NO TICKETS NECESSARY!
…

SATURDAY 4th SEPTEMBER 2010:

***TERRORVISION TO HEADLINE***

20.45 – FUTURES
20.00 – WILL AND THE PEOPLE
19.15 – ELEPHANT KEYS
18.30 – THE WALLBIRDS
18.00 – STONE UGLY

SUNDAY 5th SEPTEMBER 2010:

***GOLDBLADE TO HEADLINE***

20.35 – THE BEAUS
19.55 – SCREAM ARENA
19.25 – GIRL SPIT
18.55 – ALVAREZ KINGS
18.25 – THE KAVALIERS
17.55 – BANG BANG ROMEO
17.25 – STEEL TREES
16.55 – KIWI
16.25 – THE PENNY LOVERS
15.55 – OH! THE DRAMA
15.25 – 48KS
14.55 – CHEAP SPIRITS
14.25 – THE WINDING SHEET
14.00 – THE VINTAGE BAND

***please note all times are approximate, please allow plenty of time to see the bands***

Listen to brand new tracks at myspace.com/cheapspirits . . .

Also featuring for the first time in many years are KID FIST! Make sure you are around to catch these legendary exponents of their home-brewed electroid-grudge-core for the first time in years!

Entry will be around £2.50 so get yourself down and party with us… See you down the front!

DbR

Also keep an eye out for these brand new Cheap Spirits T-shirts…. Only a few available so get there early and grab one!

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Follow updates at destroybeforereading.com and twitter.com/dbrblogazine and join discussions at destroybeforereading.com/forum !

The latest line-up for Doncaster biggest live music festival has now been revealed…

Higher Rhythm’s Steve Mundin: “It’s great to see this live music event happening in Doncaster for the sixth year and with Sine FM 102.6 being Doncaster’s only locally owned radio station and us being so supportive of live local music through our parent company, Higher Rhythm, we are only too pleased to be the official radio partner for Doncaster Live 2010.”

Cheap Spirits

The event has been subject to criticism in recent years for apparent lack of publicity but this year’s event has a good buzz about it with an active Twitter campaign and Facebook page making for a well informed audience…

Heather Brown, Festival organiser: “With the live music festival scene being one of the biggest growing areas of the music industry, its essential that Doncaster stays in line with the national trend to be able to sustain and build our local music scene. Doncaster live has earned its place as the leading local live music event over many years so we are pleased to be able to, once again, deliver this event for Doncaster, and present high quality musical acts, totally free of charge.”

Join us in THE FORUM to share your thoughts . .

SATURDAY September 4th – 6pm-11pm

Terrorvision
Futures
Elephant Keys
Will and the People
The Black Ivories
Stone Ugly

SUNDAY September 5th – 2pm-10pm

Gold Blade
The Beaus
Girl Spit
Alvarez Kings
The Kavaliers
Bang Bang Romeo
Steel Trees
Kiwi
The Penny Lovers
Oh the drama
48ks
Cheap Spirits
The Winding Sheet
The Vintage band

Refresh your jaded memories at myspace.com/bunnyaredead

Also on the bill are the amazing Cheap Spirits; featuring members of Fontanelles, Three Torches, OFM and led by Rob ‘bobbytone’ Tinsley they are a super group par-excrement.

Listen to brand new tracks at myspace.com/cheapspirits . . .

I’ll keep you posted on the group wall so watch out for any additions to the bill!

Entry will be around £2.50 so get yourself down and party with us… See you down the front!

DbR

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Follow updates at destroybeforereading.com and twitter.com/dbrblogazine and join discussions at destroybeforereading.com/forum !

DbR will be hosting a Summer party this year featuring Cheap Spirits and the return of the glorious BUNNY!! It’s been many years since Bunny took to the stage in Doncaster as they’ve been split up! Such id the power of the DbR party that we’ve dragged them from their retirement chairs and back into action…

Venue and price details to follow shortly… Keep em peeled…

Cheap Spirits myspace page
Bunny Myspace

Summer is well upon us – what has South Yorkshire got to offer this year? Well, Sheffield has Tramlines – (see lineup here) and Doncaster has Doncaster Live…

Although this event attracts scoffs from so-called ’serious’ musicians who can all run it better, keep people better informed and attract better bands etc etc, they aren’t doing it are they? The fact that Doncaster Alive has attracted some of the biggest names outside of the enormoplex circuit over the years is testament to what can be achieved…

Doncaster Live has seen The Wedding Present, Magic Numbers, The Levellers over recent years with support from some respected local bands too… No line-up details for this year yet but we will keep you posted.

