Remarkable Moment: The Screens lift the curtain on Day 2 of Vital ’07. We’re off to a flying start. The Warrenpoint boys’ brand of grungy mod fills what is an already sweaty Radio One tent after Rory makes the relevant introductions.
Crowd Reaction: Despite their primary slot on today’s bill, there is a very respectable crowd gathering to check out what all this racket is about. The Screens sound similar to early B.R.M.C. at times, and The Music at others, so it’s no wonder why they’ve attracted so much attention in recent months. The punters seem be loving ‘The Camera Never Lies’ and get a little worked up at this early point in the day, which only serves to fuel the furious indie being battered out onstage. After the lads depart, having kicked out nearly a dozen tunes in half an hour, the tent is buzzing. A good start to what should be a great day.
Video: The Camera Never Lies
Tour Dates:
Feb 22 2008 8:00P
Fibbers (York Barfly) York, Northeast
Feb 23 2008 8:00P
All Sorted @ Arts Centre Norwich, East
THE HAIR
Hello, we're the Hair. We were born out of a love of baggy, hip hop, big beats, and Justin Timberlake. We've evolved into the four headed minotaur of the dancefloor we are today over years of hard musical graft, elocution lessons and high fibre diets. Please take time to browse through our musical wares scoping the visual souvenirs along the way, and don't forget to pass comment on our chiseled abs and stunning features."
Jan 15 2008 8:00P
Fiction non Fiction - Tiger Lounge Manchester
Jan 23 2008 8:00P
Metro London
Jan 24 2008 3:00P
XFM Session with John Kennedy London
ORPHAN BOY
“Orphan Boy formed at the Spider’s Web, Grimsby in March 2005, but things kicked-off for us when we dragged ourselves over to Manchester later that year. We got day jobs and carved tattoos on our arms and started climbing the ladder in a humble, ruthless kind of way, sticking up posters in kebab shops and sharing our drugs with the right people. Before long, we had a little help from some excellent folk named Concrete Recordings, indie crusaders with big aspirations (much like ourselves), who spotted us in the lower leagues and came to watch us rehearse our splendid council pop stuff. Early that year, Concrete cut us an album deal in Sinclair’s Oyster Bar, the promise of which kept us going through the long, skint summer of 2006, and before long we had our own guitars and had started to mix with a more-advanced breed of scenester. Now, when we returned to our native Grimsby, there was a real buzz about what the orphans were up to, and the Bebop Council Pop Orphanite Anti-Social Brigade had increased in number, with many of our loyal Orphanites regularly swarming our gigs and generally spreading their pro-orphan propaganda. (Nods go to Cleethorpes’ Bootlegger, for staging them legendary handful of homecomings, to Grace Records, for selling-out our first, limited-edition release ‘Billy’s England,’ and to our beloved Bovril Rooms, where the classic Orphan sound continues to evolve from council pop to bebop council pop and beyond). And so to our first release on Concrete, ‘Trophies of Love,’ with its famous monologue bit at the end, which ended up on Radio 1 a fair few times in Autumn 2006 and was Steve Lamacq’s Single Of The Week on BBC6Music. Our mate Steve even had us down to London for an interview on his show – ‘twas exciting stuff for the townie trio. But much hard graft is involved in this rotten business, and us orphans made enemies of our day jobs and our girlfriends by playing as many UK gigs as possible for the Trophies tour; back and forth along the M62 in a Ford Fiesta.
Video: Mr. Stevens (live)
Tour Dates:
Dec 15 2007 8:00P
Secret gig Priestown
Dec 27 2007 8:00P
Riffs Blackpool
Dec 29 2007 8:00P
Mad Ferret with Amber 292, Obviously Four Believers + Mr&Mrs Priestown
You've heard the name before and now we're forever in your lives, but you're in ours too so I suppose that's okay. It is whenever you feel that burn or your trousers are too tight. It's a condition but music is the only thing that can allow you to stay alive for another few hours so trim sail, dive in and lose yourself to it. The Uncomfortables manifested itself in physical form for the first time in 2006 in the dark end of Western Lancashire.
