, a husky voiced singer who creates some lovely chilled

really make the songs

Leicester in the city’s Cultural Quarter.

out sounds, if I’m honest the set was a bit mis-timed and not

vibrant. Even the

as tight as it could have been but otherwise good.

less upbeat songs

This years Oxjam Leicester Takeover boasted over 150 bands, 25 DJs and15 venues, all for just a tenner!

move well. Tim’s

We then up sticks yet again and hang a right straight into the warm embrace of Midas who are showcasing Anti

voice reminds me a bit of Ryan Adams meets Edward

buying a wristband then walking from venue to venue, band to

War and Uncle Peace (formally Lickin’ Marina) who are

Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros Band subdued by

band within seconds. Almost like a well entertained pub crawl.

brandishing their own unique style of ska sounds to a good

Midlake. I love them, and I think you should give Aunt

They cater for all ages and almost every kind of genre and

sized and receptive crowd.

Martha a chance to win your heart over too.

So what is so brilliant about Oxjam? For me it is the ease of

music lover. 2010’s Leicester Oxjam was the most successful

Deciding we shouldn’t stay for a drink as our notes are

Oxjam event ever, raising over £20,000 for Oxfam. So the

becoming more and more like a Ralph Steadman illusration,

Band Name: Aunt Martha

pressure was on to do better this year. With an expected 2,000

we brave the cold outside in Orton Square for the outdoor

people attending they could easily break the record.

stage where Carol Leeming is belting out some great tunes

Band Members & Instrumentation: Tim Noyes (guitars/vocals), Brian Kim (violin) and Garrett Leahy (drums). (They tour with a bass player but the Tim, Brian & Garrett are the core members.)

We hit Ale Wagon first at around quarter past one, halfway through the set someone who we never managed to catch

in an ice queen white fur coat. Leeming has a lot of stage presence and is a good watch.

the name of (the timings went a bit awry at the start, which

With the cold starting to take it’s toll we pop in on old

is to be expected). Reminiscent of Radiohead in his twangs

friend The Sound House to catch the loudest band of the day

but light hearted, overall a good place for us to start. Washed

First Wave. The crowd is sparse but the ones who can stand

down with a pint of Cider I was now in full flow and some

the sheer volume are loving it. This band have a lot of energy

more Oxjam music.

and, although we can’t understand a word he is signing, is otherwise great!

After the coma inducing speakers we decide it is probably best to head back to Ale Wagon for a drink and a break, but no time because as we get in Elizabeth Cornish, supported

by Jason Smith on bass, is getting ready to start her set.

Genre: Folk Rock... or according to Aunt Martha, “folk rock and roll.”

Where From: We all met in New York City, but we’re all originally from Massachusetts. Now we live up in New Hampshire when we’re not touring.

I Would Recommend This Band If… You like Midlake with more rock, beautifully blended harmonies & believing all the words sung in song that get into your heart.

the Machine, which fits perfectly with the dulcet strings from

Albums: Norway, ME (October 18, 2011), Bloodshot EP (2011) & full length Candymaker (2009) are both available through our website and Itunes.

her guitar and Jason’s bass.

What’s One Album Every Music Lover Should Own?

Elizabeth has a simply amazing voice, akin to Florence and

Before we left we got a chance to grab five minutes with organisers, who told us: “The day was a tremendous success and we’re really pleased with the turnout. We would like to thank all the bands, artists and volunteers who gave up their free time to help us put on the festival and of course the public who came and gave lots of money to charity Oxfam.

We’ve been overwhelmed by positive feedback from the day,

“Great question - At Dawn, My Morning Jacket.”

What Would You Do If You Were Not Playing Music?

We’d be in big, big trouble.

Do You Have Any Plans To Play In The UK? We’d love to - hopefully in 2012.

Skee Ball or Table Tennis? Table Tennis, no question.

and it’s fantastic to know so many people enjoyed it.”

Photos: Mary Ann Varley

Wor d s b y Ta sh Wa lke r d i n e

W W W. T H E M O N O G R A P H . C O . U K

21

W E B RING Y O U T H E B E S T G I G S , E P S A N D A LBU M S I N . . .

