Check out our previous live reviews below (listed alphabetically by band name)

We Are The Ocean, The Urgency, Deaf Havana
22nd January 2009
Academy 2, Sheffield
By Leo Kindred

The first thing that it’s impossible not to be struck by is the crowd. Young, energetic and extremely... fringey. Then again, of course, what would one expect from a roster of bands that are broadly classified as melodic emotional hardcore.

First band Deaf Havana evoke moderate enthusiasm but their set passes without particular noteworthiness. Although quite clearly possessing ability they do nothing to mark themselves as unique quite simply because they aren’t, and whilst they do enough to warrant applause they will not be the band that people go away talking about tonight.

Americans the Urgency have a bit more of the inventiveness that DH were lacking with an ultra melodic set that casts aside the ‘core’ aspects of tonight’s performances. A handful of dedicated fans make themselves known and swoon over Tyler Gurwicz’s sugary vocals, and come the rendition of ‘Fingertips’ there isn’t anyone who can argue with the enjoyability of the song, apart from a small group of lads who seem annoyed they can’t mosh yet.

As the screams of teenage girls subsides and a couple of said teenagers attempt to deliver a card to some of the band members (encased in an envelope covered in hearts …eww) moshing is certainly what we get. We Are the Ocean power their way through some older favourites from their self-titled EP, Opening with the storming ‘Don’t Be Careless’ they move from strength to strength and delight the crowd with tunes like ‘I’ve Never Felt This Damn Good’, who positively lap it up. The sight of so many teen-something’s pummelling into each other is reminiscent of a school battle of the bands when the band that played rock covers came on and all the pent up frustration and angst was released, much like tonight, with a big smile and a lot of sweat.

A new song from their forthcoming album puts any doubt in the band’s ability to vary to rest, as it features an impressive vocal intro from Liam Cromby (guitar/vocals), his clean vocals providing excellent counterpoint throughout the set to the screamo vocals being orchestrated by Dan Brown (not that Dan Brown), who hangs over the barrier and insights the crowd to go even more nuts. During ‘Save Me! Said the Saviour’ it becomes clear that this is causing a few worries for the venue personnel, and the mic’s are cut out of apparent fear of the negative effects of too many emo kids going postal on each other. Predictably this does nothing to calm things. As the wreckage clears following a pitched fringe battle for the finale of ‘Nothing Good Has Happened Yet’ a look round and reveals a pair of shoes that have landed nearby from out of the mêlée somewhere. The owner wanders up and recovers them and we exchange looks, promptly followed by smiles, and closer still by laughter. When all the shoes, dust and fashionable haircuts have settled then, it is impossible not to view tonight as a triumph for We Are The Ocean. One can’t help but feel their snowball is going to continue picking up speed.

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The Futureheads with Johnny Foreigner
20th December 2008
The Duchess, York
By Rachel12
Live photos from this gig online now!

It was only three years ago, but doesn't 'Hounds of Love' feel like a decade past? It was an undeniable monster of a single, retaining the poignancy of Kate Bush's original whilst injecting it with an energy and vibrancy that cemented the Sunderland four-piece as everyone's new favourite indie outfit. It seemed ridiculous then to hear that the band had been dropped by their label the year after that perfection of a single was released. Another victim of the fickle industry, it might be said. Sounds may make sales, but sales do not make bands. Then in May of 2008 came third album 'This Is Not The World', released on their own label, done their own way. And The Futureheads were most certainly back in action.

Tonight then was to be proof of whether our familiar friends were trying to cling onto their credibility after such a disheartening blow as the label-break seemed, or if it had been exactly what the band needed to find themselves again.

First though, some music from Johnny Foreigner - very much the quintessential British indie-pop-rock three piece, with their poster-friendly faces, youthful charm and quirky, catchy song writing. Live, it's sparkly and punky, danceable and singalong-friendly, with some faintly reckless guitar playing and drum thrashing that makes for a band who seem to have a lot of fun playing live. Innovative and creative? Perhaps not. But cute nonetheless.

And kudos to Johnny Foreigner for touring with such a highly anticipated band - literally, the atmosphere in the room before the headline act was like that of a surprise party gathering, everyone quietly musing and excitedly whispering in anticipation of our old friends. After much cheering for these four very friendly and familiar faces, the band shot into a punky and enthusiastic performance featuring a quite impeccable set list. For three albums worth of material, they really do have a lot of strong material to perform, and the opening chords of every song seemed to be met with an excited gasp from the crowd before they all began bouncing on their tip-toes again.

As much as people like to shove The Futureheads under the extremely obscure banner of 'indie', they really are something quite unique for mainstream and widely appealing contemporary music. Their influences from bands that were around when their fans were still twinkles in their parents' eyes really does infuse the music with something that little bit quirky and original, never directly sounding New Wave or Post-Punk but distinctively influenced by it nonetheless. And it seems to fuel the electricity and magnetism that runs through each member of the band and makes them completely engaged and delighted to be performing on stage.

It's a joy to have The Futureheads back, an absolute unashamed pleasure. Prepare for the rise and rise of: the boys are back.

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Apocalyptica with Swallow The Sun
11th December 2008
The Plug, Sheffield
By Leo Kindred

The only other band tonight, Finland's Swallow The Sun, get going with some powerful brooding doom metal. Whilst definitely not everyone's cup of dark dark coffee, especially on a bill with such a comparatively accessible act, the gloom of their performance is impressive if slightly offset by the blaring strobe light. In fact the only thing, other than the obnoxious seizure lighting (which thankfully subsides after a time) to cast a glare on the shade of their smile-free performance is the rather stale lack of diversity. By the end of the set though they manage to banish these patches of light on their darkness and finish (no pun intended) with their solid doom reputation intact.

A band that play cello metal are going, as with all bonkers propositions, to attract some attention. It's been 10 years since Apocalyptica first formed as a group playing Metallica covers on cello, but now, with a host of their own songs and a reputation built on by impressive live performances, famous collaborations and press coverage, they've become a world class act.

Welcomed by a fittingly raucous reception, Apocalyptica roll on and tear straight in with Sepultura's 'Refuse Resist', and begin to work through a set with all the show boating and jaw dropping instrumental ability that I've come to expect. Indeed, as the gig wears on I find that my expectations are so high that it's difficult to review them fairly. As a long term fan who's well versed with their live show, tonight turns into something of a personal disappointment. The material from the outstanding 'Cult' and 'Reflections' albums is mostly ignored, and there is no sign of old favourite 'Path', or their beautiful rendition of 'Nothing Else Matters'. Fan-boy bitterness aside though, there is no denying that they are a staggering spectacle to behold. 'Life Burns', 'Last Hope' and 'Grace' are quite frankly wonderful experiences to see performed, and the covers of 'Fight Fire With Fire', 'One' and 'Enter Sandman' provide all the nostalgic fun a metal-head could ever need.

On top of this the group are quite clearly adept showmen as well as musicians. Between the dashing around the stage and frenetic helicopter headbanging the humorous banter flows. In one exchange, drummer Mikko and live session cellist Antero trade missiles to everyone's enjoyment. Cellist Paavo seems to have decided on trying to sleep with the entire first row, and judging by his away-with-the-fairies chattering at the crowd, Perttu has apparently dropped something more than just cello licks this evening. In other words, the entertainment some how keeps pace with the competence of the blistering instrumental performance, making Apocalyptica one of the finest and most intriguing live bands you'll ever see.