As if carving out it's own karass it called together noisemakers who poured themselves into beautiful, exciting and weird pop music - that very same music that allows you to stay alive for those few precious hours longer. It wasn't fate but there was definitely something happening here and you don't know what is, do you?
The Uncomfortables have played high profile gigs with Jamie T, Bromheads Jacket, Dartz, Aidan Smith and the Departure.
Video: Windmills (live)
Tour Dates:
Dec 29 2007 8:00P
louder than bombs @escobar wakefield
Dec 30 2007 7:00P
barrowlands w/ travis and 1990s glasgow
Dec 31 2007 9:00P
hogmanay @castlegate w/ travis aberdeen
Feb 9 2008 8:00P
’rote raupe party’ @ampere munich
THE TASTE
ARTROCKER announcement for the short notice show on 28th august 2007 @artrocker club night:
"Believing in the tradition of 'classic' indie of 'We are Scientists', 'Franz Ferdinand' and 'Bloc Party', Germany's The Taste deliver a pretty rocked out garage-power-duo of girl fronted r'n'r. They have been picked as local support for the likes of Test Icicles, Forward Russia, Noisettes, The Enemy and the ever smart and on the ball Dance To The Radio Records in Leeds have included the fuzztone riff monster of a track 'Till There Was You' on their current Sampler CD 'Out of the Woods and Trees' Choc full of rock'n'roll guitar swagger and snarling attitude The Taste are only here on the briefest of UK visits."
Tour Dates:
Dec 12 2007 8:00P
KNIVES/KATES KID Single Launch @ The Old Blue Last London
Jan 11 2008 8:00P
Vintage Rockbar Doncaster, Northeast
Feb 8 2008 8:00P
The Sidekicks Lounge @ The Lamp Hull
Mar 8 2008 8:00P
Drowned In Sound @ Junktion 7 w/ Glasvegas & Fran Rodgers Nottingham
THE CHIARA L'S
“Brimming with dance-floor filling pop assaults best appreciated with arms aloft & feet moving uncontrollably” - This Is Fake DIY “Spunky, energetic and just cheeky enough to get right under your skin without intruding” - Twisted Ear “A sprightly, naïve, fun bundle of scratchy guitar pop” - Leeds Music Scene The Chiara L’s are the brainchild of Pop-Bitch front-woman, Chiara Lucchini... Many hazy nights in Leeds have seen her united with cohorts in chaos, Jonny Lee Hart [Guitar], Tim Oldfield [Bass] Dan Stretton [Drums] and Emma Quick [Synths]. After only a short stint on the Leeds scene playing tight and engaging sets at all of the city’s top indie venues (Brudenell, Faversham, Cockpit et al), “The L’s” have amassed a devout following. Recent dates have seen them venture to the country’s capital to be once again brilliantly received at The Buffalo Bar, The Dublin Castle and The Old Blue Last. Their relentless touring schedule has not gone unnoticed and along with earning them significant column inches in the international Indie Press, covetable support slots with Shy Child, The Organ, The Whip, Ipso Facto and Vincent Vincent and the Villains it has also seen them acknowledged with the well-deserved accolade of Steve Lamacq’s ‘Demo of the Week’. Live favourite, the sexually confrontational “You Do” (in which Chiara insistently invites you to ‘Do her if you want’!) has been released as part of a Petrol Records and Pistol Digital compilation entitled Fresh Weird and Wonderful available exclusively through iTunes and from its success the band have garnered a further download only single… Ultra-trendy This Is Fake DIY Records (Bolt Action Five/Love Ends Disaster/Lady Fortune) will release a Double-A Side of Knives/Kate’s Kid in late ‘07. Not one but two launch parties are planned; 30th of November at The Cockpit, Leeds and The 12th of December at The Old Blue Last, London. 2008 will see Chiara and her new-wave fashonistas continue to tour the UK extensively, recruiting new followers of their biting, angular music and wonderfully honest lyrics.