THE SOUNDCHECK

R E A D M O R E AT W W W. T H E M O N O G R A P H . C O . U K L i b e r at i o n P a c t - E ver y t hi ng’s a Ghost

E dited b y Ja c k Ri char dson

I

Notes from the desk Well it’s been a

hectic three months

first came across

guitars coming back to the fore with some great backing

Nottingham’s Liberation

vocals that add a sugar-coated edge to proceedings. What

Pact a few months back

really comes to the fore here is how tight these guys really are,

when I was struggling to find

with all instruments complementing each other without the

a line-up for a weekender

sound becoming clumsy or cluttered. It sounds simple but so

I was putting together, so

many bands fall foul on this one.

when I found out they’d

‘Like Kids Let Free’ starts with a fantastically bombastic

in Leicester. With

released an EP I was

rising/falling guitar riff that sets the tone for a cracking,

Junior Fencing Club

obviously up for the chance

anthemic couple of minutes. Although it’s a short song it still

to hear what these guys had put down on record.

releasing a new EP,

Opening track ‘A Stagnant Bore’ kicks in immediately with

Bear Trap releasing a single and I Am In Love getting some national airplay, it’s safe to say things are looking up for the Leicester scene.

Meatpacker, T E Morris, Liberation

room once for the singing to take centre stage. Singer Richard

it fits the music perfectly. Equal parts chugging and chiming

really does have an impressive pair of lungs on him when he

guitars bring to mind Jimmy Eat World at their finest and less

chooses to let rip in an impassioned style, making the vocals a

well-known Scandinavians Sounds Like Violence. I suppose

standout of this record.

the best (and worst) stuff we could

Final song ‘Pro-Chains’ rounds off this EP perfectly

tag rife with naff connotations. It sounds more like the music

coming over all chirpy with more high-pitched vocals alluding

that Deep Elm have produced in recent years than some of the

to a “surgical entity”. This one curiously reminds me of what

bad pop-punk band’s they’re assimilated to.

Jawbreaker were doing on their later songs, especially how the

Next up ‘A Fine Facility’ continues in a similar vein with

Pact and many more! We’ve found

whole album. Some cracking stop/start riffing tails off to leave

high-pitched vocals to the fore, but don’t let it put you off as

you could call it ‘emo’ but that’s to tar it with a far too cheesy

We’ve got reviews of By The Rivers,

crams in more sections than most bands manage over a

guitars come across.

some greatly hollered vocals locked down by the fine rhythm

This is a fine debut record which maintains the quality

section. Some surprisingly tender interludes are interspersed,

throughout, busy without being overtly fussy, clever but never

to chuck in, introducing you both to

giving the tune room to breath by using call and response

smug or up it’s own backside. Liberation Pact are one of the

new bands and old friends...

vocals to great effect before the guitars crash back in,

most impressive bands I’ve heard this year and hopefully

seemingly louder than before.

will go on to bigger and better things over time as they have

Jack

‘Just Social’ opens less frantically then the first two numbers but is no less intense. The bands trademark chiming

immense potential.

Words by Glyn Allen

K asabi a n - Velo cir a p t o r !

H

ow do you

instrumentation is let down by lead singer Tom Meighan’s

of the album, sporting some painfully current Timbaland-

approach

predictably drab vocal melodies - something which becomes

esque synths and production values before the song gets

reviewing

a feature of the majority of the remainder of the album. I’ll try

under way ‘proper’ with the bands signature bass sound.

‘Leicester’s Biggest Band’

not to dwell on it, but when the instrumentation is so esoteric,

It’s loop heavy and doesn’t really go anywhere, but shove

for Leicester’s newest

a lack of vocal imagination is so much more disappointing.

it through an O2 Academy’s PA system and you’ll have a

newspaper? Loved and

I’ve never been a fan of laddishness in any context, least of all

thousand gyrating teenagers at any given identikit indie night

loathed by various quarters

amongst the post-oasis era of tedious indie. Veiled machismo

- which at the end of the day is what will judge the success or

of the music scene, it would

is no substitute for good lyricism, and it shouldn’t be valued as

failure of the record.

be easy to lavish them with

such.

praise for “making it” or admonish them for having “sold out”.

Moving on, ‘La Fee Verte’ is the first track to hand vocal

Despite the promising concepts and inspired production, Velociraptor! is mostly unexceptional. It’s let down for the most

Their success bucks the trend of the modern music industry

duties to Serge, which on previous records was a welcome

part solely by unimaginative vocal melodies and ladish lyrical

when a debut album is often the only success a band will see,

change, but overtly referential lyrics and blatant use of ‘Sgt

faux pas. The temptation to skip through tracks desperately

the fact that they still appear to be gaining traction four albums

Pepper’s’ melodic intervals (probably intended as a loving

trying to find that spark of excitement is almost overwhelming

in to their career is in fact something to be praised.

tribute to their insectoid influences) come across as contrived.

at points. The hay days of their self-titled debut, and even

Kasabian have always been at their best when they’re let loose

progressive follow up ‘Empire,’ which refused to rely on the

Dan The Automator’s production across the record is subtly

as forward thinking, genre straddling innovators rather than

weakest card in their deck in favour of bolshie synths and

brilliant. The instrumentation is imaginative and the spaghetti

settling for regression and this seeming lack of imagination lets

beats, are gone. Kasabian’s success is undeniable, and sure,

western sonics that tie the record together are uniquely

the record down. Serge takes the lead again on ‘Acid Turkish

you can’t remain indie disco staples forever, but this format

involving. It’s carefully put together, almost sparse in places,

Bath’, which starts with promising bluster before reverting to

is tired. It will be bought in it’s thousands, as the band edge

but the strings provided by the London Metropolitan Orchestra

type (although it’s one of the albums highlights) and ‘Neon

towards replacing Oasis as Britain’s ‘lads-du-jour’ in the

add some expansive production values.