A mosh pit, which at an Apocalyptica gig I shall propose should be termed as an “orchestra pit”, erupts for ‘Seek and Destroy', and the grand finale of Grieg's ‘In the Hall of the Mountain King', leaves, despite my own personal gripes, Apocalyptica triumphant with an iron-clad (or more accurately wooden-clad) performance. Everyone tonight goes away smiling and with Grieg's classic, which shall probably forever be known as "that tune off the advert for Alton Towers", humming from their lips and echoing in their heads. Amazing stuff.

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Isis with Torche
7th December 2008
Sheffield Corporation
By Leo Kindred

Torche's slot here as double-headliner with Isis is no surprise, having been playing the same slot to Isis' fellow post-metal giants Pelican on their last tour here a few months ago. Torche begin slightly dubiously but after about ten minutes they hit their stride and deliver some big fuzzy stoner metal, all whilst wearing a big, slightly less fuzzy, grin and cowboy hat. Soon it descends into being thoroughly monolithic as Rick Smith strips down to his pants, casts his (drum) stool aside and during the ultra-doomy outro attacks his drums with 4 drum sticks. A good start to the night and Torche leave with our accolades ringing in their ears and our ears, well, just ringing.

As a relative newcomer to Isis's work it means my presence tonight is part curiosity, however I know how post-metal 'works' and that it can be perfectly enjoyable with no prior knowledge. As Isis begin it starts to become clear that it's hard to review their sound as enjoyment is gauged on more whether you're in the right mood for the music, rather than merely being about who did what an which track they played. From my own personal perspective I start off feeling more like a spectator but after 20 minutes I let my eyes close and begin to allow my neck and head flow to the powerful if slightly sad sound, generating a sense of well being mingled with sorrow.

The sound is uplifting and brings a sort of introspective, meditation bound mood which flows from being stimulating to just plain marvellous. Isis give little interaction or acknowledgement to the crowd but the performance is far from dull, indeed it is captivating, and come the encore and the finish we leave feeling slightly dazed as we shake off the wonderful cobwebs of an entrancingly good set and try to remember how to communicate with other people.

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Hexes
25th November 2008
Astoria 2 (Mean Fiddler), London
By Rachel12

After a riotous summer on the festival circuit, Brighton hardcore outfit Hexes have now settled into recording what will be their debut release, and are already hot on the ones-to-watch list based purely on the band's live energy and much deserved reputation as a raucous and original band.

Tonight though they featured as a much welcomed second support for Finch's London show, with the small capacity venue promising an intimate performance influenced and intensified by those past few months of writing and recording.

Opening with 'Semaphore Kids', the sample broke into Hexes' characteristic combination of furious electric guitar riffs and screamed vocals, able to hook the listener with a piercing grip from the outset and drag them along for the rest of the show.

There seemed to be a slight hindrance to the performance though, which the unenthusiastic crowd did nothing to help, and on occasion the rhythm wasn't as tight as the band usually achieve. But considering their illness - which has seen problems previously on this Finch tour - the issues with tonight are certainly more due to ill-health than to any lack of ability from the band.

Nevertheless, this was a half-hour of music in action - none of your superficial visuals, just flat-out brutality and passion. And that, ultimately, is why Hexes are on the scene and here to stay.

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Anberlin
24th November 2008
The Duchess, York
By Alan Brown

American christian rock band Anberlin came to York for the first time ever on Monday night and received a welcome surprise at The Duchess.

Anberlin seemed taken aback by the amount of fans that showed and the fact that many knew every single lyric. In the words of lead singer Stephen Christian ‘We expected like ten or twenty people to turn up…' and even if that is a deliberate understatement of how many expected to show, it illustrates how much it meant to Anberlin to be playing in front of such a hyped up crowd. The band seemed to feed off the electric energy round the venue and delighted the crowd with tracks from their new album ‘New Surrender' such as ‘Day Late' and ‘The Feel Good Drag' with their high energy jump up and down brand of rock, including hard hitting guitar lines and sing along choruses. Half way through the set, they slowed things down a little and played some of their acoustic stuff which was my personal favourite, and like everything else that night, proved extremely popular with the crowd.

They played a lot of tracks from their ‘Cities' album and as the crowds adoration brought Anberlin back for several encores, they ran out of songs and decided to play a track from their popular debut album Blueprints for the Black Market. Eventually, as the encores took them over curfew, Anberlin left the stage at The Duchess with the crowd still crying for more but with their ability to lull you with harmonies in one song and practically deafen you in the next, Anberlin left a marked impression on York.

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Genghis Tron with Behold... the Arctopus and Errander
23rd November 2008
Sheffield Corporation
By Leo Kindred

The order of the night is metal with an unusual or inventive flare to it, an axiom that locals Errander seem at odds with. Providing, as they do, nothing of interest and we go grab a pint and chat elsewhere. Behold…the Arctopus begin with some insane shred instrumentalism, which is slightly hampered when guitarist Mike Lerner, coping with a mere 6 strings compared to his band mate Colin Martson's crazy hybrid guitar which sports 12, breaks one and this leads to a 5 minute drum solo complete with some annoying feedback whilst the maintenance is carried out. An enjoyable performance of the track ‘Canada' provides a high before it all gets a little too sludgy, and no matter how talented they obviously are we go away a little disappointed from their set.

Genghis Tron provide exactly what the doctor ordered, with an impressive neon light show and equal clarity in their electro grind sound made all the more apparent following the muddiness of Behold…'s set. With six halogen multi-coloured fluorescent tubes at the rear of the stage perfectly choreographed to the programmed beats it gives an overall experience of a riot in a computer game arcade. So well delivered is the overall show that it's difficult not to be impressed with the group's performance of tracks like ‘City On A Hill', ‘Things Don't Look Good' and the deep electronic spectrum of ‘Lying On the Forest Floor', even if they don't have a real drummer.

There's no complaints to be heard, unless you count the loud man who keeps shouting in vain for ‘Lazer Bitch', and Genghis Tron's amazing, if slightly short performance, makes the evening worth it practically single-handed.

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Imperial Leisure
20th November 2008
Fibbers, York
By Suzy Witts

Openers for the night were York band, Death Defying Life. I know I always seem to say this but everytime I see this band I enjoy their music and on stage performance. The music is great and they have potential to go places - they supported MXPX last year in Europe and I'm hoping that they'll be able to get more breaks like this because they're really good. Despite one of them claiming to be old, they were all jumping to the music and swinging their instruments around.

Second band on stage were Dead Rebellion. They totally weren't what I was expecting given the opening band and the headliners - I was thinking they might play punk and have lots of guitars etc. But not so. They were a kind of cross between '90s rap (think Beastie Boys), nu-metal and drum and bass. Each song started quite well, but I soon found myself getting a bit bored with their material as it seemed to go on forever. I don't know whether this was more down to me being in the mood for punk and ska and not rap etc. I think in terms of mainstream music this band are more verging towards being accepted by the masses but I wasn't too keen on the whole. There was a good audience for them though and it was clear that some people had just come especially to see them - there were three girls at the front who knew all the words and were have a great time dancing.