Video: Knives (live)
LES BREASTFEEDERS
Déjeuner sur l'herbe, the first offense of Montreal’s rock outfit Les Breastfeeders, conquered both the public and the critic after its release in spring 2004, on the Blow The Fuse label. Since then, Luc Brien (vocals and guitar), Suzie McLeLove (vocals and guitar), Sunny Duval (guitar), Joe (bass), Johnny Maldoror (tambourine) and Fred Fortin (on drums with the band since 2005), have travelled throughout Quebec for two years, to present their frenetic and contagious shows. Invited to perform at numerous festivals and events (Francofolies de Montréal, Festival d'été de Québec, Fête de la St-Jean à Québec, Art Vocal de Trois-Rivières, Chanson de Tadoussac, CBC Radio 3/Bandeapart Vancouver concert...), the band also received the Prix Miroir de l’Artiste d’ici at the Festival d'été de Québec 2005 and their song "Angle Mort" was awarded the "Chanson primée" prize from SOCAN in 2003. Several songs from the album have topped radio charts across the province and two of their videos got heavy airplay on Musiqueplus. They’ve also flirted with the United States, where they played some fifteen dates, along with appearing on important free-form and college radio charts (WMBR, WFMU, KALX…).
Video: Funny Funicultaire
GHOSTWORKER
The people I live with call me ghostworker as to them I am invisible and inaudible. On stage I replace my head with a tv set to give you a feeling of acquaintance. I've got the gift of breathing life into a blank sheet of paper. Sometimes I wish I had someone else's voice. I also hate the fact that I'm unable to enjoy ordinary life. Some say I'm excentric, egocentric, megalomaniac... I guess there's more positive words to describe someone who's forced to live the life of a loner. Like being focused or being passionate. And before you ask. Yes, too many people let me down in the past. So I decided to make music on my own from now on. I miss all my friends back in the US and Germany even if they don't want to confess that they miss me just as much. I'm planning on coming back to you as often as i can. But as Oliver Wendell Holmes once said: A mind once stretched to a new idea never returns to its original dimensions. I wish he was wrong as I miss you more than anything really. - Robert
GAMMA RAY SAM
Dom Bryan is the singer/songwriter with gamma ray sam, acclaimed alternative outfit continuing to win fans and garner praise.
Bringing together friends old and new scattered around Liverpool, contributing to recordings spanning a period of 3 years, the shape of an album gradually emerged. ‘A short course in long term Happiness’ – the debut album by Gamma Ray Sam was released in 2006. The single, accompanied by a video, ‘She’s on the Money’ is one story from a collection that refuses to explain itself, but hopes to be understood.
Looking forward to 2008, Gamma Ray Sam are working on the follow-up release – ‘Well Done Jessica!’ – which promises to continue the story….
“Don't be frightened by the 'country' tag, instead be encouraged by 'alternative'! This is a really cool album - it may not be as commercial as it could be but, credit where credit's due, Gamma Ray Sam have kept very much true to themselves here” – Toxicpete.co.uk
"A Short course in long term Happiness deserves to put Gamma Ray Sam in the same leagues as Richmond Fontaine, Wilco and Lambchop. Yes, its that good. One of those records that manages to sound like an instant classic the moment you first hear it, A SHORT COURSE IN LONG TERM HAPPINESS is an album that demands your attention. A brilliant debut from a band you owe it to yourself to listen to” – UK Music Search
The debut album – ‘A short course in long term Happiness’ - is available from iTunes.
Video: Singing to Myself
MALCOLM MIDDLETON
If you share your feelings for the festive period with Ebeneezer Scrooge, The Grinch and that girl off Gremlins whose dad got stuck in the chimney, then you’ll love Malcolm Middleton’s bid for the coveted 2007 Christmas number one spot. Putting him in direct competition with this years X Factor winner and the Spice Girls, William Hill have given Malcolm odds of 1000/1 in what the bookmakers say is 'the longest ever odds we’ve given on a Christmas number 1!' The title of the single is We’re All Going To Die.