This year’s event takes place on 4th-5th September
Visit the official site: www.doncasterlive.co.uk

Cusworth music festival

Cusworth Hall & Country Park will host a new music event in 2010… bring on Cusworth Music Festival

This first, of what the organisers plan to be an annual addition to the calendar of open air summer festivals, will feature live music from a wide range of acts, and also promises to benefit local cancer patients with all profits donated to the Doncaster based Aurora Centre. Although not the usual DbR fodder this great cause makes this festival worthy of a BIG mention…

Acts performing on the day range from 70’s glam rock legends The Sweet to local rising stars The Wallbirds alongside seasoned pros like Stafford Galli and UV pop

Cusworth Country park is no stranger to live music and provides the ideal arena for this new music festival, and with day tickets at only £10…

Click here for more information and to buy tickets for Cusworth Festival tickets

The irrepressible Andy Maddison grabs the living legend that is Eric bachmann for a chat about his solo work, cover versions and moving to Europe…

AM: Hi Eric, you are currently putting together ‘Reservoir Songs Volume II’; a follow up to the original 2002 album of covers. Was it your idea to revisit this? how did it come about?

EB: All of these cover songs are songs that we have performed on tour at some point. After a while, enough folks request that you release some version of the song. Then the Catholic school upbringing I had begins to instill guilt and I feel the need to appease these nice people. It’s also rewarding to make a recording that you are less connected to as a writer. You don’t have to concern yourself too much with the songwriting quality and what the lyrics are bringing into the universe because that’s not your problem. And if you felt compelled to cover a song then it’s likely that releasing these great songs isn’t any form of pollution, hopefully.

Eric Bachmann

The last Crooked Fingers album ‘Forfeit / Fortune’ was a self released affair, why was this? Did you feel you were unsatisfied with the deal you were getting from the labels you had been working with in the past? Was it hard work to get everything off the ground?

I had never put out my own record. I thought it would be a worthy challenge and wanted to give it a try. I would do it again, although it’s nice to be a part of a family. The hardest part for me is that the amount of time it takes to run the label eats up songwriting and recording time. Running a label is also a very social thing. Talk, talk, talk. I am an introverted pansyman.

And as far as any of the labels I have been on in the past: I think Merge, Warm and Saddle Creek are great and I would work with any of them again, which I most likely will. In Europe I was on Fargo for one record. They were cool people as well. I think Houston Party in Spain released Red Devil Dawn, too. Other folks were doing this for me, though, so things get lost in the shuffle. I’m lucky in that Crooked Fingers has never been screwed over by any record labels or managers or anything, really.

‘Forfeit / Fortune’ seemed to herald a return to a very ‘full band’ sound for you, was this a conscious effort in the writing or just the way it turned out? Will future Crooked Fingers output feature the same approach?

Forfeit/Fortune was really a musical house cleaning. Eight of those songs were out takes from previous records I had recorded. I was originally going to release a rarities, out takes and B-sides record with those songs, but they were too well put together to present that way, so I decided to re-record everything and make a proper album with them. In hindsight, I think the record sounds a bit bizarre because there are all these really good songs on there that don’t really fit together conceptually. Maybe I should have just done 12 singles over the course of the year or something. Or maybe it was the right thing to do because it’s done and those songs have a home; even if that home is an orphanage of sorts.

Where are you currently residing and why? You have spent time living in Asheville, Chapel Hill and Seattle – the last place I have you down for is Denver? Do you get ‘itchy feet’? Some of those places are thousands of miles apart – it must cost you a fortune in removal bills!

Well, I don’t own anything except for my bicycle, my guitars, my amps and my pedals; so everything I own can fit in my car. Right now I’m in Athens, GA. I like to move because I want to see and experience as much as I can before I die. If I didn’t move a lot it would feel a bit like going to an amusement park, paying full price, then not riding every ride. I’d feel ripped off or something.

Eric Bachmann

With the slew of reunions by bands such as Polvo and Pavement I have no doubt that there have been offers on the table for an Archers of Loaf tour? Are you ever tempted to dig out the electric guitar and play the hot sweaty clubs again? Is it something that you would ever seriously consider, and do you have much (or any) contact with Matt Gentling, Mark Price and Eric Johnson?