And finally, Imperial Leisure. Having missed them at Less Than Jake on Saturday I was desperate to see them live and was really excited about the prospect of seeing them in York. I was not disappointed in the slightest. They were absolutely amazing. Despite the small stage and the band (which consisted of singer, guitarist, bassist, drummer, DJ, keyboard player and brass section) being pushed into the tiny space they were still leaping around the stage. I'd tell you what songs they played, but they only have one album so you can probably guess that it was the majority of material off there. I don't think I'll ever forget that gig mainly because of the great performance, but also because of having to battle with a very enthusiastic crowd which including a crazed fan waving a bag in the air in his right hand and a shoe in his left. He loved the band though and was thrilled when he got to take part in a dance off on stage with his friend - I think Imperial Leisure made his night. Imperial Leisure are a credit to the UK ska punk scene. Along with the likes of Sonic Boom Six and Random Hand, they give me faith that the scene is getting back on its feet after the loss of many key ska punk bands over the past few years (i.e. Capdown, Adequate Seven...).

Photos coming very soon from both their LTJ Leeds gig and the York show!

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Don Caballero
9th November 2008
The Croft, Bristol
By aSH

As I and another 100 Don Cab fans dry themselves off after sneaking in a quick role-up in the thoroughly sodden November evening outside, Don Cab tune-up and attempt to launch in to the evening's opener. However, Damon Che (drums) is visibly struggling with his set up and at the end of the track resorts to hammering his bass drum down with nails to correct any flaws in the kits layout.

Over the next hour and a quarter Don Cab perform to their audience and without knowledge of their previous work and line-ups this show would have been a belter. This is not to say the show was below par, just below Don Cab's par.

Playing tonight with two guitars there is still a heavy reliance on pedals and although pedals can and are used to great effect (see Battles), at a few points in tonight's show the crowd are stood listening to a looped part playing solo with considerable inactivity on-stage.

With any other criticisms put to one side if you have not seen Don Cab before then they are still worth paying a visit. Rather than watching a band, this is more of the Damon Che show. He is truly the king of this style of playing. Jazzy, punctuated, progressive songs rise slowly to limb flailing finales, all the while interspersed with some of his nonsensical musings between tracks.

The evening's highlights were Palm Trees in the Fecking Bahamas and stop stopper Lord Krepelka which was nothing short of epic. In fact it left Che crumpled in a heap on the floor unable to move until almost everyone else had left the venue.

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Rancid
7th November 2008
The Carling Academy, Sheffield
By Sian Johnson

As doors for the majority of gigs aren't until around 7:30, I must admit I was surprised and more than a little disappointed to arrive at Sheffield's Carling Academy at 7:15 to find that I'd already managed to miss the opening band's set! Having spoken to others who were a little more on the ball I'm told it was definitely my loss, as Manchester's The Fractions delivered a great set of bouncy ska-punk goodness. As was enthusiastically noted by one acquaintance "It's always awesome to see more microphones than band members at the front of the stage"... just about sums it up really!

Second support was provided by '80s UK punk veterans the Anti Nowhere League. Despite an energetic stage presence, I have to admit to having been rather uninspired by this band. They seemed almost like a caricature of themselves, playing uncomplicated '80s punk delivered with a lot of posturing and seemingly very little relevance. I may be being a little hard here, as this sort of music is really not to my taste, however genres aside, I (and from their lukewarm reaction, the majority of the crowd) generally found ANL's set rather dull and repetitive, with a distinct lack of musical or lyrical imagination (I'm afraid that repeated shouts of "My god's bigger than your god", whilst amusing, aren't quite enough to get my political juices flowing.. ).

You Me at Six
4th November 2008
Leeds Met
By Suzy Witts

I had the pleasure of attending You Me at Six's sold out show in Leeds on Tuesday. It was the final date of their recent UK tour and a great place to place to end the tour seeing as though they are signed to Slam Dunk Records. "I know a lot of people in Leeds" said frontman Josh Franceschi indicating that the gig in Leeds had meaning for them.

This band have come a long way since we interviewed them back in February; the fact that this show was a rescheduled date to allow YMAS to support Fall Out Boy at Wembley, just sums up how much success they've been having lately. This success was highlighted by their brilliant Leeds performance. And despite the recent accomplishments, they still come across as being down to earth and modest about it all.

The band were animated when playing their songs and clearly relish being on the stage. The two guitarists, Max and Chris, being the most exuberant at the Leeds date.

Unholy Alliance Chapter III: Slayer, Trivium and Mastodon
31st October 2008
Hammersmith Apollo, London
By Rachel12

Well I personally could think of no better way of celebrating Halloween this year than with a show headlined by one of the most notoriously fearsome, menacing and unrelentingly ear-shattering bands ever to have existed.

Mastodon were a more than worthy attribute of the line-up, being one of those little underground bands who tour relentlessly, gather a loyal and adoring following, and who then go on to produce an album thats impact is still being felt two years later (Blood Mountain, 2006). It's little wonder that they're playing London tonight to an almighty welcome of bellowing cheers.

The band, though, look immediately swamped by the huge stage and by the daunting crowd donned in even more black than usually, in addition to the masks, wigs and fancy-dress pitch-forks being waved around the place. Luckily, the four-piece are capable of producing a sound that seems to have been written to fill huge naturalistic expanses of space and, indeed, drums and bass cascade across the walls of the venue along with the deep vocal cries of the three guitarists. It does, however, seem to fall short of the quiet confidence and unrelenting volume an audience usually witnesses from this band. Maybe playing a Halloween gig really did give them the heebie-jeebies.

In terms of stage presence, the next band on couldn't have been more different from the static Mastodon. The stage apparently belonged to Trivium, and they were going to work it to their full advantage. However, compared to the warm welcome the previous band received, the Florida four-piece were never going to be the crowds favourite on tonight's line-up. They dress and act like Hair-Metal is officially back, something which comes across as disappointing when this band first came to the world's attention as a group of four young guys with one hell of an ability to kick out some heavy tunes. Luckily, they still possess this, able to win a large portion of the audience over with just sheer riffage alone. If they pranced around less and stopped with the clichéd 'hell yeah''s, then we'd have a fine outfit of a metal band on our hands here.

The headliner's really need no introduction and, indeed, they walk on the stage with no sense of pretence or arrogance; just four musicians here to give everyone a damn good time. And that they do with undeniable ease. These guys seem to have been born holding instruments, playing each and every song with such effortless ability that it leaves the theatre in absolute awe, in between all the head-banging antics. There's not a body in the amphitheatre sitting down or staying still - Slayer are just a band you do not ignore. You undoubtedly hold high expectations for such bands, and you try desperately to avoid any sense of disappointment with metal heroes, but there's no question tonight of everyone's reaction - absolutely epic.

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Hot Chip
26th October 2008
Carling Academy, Leeds
By Rachel12

It's nothing short of an absolute pleasure to have the likes of Hot Chip on the music scene at the moment. They're the epitome of the anti-hero, creating music that your little brother will love as much as your mum does, one moment dropping huge bass numbers before moving into soft melodies and romantic lyrics, and all this while looking like the cast of Thunderbirds' dads.

A throbbing Leeds crowd are waiting excitedly in a brand new venue for the electropop five-piece to take to the stage, and already, it feels like a party's begun. Everyone's donned in suitably brightly-coloured attire, but there's such a variety of faces here; young and old, rockers and emos, nu-ravers and New Romantics, everyone mushed together and already shyly shuffling their dancing feet in preparation.

Every pair almost surges into the air when the band finally take their places, carefully sandwiched between various sets of keyboards and other instruments on stage. And far from attaining to any God-like responsibility on stage, they're merely just the hosts of a rather cute and fun party.