You won’t find any sleigh bells on We’re All Going To Die. Neither will you find a choir of angelic children singing. But, in a way, you will find a message of hope and goodwill for all, as Malcolm explains.
“Although at first seemingly negative, the song is intended to make people think about being alive and making the most of our time here, which to me are your generic ‘Xmas’ themes.”
Taken from Middleton’s third solo album, A Brighter Beat, We’re All Going To Die explodes with electronic arpeggios and a chugging beat. Best of all is the chorus, which repeats the titular statement with such joie de vivre that you actually end up feeling quite good about it. “Christmas is the best time for a song like this to be released into the mainstream consciousness, especially now in 2007,” continues Malcolm. “People don't want to be lied to by Cliff Richards any more. It's maybe time they were told what's really waiting for them inside their Christmas stockings.”
Christmas has already given Middleton food for thought – see the tragic Burst Noel on 2005’s Into The Woods for proof. And of course, some people will fail to see the positives in Malcolm’s message, drizzled as it is in neurotic thoughts. But then, it would do us all good to think a bit more like Malcolm sometimes. “Dying is a bit like writing a letter to Santa,” he says, brilliantly. “Unless you've been a good boy or girl, you're fucked.”
Tour Dates:
Dec 14 2007 8:00P
Mass London, London and South East
APPLESCRUFFS
Applescruffs are a rock n'roll band in the purest sense from Woking, Surrey. Members are Shaun Hudson (Vox/Guitar), Nick McConnell (Vox/Lead Guitar) John Newark (Vox/Bass) and Jon Barker (Drums). The band formed in 2001, and has released four self-produced albums to date: Mellowone (2002) Songs For You (2005) Demos, Covers & Others (2005) and the double set English Stories/American Tales (2007). They have recently signed a publishing deal, had a track featured on the 'Fresh, Weird & Wonderful' compilation, through Pistol Digital (no. 8 iTunes alternative chart, & iTunes top 40 uk chart), and are starting to break into the London live scene. The band write and record all their own material, and live is where they're scruffiest, catch'em while you can !
Video: Carnival of Light
Tour Dates:
Dec 31 2007 8:00P
West Street Live (New Years Eve Shenanigans!) Sheffield
VERACRUZ
The bands that we've played with: hello cuca, the cheese/les aus, nisei, grimorio, sibyl vane, bananas, ensaladilla rusa, omega cinco, bratmobile, colder, j irizar toca la bateria, ginferno, critters, erase errata, grabba grabba tape, za, las dolores, the movidas, solex, tarantula, the fuck!, chinese stars, le jonathan reilly, lightning bolt, m.a.l., mushitcians, dead and gone, deadman on campus, its not not, wiseacre, garzon, tokyo sex destruction, orfidal sur mer, sixteens, astrud, nueva vulcano, green machine, anticonceptivas, vic godard's subway sect, comet gain, beef, extraperlo, sr. chinarro, delorean, le pianc, virus, cuchillo, tu madre, ex-lion tamer, the murders in the rue morgue...
Tour Dates:
Dec 27 2007 8:00P
Meze ’The Nightmare Just After Christmas’ Newport
STRAY BORDERS
Since 2001 this group of friends have shared many a musical and or social experience together, bumping into the odd mile stone on the way. The Cardiff based four awoke in 2006 as Stray Borders and over the last six months have; appeared on Cardiff Compliation "This Town Ain't Big Enough For The 22 Of Us", been voted demo of the week by Organ magazine, enjoyed air play on BBC Radio One, BBC Radio Wales, and other radio stations. Stumbled across their name in local and national press a handful of times, played shows in and out of Cardiff, met a lot of lovely people and did some funny dancing after shows with their friends.
Currently the gang are writing and making plans to record - exciting!
