Serene Sundays #2

This has been one of those weeks where I can’t believe how much has happened and how up and down my emotions have been. Less of this, please. I did see three EXCELLENT bands that I will speak to you about tomorrow as well as some other artists. Life is absolutely on the up, though and today I’m interviewing Beartooth then reviewing that and in-between… cocktails!

I hope the weather is as you like it wherever you are and that your week hasn’t been as dramatic as mine! I also hope that you enjoy this week’s pick of artists.

 

 

This is all a coincidence, I don’t mean to keep falling in love with Brooklyn bands but THEY’RE SO GOOD OKAY. This week’s is self-proclaimed ‘indie pop’ act Canon Logic who are the perfect Spring-Going-Into-Summer band, so perfect to showcase to you today! (In Scotland anyway). They independently released their album WYLD 2 months ago and it is fantastic. It’s energetic, addictive and incredibly promising. I mean, if they’re starting with WYLD I’m pretty excited for any future releases. Much like most albums I fall in love with, WYLD is an adventure. As soon as I finished listening, I started again. And again. Then told friends to listen to them. Are you getting the idea?!

 

The other listen that I recommend for today is this video. I’ve been talking about McFly/Tom Fletcher all week and remembered this adorable video.

Enjoy your Sunday and enjoy this week’s music!

Serene Sundays//Music

In Glasgow today, the sky is grey and the rain is heavy. Just how I like it. Perfect day really to start my new theme that I promised over a month ago! I do have some bloody good music to share with you this afternoon that I hope will more than make up for the, I’m sure, agonising wait.

 

 

 

Augustines, formerly known as We Are Augustines are my first pick for this week. After seeing a blinding set on Friday night, I feel like it’s mandatory that I tell you to check them out. The Brooklyn based indie act have taken everything I knew about them and turned it on it’s head. They are loud, they are unique, they are poetic and they are set, if there’s any justice in the world, to be huge.

Their show on Friday was an unforgettable one that I was delighted to be a part of. Their music is the kind that can be partied to or accompanied by a glass of wine and a book. They’re the best kind of indie band and I’ll be keeping a close eye on them. To check them out for yourself, click here.

 

 

Courtesy of Robert Blackham

With his song Budapest being on repeat in my house, my head, my Spotify, I was so excited to see George Ezra live two months ago to see if his live performance was as energetic, fresh and exciting as his single was and I was not disappointed. He’s been compared to Paolo Nutini and I can totally see why but I’d say that he definitely stands in a league of his own. For such a young, new performer he has so much confidence and is great with the crowd. He involved us in every song and created an incredible atmosphere.

He’s the perfect easy-listening music and his EP Cassy O’ is an incredible journey that perfectly exemplifies how fantastic his range is, how much promise he has and is highly recommended by me to basically everybody. He’s a breath of fresh air from a lot of the popular singer-songwriter acts that we’re facing at the moment. His voice and his lyrics are way beyond his years and come from that of a well-travelled, blues loving soul.

To check him out, click here.

Finally, there’s a girl I have been meaning to talk about for around a year. I’m nothing if not unreliable. Laura Hely Hutchinson is one of the most sorely under-appreciated artists that I have the pleasure of knowing personally.  Much like George Ezra, she has a voice and writes words that are way beyond her 18 years but her voice is incredible, her songs are incredibly touching and it’s really just about time people heard her. She has been compared, unsurprisingly to Laura Marling and on the back of that, I’d say she’s for fans of Laura Marling but should be tried by anybody who appreciates beautiful, understated music.

To find more of her music, click here

Heavens Basement//Interview

This month, Heavens Basement will be touring the UK. They will do 15 shows in 18 days, kicking off in Norwich on March 13th and finishing in Brighton on March 30th. With Glamour of the Kill and The Dirty Youth supporting on all dates, this is set to be an unmissable tour and I caught up with drummer Chris Rivers to have a quick chat!

Describe Heavens Basement in three words?

In your face

If you could choose only one song as a favourite, what would it be?

Welcome Home, it kicks of our set and makes me wanna go ape shit on the drums.

Tell me about the most interesting gig experience you’ve had so far?

When we played a pizza shop in Northern Finland a few years ago, its one of the only times all our professionalism went out the window and each of us had too much to drink..I ended the set with a bass solo (I can’t play bass by the way) and our singer didn’t manage half the set.

If you could tour with any band in the world, past or present, who would it be?

ACDC or the Stones or Aerosmith

What have you struggled with most as a band?