Noon’ which returns to the La Fee Verte’s reverence for the

coming years, but by pushing for the middle ground they’ve

North West. You’d be forgiven for imagining that Leicester was

lost some of the spark that justified their existence in the first

a Liverpudlian suburb at times.

place.

So, to ‘Velociraptor!’. Ignoring the songs for a second,

But what of the songs themselves? Opener ‘Let’s Roll Just Like We Used To’ is a vaguely psychedelic Morriconeesque prelude to a gun fight but it’s promisingly stylized

22

Single ‘Switchblade Smiles’ is a cut above the remainder

Words by John Helps

T H E M O N O G R A P H LEICESTER MUSIC NEW S

T E Morri s - Moon E P

Ex po r t s 02 on, give it a listen and you’re bound to agree.

Like Bon Iver, Iron and Wine and

For anyone new to Leicester

William Fitzsimmons before him, T

or to anyone whose head has

Grace Petrie shows off her awe-inspiring song writing

E Morris (Her Name Is Calla) can

been under a rock for a while,

talent by introducing a new track that she finished literally

casually capture your attention with

Robot Needs Home’s Exports01

just before going on stage. We Three And The Death Rattle

just a guitar and the dulcet tones

Compilation was a triumphant

gave a joyously incendiary performance, breaking any

emanating from his vocal chords.

showcase of some of the finest

preconceptions I had of them and hooking me in to endless

talent Leicester has to offer. After

splendour.

Opener Dream romantically rouses

As we reach the end, it’s always good to forget that

emotions of desire with an ‘all’s well that end’s well’ mentality

a warm reception, the eagerly anticipated Exports02 has

that, rather like a dream, seems somewhat perfect and

been released, this time containing live recordings from the

bands such as Herra Hidro have been around for as long

angelic. Trust is more spacious and desperate with opening

Leicester Fringe festival.

as they have because they continue to sound fresh and

line “And home is were the heart is / when will you come back”

Brimming with cathartic energy, we are firstly introduced

contemporary. Fly Home Buddy is outstanding and even

perfectly setting the emotional battle of the song. Moon’s

to some of the new additions to the label’s roster; Junior

when everything seems to fall apart it would be hard to

drawn-out phrasing and falsetto voice is reminiscent of Jeff

Fencing Club and Speaking in Italics. Both help to rile up the

recognize it through such a strong song. Codex Leicester are

Buckley’s Corpus Christi Carol whilst Sunflower, originally by

crowd, giving a glimpse at what the two bands are capable of.

the proverbial mallet of the Leicester scene; smashing out riffs

the Minnesotan band Low, combines a more raw playing style,

The album also includes the sensational &U&I, Buenos Aires,

in a dominant fashion and making you want to be screaming

gently bordering on overdriving, with beautifully harmonized

These Furrows and Hymns, who all hinted at new material

every last word and humming every last guitar note for days.

vocals that rounds the EP off with a quiet but fittingly angelic

during their live sets at the festival which, if we are to believe

sense of lugubriousness.

what we hear, will be something spectacular. I literally cannot

THE THIRD ONE ALREADY.

Words by Jack Richardson

describe how excited I am, which might be childish but come

Words by Joe Phipps

T h e Wi des t Smilin g Fa c e s - R i t u al s Brooklyn based The Widest Smiling Faces combine ambient

I have only one thing to say... HURRY UP AND RELEASE

Flip Like Wilso n - D e m o

contaminating, or worse, breaking it.

