Album review of Leeds/Wakefield band Protectors

Hey there,

another review, but this band are something special. So if you ever get a chance to see them you should.

Can’t shake the moves

Protectors album review.

If you like catchy, bouncy, indie rock, which makes your foot and head tap in agreement then you will love this latest offering from Protectors.

“One giant step” launches you into this glorious album. It does not fail to lead you in head first, craving how they are going to let this album progress. “Catwalk” progresses fast with heavy drums and bass, but with sweet succulent vocals to soften. Further on and “Still here” is an example of indie rock with a little glitter hint of punk. The contrast of between the gruff vocals and the sweet melodic makes this track stands out from all the rest. It is a slightly different sound to remainder of the album, but possibly one of the best.

With other instruments such as a trumpet featuring on some of the tracks you can hear that this wonderful band is trying not to make the tracks sound samey. They want to give the listener something different and they certainly have done this. Nothing screams imitation from these guys.

So in this short and sweet album you have a band that is certainly on the up. A perfectly formed 3 piece of indie rock that will certainly be going places, if they keep pulling things out of the bag like this definitely worth a listen.

A live review of the band Human Fly

hey there people,

 this is a review that was done some time ago but has now been printed so going to share it with you all. enjoy.

Tucked away in the upstairs room of the Cardigan arms, which looked like a crack den, the anticipation of the pending gig from the sublimely amazing Human-fly is rife. The people here are waiting for something more from the support bands that have already graced this makeshift stage.

 That something more comes in the form of Human-fly. When these guys come on stage the atmosphere in this tiny room is electric. Cheers from the crowd ensue and leads them into their first song. This brings huge happiness to a crowd that seemed to have wanted this band from the start. Known as the “finest forgers of Riffs” by one spectator in the crowd is ever so apparent from the next song to follow “This is where your parents fucked” brings huge riff’s with a cool and uplifting in your face hostility, but with also a nice and subtle texture of melodies that run through.

 The band storm through their set list ripping up the stage song after song, feeding this sweaty crowd more ammo with each and every song. Nothing else could have been asked of by this band they were ever so tight, flawless even. They gave everything that they could and them some. With powerful and energetic riffs like this it is no wonder that they can please a home crowd like the Cardigan Arms. 

 As the night progresses this amazingly tight formed band, take you on a mystical journey of rock and ambient sounds, with epically outstanding riffs that encourage you to rock your little heart out.   

what makes a good venue?

What actually

Makes a great venue?

I have been round the country to see all my favourite bands, been to all different venues. Followed bands to a big gig in a park or somewhere that means a lot to them, but in this day and age we seem to be getting more and more obscure places. Kasabian recently played a gig on a plane. Now for anyone that has seen them play live, Tom likes his space to move around, a modern Mick Jagger if that’s how we are to describe his front man technique. These types of gigs are becoming more common than the stereotypical gig in a arena or other venue.

Every city has an iconic venue, or somewhere that was an iconic venue. But what actually makes it iconic? Is it that they played their most successful gig there? Was it their first ever gig? Or is it that the venue has played host to a number of great bands. My opinion it is a mix of all three, and more. Gigs, bands and venues get around through word of mouth. How many times have you been informed, that the band in the cockpit last night ripped it up? Or any other place in Leeds for that matter. It’s a good conversation who played well. Leeds has many of these venues, such as, Brudenell social club, O2 academy (formally the old town and country club) and the Well. Yes we have many more places but that could go on forever, couldn’t it. We have these just like Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and London have theirs. All with their own history and own iconic moments that have been cemented, in the bands history, the cities, and of course the venues.

Recently though we have seen an uprising in ‘different’ gigs. The Libertines are prime examples of this. They used to organise a gig form their flat or some other obscure place, and then let the world know, via the internet with only a few hours before the performance. All of these gigs have cemented the flat they shared (known as the Albion rooms) music history. So is it fair to call it an iconic venue? Yes and no really. Yes these gigs were something special, but they were done in a flat. Not a conventional venue to say the least, but it has brought fans across the country to see where these, monument-us gigs actually happened.

Not all gigs have to be obscure. Many bands and artists hold gigs and events at places, which are held deer to them. Kaiser chiefs held a gig at

Elland Road

, this being the home of their beloved football team Leeds United. This gig was a sell out and huge event to happen on the ground. Not the first time that it has held such events. It has hosted Queen, U2 and more recently Rod Stewart. Yes, it maybe not obscure but it is still unconventional as saying, we are going to play Manchester MEN arena. Kaiser Chiefs wanted to give Leeds and their football club something they could be proud of and also make it in history that they played there.

Knebworth is another example of something that is not obscure, but is certainly iconic now. On the 10^th August 1996 Oasis held a record breaking event in the park. 165,000 people each day flocked to the ground to hear their idols. This is still the highest amount of people to attend a concert at the venue. No it’s not obscure; Oasis could just play a number of arena tours to achieve those figures of people. But they wanted to something out of the so called ‘norm’. Don’t forget that these guys had not been around for decades, but only a few years, before they played to this size of a crowd. This then powered them further on in their careers, and made Knebworth more of an iconic venue that it had already been. Robbie Williams tried to compete with but managed 125,000 over two days, again making this a place for aspiring artists to play.