I play electric guitar in hot sweaty clubs now, too. The only difference is that more females are in attendance. And perhaps I lose a bit less hearing during a Crooked Fingers show.

But the Archers would consider it. It was 12 years ago since we last played together and logistically it would be hard for a few band members to get out of work as they have real jobs and such. But I never say never about these kinds of things. It’s highly unlikely, but I don’t think it’s an impossibility.

And I saw Matt yesterday. I bought a tent from him and he’s letting me borrow an amp. I haven’t seen Mark or Eric in a while.

Where do you see Eric Bachmann 5 years from now? Do you plan to continue with Crooked Fingers or can we expect to see more releases like the stripped down solo release ‘To the Races’?

I can’t see exactly where I’ll be, of course, but Crooked Fingers is feeling pretty strong now. I don’t know how to do anything else so I’m sure I’ll be pulling some excuse of a living out of music then, too, I suspect…

You have been seriously neglecting us over in the UK of late, any plans to come over here anytime soon?

I want to! I’d like to move to Europe and give it a serious round of touring for a few years. I’ve worked that angle here in the States for years and I feel like I’ve never really had the opportunity to build her up in Europe like I have in the US. Can you get me and my girlfriend EU visas?

Andy Maddison

Crooked Fingers – Let’s Not Pretend (To Be New Men)

Archers of Loaf – Might

We are super pleased to announce that we have completed a session and DBR_TV document for your enjoyment.

The Beaus joined Team DBR, Jim Lockey (Real to Reel Media) and Darren Feris (supremo recording dood) at Higher Rhythm for yet another DBR_TV session. The session this time was funded by Higher Rhythm who are a not-for-profit organisation in Doncaster.

Enjoy the video and post your comments below. Thanks to Higher Rhythm, SINE FM, Darren Feris, Jim Locky and of course the band for making this a success.

- The Beaus on myspace
- Higher Rhythm

Watch the full size video here

The Beaus – Live in Session from Real To Reel Media on Vimeo.

Hackney born Paloma Faith entered the stage promptly at 9.00 pm, dressed in what can only be described as a court jesters outfit. The kooky, former magicians assistant, entertained a packed crowd of mixed ages, parents with their children had purchased tickets and made the evening a family night out, Quite strange but then easily understood with the way the show panned out like being in a theatre. After her opening song she giggled and said “Hello this is like being at a harvest festival ?”

The stage had been well presented with props , Mirrors , Steps , everything she needed to really turn the night into a cabaret. In the 3rd song she pulled out of the crowd a guy from Sheffield and sang to him as he sat on a stool holding his hand throughout the song and ending giving him a big kiss on the cheek ( Lucky Devil ! ) Moving into songs by what she claims are her influences such as Eta James and Billy Holiday the evening moved on with the crowd gobsmacked at the quality of her voice. Rattling through most of the new album and including hit songs NEW YORK and STONE COLD SOBER , Paloma paused and asked the audience to wave there hands and create her own water feature claiming looking out from the stage she felt like she was in an aquarium… and that the crowd were her sea anemones… bonkers but it worked!

A great gig with a host of summer festivals to perform at Paloma Faith is well worth catching a glimpse of definitely not a flash in the pan!

Rob Burns

Toddla T

Tramlines kicked off last year with a big chunk of musical muscle behind it…

Toddla T, a bloke from the Arctic Monkeys and that tall bloke off of Reverend and the makers all publicised the vent in fine style… It was uncertain if this ‘urban’ Glastonbury would really make the mark but, if you were there… you’ll know it did. But it did more than make that mark, it seemed to indelibly mark it for years to come.

Here goes !

tramlines 2010 lineup (as of 8th June)

• 65daysofstatic
• Achanak
• Annie Mac
• The Baghdaddies
• Blood Red Shoes
• Chapel Club
• The Cuckoo Clocks
• Craig David
• Daisy Dares You
• Dane Bowers
• Darwin Deez
• Dum Dum Girls
• Echo & The Bunnymen
• Exit Calm
• Focus
• Future Of The Left
• The Heebie Jeebies
• Hey Sholay
• HIEM
• The Hoosiers
• Joe Carnall & The Book Club
• The King Blues
• The Lea Shores
• Lords of Flatbush
• Love at Death Beach
• Mabel Love
• Macka B
• Mary Anne Hobbs
• Mystery Jets
• The Neat
• Oris Jay
• Rolo Tomassi
• Shake Aletti
• Simian Mobile Disco (DJ)
• Three Trapped Tigers
• Toddla T
• The Wanted
• White Noise Sound

Tramlines 2010 venues

View Tramlines 2010 Venues in a larger map

Stuart Cable, the original drummer with the Stereophonics has been found dead today at his home in Wales.