Dear Monograph reader, I have a

There is, as with most music, a moment where this is

dark, dirty secret to impart upon

post-rock and Shoegaze with folk

desirable. During cold, lonely night’s where emotions begin

sensibilities to create gentle, lulling

to take hold and a sense of glorious despair sets in this

soundscapes out of a guitar, reverb

album provides the perfect setting to revel in the melancholy.

a weak spot for that much-maligned of genres: pop-punk. The

box and singer/writer Aviv Cohn’s

Perhaps then a common understanding would allow the

appallingly named Flip Like Wilson definitely seem to share

vocal chords. It is a contained

defences to lift, showing the albums emotional side, or

this dubious pleasure with me, as seen on their excellently

album, sealed shut on the first listen. The songs vary from

perhaps, as I found, even then this album would remain

recorded ‘tight-as-a-gnat’s-chuff’ demo. The opening few

1:30 to 4 minutes though they often seem to slip by quicker

sealed tight.

seconds of ‘Lily’ gave me flashbacks to young tykes in big

because of the delicate, consistent volume of the record. It

This shouldn’t put off listeners looking for an album to get

you. Despite pretending to only listen to brutal hard/grindcore I have

shorts synchro-pogoing onstage at one of those Drive Thru

is an album you have to sit down intentionally to listen to as

lost in but a certain approach is necessary to gain anything

Records package tours that I never went to, honest. It’s a big

casual listening allows it to slip through your grasp, leaving no

worth taking away.

anthemic New Found Glory style tune yearning for a lost love,

less of a mark.

As appealing as the premise & subtle complexity is I was

which mostly seems to be a big chorus over and over; it’s as

When given attention the songs begin to open up, if only

unable to look beyond the album’s steely, cold exoskeleton.

cheesy as fuck but hits the spot without ever tickling the hairy

slightly. As you start to listen more deeply the lyrics become

This is not to say it is a write-off but this is a hard truth about

balls of originality one iota.

slightly more discernable, allowing a glint of emotion to

this albums withheld stance. If only slightly more accessible,

show through the bleak, mellow casing. It can be a difficult

this album could indeed be more appreciated but as current

but, if I’m being honest, they add nothing new to the already

listen, a welcome challenge to some, but I began to feel like

its inaccessibility is its greatest downfall.

overcrowded pop-punk scene.

I should be handling the entire record with gloves to avoid

Words by Jack Richardson

Words by Glyn Allen

Mar t ha Be a n - St a t e o f th e Ar t

P al adi n - D e m o

Flip Like Wilson definitely show promise with these songs

Many bands can trace their

play, but as character classes go these are four talented young

‘State of the Art’ is, and will

inception back to their Dad’s

musicians.

continue to be, a local classic, in

garage. Leicester four-piece Paladin

my eyes and hopefully the rest

go one better, with conjoined twin

resonant voice, rivalling the Reverend Jon McClure for his

of the city and beyond. This rare

garden sheds and the site of Paladin

huskiness and depth. “This will be the end, just a last chance

jamming studios and the band’s

saloon” he croons on the infectious ‘Exit’.

gem which was recorded in my old stomping ground of Lutterworth, is tender and haunting and there is something quite unique about this Leicester songstress.

With the amount of female guitar singer/songwriters on

birthplace back in 2010.

Armed with a fleet of their self-styled ‘big beat’ songs,

Estranged vocalist James ‘Baresi’ Shaw has a wonderfully

Scintillating overdrive is a feature of the Paladin powerdins Show Me The World, Drowning and Walk Away. All are

it’s not hard to see why Paladin’s premier gained airtime on

adventurous in their own right, backed by Foxon’s invigorating

regional radio stations. Their debut 11-song demo is hotter

chainsaw solos. Hit The Road meanwhile is a classic Foo-

the scene at the moment, I must admit that I approached this

property than a burning building and surely posits them

Nickelback-influenced concoction.

EP with a certain sense of I already knew what to expect,

knocking on new doors of record labels.

but as soon as title track ‘State of the Art’ hits those first few romantically saddened strings, I was aware I was wrong.

This who EP is really enigmatic and sobering, Martha’s

So, what does Paladin mean? “I heard it somewhere, it’s

In Paladin’s guitar rock I also hear Feeder rhythms, sparks of Ash and even echoes of The Coral on the Ballad of Boris -

a cool word and it stuck”, Foo Fighter-inspired guitarist Joe

which sees cocksure drummer Craig Shaw explore his lyrical

Foxon tells me at Paladin HQ, his house. And why not? A

abilities with intriguing results.

voice seems to hark of something vintage, whilst still being

similar philosophy worked for fellow Leicester band Kasabian

Another Wiki excerpt says that ‘according to a literary

fresh as ever.

who in a striking parallel attended the same high school, now

circle known as the Matter of France, Paladins were King

look at them.

Charlemagne’s foremost warriors’. Despite an Italian-style

If I was to guess at influences and what Martha grew up on I would say film, theatre and musicals. I may well be wrong

Determined to source the word’s origins I delve deeper

falling out with Don ‘Baresi’, Paladin can consider themselves

and she may have spent her formative years listening to Oasis

with a quick flick on Wikipedia disambiguation. Apparently a

and dying her hair like the rest of us, but if this EP is anything

Paladin is a character class in certain role-playing games such

to go by, I doubt it.

as Dungeons and Dragons. The Leicester quartet have yet to

boys are heading somewhere. Are you going to follow?