Forests have become a few bands recent, places to play. I think it’s the thought of playing somewhere that nobody else has, and being more creative than just within their music. The randomness of the venue creates excitement for both the band and the people that are going to attend. It’s the excitement of not knowing what is actually going to happen. The crowd are probably wary thinking, what the hell is going on. It is all good fun in general really. Sticking to what you know can be boring. It is about time that things became unconventional. Gigs need a shake up, it’s not all about getting to the front of a normal music venue; it’s about connecting to that band, and embracing the gift they are trying to give you. If you do ever get a chance of going to one of these weird gigs concerts, then fully take it up, break out of the norm and experience something new. It is knowledge and stories that you are able to pass down to the younger people as you get older. This way the younger ones can they draw their own ideas about where, they want to play, and start their own set of rules.

The Sound of the Future - Young Aviators

Hey there people,

what is to come is an amazing interview, with a band that are certainly something special please check them out.

Young Aviators

A band to who are

Going places.

Songs that are inspired by everyday life, and founded by a group of Irishman, who wanted to do something that was on the right side of the law, and wanting to increase their chances of “getting girls”, the Young Aviators are certainly ones to watch.

With an energy so raw and powerful that will, take over a room within an instant, requiring you to dance erratically like a teenager again, it is hard to see these guys not going places. If you like fast guitars, a bass beat that will get you bouncing and mesmerised and drum beats that will pierce your ears, then you need to have a listen. “Rabbit in a headlight” captures you from the opening

These guys grew up in Ireland, and have since moved to Scotland to further their music career, and show the Scots their witty banter. They previously have toured with the Subways then, a headline slot at the Captain’s rest in Glasgow. They are now returning to stampede venues across the nation, and gain more followers. If you only ever get one opportunity to see this band then do it they create fantastic funking anthems, which will certainly not disappoint. Below are a few words from the guys themselves.

1) Firstly how did you guys get together to form a band?
We started the band back when we were spotty, angst ridden teenagers. Growing up in a small Irish town meant that there wasn’t a whole lot for teenagers to do that wasn’t illegal, so music seemed like a healthy way to spend your time, which may also increase your chance of getting girls. We were roughly around 13 when we started jamming together in the basement of a local church.
 
2) What made you go from Ireland to Scotland?Primarily, University really. We took a year out to go on tour and concentrate on becoming a better band after our A-Levels, and after that was finished we all thought it would be a shame to split the band up, so we decided to go to Glasgow Uni together (also the only Uni that all three of us were excepted into). Plus, Scotland (much like Leeds) is good banter.
 
3) Markey, you have landed a part in a film. How did that come about?I did some things that I’m not particularly proud of to obtain that role. The film is called World War Z, starring Brad Pitt…and myself. Look out for the awkward bearded guy being chased by Zombies across the streets of Philadelphia wearing a suit and walking like John Wayne.

4) You recently toured with The Subways, and are now featuring on their up and coming tour. How did you find the last tour?The last tour was amazing! It was our first proper U.K tour and we felt like it was a success!! Obviously, no one knows who we are and we don’t have any singles out, so it was a real challenge to try and get people on your side in what was usually a 30minute set. 
 
5) For the people who have not heard of your music can you explain the style and what they would expect if they came to see you? Mmmh, the dreaded question. I would like to think they’d expect to be impressed on some level, even if they weren’t a fan of our genre. We’re upbeat, with plenty of harmonies, quite heavy at times and quiet at others…I guess they’d have to come and see us to make up their minds.

6) Who are your main influences that have given you the passion to be where you guys want to be? We all have varying influences, and our shared influences have obviously changed over the years. I’d say quality modern three-piece groups have always inspired us, bands with three members, who are louder and more impressive than bands with 5 or 6 members. Bands like Muse, The Subways, Green Day, BRMC& The Vines (when they were a three-piece), The Jam Etc…
 

7) Dead or alive who would you put into your super group?Awesome question!!! Right, on drums it has to be (drum roll please) Dave Grohl. On bass Guitar Chris Wolstenholme from Muse. On guitar, Paul Weller, and on vocals Freddy Mercury. What a band that would be.

8) What gives you the creative inspiration to make music?A hard question to answer without sounding pretentious. Everyday life is usually the inspiration, though most of our songs at the moment ‘False Education’, ‘Life in the Front Seat’ etc, are about being a young person in the 21st century, how things are all messed up and fast moving and jobless.
 
9) Can we have 3 facts on each of you so that new fans know a little about you?
Decky: I never travel in lifts by myself. I was born in Manchester. I really love Football.
Markey: I have a webbed finger. I have been a nude model and worked in the Disney Store. I’m a grade 8 tuba player.
Kyle: I am a male model. I only wear y-fronts. I’m terrified of commitment.
 
10) What has been the best gig you have played so far?
We played a gig at the Brudenell Social Club in Leeds supporting The Subways this summer, which was a great show!! The crowd was awesome and at points it almost felt like a home town show.
 