Welsh rock star Stuart Cable has been found dead at his Aberdare home this morning. The body of the former Stereophonics drummer was discovered at about 5.30am.

South Wales Police confirmed the sudden death of a 40-year-old man. The cause of death has not yet been established but there are no suspicious circumstances at this stage.

Lemuria

Lemuria are from Buffalo, New York and have been a well respected member of the US indie-rock scene since 2004. Andy Maddison (who else?) caught up with drummer Alex Kerns to chat about the latest full length, ‘Get Better’, and life on the road…

Myspace: www.myspace.com/lemuria

Official site: http://www.lemuriapop.com/

AM: You are one of those bands that is forever out on tour, describe your typical mode of transport, accommodation whilst on the road and more importantly how you all manage to not kill each other whilst living in such close proximity for extended periods of time.

AK: We tour a lot, but then again…there are some bands that tour about 10 months of the year…so compared to those bands, we don’t tour nearly as much.  But yes, still a great amount!  We travel around in our dodge van.  It’s name is Gary Gas Hands.  Ever since we bought the vehicle, after you drive it the steering wheel makes your hands smell like gasoline.  Its a very comfortable van though…I was napping in it earlier.  We’re a trio, so we fit pretty well inside it.  Sometimes we feel like we’re going to kill each other…but at the same time we all are great friends, and that’s just inevitable when you’re in a van together and you’re constantly having to compromise your decisions every day. We always get over whatever little bickering match we have.

AM: Nobody can ever deny that you have all put the work in, do you ever see a time when you will be able to make a living from the band or at least gain wider recognition from the more mainstream areas of the media? Or do you feel that this door is currently closed to your particular type of music.

AK: I don’t really think the door is closed.  It’s a touchy subject because a lot of people consider bands who start getting more recognized and start making more money to be “sellouts”.  I don’t really think that’s exactly how it is.  Some bands just end up gaining a larger audience and start selling more records and getting paid more at shows because they have been doing the band for a long time and are putting out music that pleases peoples ears.  That isn’t a crime.  Our plan as a band is to keep writing the music that we love, and continue to express ourselves the way we always have.  If more people start listening to us, great!  If we don’t have to have jobs back home and have more time to write more music and tour more, incredible!  We’re not going to shamelessly exploit ourselves to reach a level of accessibility to mainstream media, but people are people and I don’t care if you’re a punk, hippie, or an accountant from Iowa…if you like our music then I’m happy that you’re getting something out of it.

AM: Comparisons are often drawn between yourselves and bands such as The Breeders, Superchunk or Belly. Are these bands that you feel close too musically? What and who influences your sound?

AK: Superchunk is definitely a big influence, and we also like The Breeders, Pixies, Sebadoh, Lemonheads, etc.  I’ve never really listened to Belly, but now that you bring them up I’ll check them out.  That name sounds familiar.  These bands not only influence our sound, but they’re great representations of bands not having to act like rockstars on stage and they just get to be themselves and it’s refreshing.  I’m generally turned off by bands that try to “work the crowd”.  I just like to see some genuine characters up there.

AM: You have been over and toured the UK, and your current album ‘Get Better’ is out over here on Kingston up on Thames label Banquet Records. How did you hook up with Banquet and are there any plans for you to return to the UK?

AK: Mike Park at Asian Man Records had contacted them about releasing the album, because they had released some other Asian Man releases prior to ours.  It worked out very well for us because we had the opportunity to come back and play a handful of shows with Dave House who is such a great musician and person that we all immediately felt close to.  I’m really happy about the people we’ve met through this band…it’s pretty magical how many good friends we’ve made through music.

AM: With you being out on the road so much, you must come across some bands that are both awful and amazing. Who would you recommend that we check out?

AK: Tin Armor, The Arteries, Bangers, The Marked Men, Orphan Choir, Gordon Gano’s Army, Delay, and so many more.  I could go on and on…

AM: Finally, what is the plan for Lemuria? What will you be doing for the remainder of 2010?