Words by Jon Dodd

produce a video so one cannot comment with regards to role-

Words by James Kendrick

W W W. T H E M O N O G R A P H . C O . U K

the Matter of Leicester with this impressive debut.

Exit, Hit The Road and Walk Away suggest that the Cosby

23

W W LT !

Dream o f Sleeping - M a y All M y De lu si on s Co me True

T

Not to be confused with WU LYF, WWLT is our run

down of what some of the staff here at Monograph Towers are listening to at the moment, when we’re not in full work mode listening to some great Leicester talent. So when not give this cheeky little section a read, and you never know, you might

here is something

album. Piano twinkles , subside momentarily for Neil’s calming

special about having

voice, it’s pace slowly builds and gathers before your heart

a physical copy of an

drops. Pause. ‘…You look like you’d break if I held you, too

album in your hands, giving

soon’ You are elated with hope, like the dream where you are

an insight into the artist in a

stuck and helpless and no matter how much u try and move

perfectly packaged case. The

your feet… you give up.

cover, a blanket of thick blue

rediscover some magic.

A Change is Gonna Come - Otis Redding “Originally written by Sam Cooke, this

tinted snow covering trees

Neil’s calming voice, beautifully written lyrics and the impactful,

and bandstand, is magically

uplifting nature of tracks. I can’t put this album down. This is

photographed by the artist, Neil Cartmell himself.

The 10 track ‘May All My Delusions Come True’ has a

song exemplifies the sixties civil rights

handmade quality in the way it sounds aswell, there are small

movement. Listening to Otis Redding’s cover you have one of the most soulful and evocative R&B singers of the time Raegan Oates, Features Writer

Metronomy - The English Riviera

and motivating tones and some bloody powerful thoughts.

This album has enough power alone to get you through any break up. Isn’t that what you want from an album? A

allows every one of us to connect with it.

soundtrack that makes you FEEL something even though you feel numb? It tugs at the heart strings! You should buy

late Leicester band Orko, Charlie & the Martyrs drummer Dan

‘Dream of Sleeping’ whether you are loving life or simply just

Bent was also a member. I loved this track 10 years ago, but

plodding along. But get the hard copy because I fucking love

Neil has nailed it’s perfection to reminisce to.

this album.

‘December Something’ is another favourite from the

“It’s the being at the beach...but

a suspense filled, rollercoaster of well timed pauses, soothing

glimpses of background creaks and noises , this honesty ‘The Longest Day’ is a track evolved from Neil Cartmell’s

singing with emotive, raw and unpolished power.”

The album has an incredible balance of guitar twangs,

Words by Tash Walkerdine

listening to it from a distance! It’s

Meat pac k er & Mang le - S p li t 7”

catchy, chirpy, ‘lovey dovey’, jumpy, dreamy, electronicy, Pop-y, synthy, a

Underlined also brings a nice dubstep inspired sound.

A

Meatpacker, and two longer nuggets from hardcore trio

differently these days…”

If it doesn’t shower you in summery goodness you

Mangle.

After such intensity its bleak

near infinite amount of words ending in -y (yes I might have made some of those words up).

Corinne & The Look are particularly awesome. Love

should check your speakers.”

split 7” between two of Leicester’s noisiest,

sample that opens the record

released on Samizdat Records, consists of

wraps things up. “Of course,

six bite-size slices of one-man grind machine

they slaughter steers a lot

Cutting to the chase, Meatpacker’s contribution begins

Jack Richardson, Reviews Editor

Arcade Fire- Wake Up

subject matter is almost

with a monologue discussing slaughter over ridiculously

hilarious, but there is a point

fuzzed out guitars, before slamming headlong in to opener

being made here.

‘Red Mist’. As the longest track on the record, reaching

Leicester is renowned for

“Listened to a lot of stuff while on the

just 1:40, it sports some punishingly loud production and

it’s grind and hardcore scene, and this relative newcomer

road in America but what sticks in

erratic drums which overwhelm desperate vocals. The

is yet another string to an already impressive bow. Mangle

my mind is driving down through the

beat down in ‘We Eat Our Own’ provides some welcome

obey more comprehensible and familiar song structures,

great mountain range into Death Valley

open space, and ‘Your Fault’ is as much a slab of glorious

demolishing their side of the vinyl with five and half minutes

with ‘Wake Up’ by Arcade Fire, a truly

scream-along chorus as you’re likely to get within the

split over two tracks. ‘Iboga Dosage’ is purposefully sludgy

stunning song to soundtrack our first glimpse into the

genre. ‘Our Glorious Self Destruction’ is built entirely of

hardcore akin to fellow Leicesterites Diet Pills, with bursts

valley of death!”

