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GIG PREVIEWS - April 2005
¡Forward, Russia! / This Et Al /
Snow White
@ The Packhorse, 1st
So by now we all know what Dance To The Radio is, yes? Well here is the launch for the labels first single, a split 7” between ¡Forward, Russia! and This Et Al. From the former expect screeching angular punk sharp enough to lead a battalion of communist warriors. The latter will be loud, very loud. They will be intense. Oh, and they might be a bit noisy. Fear not, for they shall be playing some great melodic rock songs underneath it all. Also playing are Snow White, who play the most aggressive, unlistenable punk imaginable. Which is excellent. (TG)
Doves
@ Leeds University, 2nd
Lots of people listen to Doves and think, “What’s all the fuss about?”. Whereas I listen to Doves and get transported to the lovely place that only classic, no nonsense pop songs steeped in subtlety and nuance but still packing an electric wallop can take you. New CD “Some Cities” includes the usual batch of instant classics, growers and a few puzzling turkeys and will form the soundtrack to my Summer at least. And if they don’t play The Cedar Room I will be very, very, very upset indeed. (JE-C)
Love / Vib Gyor
@ Irish Centre, 8th
One of the original psychedelic bands of the late 60s, Love_s revival over the past few years has been a welcome sight. The set includes most of the classic album ‘Forever Changes’ as well as plenty of early hits like Œ7 And 7 & Is. This time Arthur Lee will be joined by his original guitarist John Echols, so expect a more authentic sound. Support from Leeds’ own melodic rock firebrands Vib Gyor.
Ashtray Navigations / Blood Stereo /
Birds Of Delay / Rameses III /
James Blackshaw
@ The Fenton, 9th
A typically eclectic night of music in Leeds is promised at the Fenton on 9 April: cult UK underground noise from brother/sister duo Dylan Nyoukis and Karen Constance as the core of Blood Stereo. Dylan’s pedigree includes the seminal Prick Decay so expect Merzbow meets Stooges punk-noise. Folk-picking and drones from UK’s James Blackshaw whose quality was cemented with a recent CD release on ace New Zealand label Celebrate Psi Phenomenon.
UK drone trio Rameses III bring up the rear, with adept help from Leeds improvising electronics trio Birds of Delay and our own Ashtray Navigations who should need little or no introduction. (JS)
Young Knives / O Fracas
Bad Sneakers @ The Faversham, 9th
Oxford based whelps The Young Knives must make an interesting noise because Gang of Four guitarist Andy Gill is producing their stuff and he wouldn’t associate himself with any old rope (See also Mission Of Burma). And according to their website this is a “secret gig”. Yowsa! Local angular art-pop rockers O Fracas play songs of effortless invention and sonic adventure with just the right amount of fun thrown in. (JE-C)
Kaiser Chiefs / The Cribs
@ Leeds Met, 13th
Just how high can the Kaiser Chiefs rocket fly? Utterly ubiquitous at the moment, I’m half expecting Ricky to turn up sitting next to David Dimbleby on Question Time pronouncing on the state of the nation (“I predict a riot, David!”). The band brings their delirious pop back home for what is bound to be a riotous gig. The more idiosyncratic Cribs are poised in the Chiefs considerable slipstream and may find themselves in a similar position before too long. It probably sold out weeks ago, but sell your Granny for a ticket, it’ll be worth it. (JE-C)
The Sunshine Underground / Fights /
Park & Ride
The Engine Room @ Brudenell Social, 14th
Another cross Yorkshire bill. Particularly worth checkin out Sunshine Underground who seem to be gaining a pretty firm grip on the concept of guitar pop. Supports from Sheffield’s Fights and Hull’s Park & Ride
Virgin Eye Blood Brothers / Hototogisu /
VibraCatheral Orchestra
@ The Packhorse, 14th
I believe this is the first visit to the UK from Virgin Eye Blood Brothers (improv-psych-noise-folk, all the way from Louisville, USA) so get your arse in gear to the Packhorse on April 14. Also on this smashing bill are Hototogisu. A duo comprising of two of the leading lights of the international underground, namely Matthew Bower of legendary units like Skullflower, Total, Sunroof and latterly Vibracathedral Orchestra, and Marcia Bassett of US heavy-drone gang Double Leopards. No doubt drone-folk-improv will be the order of the day from everyones favourite “cheap local support group” Vibracathedral Orchestra. No matter how many times I see this lot they are always different and mesmerising! (JS)
The Boyfriends / The Long Blondes /
Downdime
@ Brudenell Social Club, 16th
OK, I don’t know what The Boyfriends sound like, but look who’s supporting. The Long Blondes sound like The Shangri-Las injected with the taste of punk-rock and dressed up like fashion victims. They’re so great even the Queens of Noize love ‘em. So they must be good… scrap that. Even though Queens of Noize love ‘em, they are still utterly ace. Downdime may not have two ludicrous fame hungry women singing their praises, but they do have lovely, lovely songs. They try to hide them underneath Ged’s permanently buzzing guitar. The pop always breaks free though. (TG)
Isis / Jesu
@ Josephs Well, 21st
Without Aaron Turner, the US metal underground would be a sadder place.
His Hydrahead label has introduced some the most amazing extreme and abstract metal and hardcore bands of the last decade (Converge, Cave In, Botch, Knut, Keelhaul being just a few). The guy also creates all the artwork for these releases (and as a designer he is up there with Stephen O’Malley). If that weren’t enough he’s also in Old Man Gloom, House Of Low Culture and Lotus Eaters. However, he is most famous for his work with Isis. Epic grinding post-metal (!) for fans of Godflesh, Neurosis and the God Machine. If that weren’t enough he’s also got the legendary Justin Broadrick (surely Turner’s UK antecedent) to open for him in his post-Godflesh unit Jesu.
There’s also some Isis folk in Red Sparowes who will be creating Explosions In The Sky-style sombre post-rock at Josephs Well on April 28. (JS)
Little Richard
@ Halifax Victoria Theatre, 26th
He claims to be "the architect of rock and roll," and history would seem to bear out Little Richard's boast. More than any other performer - save, perhaps, Elvis Presley, Little Richard blew the lid off the 50s, with his explosive music and charismatic persona. On record, he made spine-tingling rock and roll. His frantically charged piano playing and raspy, shouted vocals on such classics as "Tutti Frutti," "Long Tall Sally" and "Good Golly, Miss Molly" defined rock and roll. This is a chance to catch one of the true originals, a real living legend.
recommendations by Tom Goodhand, Johnny Ersatz-Culture, Tony Woolgar, ,Jamie Stephenson and Jack Tractor
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