Hot Chip's latest album, Made In The Dark, has been deemed a triumph by fans and the media press alike, and luckily this opinion doesn't slide in the slightest when you hear its stand-out numbers live. Indeed, they seem designed to be danced to by a mass of people and have a newly injected energy to them when performed live. Similarly, the older singles have never sounded so fresh, creating uproars from the delighted crowd who return to dancing however which way they please - it's all good in the hood, especially when huge balloons begin falling from the ceiling.

The band finish with their trademark cover of Sinead O'Connor's 'Nothing Compares' before merging it into 'Made In The Dark' from the latest album, a lighters-out and glowsticks-up sort of moment where everyone reflects on the show and the band in question.

And damn excellent they both were too.

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Raging Speedhorn with Take A Worm For A Walk Week
25th October 2008
Fibbers Barfly, York
By Rachel12

This is what you might want to call the ‘double-edged sword' gig - one that promises to be hugely entertaining in a rather loud and raucous way, as tonight's headliners do best, but also with that tiny pang of loss, as this was Raging Speedhorn's last ever tour.

They've been going a very long time, having formed from the remains of Soulcellar and Box in 1998 - which, yes, makes them a Nineties band - but nevertheless, tonight was something many people hadn't foreseen.

Despite their appearance of being men of (heavy) metal able to batter instruments and eardrums alike for ten years, they weren't immune to illness, with members of all three bands on the line-up being sick. It was too much for The Mirimar Disaster, who pulled out completely, leaving Glasgow's Take A Worm For A Walk Week to try and redeem the much anticipated line-up.

When you're contemplating what gimmick to attach to your band, you don't really consider that you might get struck by some form of food poisoning while on tour. Or that you won't have access to washing machines. And you will sweat. Enter Take A Worm wearing their trade mark black and white spandex outfits then, and watch the crowd take a generous step backwards away from the smell.

Take A Worm's sound is a chaotic hybrid of hardcore and metal and it really doesn't take a set of costumes to make you pay attention; the quality of this frenzy is more than enough. A few people in the audience banded around the term ‘mentalists' after the set, and it was quite evident how you'd reach this conclusion when you witness the seemingly inhuman mechanics of this band in action. Not even lead singer Johnny's need to throw up every five minutes could hinder their energy and noise.

There was a anticipatory atmosphere rising, groups crowding, shuffling forwards, stocking up on beers, removing coats and jumpers in preparation for some hardcore partying, heavy metal style. ‘Speedhorn take to the stage with the predicted cheers that ten years of hard work and extensive touring have earned them, their subsequent set cementing opinions that this band really are going to be missed on the live front.

Brutality and compassion combined into a fierce aural assault, demanding every individuals full attention and participation. Older material has quickly settled into classic favourites, which a delighted audience screamed back the words to, while newer tracks revealed ‘Speedhorn's ability to develop their chosen genre and really work with sounds without losing an ounce of intensity.

Expectations were high and challenged significantly by illness striking the band members but, like the true professionals they've grown to become, the band did themselves, their music, their fans and their reputation an absolute credit with tonight's performance.

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Zebrahead + support
19th October 2008
The Cockpit, Leeds
By Suzy Witts

The night started with a band called Kids Can't Fly. You might have heard of them as Fandangle's ex-trombone player is the singer/guitarist in KCF. Seeing Ryan fronting the band didn't seem out of place though; this dude has a voice and a good one at that. KCF are a typical pop punk band but the ska punk influence is there as there was a hint of brass in a number of the songs. The venue was pretty busy and people from front to back seemed to be enjoying the set. As did I.

Paige from London played next. I'd never heard of this band before and I don't think many other people in the room had either judging the lack of enthusiasm from the audience. Numerous attempts from the singer to get people to clap their hands to the music failed and the band looked slightly disappointed at being ignored. They also had a pop-punk sound, but more commercial - think Fall Out Boy, You Me at Six etc.. I liked them and there was some potential there. And despite the unenthusiastic crowd, the band certainly were enjoying being on the stage, playing their music.

And finally, Zebrahead. Their set was awesome and so much fun to be a part of. And I say this because we were truly part of the show. The usual band-audience divide was dissolved and it made it such an enjoyable gig. Their set had everything... as well as great music (old and new material), there was constant crowd surfing, fans on stage, jokes and banter, skanking, a circle pit attempt and don't forget the drinking, there was lots of drinking. The band declared that it was the best gig they've played on the tour... and yes, I know every band says this at every gig, but for once I did start to believe that the statement could actually be true. They played for over an hour and their encore included a performance of Anthem with help from Ryan of KCF. The atmosphere was great and I went away knowing that everyone had enjoyed it as much as me.

 
Check out the photos of Zebrahead in the live photos section of the site. We've also got an interview with the band online at the moment as well as a cd review of their most recent release.

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Disturbed
10th October 2008
Birmingham Academy
By Lucy Pryor and Steve Cooper

3000 fans packed into a sold out Birmingham Academy to catch a glimpse of the mighty Disturbed tonight. This was my 2nd time of seeing Disturbed this year, the 1st being all the way back in June at the Download Festival, and I really hoped they wouldn't disappoint after the cracking show they put on last time!

As the lights went up, front man David Drainman, (strapped to a stretcher) was rolled onto the stage in what seems to be his trademark show opener. Grimacing at the awaiting crowd through his Hannibal lector mask, the fans roared, and they went straight into the first song. Drainman knew exactly how to get the Brummie crowd fired up, congratulating them on being the "true home of metal" they went straight into the fabulous 'Stupify'. Like some metal crazed conductor, he got the left and right hand sides of the Academy shouting back lyrics in perfect time, giving it a somewhat surreal pantomime feel (but in a good way). My personal favourite of the night 'Prayer' was delectably bellowed out next. It sounded truly phenomenal with Drainman's pitch perfect vocals and the bass drum driving the groove. Not pausing for breath they galloped into song after song, old and new material, including their infamous cover 'Land of Confusion', originally by Genesis. The whole academy seemed out of breath from singing and crowd surfing, when the set and stage antics ended quite honestly, very abruptly. The brummie crowd refused to have silence and started to deafeningly chant and stamp "Disturbed, Disturbed, Disturbed". Thank God they came on and did an encore or there may have been a small riot! Teasing the 3000 strong followers with the opening drum beats of 'Down with the Sickness', before turning the lights down momentarily, they plunged into their most famous anthem much to the delight of the fans and definitely to the delight of the security (who looked knackered after so many crowd surfers). Vowing to always come back to Birmingham, Drainman and the rest of the band put on an awesome show. I think I speak for everyone at the gig when I say they will always be welcome in metals true home.

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Beartrap Pods present...
1st October 2008
The Speakeasy, York
By Suzy Witts

I have to admit, I was a bit dubious when I saw the line up when this gig was announced; the genres seemed to differ so much. But I was pleasantly surprised as in reality the bands made for a really good gig.

The night started with an acoustic set from Ridley Barbet. She had a great voice and played a combination of her own songs and a couple of covers (one a KT Tunstall song). She seemed a bit nervous but made a joke out of the small mistakes she made during the songs. Very promising artist.

We were then treated to a powerful set from acoustic duo The Mega Games Two. They took to the floor rather than the stage and both decided to sing without mics; one member played guitar and another played a melodica. They had a strong sound in terms of the songs and the volume, and a lot of confidence to perform without microphones. They had an early Against Me style sound, and wouldn't be totally out of place if they were signed to No Idea Records.