sludgy, held chords and is something of a brief respite

of blast beats to break up the raw punishment being dished

Jon Dodd, Editor-in-Chief

from the unstoppable momentum of the proceeding four

out, whilst ‘Purpose’ is it’s exact inverse, intense and

minutes, before ‘Graves of Lust’ - the last 54 seconds of

slightly terrifying, but at the same time life affirming. Having

Meatpackers contribution, is where impressive becomes

existed for just over a year, they’re already displaying a

genuinely brilliant, blast beats and technically astonishing

mature and solid contribution to a thriving scene.

guitars beat you about the face before the remains of the

Words by John Helps

Go Primitive - We Are One Single ‘We Are One’ comes ahead of Go Primitive’s debut full-length The Red Flag Rides Tonight, a concept album based on their guitarist Adam’s latest novel. This is Iron Maiden-esque power metal with a modern rock edge, inevitably calling to mind Coheed and Cambria.

A choppy power-chord riff and some in-the-pocket

B y t he R iv ers Liv e @ Th e Don ke y

S

hifting ever forward

the night that prepared well from the reggae five-piece Too

in their bright career,

Spicy.

By The Rivers’

Too Spicy, influence more by ska than By The Rivers,

new single ‘One Word’,

give a rollicking Madness-inspired romp that quickly

released just before their

heightens the pulses of the audience, whilst Rhett Barrow’s

drum’s keep the action straight-faced and accessible,

country-wide tour with The

dulcet grunge calms them down again.

while occasional tough-guy gang vocals bravely duel with

Specials, takes their neo-

vocalist Jay Merry’s falsetto whines on the high notes.

reggae styling a step closer

the stage, enthusiastically surging through crowd-pleasers

to the bright lights of the

like ‘Vultures’, ‘Take Control’ and ‘This Love’ and they have

We Are One is a lyrical call to arms against some kind of imagined enemy.

And so, Go Primitive are out to make their shade of

By The Rivers bring their memorable personalities to

mainstream. With a packed out local release show at The

no issues in seizing the crowd’s attention. Their general

Donkey, full of family, friends and general well-wishers, By

love for music shines through in everything they do, a pure

Prog-Metal, uncool by its very nature, into something

The Rivers, accompanied by Rhett Barrow and Too Spicy,

desire to create and perform music that, unfortunately, is

more considered, evolved even. They almost pull that off

give a storming night of joyful music and celebration.

pretty vacant in todays budding pop stars. The Donkey

here, but perhaps Go Primitive might benefit from going

Rhett Barrow, brother of BTR’s front man Nile, opens

is practically jumping by the end of a set that makes you

more primitive with future releases by surrendering a bit

with his unique acoustic-grunge mix lying somewhere

to their genre’s winning capacity for ridiculousness and

between Alice In Chains, Nirvana and Black Sabbath. It’s

pretentiousness.

stripped down and raw sound is much removed from the

they are doing.

Words by Patrick Daniel

brassy blasts of By The Rivers but provided a calm start to

Words by Jack Richardson

24

yearn for more.

Clearly By The Rivers’ know who they are and what

T H E M O N O G R A P H LEICESTER MUSIC NEW S

Annie Dressner - Strangers Who Knew Each Others Name

Bear Trap - Chalk Outline Having finally crossed the

& squeals, whilst rhythm guitarist & Bassist, Kyle and Joe,

I love Annie and I think she knows

‘demo tape’ hurdle, Bear

provide the solid foundations to keep everything together

it. This album reminds me of the

Trap have kindly given The

beneath Jamie’s cathartic vocals.

500 Days of Summer soundtrack

Monograph a sneak-peek at

and I want it to be the soundtrack

their forthcoming EP. Chalk

influences, citing Deftones and And So I Watch You From Afar

to my life! Annie’s voice is quite en-

Outline, the first release from

as two of many. There are also tinges of Reuben, At The Drive

Bear Trap have always been vocal about their many

trancing and I find it difficult to turn

the record, brings together everything a fan of Post-Hardcore

In and Circa Survive that come out of their music, amongst

off. My fave track is the Strangers

yearns for: cathartic screams, overzealous distortion &

literally hundreds of both well-known and underground bands

who knew each others name. It makes me smile and that,

overblown riffs, together with a generous dollop of electrical

that have infested their brains from a young age.

quite frankly, is all you need sometimes. And it’s true when we

effects. At it’s most melodic it hawks back to Watch Out! era

were kids we didn’t have the same fears as we do now and

Alexisonfire, at it’s most crushing it bottles you around the

many seminal bands to take influence from that they have

sometimes I want to Fly too… listen to it, you’ll know what I

face like near-enough any Gallows’ track would.

moulded into their own style, but they have also made a

Coming past the jittery introduction of the song,

mean.

