Blog: There Goes the Fear

It wasn't really until this past trip to Britain that I started actually feeling quite proud of being from Washington DC. When I was in Glasgow, a friend of Frightened Rabbit 's who had come over for a recent tour of the States said how lovely the venue and staff at the 9:30 Club were and how he wished he could visit again soon. When I insisted to the Crookes that one day they would play there, they were ever so self-deprecating, referring to the club's hardcore punk history as the starting point [...]

London-based Daughter came to our American shores with a much bigger following than I expected. Having heard the splash they made on both BBC Radio 1 and 6Music and with Huw Stephens as a huge supporter, I knew it wasn’t something I wanted to miss. But when they sold out our local mid-sized room at the Black Cat, I was astonished. I see so many bands that while popular at home, when they cross the pond really have to struggle to get a draw. Not so with Daughter. [...]

In January of this year, Irish rock trio Bell X1 completed work on their sixth studio offering, the somewhat bewilderingly titled ‘Chop Chop.’ The summer release of ‘Chop Chop’ is anxiously anticipated by Bell X1 fans, but perhaps more so by the band themselves. In advance of the release, they have made several tracks available on SoundCloud and YouTube for sneak previewing. While the individual tracks are strong enough to pique interest, their musical and emotional impact is best realized in the context of the full album. (For singer Paul Noonan’s [...]

• Bell X1 - The End Is Nigh

Bristol's electronic outfit Seasfire have a new video for 'Oh Lucifer', which will be released as a single on Little Fan Records on the 1st of July. Equally punishing guitars and drums make for a compelling track, as you will hear by watching the video below, which was directed by James Booth (who also did The 1975 's video 'Chocolate'. Click here to view the embedded video.

Never one to back away from a challenge, I was enthusiastic about taking a first listen to British Sea Power when editor Mary suggested I review their sixth full length album, ‘Machineries of Joy’. I’d heard of British Sea Power in passing and been warned that their sound was a lot to take in, but I didn’t even have enough background knowledge to preconceive any notions. Now, after extensive listening to the new album, I’m still not quite sure I know what to think. My overwhelming impression of ‘Machineries of [...]

Hey Sholay are playing the Fierce Panda 19th birthday party this very night, alongside their mates the Crookes and the Heartbreaks. They've got a lovely new video for new single 'WDYRWMTB', which will be out as part of the 'Cloud, Castle, _______' EP, to be released on the 3rd of June. The video is...well, watch it. You'll see. Click here to view the embedded video.

OMD 's newest video from new album 'English Electric' is for 'Dresden'. It's entirely animated, which is kind of a disappointment b/c Andy McCluskey's got a very entertaining way of dancing live. The single is out on the 27th of May. My review of the gig isn't online yet but have a look at Martin's amazing photos of their show at Gateshead Sage on 13 May here. Click here to view the embedded video.

The latest single from the Frankie and the Heartstrings camp is a little ditty called 'Nothing Our Way', being released today. A car wash and a five-a-side, you say? Just watch the video below. The band are on tour in the UK in June. Click here to view the embedded video.

To say that I was pretty bummed that Fenech-Soler pulled out of this year's Great Escape is a terrible understatement. However, I know they've been working super hard on finishing their second album 'Rituals', which is now finished (hurray!) and will be available in the high street on the 2nd of September. 'Magnetic' is their forthcoming single out on the 1st of July on Warner, and I'll be some time before I can really give Ben Duffy's lyrics the proper attention, but visually, this video is brilliance, and for sure this [...]

Bands of the day: Goonam, Ilona, Night Engine Venue of the day: Mello Mello The previous two days of Liverpool Sound City 2013 had seen the music kick off around 6 PM, but as a special Saturday treat, the Korean delegation arranged a showcase at the Kazimier Gardens from the unearthly hour of 2 PM. As well as showcasing four of the country’s finest bands, there was a delicious and in-no-way-an-incentive-to-turn -up spread of native Korean food and drink. [...]