AK: We just started our tour, and we’re out for pretty much the whole summer touring the US.  We’ll be recording a new full length this summer with J. Robbins in Baltimore.  Bridge 9 Records is going to release it, so we’re very excited about that!  This fall we’ll probably just take it easy and play some weekend shows and wait for the album to be pressed.  We really need to come back to the UK soon though!

Andy Maddison

www.inhalerrecords.co.uk

Girl Spit, who were voted Doncaster’s best band of 2009, were kind enough to come in and record some session tracks for us. They were super nice guys and we had a blast. All recorded live, no overdubs, no whinging, they just set up their gear and played. They even turned in on time! Good work guys and thanks.

Watch the video and post comments below… cheers for now. Watch this space for more live sessions coming VERY soon…

Attending: Jim Lockey (video replication), Darren Feris (audio replication), Rob Che, Steve Mundin – Go team!

Click here to see the video at full size

Girl Spit session from Real To Reel Media on Vimeo.

Stuart McLamb

The Love Language
Nightlight
Chapel Hill, NC
April 17, 2010

A lot of buzz has been following the Love Language ever since the undeniably catchy “Lalita” hit the internet. It was just a few summers ago that frontman Stuart McLamb was living with his parents, suffering through an all-time low and finding an escape through a four-track machine in a rented storage room. (At least that’s the story that he’s been tellin’). A messy breakup, a great songwriter, and a little luck can go a long way these days. Demos of what would become the self-titled debut album made their way into the a small independent record store in the beach town of Wilmington, NC and it was here that an “executive” at Portland’s Bladen County Records heard it playing over the stereo. Bladen County would eventually release the arresting debut album by The Love Language. Meanwhile, a live 7 piece band consisting of close friends and Stu’s brother was quickly thrown together.

Having seen the original lineup, which had a magical on-stage chemistry, 7 times over the past year and a half, I was a little concerned that Stu wouldn’t be able to capture lightning in a bottle twice. Well, I’m very happy to report, in all honesty, that he did.

The Love Language

They opened with “Blue Angel”, a beautiful song off the forthcoming record that has a bit of a waltz to it. After replacing the snare that couldn’t even make it through the opener, Jordan counted off the fastest and most energetic “Providence” I’ve ever seen. At this point, it was clear that everything was going to better than fine since this might just be my favorite Love Language song, and they killed it. The bluesy ballad that is “This Blood Is Our Own” allowed the packed and sweaty crowd to catch their breath and sway collectively. Another breezy tune called “Anthophobia” on the setlist followed, but this one was new to me. This one has a summer beach feel, and it very well could have been written at the beach last summer since he was in Wilmington then. They pick the energy level way up with the psychedelic pop of “Sparxxx” which features some of the most powerful wailing you’ll ever hear, courtesy of Stu’s golden pipes. The anguish of the breakup can be felt in “Stars” and many couldn’t help but join in on the chorus. Stu’s first collaboration with BJ Burton occurred on the next song, “Horophones”, which was originally released on the excellent compilation of Triangle bands titled Hear Here.

And finally, 8 songs deep into the set, they break out “Lalita”, the infectious breakup song that started all the buzz on the internet last year. This song will never fail to disappoint. More times than not, Missy Thangs gets possessed by the beat and takes her tambourine into the crowd as she did tonight, as if there’s no way the stage could possibly be a big enough to contain the energy of the song. “Nocturne” and the 60’s infused and very danceable “Brittany’s Back” followed and here’s the video evidence:

The 45 minute set concluded with the upbeat “Heart to Tell”, the lead single off of Libraries. This was the first time I’d seen this song live and it’s an easy choice as the first single. After a few minutes off the “stage”, which meant chatting with close friends at the bar, they came back on to do a cover of Fats Domino’s boogie “The Fat Man” and closed out the show with an even higher energy song from the new album titled “This Room”. You can watch the encore here:

The Love Language

Stuart was feeling the love from the audience all night and to reciprocate he offered free shots to anyone and everyone as he left the small stage at the Nightlight. In many ways, this felt like a celebration of the signing to Merge Records and a homecoming. Up until last winter, Stu was living in the Carrboro/Chapel Hill area. But after signing to Merge, recording the new album with BJ Burton at Flying Tiger Studios made the move to Raleigh a must. With a lot of familiar faces in the crowd in about as intimate of an art space as you can get in the Nightlight, it seemed more like a party (and in fact, it was something of a birthday party for a friend) than a show. There’s no doubt in my mind that The Love Language is going to become a national act with the summer release of the new album, and many new fans will stumble upon a gem when they dig into the back catalog. But for now, Stu and The Love Language are still very much a part of the local music community and I think shows like this will always remind him and the rest of us how lucky we are to call this home. As for fans of the original lineup, this is a win-win because the new lineup is fantastic AND we now have The Light Pines to give us even more of the psychedelic pop that you crave.