The third band marked a dramatic change in genre. The Summits play what could be described as funky bluesy rock. I loved the songs and this was another act with a powerful voice. The sound was a bit more mainstream and the band seemed more serious about where they want to go with their music. This didn't stop them from having a great time on stage. If The Summits get the break they need I can imagine them getting quite big.

And finally, the night was headlined by Second Chance, a pop punk band from London. Steve appears to be at home as the frontman of the band and it seems obvious why he decided to quit as drummer of Make it Better Later. Unfortunately the crowd had diminished by the time the band got on stage, but this didn't curb their enthusiasm.

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Million Empire
26th September 2008
Bar Academy, Birmingham
By Matt Dooner

Tonight was a night of extremes. For a start, there were a lot of people at the Bar Academy tonight; I've seen signed bands that couldn't pull this kind of crowd. And once you fought your way to the front, there were the bands themselves. At one end of the scale we had the most straightforward accessible music in the world, and at the other end we had music so weird it could barely be described as music... and everything in-between. Shapes, Conquistadors, Blue Nation and Million Empire are an odd combination of bands to have on the same bill.

Million Empire is a more of an acquired taste, but is no less brilliant for that, sufficiently filling the middle ground between accessible pop songs and challenging ambiguity. They are like a breath of fresh air; a new and exciting sound that toes the line of complexity but rarely steps across it. Atmospheric backing tracks and effects pedals should not be used lightly, but Wez on guitar manages both to great effect, truly complementing the songs they play. The three members of the band manage to maintain an intense stage presence without uttering a single word to the crowd; a feat that is almost unique. The fact that they missed two of their recorded songs from their set list suggests that, rather than pander to expectations, they are playing their live shows on nobody's terms but their own, commanding the respect that they fully deserve and have achieved from a great many people. You might be hanging on to every note they play, or you might be standing at the back thinking 'what the fuck?' but Million Empire always play a good show, tonight was no exception and nobody who saw them can disagree.

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Underoath
13th September 2008
The Cockpit, Leeds
By Dom Sharman

Fairly expectant of a sketchy opening band I was nothing short of shocked by Oh, Sleeper. Only a few 'die hard' fans seemed to be interested in listening to the band initially but when they started playing people soon took notice. With a mix of Devil Sold His Sold style ambience, At The Gates epicness and modern metal brutality this band were more than I had expected. Hailing from the U S of A I was expecting a band not unlike Underoath to turn up but was pleasantly surprised. The set was energetic and enthused and was not found lacking on a night undoubtedly all about the headline band.

Unlike the opening support, Envy on the Coast were nothing short of boring. A mix of Daryl Palumbo-esq vocals over non-descript 'metal' left me wondering how a band like this could 'make it' in modern music with other D.I.Y bands writing infinitely better songs. This being said, the crowd seemed fairly into them, albeit I was left massively underwhelmed.

Of course, the night was all about Underoath, and they left the audience with a buzz I have rarely experienced at a Cockpit show. From start to finish the band delivered their distinctive brand of metalcore which puts many modern pretenders to shame with aplomb. With a mixture of new and old songs they impressed upon the crowd their views (which a fair few members of the audience seemed to agree with) relating to religion and society.

I must admit, this was the only down point of their set for me. I have no issue with people explaining their views but the band came across as preachy in general. Religion is a fairly moot point for me and if I wished to be lectured on this subject I would go to Sunday school. However, having never seen the band live before (and hearing various glowing reports from those who had) I was left with a broad smile on my face as to how genuine a band in such a convoluted 'scene' as they come from could be.

Energy, vigour, charisma, tightness. All words that accurately describe this band and their performance.

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The Matches
19th September 2008
Manning Bar, Sydney , Australia
By Meghan Player

In recent times, there has been an abundance of bands, both locally and internationally, that take to the stage kicking, then fall apart half way through the set, losing crowd interest as the songs progress.

Not so with U.S band, The Matches.

Presenting the crowd with a mix of songs, from both the past (Chain Me Free, Sick Little Suicide, Papercut Skin) and the present (Their City, Wake The Sun, We Are One), the band delivered explosive, and enthralling anthems with signature vocal melodies - a characteristic which makes this band, an undoubtedly entertaining act.

Playing to an all-ages gig, at what seemed to be a full-house, the eccentric alterative rockers took to the stage with enough energy to power a city - an animation that matched the audiences’ vast attention.

What was really surprising, was that amongst all the enthusiasm, the band never lost their spark - continuing to interact with the crowd, jump from drum kits and whip the crowd into a dancing frenzy throughout their entire set.

Although the set-list wasn't as long as first suspected, one thing was definetly certain by the end of the night - The Matches know how to put on one hell of a show.

Photos from this gig - online now! Check out the photos section!

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Fandangle with The Johnstones and Comply or Die
Thursday 11th September 2008
The Junction, York
By Suzy Witts

Advertised as having three bands on the line up, it was a surprise to see an additional band playing when I arrived. Unfortunately I didn't catch the band's name, but they seemed like quite a new band and played pop punk. Their set included a lot of their own songs and a cover of a Blink 182's All the Small Things.

So onto the advertised bands. Comply or Die were up next. The band haven't been together all that long and the last time I saw them it was their second gig. And you could tell. But their hard work over the summer (they did a tour with a US punk band called The Pogo) is clearly paying off as they're supporting tonnesof bands in York and they've improved a lot since I last saw them. They look more like a band on stage now and it seems that the familiarity of their songs is helping them to be more confident and move to the music more. Having started as a ska punk band they're now veering more towards the punk side of ska and it's been a wise move as they're pretty good at it.

And so the next band started sound checking. Which was a bit irritating and I thought we might be subjected to a serious band who wanted everything perfect. Not the case. The Johnstones went off stage after the soundcheck and returned wearing hardly anything. And bam! the most amazing set of the night had begun. High energy, crazy antics throughout the entire performance. And it was a performance... one which included multi talented musicians (the trombonist also being able to handstand whilst playing keyboard) and choreographed dance moves. The crowd seemed slightly scared of the craziness and I found myself being the only person in the centre of the room at one point. But I loved it. In my opinion the band stole the show.

And finally, established UK ska punkers Fandangle. To be honest it was a bit of a anti-climax after The Johnstones. I like Fandangle because they play good fast paced ska and they don't let you down. But on this occasion they were somewhat upstaged by their tour buddies and unfortunately there wasn't much of a crowd in the venue. Despite this there was a mix of old songs and some material from the new album and despite the mid-set lighting issues, hopefully all those people who came especially to see the band went home happy.

Suzy's photos are online now! Check out the photos tab for the album!

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Hydro Connect Festival 2008
29th-31st August
Inveraray Castle, Scotland
adapted from press release provided by Lee Beattie (01/09/08)

Over the last weekend of August, the ground of Inveraray Castle in Scotland saw the second ever Hydro Connect Festival. Despite being a slightly smaller festival than some of the others held over the summer (15,000 attendees), a host of huge musical acts graced the stages over the course of the festival. The fans were also able to watch burlesque acts and experience amazing food. Over the three days of the festival, the Hydro Connect rickshaws were reported to travel more than 2000 miles carrying music fans across the site as well as ferrying some artists such as Amy MacDonald from their dressing rooms to the stages.

Standout performances included those from Grinderman, Spiritualized, Elbow, Kasabian, Bloc Party and Sigur Ros whose sets were said to bring members of the crowd to tears due to the effects of the ethereal music soundtracking the rolling hills behind the Oyster Stage.