More of Martin's high-res photos from day 2 can be found on his Flickr. Bands of the day: Concrete Knives, Wolf People, Melody’s Echo Chamber Venue of the day: Screenadelica One not-to-be-underestimated benefit of an event being held in Liverpool is the impressive situational architecture. I chose a hotel based entirely on cost and availability, and yet it boasted a fine view of the Mersey estuary and is continuously watched over by that Liver bird which [...]

What happens when you stick the National in a small white room with their instruments and leave them alone? Presumably you get a scene like this video for 'Sea of Love'. Watch the video below. Oh wait. I've just read that it's playing homage to another video that the band found inspiring. How...unimaginative. The band will release their next album 'Trouble Will Find Me' this summer. Click here to view the embedded video.

Third day at Sound City 2013 , and I was flagging. Martin made the perfect suggestion that we should check out the Korean bands day showcase, where there would also be free food and booze on offer. Besides, I'd not been to the Kazimier Gardens yet, which both him and John had waxed philosophical on their home brew and laid-back atmosphere. Afternoon sorted then. I didn't photograph any of the bands, as we had Martin with us there, so check out his review of day 3 for those. What I mostly [...]

Header photo by TGTF Head Photographer Martin Sharman Saturday’s frivolities at Sound City 2013 began at the naturally striking Kazimier Gardens, where the Korean day showcase was taking place. You can hear about and see great photos of the bands from Martin, but for one, the food and atmosphere was exactly what you wanted at around three in the afternoon, when your football team has just been mercilessly relegated from the Championship (yes, I’m bitter). That being that the booze was gently flowing, the sun was beating [...]

Last week, Birmingham-based rockers Editors released their new single, ‘A Ton of Love’, just over a year after announcing guitarist Chris Urbanowicz’s split from the band.  Judging from the sound of this first single, Urbanowicz’s departure has cemented Editors’ digression from fundamentally guitar-based indie rock.  New band members Justin Lockey and Elliott Williams have not only filled the gap left by Urbanowicz, but have allowed Editors to expand the dimensions of their sound.  While the obvious U2 similarity can’t be ignored—this track hinges on an anthemic chorus of “Desire”—it’s a flattering comparison for Editors, [...]

Little Boots has just released her second album, 'Nocturnes', and here is a video for 'Broken Record', a cut from the album. It's kind of reminiscent of Donna Summer or disco era Debbie Harry, yes? Watch it below. Click here to view the embedded video.

Sound City 2013 , day 2, began with me waking up to the strains of a Reverend and the Makers ' YouTube playlist blaring out of John's iPad. Mission accomplished from the previous night , I'd say. We headed into the convention portion of the festival and my first stop was a radio pluggers' panel with heavyweights of the radio industry, including 6music's Chris Hawkins, Radio22s Janice Long, and 6music producer Julie Cullen. As a regular BBC Radio music listener, it was really interesting to hear the presenters and producers' takes on [...]

When you say a band has burst onto the scene, it’s usually the digging up of a worn-out old cliché. But for The Computers , there is seldom other ways to describe the Exeter-based five-piece. They arrived with a 24-minute debut album of punk rowdiness that was extremely raw and reminiscent of Pulled Apart by Horses debut record 'Meat Balloon'. So what did I expect from The Computers' new album, 'Love Triangles Hate Squares'? A bluesy, '50s inspired quasi-homage to jazz was not the first place I was going to. [...]

Girls Names from Belfast will be appearing at the Great Escape on Thursday, gracing the Fly's stage at Coalition. Don't miss them! The band have a new video for 'Hypnotic Regression', from their current album 'The New Life' out now. It's sonically so perfect, you'll just have to listen to below to understand what I mean. If you recall, I caught three of their band for a chat at this year's SXSW ( listen here ) and their first appearance in Austin was at the NI@SXSW showcase on the [...]

Header photo by TGTF Head Photographer Martin Sharman Home-grown boys Alpha Male Tea Party ’s set started abruptly, causing the amassed gaggle of hipsters to spill their cans of Tuborg. The three-piece. who could only be described as being dressed like male ejaculate, ripped into their set with a wave of screeching guitars passing over the crowd in Screenadelica, a venue which did its best to remind you of a scene from any poor horror film, but with more attractive artwork. They busted out the [...]