September 12th 2009

I’ve decided to go into Doncaster town centre. On race night. I alight the bus from outside my flat at 7.30pm, having taken in sustenance in the form of two cans of lager, are we allowed product placement in reviews? It was Carling, not as pleasant a beverage as Kronenbourg, but it provides the necessary lubrication for my impending journey. The first few stops are incident-free, but alas, all this changes when we get outside the Dome. Three broads, of advancing years, totter onto the bus with all the grace of a dying wildebeest. All mutton dressed as lamb, . . . Read More

Merge Records are twenty years old this year and still acting like teenagers. OK, so maybe the label are treading a little more carefully in the current economic climes but Mac McCaughan seems unaffected, honest and above all still in love with the music his label are putting out. The feeling you get from talking to Mac (Merge co-founder and lead singer with influential punk rock stalwarts Superchunk) is that he’s still having fun – he seems more teenage-fanzine-writer than a successful businessman.

Merge are currently still coming down from their 20 year Merge celebrations, dubbed XX Merge. We caught up with Mac . . . Read More

Those enthusiastic bright bods at Higher Rhythm in Doncaster have yet another plan to assist bands in making a living from playing music. If you are in a band and serious about making a living from music then they have a program that should interest you.

For many years Higher Rhythm have been at the forefront of developing independent music and looking for ever more creative ways of making a living from doing what you love – playing music! . . . Read More

Dark Sparks | We are just flies

Available on the jukebox now

Admittedly this is my first taste of Sheffield natives Dark Sparks. New single “We Are Just Flies” has a claustraphobic, darkly 80’s feel to it. Think along the lines of Depeche Mode and The Cure. In fact lyrically the song reminds me of The Cure’s “Lullaby” all spider webs and nightmareish visions albeit with heavy stop start guitar riff driving the song. Recently (according to their myspace) the band have added keyboard and a extra guitar to bolster their sound. It works, the band sound tight and dynamic, the song is well produced and singer Leigh Greenwood . . . Read More

Ten (10!) new tracks added to the jukebox . . .

Skeletons – Folks at home
That Fucking Tank – Awesome magnet
the beaus – class that drives the way (doyà remix)
Goodbye Good – Success
The Thieves – the Carnival
Mount Fabric – Drop Dead Girl
Guy Honeymoon – Worse things happen at sea
Smokers Die Younger – Spy Dry Fear
Dark Sparks – We are just flies
The Unfortunate Incident – Surrounded

Wowza… check it out!
Hit the link in the right hand menu to take a listen !

SINE FM is Doncaster’s first licenced community radio station – Since its launch in December 2007 it has become the go-to station for the most diverse mix of musical styles you are ever likely to find in the region. In their own words: “Our local volunteer presenters keep our services in touch with the community and our programming mission is simple, we offer something for everyone, promoting under-represented media, music and culture to serve the widest range of communities.” . . . Read More

First listen: AFI – “Medicate”
Whilst I may not be considered by many to be in AFI’s “target audience” anymore, they are a band I will always have a place in my heart for. I was lucky enough to see them play in early ‘00 on the “Black Sails In The Sunset” tour at (in my opinion) the peak of their powers. I can honestly say I have never been so instantly blown away by a band before or since. It was passion it was aggression it was bodies flying everywhere… in short, it was ace!
Its easy to forget now but AFI, in the early part of this decade, really gave hardcore a shake up and inspired a whole new generation of tattooed, eyeliner wearing pretenders, which in turn helped shape the identikit “emo” image we all know and *ahem* love? today. . . . Read More