Honestly, I can’t think of much struggle, in the past it was a struggle to find the right people to be in the band but I’ve always got a sick kick out of knock backs, it’s like poking a wild animal, we’ll always come back and attack.

Which do you prefer- touring or recording?

Touring for me personally, playing our music around the world is an amazing feeling but obviously its the album that allows us to do that 🙂

Who are your favourite bands at the moment?

Biffy Clyro are one of my faves at the moment, we’ve got a lot of respect for that band, great songs and they’ve really worked hard to get where they are. Also, the new Pretty Reckless songs are very cool.

What are your plans for 2014?

More touring for the album around the world!

Talk me through your song-writing process?

There’s no set formula, ideas come from anywhere and from anyone in the band. Put us in a room to jam and ideas will be flowing within a minute, Sometimes someone will bring a full song idea to the table too, it’s just a relaxed thing.

What can fans expect from upcoming shows?

Our best headline set ever.

March 2014 Welcome Home Tour:

13 – NORWICH Waterfront
14 – NOTTINGHAM Rescue Rooms
15 – SOUTHAMPTON Takedown Festival
16 – LEEDS Cockpit
18 – NEWCASTLE University
19 – GLASGOW Cathouse
20 – BELFAST Voodoo
21 – DUBLIN Voodoo Lounge
22 – MANCHESTER Academy II
24 – CHESTER Forum
25 – BRISTOL Fleece
27 – LONDON Electric Ballroom
28 – PLYMOUTH White Rabbit
29 – BIRMINGHAM Academy II
30 – BRIGHTON Haunt

Kick Start Your Week//Music

Today in Glasgow we had blue skies and sunshine. It was freezing but it was the first sign of Spring! Great start to the week for those who have been missing the sun. I’d like to add to that great start with some great music for you. I like to think I’ve collected a good range of music to suit everybody’s tastes but as always, your comments and thoughts are welcomed.

photo courtesy of picnic basket nosedive

Scottish pop punk band Picnic Basket Nosedive are back with their new EP A Likely Story. Produced, mixed and mastered with Nick Scholey who has worked with Flood of Red, Yashin and Lower than Atlantis, it is out today and is undoubtedly their best work to date.

With songs about heartbreak, alcoholism, small town syndrome and lost youth, A Likely Story is everything you expect from pop punk with a heavy dose of cynicism and witty song titles including If You Can’t Handle Me at My Worst Then You Don’t Deserve Me When I’m Not Quoting Marilyn Monroe which features Ashley Cadwallader from Smalls.

Picnic Basket Nosedive have shared the stage with the likes of Hawthorne Heights, Johnny Craig, Me vs Hero and Scholars. This EP is the epitome of everything they have been working towards since 2010 and is a must have for any pop punk fan who is especially interested in supporting unsigned/local music.

To buy their EP for £4 or even just preview it, click here

photo courtesy of planetary group

Sweet Soubrette, a band that is the lovechild of Regina Spektor and Amanda Palmer have released a stunning album Burning City independently. It’s incredible. It’s a journey accompanied by beautiful, soulful vocals and an arrangement of strings, horns, drums, bass, piano and harmonies. It’s my new favourite album and I broke my rule of 3 listens before review so many times over.

The spellbinding album was inspired by everything from extreme weather to literature to love lost and gained. It has hints of cabaret as well as indie rock but in all honesty, despite comparisons made, I’d say this is the most unique and exciting album I’ve heard in a long time and I wish the band weren’t as sorely unknown as they are as travelling to Brooklyn is a little out of my price range right now. I will be keeping a close eye on them though and playing this album for the foreseeable future.

If you would like to listen to this album, click here.
To those that are close enough, catch them live on March 14th in Spike Hall, Brooklyn

photo courtesy of future pr

Sometimes, bands take me by surprise and Frail Grounds’s new release The Fields of Trauma was this weeks surprise. When I heard that Frail Grounds were Norwegian, I imagined black metal and to be honest, I’m not a huge fan of black metal. It turns out that they are progressive metal and fucking great progressive metal, as it goes.

This has stunning melodies, obviously fantastic riffs and the vocals are second to none. I have had so much fun listening to and experiencing this album but I will say, you either wait out the whole story or don’t start at-all as this isn’t just an album. This is something that has to be experienced as one.

Find Frail Grounds here
Buy the album here (I promise you it is totally worth it!!)

Death & The Miser//Love and Terror

This is the debut track from Death & The Miser who are a five piece act from High Wycombe. I fell in love with this as soon as I heard it and I hope you will too!