Being a Scottish festival, acts from the home country were also well represented with huge crowds turning up for Glasvegas, Paolo Nutini, Amy MacDonald, Camera Obscura and of course Sunday night headliners Franz Ferdinand who had the crowd eating out of their hands by revealing some new tracks amongst their biggest hits.

"Once again Hydro Connect has been a magical weekend. The atmosphere on site was incredibly laid back and both artists and fans have told us that the location is the most beautiful festival site in Europe," says Geoff Ellis. "Hydro Connect is more than just a music festival and the incredible Foods From Argyll Tent was one of the busiest places over the weekend with music fans enjoying oysters, roast salmon rolls, organic lamb kebabs and delicious Bumble sticky toffee puddings. The extra entertainment provided by the Red Bull Hellfire Club, the Kopparberg Big Tree, The Speakeasy Cafe and the late night cabaret by Vegas! and Club Noir all contributed to the unique flavour of the event"

Geoff added, "Thanks must go to our partners at Scottish Hydro Electric who added some brilliant elements to the event this year including the UK’s first solar bike pedalled showers in the campsite which were hugely popular with festival goers. And also to the Duke and Duchess of Argyll who have allowed us yet again to stage a massive party in their back garden!"

Anna Crampin, Sponsorship Manager for partners Scottish Hydro Electric: "This has been the first year of our involvement with the festival and we have been delighted to be part of such a unique event. Hydro Connect has offered music fans the best of everything – music, food and atmosphere. Plus everyone has enjoyed things in a way that befits the beautiful environment."

Push to Fire's photographer Katie Noble was at the festival and you can see her photos online now at pushtofire.com/livephotos.html

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Armstrong with Enjoy Destroy and Saving Time
Saturday 30th August 2008
The Cockpit, Leeds
By Suzy Witts

Openers for the night were a band called Saving Time who hail from Leeds. Apparently it was their third gig but you wouldn't know it as they were tight and had some really good songs. They are primarily fun pop punk and play well together on stage. They played a number of their own songs, also a cover of 'Teenage Dirtbag' by Wheatus and a pretty good punk cover of Ronan Keating's 'When You Say Nothing At All' which they had only perfected earlier in the day at their and practice. The crowd really enjoyed them and they have a lot of potential. They're playing with Strike Anywhere on 3rd October at Rios in Leeds, so go and check them out!

Enjoy Destroy were up next and the room was gradually filling up with an older crowd. The band were very serious and played what I would classify as rock music. They were professional in their manner and their sound was well perfected. There wasn't much between song banter, but clearly that's not what this band is about. They had some nice bass lines going on and a full guitar sound with good vocals. I quite liked their music despite being less fun than the opening act. Enjoy Destroy have a tour planned for October - another band to check out if you get the chance.

And finally, the band we were all waiting for, Armstrong. Before I heard about this gig I had never heard of Armstrong let alone any of their songs. Yet this band have recently been 'adopted' by Jagermeister along with the likes of Templeton Pek, Fightstar and Bullet for my Valentine and appeared to have quite a following as the room was hot, sweaty and packed by the time they took to the stage. Armstrong aren't quite as heavy as a lot of the other Jagermeister bands and seem to be more pop rock than heavy rock. Having read some previous reviews of their shows I was expecting crazy shenanigans from lead singer Tim, however he must have been tired because the craziest thing on stage were his sequined trainers and white headband! But don't get me wrong, the performance was good with catchy, well composed and well played songs. The crowd enjoyed themselves and they had a many fans who knew all the words and were wearing Armstrong t-shirts. An enjoyable gig.

Suzy's photos from the gig are now online! Click on the photos tab to view the album!

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YASHIN with DissolvedIn and IFoundTheKiller
Saturday 9th August 2008
Man On The Moon, Cambridge
By Emma Bowdidge

IFoundTheKiller open up tonight's show with thier catchy unique sound. The crowd gathers round the stage as a few guys start a bit of a mosh. IFoundTheKiller aren't new to Man On The Moon and have brought a little following along who will hopefully stick around for Yashin later. Their guitarist manages to break a string after the first song but all ends well with their impressive set.

DissolvedIn are next to brace Man On The Moon's stage starting off very energetically with 'Mapped Roads', the crowd seemed to have dwindled down and most people standing at the back. They still put all their effort into this set with their catchy pop/punk sound, vocalist Dan was determined to have everyone sing back "Wo Oh Oh Oh" in 'Peter Pan Syndrome' before he was happy enough to finish the song. It took more than three attempts before the unenthusiastic crowd caved in and sung loud enough. DissolvedIn put on an exciting set, finishing up with electro favourite 'Egocentric' which you can find on their debut E.P 'Proudly Dressed'.

Yashin take to the stage and start playing an intro as vocalist Mike walks up to the stage putting one leg on cluching his mic while the crowd wait anxiously for them to burst into opener 'Mr Hyde'. The energy that's buzzing around Man On The Moon tonight is insane. Yashin's Mike is in the crowd singing showing full potential, giving guitarist Paul more room to shred his guitar! 'Circles', one of their older songs, gets the crowd going so crazy they're told to calm things down as one fan gets rowdy with his arms and legs. The crowd isn't as big as Yashin could have hoped for but that doesn't affect their blinder of a performance.

They played mainly new songs from their 2008 release 'Miles Away, But Getting Closer' with the exception of a couple of old tracks. Rounding up tonight's incredible performance with "'So We're Named After Saints', Yashin have made everyone's night as fans flock to their merch table!

A great night all round. If you haven't seen Yashin live yet, they're always touring so get your arse out to a show!!

Emma's Yashin photos are now online! Click on the photos tab to view the album! We also have some Yashin goodies which we'll be running a competition for very very soon so keep checking back for news on that!

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SONIC BOOM SIX with Death Defying Life and Make it Better Later
Tuesday 29th July 2008
Fibbers, York
By Suzy Witts

Tuesday night saw a newly painted Fibbers (it's looking good by the way) hold host to three amazing bands. Make it Better Later opened the evening with catchy carefree ska to warm up the crowd. It was the first time I'd seen them without Steve (ex-drummer) but the on stage banter still made us laugh and the music was played well. To sum up their music - ska with a hint of Irish and an element of pirates! Oh and they even had cake on their merch stand which was nice of them.

Local band Death Defying Life marked a change in genre for the evening playing awesome punk. Some of the crowd didn't seem to sure about them as they'd come for a night of ska, but this band are great live and always exhert a tonne of energy onstage. They play tightly and still manage to jump in the air and move with the music. If you haven't seen them before, you need to.

Headliners for the night were the mighty Sonic Boom Six - from Manchester, in case you didn't know. This band just get better and better. They played a variety of material from their discography and the crowd also got to sample one of their new tracks from their forthcoming album which is mainly going to be a remix album. The venue was filled with sweaty people as the band got everyone in the room dancing and skanking to their material. Chants of "Sonic Boom Six" resulted in an encore of the Streets 'Don't Mug Yourself' in the true ska-punk-dub style that is signature of SB6.

A very enjoyable night and one of the best gigs I've been to lately in York.

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FANDANGLE with Lipstick Revolution, Dreamer, Amy Can Flyy, Kalinsky, Fading With Reason, Heroes In A Halfshell, Melancholy Moose Society, King Tut’s Revenge and The Naked Sundays
Friday 11th July 2008
The Queen’s Hotel, Weymouth
By Allana Cutter

Fans of Fandangle will know that the Surrey Ska band are constantly gigging – and now even more so in the wake of their debut album, Fly Away. Their dedication to their cause and their followers sees them zipping up and down the United Kingdom on an almost daily basis, and tonight they are headlining an NSPCC charity fundraiser, supported by a number of bands from across the country.

