Blog: Shout and Twist

The same day I write up my own personal and unflattering thoughts of The Little Flames (look below) turns out to be the same day they split up! Ironic or what?!

This band are best mates with Arctic Monkeys. How's that for an intro? Well, after the unfortunate experience that was last month's one night stint at Barfly - pretty much filled to the brim with notin' but mundanely Mersey strings and hippy harmonies - it might be the only way people will take note at this lot. Band leader lady Eva Paterson's hair was bushed up all like 80s Blondie, and twirled through 'Goodbye Little Rose' with the assist of her band like an accidentaly out of tune Cribs. Not nice. Plus whilst [...]

This week Maps' debut album 'We Can Create' came out through Mute Records. I know it's not Scouse-related but he's one of my favourite artists around right now and I can't emphasise enough how much you need this record in your life. I interviewed him a couple months back of which you can read here . Here's his Myspace too .

If you've had your eyes and ears glued to the right channels, sites, stations and literature in the last few months then you'll be fully aware of the complete and utter revolution we've experienced of proper decent Indie Folk, or even just actually good singer songwriters. Few months back at 3345 Parr St I witnessed quite the shindig. The lights were low, the candles were scented and the audience was very much in awe. Not a bad atmosphere for Thomas Western's fourth ever solo gig! Whether or not it was the intention, the Derby-born one man [...]

Kings of Leon - Because of the Times - RCA Caleb and co came back this year with one mightEE hot record for us all to share, or buy our own copies anyway. 'Because of the Times' is not as good as 'Aha Shake...' in my opinion, but that's cause 'Aha Shake...' is one of the best albums of my generation. 'On Call' was the ideal comeback single, it was dark, catchy and had that whole Pixies soft/loud thang going on too. But absolute classic [...]

There really is nothing like a big fat slab of innovation to heat one city's scene up. This lot are called Earl Grey and the Lego Men and they could be the most groundbreaking, genre-crossing phenomenon since, erm, Enter Shikari. Actually, dare I say it but they could be that little bit more superior. It's Joy Division on top of Run DMC below My Chem by means of Dizzee with a little Klaxons on the side. Oh, and REM for leftovers. 'Secret Bunkers' twirls around like a braver Linkin Park, and [...]

Video Nasties – Korova – April 19 It's rather empty down here. Little does every single soul who's not got their ass within this very hot and very sweaty Korova know that genuine Twee Pop genius is tunnelling up live before us. Two afros and a lead singer who looks like The Feeling's lead singer make up 3 out of this 5-lot, and with such in-time guitar picking, pretty keyboard noise making swishes going on, Video Nasties meet all the right rules to join The Maccabees, The Pigeon Detectives and all this other new Brit pop [...]

Not bad. Not bad at all.

Maybe I'm missing the point. But... A little less cowbell, a little more guitar. A little more guitar, a little less cowbell. Blah blah blady blah! This wave raving spun-off drivel goes by the name of Indica Ritual, some Scouse cluster attempting to mimic their way into Planet Good Music. A bit like Enter Shikari without the emo, 'Num Lock' is a dull splatter of inane for-the-hell-of-it noises spread underneath the lead singer's impression, without realising it, of the main one from Boy Kill Boy. Big yuck. As time was filled [...]

This lot are four clean-cut chaps with their shirts tucked in who play dulcet yet distorted guitars underneath some sharp and witty words. Judging by such, a few weeks back I could've been in the midst of an early Weezer show at some packed out underground club in Los Angeles. But in fact it was a half-full Korova impatiently waiting for the headliners, unaware that genuine pop-genius twas live before them. 'Vis a Vis' is Blue Album-type strings with Jimmy Chamberlin on drums and Frank Black's loveably irksome squeal to conclude. [...]

This lot are four clean-cut chaps with their shirts tucked in who play dulcet yet distorted guitars underneath some sharp and witty words. Judging by such, a few weeks back I could've been in the midst of an early Weezer show at some packed out underground club in Los Angeles. But in fact it was a half-full Korova impatiently waiting for the headliners, unaware that genuine pop-genius twas live before them. 'Vis a Vis' is Blue Album-type strings with Jimmy Chamberlin on drums and Frank Black's loveably irksome squeal to conclude. [...]