11) You combine a bit of audience comedy banter when you play live, is this something that happens natural or is it something you make a point of doing?
We certainly don’t make a point of doing it, that would be detrimental to the purity of the banter. It arose originally though nerves in-between songs, we like it when crowds heckle us, its their way of getting involved and from growing up in Ireland we’re more than capable of giving it back. It makes the gig more honest and less pretentious, which is something we like.

12) What have the next few months have got in store for the Young Aviators?
We are hopefully going back out on tour this October, also doing some recording, writing new material and playing a host of Glasgow shows. Keeping busy, and trying to stay sober.
 

the average shelf life of a CD

Hi people,

recently I have been thinking baout the average shelf life a CD has in this soceity. As you read it you will gather that I do love my CDs ad hope that one day they will pick up on popularity again.

The average shelf life

Of a CD.

I don’t know about you, but I love nothing more than taking a trip down to HMV and browsing through the CD’s that are on offer. Also I will also take a stroll to crash and Jumbo records to see if anything takes my fancy there. But with the announcements that HMV are struggling, and that they are closing down a number of stores. It is hard to believe that this wonderful product may soon be gone, and replaced with the digital format.

Now I may be living in the past, but I love having the hard copy of an album, that the artists have put effort into making. It just feels lazy that we now, live in a society that lives on the digital copy of an album. It’s not only the digital versions that are putting the CDs out of business, it’s the illegal downloads. Recent research has shown that illegal downloads has dropped, but is this because now you have the video converters, rather than using the dedicated sites such as, bear share, pirate bay and lime-wire. It’s a scary thought to think that CDs could be no more in a few years because of this new digital society.

CDs overtook records, but CDs also survived the mini-disk (remember them) but it does not look like they will be able to survive this generation. We will still use them for making our own albums, and even to burn our digital version of the album we have just bought onto. But the age of record stores is slowly dieing. This is now why we have such days as national record store days. This is not for the huge companies, but for the small independent record stores, who rely on people to but the real thing from them.

The smaller bands, which have yet to score a record deal, will use this digital format, to save money and be able to get the music out to, record companies, magazines and bloggers. So in this instance this it is a good idea to move on from CDs, it allows bands with a low expenditure to broaden the horizons and allow music to be heard. On this level I do think that the digital way of life is a huge improvement, but I am still for the CDs. To me I think that it is just that feeling of being able to hold it and realise how much effort the artist has gone into making it, right down to the artwork.

So I am both for and against digital copies of music but my heart does, and will always lie with CDs. There is just something about them that, makes me happy. Being able to put them in order (yes I know a little OCD but it makes it easier to find them). The actual act of being able to go out and buy them knowing you are supporting what they have done. I think I will always be pro CDs, and I am not looking forward to the day that they, are to be no more. I think it will be a crying shame, and the generations after me, will have seriously missed out.  

Muse and playing that album

Were Muse right

To take the risk?

It was a risk to take, but were Bellamy and co right in taking it. Their headline slot at Leeds and Reading festivals was theirs for the taking it, but half the time was playing Origins of Symmetry in its entirety. Was this a good move or not?  Some people feel that this was a waste of a slot, that some of the people who attend the festival may not be sure on Muse to start with, so playing the album there in full was a way of alienating people from a show that could have turned their opinions of the band. But, on the other hand they were celebrating 10 years since the release of the album, so why shouldn’t they have done it in style.

It is a widely known fact that Muse are marmite you love them or hate them. There is no in between for this band. So obviously when it was heard what they had planned for their own set, people were very quick to shout out there opinions. I can understand fully with people who only wanted a mixed set, and not something that not everyone is going to no. But on the opposing side you can understand the people who wanted this album to be played. Origins of Symmetry is one of the timeless albums you should have in you CD collection. So to the fans it was only right that it should be played.

Whatever your opinion was on the matter the real question is, did they manage to pull it off? As I was at Leeds festival, I thought the set was pretty good. But you could sense that the atmosphere was not at its best whilst the album was played in full. This album is what their first album should have been and where best to do it, than at Reading and Leeds. The atmosphere was definitely dull, and could tell that the fans were mainly ones that have jumped onto the bandwagon, from the previous two albums. Yes they may have known the hits such as “Plug in baby” and “Feeling Good”, yes these songs were amazing. Bellamy powering though the riffs like a jack-hammer to concrete, but the rest of the album will have gone unappreciated by them. The little atmosphere that was there was indeed from the fans that realised and appreciated one of the best albums of all time being played.

This being said the set was still out standing. They still managed to make the show one to remember, even if you were one of the entry-level fans who didn’t know many songs, they can still play to a crowd and wow them. So the playing “Origins of Symmetry” was not a crowd pleaser and was not an entire success, it was a risk why shouldn’t they take them. The greatest hits part of the show allowed them to win the new fans back. “Uprising” was first to be heard and met with cheers, bouncing and singing along. This part of the set was a safety net knowing they would get all the adulation that they knew and deserved.

Overall the set was everything that Muse is and that is Marmite. I loved it and thought it was a risk worth taking. I enjoyed hearing the album played live, just as much as I heard all the hits being played live too. Muse will always be up there for me in the live stakes.