It’s safe to say they picked their influences well, choosing

conscious effort not to follow in the paths of those before

everyone’s friend the Blast Beat makes a comforting return

them, drawing them away from many sound-alike bands in

which now sits pride of place in my iTunes.

before drummer, James falling back into a less aggressive

the genre.

Words by Erica Harris

groove. Lead guitarist Rich brings a host of memorable licks

Words by Jack Richardson

We’re Not Wor thy - Hit the Ground Running

I Am In love - Call Me An Animal

Nor thern Kind - 53 o Nor th

Overall a truly impressive and well thought out album,

Being handed a limited edition album is always nice, especially

As my CD player closes and I see

I Am In Love have had a busy year,

when its a special re-release of the

the disc begin to spin I don’t think

and now they’re treating us to even

debut album ‘53o North’ from one

I’m fully prepared for what was

more with their new EP, Call Me An

half of electro twosome Northern

about to happen to me when the

Animal. Although I haven’t had the

Kind.

first sounds of ‘Hit The Ground

chance to experience the band in

Released on US label Different

much detail, I have always been aware of their presence and

Drum as part of their VIP Series, 53o North is a different kind

to captivate my ear. Quietly and secretly, We’re Not Worthy

have heard so many great things about them, and that’s not

of music and refreshing to hear amongst the swarm of ten-

have worked and worked, creating some joyfully boisterous

about to change.

a-penny bands that occupy the globe. Don’t get me wrong, I

Running’ break through and begin

moments for this EP.

As soon as those moody synth sounds hit you, you can’t

‘An Introduction’ kicks your teeth in and, after a few

do love a good ol’ rollocking rock record as much as the next

help but become interested, especially as they introduce

man, but I also have a special octagonal shaped space in my

listens, makes you want to scream every last gang vocal with

more and more inspiring sounds throughout the track. With a

heart for proper electro, and at the centre of that geometric

them, whilst the likes of ‘New Lap Record’ and ‘Make Mine

display of talent that you can’t ignore, I Am In Love definitely

digital universe now sits Northern Kind.

A Double’ make you want to grab your best friend drunkenly

make it look easy. From beginning to end they have achieved

in the middle of a gig and have as much fun as possible. In

that perfect balance between the calm and the intense, which

and Sarah Heeley, have been on the circuit longer than most

essence this EP does exactly what it set out to do, leave a

isn’t always easy.

and it is evident in their impressive track list on this album.

beaming smile on your face. Every last scream and every last

The Leicester/Sheffield duo, comprising of Matt Culpin

Parts of the song have all those great qualities you’d find

Stand out track has to be ‘You Belong’ which harks back to

chunk of guitar is used to its full potential in order to make

in our Bloc Party/Klaxons favourites, but they have definitely

the 90s and brings back memories of going to indie electro

sure every base is covered.

brought something else to the table with this EP. If nothing

club nights when I was a nipper, with smooth vocals from

From start to finish Worthy set out to bring you in closer

else, it will make you feel like you’re being pulled out of your

Heeley and popping synth beeps from Culpin.

to them, as if introducing you to their mates at their party. Like

chair and being made to dance at a party, which is always a

an old friend, it is an EP that will stay strong and stick by you

good thing.

,so what are you waiting for “wake up and hear the sound.”

Other noteworthy tunes on this release are Dagger, which sounds like an unused soundtrack from Tron (the good one,

IAIL are set to perform on November 25th at Firebug, try

not the remake), and Loser, which although a reference may

Photo courtesy of Ben Deadman.

not to miss it!

be drawn to 2Unlimited, is fun and a classic.

Words by Joe Phipps

Words by Emily Parish

Words by Jon Dodd

D a mbu st e r s - Sla t er S treet Ses s io n s E P

Rhe t t B arr o w - D e dbe at Me lo d ie s Musical juices must run through

grunge. Dedbeat Melodies hails back to the 90’s scene that

Fans of raw, unadulterated pop-

the genes of the Leicester-based

it idolises, resembling the likes of Nirvana and Mudhoney

punk, listen up! You are about to be

Barrow family. Whilst Nile Bar-

amongst other Sub-Pop figureheads. Husky, pining vocals

let into a little musical secret known

row, lead guitarist & singer of By

resonate with his rousing acoustic guitar, creating slow,

as The Dambusters.