It is indeed that time of the month again - only not again because this is the first time I've done this! So, what was Shout and Twist's favourite album released last month? Arcade Fire? Enter Shikari? No and no. But... Good Shoes - Think Before You Speak – Brille Records Quite possibly one of the albums of this year, Morden four-piece Good Shoes have made one mighty delicious collection of 14 songs packed with hip hooks and witty words. Probably would've fit perfectly when all that art-rock stuff was [...]

It is indeed that time of the month again - only not again because this is the first time I've done this! So, what was Shout and Twist's favourite album released last month? Arcade Fire? Enter Shikari? No and no. But... Good Shoes - Think Before You Speak – Brille Records Quite possibly one of the albums of this year, Morden four-piece Good Shoes have made one mighty delicious collection of 14 songs packed with hip hooks and witty words. Probably would've fit perfectly when all that art-rock stuff was [...]

The Twang - Liverpool Barfly - March 20 Wow. Barfly's upstairs' stage hasn't been this set since the Monkeys rolled on over to Scouse Town in October of 2005. Outside the touts are haggling, inside the Myspace addicts are jittery, and one footy fan has just asked his fellow footy fan friend if he's ever heard of The Rakes. Have this Brummie five-piece hit The Mainstream or what?! Sounds-wise, 'Cloudy Room' kicks off kinda similar to an intro equipped to commence a Kings of Leon record, hurling around with dark and moody intensity, prior to transforming [...]

The Twang - Liverpool Barfly - March 20 Wow. Barfly's upstairs' stage hasn't been this set since the Monkeys rolled on over to Scouse Town in October of 2005. Outside the touts are haggling, inside the Myspace addicts are jittery, and one footy fan has just asked his fellow footy fan friend if he's ever heard of The Rakes. Have this Brummie five-piece hit The Mainstream or what?! Sounds-wise, 'Cloudy Room' kicks off kinda similar to an intro equipped to commence a Kings of Leon record, hurling around with dark and moody intensity, prior to transforming [...]

Every Saturday teatime right up until last Christmas all over the country millions upon millions of tellies were tuned into what was fronted as reality TV but can only be labelled as Scouse Mortification. Merseyside was in desperate need for some healthy integrity, and along with this blog, the city's most hippest foursome goFASTER>> are the perfect catalyst to boost a whole lotta credibility back into the city. First ever single 'She Starts Monday' is chopped up strings and witty words – 'I've got a Mach3 they've got AK-47' – flawlessly fitting for the times [...]

Every Saturday teatime right up until last Christmas all over the country millions upon millions of tellies were tuned into what was fronted as reality TV but can only be labelled as Scouse Mortification. Merseyside was in desperate need for some healthy integrity, and along with this blog, the city's most hippest foursome goFASTER>> are the perfect catalyst to boost a whole lotta credibility back into the city. First ever single 'She Starts Monday' is chopped up strings and witty words – 'I've got a Mach3 they've got AK-47' – flawlessly fitting for the times [...]

Last month The Wombats were the first unsigned act ever to headline Liverpool's Carling Academy. Yet with screaming teenage girls and their mums filling the venue, at first it felt more like a Girls Aloud show than the pretty damn delicious set of twee-pop and infectious guitars it very much was. Nonetheless, this Scouse threesome are already gaining Zane-attention, fully loaded with some fine awesome tuneage. 'Kill the Director', action packed with Bloc judders and pretty harmonies, is so damn catchy one can't help but yell out the chorus, 'If this is a [...]

Last month The Wombats were the first unsigned act ever to headline Liverpool's Carling Academy. Yet with screaming teenage girls and their mums filling the venue, at first it felt more like a Girls Aloud show than the pretty damn delicious set of twee-pop and infectious guitars it very much was. Nonetheless, this Scouse threesome are already gaining Zane-attention, fully loaded with some fine awesome tuneage. 'Kill the Director', action packed with Bloc judders and pretty harmonies, is so damn catchy one can't help but yell out the chorus, 'If this is a [...]

Honesty is the best policy. Peter and the Wolf may folk up a shpash of double bass beats, merge cow bells with pretty acoustic strings and relentlessly manage to twist minutes of cute indie-pop, yet the real nitty-gritty of suburban existence as we know it in the tales of death, heartache and euthanasia breathe right at the very core. Like Marilyn Manson covering Bright Eyes whilst being hugged by KT Tunstall, 'Moon to the Sea' tells the story of man who's lost everything only to fall from grace over a splatter of cheery guitars and [...]