Keyboardist Drew and saxophonist Craig tell me that having arrived in Weymouth at four this morning, the band have coped with the lack of sleep in different ways. The majority have made friends with White Lightening and Sambuca, whilst Drew has entertained himself with a game of “Poon Tang?” (don’t ask), and frontman Adam has been sleeping solidly after a heavy smoke. Aside from this, the band (with the exception of the sleeping Adam) have been mingling with the crowd, getting their faces painted, selling merchandise and showing their support for the other bands on tonight’s bill.

With the charity event starting at 4pm, the audience are starting to wane by 10.30, and in spite of Lipstick Revolution’s best efforts, it’s clear they are just holding out desperately in the hope that Fandangle will grace the stage any moment now. It’s another hour before Fandangle finally get to set up their stage, and the landlady isn’t happy because the show is running late. I’ve been given the responsibility of looking after Craig’s alto sax, and am just as desperate for them to begin their set so that no harm comes to the beautiful woodwind masterpiece in my possession.

At long last Fandangle begin their set with new track FUBAR and the audience are instantly revived as though caffeine has just been intravenously pumped into their bloodstreams. Anyone who dares stand still is instantly swept into the skank pit, and a form of organised chaos ensues.

With seven band members, it’s hard to know where to look, but every one of them are so animated it’s hard not to love what they do on stage. They rip through a number of tracks from the album – crowd favourites I’m High, Pornstar’s (Aren’t For Everyone), Cheap Escape and Hello Goodbye going down an absolute storm – and although he still looks a little worse for wear, vocalist and guitarist Adam still forms a compelling connection with his audience. Guitarist Tom cannot get over the fact that so many members of the crowd know their songs word for word, and the band reward them with a stunning rendition of Sublime’s What I Got.

Having failed to acknowledge a number of requests from the landlady to wrap things up, Fandangle answer the audience’s request for them to play the explosive Homeland Obscurity and eventually cut their set short by concluding with the fantastic Oliver Twist.

I have to say that I have a lot of respect for Fandangle. Each time I’ve seen them perform live, they have boundless energy and give their all to please current fans and get new ones on board. With a history of supporting big names such as Reel Big Fish, Zebrahead and Less Than Jake, Fandangle could easily have incredibly inflated egos, but the guys are so down to earth and are willing to spend time with their fans to make their night out that bit more special.

Another ska-tastic performance from Fandangle, and I have the skanking-related bruises to prove it!

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COMEBACK KID with Shai Hulud, Your Demise, and Dead Swans
Thursday 10th July 2008
Corporation, Sheffield
By Lee Brown

I'm back in the bloody Corporation again, three tours in a row now and always the same room. But tonight the venue seems surprisingly empty compared to previous show’s. Last time Comeback kid were here they were headlining the 'Never Say Die' tour and the time before that supporting Alexisonfire.

First up are Dead Swans with their own cathartic rock and roll, a small crowd has gathered to watch and as they burst into the first track the few assembled start to move and join in. It’s a good solid set - the sound is great and they play with the same furious energy that they’ve shown from previous show’s. With the hype that has surrounded the 'Southern Blue' EP on the 30 Days Of Night label, I can see these following on a similar wave of success that bands like Gallows and Bring Me The Horizon have experienced.

Your Demise follow the tempo that has already been set with some raging Hatebreed inspired hardcore - they're sounding much tighter and have come on a lot since I last saw them. With big tours like the support slot with Enter Shikari already under their belts things are on the up for these guys.

Shai Hulud come on to a great reception, it’s the first time I’d seen these and not really heard a great deal of their stuff except for a couple of tracks. So I was looking forward to the set and I was not disappointed - the crowd had grown considerably as the first riff comes surging out of the amps, great fast paced hardcore and an on stage spirit that flows of and into the crowd.

The first time I saw Comeback Kid was back in 2003 supporting Champion in a tiny room under a pub in Birmingham, and they’ve come along way since then. As the lights go down the floor is full, and as the riff of 'Broadcasting' opens, the crowd erupts. Comeback Kid should know every corner of this stage, and there doesn’t seem to be single area that they don’t cover. Tonight’s set is filled with material from all 3 albums, tracks like 'Talk is Cheap', 'Partners in Crime', and 'All In A Year' all go down a storm.

Vocalist Andrew is surprised that the crowd hasn’t been taking advantage of the lack of security and not got up on stage yet. No sooner as he has said this the stage is flooded with people clambering up, just to throw themselves off. Closing the set with 'Final Goodbye' is a lovely touch.

As usual Comeback Kid don’t disappoint, and I’m already looking forward to the next album and, more importantly, the next tour.

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A DAY TO REMEMBER with The Devil Wears Prada
Wednesday 11th June 2008
Fibbers Barfly, York
By Suzy Witts

Tonight's gig at Fibbers was sold out and it was obvious as soon as you stepped into the venue and were greeted by many a tight jean and hairdo and a pretty warm temperature throughout the room (or "sauna" as The Devil Wears Prada called it).

Support came from a band who've become increasingly popular over the last few months - The Devil Wears Prada (TDWP). According to their MySpace the band are both hardcore and metal, they come from Ohio, they're playing Download and doing an almost two month stint on Warped over the summer. It all sounds impressive.

The band arrived on stage and the people midway in the crowd started to part, to leave a space in the centre of the room. Definitely a sign that a hardcore band were about to play. They started, the crowd went a bit crazy, windmilling and floor punching... but this was short lived. It soon died down about half way through the first song and it was like people were expecting something but didn't get what they thought they would. And that's exactly how to sum up TDWP. The music was slow paced, all the songs sounded pretty much the same and they were definitely not worthy of the 'hardcore' label they seem to have adopted. For example, usually hardcore doesn't include keyboards. The music was more metal in sound and it felt like they were playing for longer than anyone had planned - it dragged. They hardly spoke to the crowd either. I was left feeling slightly bored and disappointed that they didn't, in my opinion, live up to the hype.

Despite not liking the support band, I thought the crowd were having a great time during TDWP, but it appears they were enjoying themselves far more when A Day to Remember took to the stage. As was I - this was more like it! This Florida band are in a completely different league to TDWP. They are more like a hardcore band and reminiscent of Underoath. But they don't try to claim they're something they're not - one t-shirt slogan claims that they are "the heaviest pop punk band, ever" suggesting they don't like to take themselves too seriously. But don't get me wrong, this was no comedy show.

The sound was tight, they picked up the pace and on the whole the music and the sound was far superior. There were fewer people sat around for ADTR and even if they did chill out on the sofas at the back of the room for a bit, that was because they'd just come out of the constantly moving pit and needed a break. The third song was the one everyone instantly recognised, this was of course the cover of Kelly Clarkson's 'Since U Been Gone'. Everyone was singing along louder than before. It got me wondering whether they would have been as popular had they not covered this song.

However, their other songs are well written and were well played, so I would like to hope that this has just accelerated the speed at which they have become popular, rather than being the only song they are known for. It was clear that they value their fans and they thanked everyone for enduring the heat and sticking around to see them play. I was left wanting to hear more and I think their ability to perform well live will lead to more people buying their songs.

If you get the chance to see A Day to Remember, you should definitely go. If you don't... get the album instead!