The Rivers is off gigging around

jamming vibes that lean towards the current love for lo-fi,

the country with The Specials

something that goes hand in hand with the gritty produc-

(remember them?), father Jon

tion of grunge. Spread across 13 tracks, appealing to all

The Leicester three-piece have been on the circuit now and always kept to their roots and musical

Barrow has played on over 60 releases & toured with the

moods & written with simplicity and meaning in mind there

mecca of playing local venues such

likes of Fun Boy Three & Iggy Pop and is currently record-

is nothing dull or monotonous about this record. There are

ing with Uncle Frank and his older brother, Rhett, has been

just softly uplifting songs that, in a way some peculiar way,

busy piecing together his newest EP Dedbeat Melo-

subtly compel you to cathartically trash a guitar before

little work I think its undeniable that these purveyors of punk

dies. With By The Rivers taking the well-known reggae/

gently caressing it back to full working order again.

are honing their skills and getting better by the day.

ska route, Rhett has instead developed a taste for junky

Words by Holly Benfield

as The Shed and The Musician.

Although the production values on this EP could do with a

My only regret now is that I haven’t seen these guys live, but rest assured Dambusters, next gig I will be at the front with my hand in the air doing that sort of index/little finger thing, or whatever it is the punky little urchins of Leicester do nowadays.

Want to get your music reviewed in Leicester’s biggest music newspaper? Simply email submit@themonograph.co.uk with a link to your music or MP3 files and, although ever ything we recieve can’t be reviewed, we promise to listen to ever ything that comes through.

Words by Jon Dodd

W W W. T H E M O N O G R A P H . C O . U K

25

t o o H p a r T

WE GO OUT AND ABOUT TO ASK YOU LOT YOUR OPINIONS OF SOME OF LEICESTER’S H O T T O P I C S ...

WHAT ’ S Y O U R BEST EVE R G I G ?

“Re ver end an d the Ma ker s at Lei ces ter Un i. Jon Mc Clu re pla yed in the stre et aft erw ard s. Lad !”

Tom , Le ice ste r

“R .E. M at Ma nc he ste r Cr ick et Gr ou nd is my fav e, su pp or ted by Idl ew ild an d Fe ed er. Le ice ste r wi se I’d sa y Mi dla ke at Th e Mu sic ian .”

D an , Br ou gh to n A st ley

“B es t gig wa s the fir st tim e I sa w the Re d Ho t Ch ili Pe pp ers . I’v e jus t ne ve r fel t so in aw e be for e wh ich wa s am az ing . Be st in Le ice ste r wa s Ka sa bia n at De Mo nt an d it wa s als o my bir thd ay so bo nu s!”

M ar k, Lu tt er wo rt h

“Ea sily Arc tic Mo nke ys hea dlin ing V Fes tiva l. Afte r wa ntin g to see the m for yea rs, the ir am azi ng set inc lud ing new stuf f and gol den old ies like Bria nsto rm and live d up to eve ry exp ect atio n!”

St eph , Le ice ste r

“Best gig was Adele at HMV in Birmingham. I’ve never been to a gig where I have laughed at jokes and cried, when she cried and walked off the stage during ‘Make You Feel My Love’ and then danced. Truly memorable!”

Kat y, Hin ckle y

“Be st gig eve r has to hav e bee n seei ng Figh tsta r play an aco usti c set at the Pict ured rom e in Nor tham pton . The y’re my num ber one ban d any way, and to witn ess them play aco usti call y was the bes t thin g eve r!”

Ad am, UX Cor ner

r m in g ha m in d o o “C o ld p la y a t B ir o f th a t b ei ng a re na . H ig hl ig ht o f ‘G re en Ey es ’ a co us ti c ve rs io n th e cr o w d ve ry th a t th ey d id in at er th a t o r A d el e ne a r to m e. Ei th !” ju st AW ES O M E! D eM o nt fo rt H a ll, te r A d a m , L e ic e s

“Ne il You ng runn ing thro ugh his Gla ston bur y set in Not ting ham a yea r or two ago , pull ing the strin gs clea n off his guit ar with his bar e han ds to end the nigh t.”

Ch ris, Not ting ham

26

“I we nt to se e InM e at Th e Ch ar lot te, tha t wa s am az ing .

I als o sa w Ch as e an d Sta tus at the 02 Ac ad em y, the y we re aw es om e too .”

Ha nn ah , Lu tt er wo rt h

T H E M O N O G R A P H LEICESTER MUSIC NEW S

“Wen t to V sa w Th e Fo o Fig hte rs wh o ro ck ed thi s wo rld ! Th e ba nd ma de a rea l eff or t to pu t on su ch a fan tas tic an d liv ely sh ow .

On e wo rd BR ILL IA NT !”

James, Market Harboro ugh

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