Tagged: reviewsandcommentary

Mayday Parade release their full-length album, 'Mayday Parade' on October 4. Co-produced by Zack Odom and Kenneth Mount, Mayday Parade marks a return to their songwriting roots; the entire album was self-written in a collaborative effort by the five band mates. The 12-song collection transpired through careful introspection and it echoes the musicians' maturation over the two years since their second album, Anywhere But Here . The band chose to pen each of the songs themselves, making the album perhaps their most personal to date, complete with relatable lyrics and their undeniable [...]

Listening to Jimi Hendrix Experience - Winterland - is as always with Jimi Hendrix, an experience. From the second "Fire" starts, it's like being back in the saddle. Yes, I've heard the song many times, even used to sing it in my old cover band...but you certainly know where you are with this one. After a little banter inbetween songs, "Foxey Lady" glides right in. The band is tight, the solo is soaring and Mitch Mitchell on the drums is firing back along with Jimi's guitar. Jimi notes [...]

Oxford band Little Fish is set to release their new single "Wonderful". The band has experienced quite a lot in the last couple of years. After making a name for themselves here in Oxford, they signed to Linda Perry 's label Custard Records/Universal, spent some time in LA recording their debut album 'Baffled and Beat' , received rave reviews, and toured with such acts as Supergrass, Juliette Lewis, Alice in Chains and Placebo. Lucky for Oxford fans, Little Fish is back in town, releasing their new [...]

Van Hunt is getting ready to release his new album, 'What Were You Hoping For?' , and I've been lucky to have a listen ahead of release. The album is refreshingly 'out there'! Exciting, lush layers of harmonies, excellent guitars, and an interesting - daring, even - mix throughout the album. Risque lyrics at times along with sexy vocals, and the production is top notch. After listening to 'What Were You Hoping For?' - it would be great to check out Van and the band's live show. [...]

FreeSol is a hip-hop/rock/soulband from Memphis, Tennessee. They've been together since 2003, playing the live band scene and winning competitions - like the Mid-South Grammy Showcase, Turner South's My South Rocks competition, The Rock Boat's Grand Championship show and the BMI Urban Music Showcase. Shortly after seeing FreeSol perform at a jazz cafe in their hometown, Justin Timberlake signed them to his label Tennman Records. They've since signed a major deal with Interscope Records and are now set to release their debut album, No Rules . Producers involved [...]

Guillemots have released their third studio album, Walk The River . Their latest single "I Must Be A Lover" is set for release July 3, 2011. Greig Stewart took some time out from his busy tour schedule to answer some questions for our readers. We seem to be collecting quite a few exclusive interviews with this talented drummer - Greig Stewart EXCLUSIVE interview (Red album) ; Guillemots drummer Greig Stewart interview ! [...]

Peerless Pirates @ The Wheatsheaf, Oxford review I was passing by The Wheatsheaf in Oxford last Wednesday evening and thought I'd pop in and say hello to my old mate Joel the sound engineer - who has been engineering sound to some of the finest gigs in Oxford since the 1990's. After obtaining some ale and ascending the stairs to the stage area, there I was greeted by a sound I hadn't heard in this place before. After greeting Joel [...]

The Glee Club, Oxford review Saturday, May 28, 2011: Compere Rob Collins + comedians Fredrik Andersson, Joel Dommett, Ava Vidal, Gary Delaney The Glee Club is slap bang in the centre of Oxford town. Dead handy by bus or the train station if you can afford posh transport. Hythe Bridge Street is the location and easy to find. Once you have found the said venue you are ushered to your personal numbered seat. The place has a very friendly atmosphere and [...]

The Second Coming by John Niven book review The Second Coming is a very humorous, can't put down read of a book. As the title suggests, this is a story about the good Lord revisiting the earth in 2011, this time though, instead of being a carpenter, he is a humble musician. This is a tongue-in-cheek 'what if' story. There is drama and tough luck tales a plenty in this book, but on the whole it is a good time, almost road trip [...]