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HOT CLUB DE PARIS with Copy Haho
Thursday 29th May 2008
Fibbers Barfly, York
By Rachel Wade

Liverpudlian math-punk three-piece Hot Club De Paris have, since their formation in 2004, been bobbing up and down on the ones to watch radar and receiving waves of praise while retaining their underground status and credibility. Tonight’s gig was a reflection of this, the venue quiet and intimate, the crowd friendly and familiar.

Support band Copy Haho attempt to warm-up the slowly filling venue with quaint indie antics that, though slow and slightly predictable at first, soon turn into a toe-tapping, heart-wrenching goodness. A catchy quartet oozing promise.

There are many reasons to love Hot Club De Paris. They are the complete alternative package. Modestly cool as they take to the stage, the band wear the air of the Moshi Moshi label they're attached to, coming across with an underground art-school cool that matches their individual and distinctive sounding music style. Math-influenced, indie-dancy punk exudes from throats and fingers, patterned time-shifts being teamed with playful rhythms, witty lyrics and quirky choruses, the band hypnotising the crowd with exquisitely timed fretwork from the guitarist and bassist, while the drummer matches this ability with his creative beats.

Material from their new second album 'Live At The Dead Lake', including new single ’Hey! Housebrick’, sounds fresh and engaging, whilst still carrying that distinctive Hot Club shine that sparkles the likes of older crowd-pleasers 'Shipwreck' and 'sometimesit'sbetter...'. The latter two are obvious highlights of the set, already vibrant and electric in their recorded format but taking on an engaging charm when played with the spontaneity of being live.

However, what really sets this gig apart from being just an aural delight and fascinating spectacle was the between song banter, a skill that an increasing number of bands either fail at or don't even attempt at all. This, though, is where Hot Club De Paris’ fans become friends. The three-piece chat and banter with the rather blank and stand-offish York crowd ('you're a difficult card to read, York' muses bassist Paul). Coming off as charming, funny and genuinely giving a damn about these people who'd come to see them play, Hot Club's normality and politeness earned them a lot of love in that room.

This tour was an ideal opportunity to catch a band who, despite having superb song-writing skills, terrific live shows and personality in abundance, are still in the cotton cocoon of the underground scene, but judging from tonight’s performance, their state of being relatively unknown and under appreciated shouldn't last for long.

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ROCKABILLY RIOT featuring Rebel Yell, Surf Sluts and Boss Caine
Saturday 24th May 2008
City Screen Basement Bar, York
By Rachel Wade

Rockabilly - those who know it, love it, and the debut night of Rockabilly Riot in York was anticipated by many ready and willing to get out the hair-rollers, denims and dancing shoes for an evening of good music and great entertainment at the City Screen’s Basement Bar venue.

Settling everyone into the evening with some acoustic country were the friendly faces of local folk rockers Boss Caine. Finger-clicking and toe-tapping blues coupled with gravelly vocals and romantic lyrics, the band are by now experienced and proficient in their chosen genre and the ideal openers for tonight’s event. From the calm coos of country to the descent of psychobilly folly, the Surf Sluts were then welcomed to the stage to add a little sunshine to the evening. From brash and brazen pyscho-sing-a-long rock to eerie horror-tinted garage, the York-based band are dance-and-twist through and through, warming the crowd up a treat for the event’s headliners.

Hailing from Leeds, four-piece Rebel Yell completely epitomise the punk-rock ethos, with the rockabilly spirit running through much more than just their visual sense of style, as their performance tonight demonstrated. Opening with the contagious ‘Lost A Blue’, the band’s set showcases their talent at writing refined punk-rock in a way that takes the best from previous idols of the genre and translating it into a sound that’s distinctly their own. Played live, Rebel Yell’s raucous and riot-inducing chants and rhythms magnify into electric anthems, just as visually stunning as they are aurally. Indeed, it doesn’t take long before the full-skirted ladies of tonight’s audience are up and out of their seats dancing through the bands set.

With three very individual but equally engaging live performances, the evenings event also gave a glimpse into the depth and breadth of rockabilly and it’s associated music genres, proving that the classics never die and cementing Rockabilly Riot as a memorable and much enjoyed event that will hopefully continue in the near future.

Photos from the night are available in the live photos section!

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Acid Eyeliner Album Launch
Australia
March 2008
review and photos by Emma Dean

HIM
Luna Park Big Top, Sydney, Australia
25th March 2008
by Meghan Player

Flatline Drama
Lithgow PCYC, Australia
22nd March 2008
by Emma Dean

Newton's Playground
Mount Panorama, Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia
7th-9th March 2008
by Meghan Player
(Check out the live photos section for some more photos!)

Bathurst’s Mount Panorama, famed for its history in Motor Racing, played host this year to the ‘gravity-fuelled’ festival, ‘Newton’s Playground.’

Incorporating a range of extreme sports with a line-up of some of Australia’s music talents, this event was set to make a mark in history, with it being the first-ever event of its kind to grace our shores.Throughout the day, adrenalin junkies were treated to a range of events including - street luge, BMX, skateboarding, speed skating and wakeboarding - unfortunately, being the event was held at a rural venue, crowd numbers for the sporting events weren’t overly impressive - perhaps proving that events like this are best suited to the City.

However, the bands that played provided relief from dwindling crowd numbers.Sydney-based indie band, Fifty Sixx, played the stage in the afternoon, managing to pull a decent-sized club crowd, but not letting that phase their passion and performance. For all their energy, they could have been playing to a crowd of a thousand. Ultimately though, it was clear who the major drawcards for this years event would be.

As the sun set and night began to fall, the crowd numbers noticeably improved and a new energy was present. It was time for the big performers to take the stage.

First up, Perth band Gyroscope - who took to the stage with enough energy and drive to whip the growing crowd into a frenzy of moshing and singing.Showcasing a set that boasted songs from both new and old albums including ‘Snakeskin’, ‘Fast Girl’ and recently released single, ‘1981’ - Gyroscope, have ultimately made their mark in Australian rock music, after a long existence of the band. And while Gyroscope ultimately achieved impressing a vast majority of the audience, it was clear that the stage was really set for rock veterans, Grinspoon.

Fresh from performing in Sydney the night before, the roar from the crowd was deafening as the quartet took to the stage.Kicking off with the un-mistakable Grinspoon sound of ‘Black Tattoo’, the band showcased a range of songs that have defined them as one of the best Australian rock acts of our time.

The group blasted through the likes of ‘Hard Act To Follow’, ‘1000 Miles’, ‘What You Got’, ‘More Than You Are’ and ‘Lost Control’, displayed Grinspoon of old with ‘Ready’ and ‘Secrets’, whilst bringing the rush of adrenalin down with the sombre, ‘Minute By Minute’ and ‘Chemical Heart’.

While Grinspoon have always been a band to see live, tonight realistically proved why.The vocals were spot-on, as were the guitar solos, bass lines and drum beats - and for the first-time since singer Phil Jamieson announced publicly his fight with an addiction to chrystal methamphetamine (‘ice’) last year, the whole band looked like they are beginning to enjoy performing again.With the set wrapping up in just around an hour, there was no encore tonight - leaving a lot of fans hungry for more - but providing just enough to be satisfied with the band’s entire performance.

After the entire weekend of music and sports, the ultimate question remaining is will Newton’s Playground return again in the future?

And I think only one answer is apparent - if organisers can bring back another music powerhouse, like Grinspoon, then rest assured Newton’s will be here to stay.