An Evening Under The Bridge Chelsea Football Club, Stamford Bridge, London Friday 11 March 2011 Under The Bridge is one of my favorite Red Hot Chili Peppers songs, but now I can add it as one of my favorite places to be, too. Russian billionaire and owner of Chelsea Football Club , Roman Abramovich , recently opened the 500-capacity £20million nightclub quite literally under Chelsea's Stamford Bridge football stadium. I was looking forward to [...]

British band Toploader are set to release their album 'Only Human' in May 2011. When I first heard their new single "Never Stop Wondering" , I played it about four times in a row. By the second play I was singing along to the melodic chorus like I'd known it for years. With this being the band's first new material in eight years, it's great to see Toploader back with such a strong lead track. The band has announced a short series of dates around [...]

Photo: Them Changes So when they ask, "what were you doing for New Year's Eve 2010 ?" I can say with a cheeky smile that I was drinking and soaking up the atmosphere at Nambucca on The Holloway Road, Islington in London. We arrived there with our mate Greig Stewart who was to be offering himself up as a DJ for a couple of hours before joining us in celebrating the onset of 2011. Nambucca Live Music Venue - Review [...]

At first I was hesitant with the idea of traveling from Oxford to London for the New Year's Eve festivities, thinking it might be difficult to get around London, and back to Oxford at such late/early hours. But the more I thought about it, the more it seemed like it could be a good night out, and worth any travel hassles that might occur. So, destination: Nambucca in London. 596 Holloway Road, Islington. Our friend Greig Stewart ( Guillemots ) was DJing plus Orthadox Junkies and Michael Latif . [...]

Onlinefire - Panasonic DynamoTV LIVE event Final episode featuring Ian Brown Onlinefire sure knows how to throw a great party! The award winning, London based communications agency hosted the Panasonic TA1 Dynamo TV LIVE event that took place at the trendy Juju Bar on Kings Road, Chelsea. Of course, the star of the night was the UK's top street magician Dynamo AKA Steve Frayne . I [...]

Party Dark is J-Rock and Randy , former members of the R&B / Hip hop chart toppers Big Brovaz . Recently signed to Champion Records , Party Dark hit the UK Dance charts with their debut single "Is That You" . Set to release their latest club hit "Let's Go" , the video is already being played on MTV, Kiss, Smash Hits and The Box . Party Dark interview with Jenny May [...]

When Crooked by Kristin Hersh arrived in the mail I didn't waste any time opening the package and then the hard cover book. By having the book in hand, it feels quite exciting being 'a part' of the innovative concept: "a publishing industry first" with Kristin, lead singer of Throwing Muses , releasing her new studio album, Crooked , as a book. A first for any major recording artist, which makes this "a groundbreaking publication". The book is published by HarperCollins imprint The [...]

Right, listen here you all. Ok? I've been going to punk gigs ever since the 70's, and I pretty much thought that I had seen some of the most outrageous gigs ever known to mankind. I had seen the Sex Pistols explode, I used to go 'round with The Clash . I was there when JJ Burnel beat some poor sod up on stage. I played a lot of mad gigs myself in my band 4 Minute Warning . Had bottles thrown at me and fists [...]

The Crushing are a band from Oxford, England who claim that their songs have teeth and possess their own personas. "Beasts" are what their drummer Penos calls them. I know this sounds slightly far fetched and you might laugh at such a suggestion in some circles, but after a listen to the first song they offer up off of their debut CD, 'Quickshooter' you start to understand where they are coming from and look nervously around for a way out of the building. [...]

Last week I went to see Graffiti6 play an exclusive acoustic showcase at Soho House in London. It was well worth the trip. Jamie Scott and producer TommyD , aka Graffiti6, played acoustic guitars - along with Pete on acoustic bass. The set was short but sweet, consisting of a handful of songs including the new Graffiti6 single "Annie You Save Me" . Their three part harmonies were refreshingly tight. Acoustically, "Annie You Save Me" has a [...]

As mentioned in the Run Toto Run review , we were treated to a magical night out when the Manchester based electro band played in Oxford on their recent tour. After talking with the band that night, I wanted to know more about them. Run Toto Run band members: Rachael (vocals, drum pads), Mike (synths, backing vocals) and Matt (electronics, occasional violin). Read the exclusive Run Toto Run interview with [...]