Eric Chen

Click here to download the lead single “Heart to Tell”

Setlist:

Blue Angel
Providence
This Blood Is Our Own
Anthophobia
Sparxxx
Stars
Horophones
Lalita
Nocturne
Brittany’s Back
Heart to Tell
Fat Man
This Room

Returning to the UK for the second time in twelve months, Dinosaur jr take their ninth studio album ‘Farm’ on the road again – this time bringing some old friends in the form of the legendary Built to Spill.

Doug Martsch – Built to Spill

Built to Spill are highly regarded by almost all indie-rock fans and peers alike – their skillfully sculptured guitar noise is embedded in the psyche and its influence can be found in many contemporary bands. Tonight they look every bit the aged-rockers you would expect, fantastically un-touched by modern life.

The first twenty minutes of Built to Spill’s set tonight is forgettable – mainly because I missed the first twenty minutes… (who puts on a grown-up rock show at 7:30!?) – however, walking in to a swathe of orchestrated feedback is a joy. Watching a band so content in themselves is really soothing and the crowd stand in respectful silence at the alter of BTS. As you would expect, a mixture of old classics and tracks from their latest record “There is no enemy” get an outing tonight but “Car” is the song that we’ve been waiting for and it hasn’t aged a bit.

Heading to the bar in the interval I was greeted by a polite lady seemingly asking me for £3.60 for a pint of lager in a plastic ‘glass’… She didn’t even apologise.

J Mascis appears to be intent on deafening the whole of West Yorkshire tonight with 26 twelve-inch speakers and 4 amplifiers (that I could see) pointed threateningly at the assembled. They stroll on stage and without saying a word or a tentative tune-up launch into the guitar soaked indie rock we have come to expect. Although Lou Barlow made a few brief comments and thank-yous it was essentially a back-to-back wall of songs from start to finish, just as it should be. Classics like “Freak Scene” , “Out There” , “The Wagon” and a careful selection of tracks from their two latest records were played with a ferocity that many current bands half their age would give their unlaced plimsolls for…

Dinosaur jr

Mid-set, Barlow takes a moment to announce that the long time band member Murph has been taken ill and to make his replacement feel welcome. Although he didn’t hit as hard as Murph he was tight and an impressive last minute replacement… (anyone know who he was?)

Ears ringing, I left content, as drunk as I could afford and with a feeling of sweet nostalgia. It seems Dinosaur jr can do no wrong. Still riding high on their victorious return they are still turning out the best ear splitting indie rock money can buy and with the average age of the first ten rows under 25 it’s clearly not just nostalgia that is filling the venue tonight.

Rob Che

Built to Spill official site

Dinosaur jr official site

With a name like Ice, Sea, Dead, People it’s always going to be hard to live up to expectations.

Really it’s more suited to a garage American band than three weedy boys from Bristol- yet ISDP are clearly more certain of their identity than we think.

Ice, Sea, Dead People

Bursting onto the stage half of the audience are left clutching their ears as the trio launch into a tirade of complex rhythms. Name checking Shellac and Mogwai it’s clear this band are focusing on volume rather than style. Resorting to a sea of feedback we’re left half intrigued, half wincing as each song passes us by.

It’s hard to see past the screaming vocals but when forced you can see the many layers added to create such an intense sound. The bassist is left twisting on the floor, while the drummer stares fixated on the offbeat rhythms. Occasionally you find yourself captivated by the show, getting sucked into each song, but with every hit there’s a downside, particularly a new song which is lengthened to no real affect. Finally as we get another rush to our head we realise it’s hard to place ISDP.

With a band so closely influenced it’s difficult to get past that, never mind live up to expectations.

Ruth Offord

Visit: God bless the music press

Andy Maddison caught up with Cheap Girls ahead of their split release with Yorkshire’s Above Them….

AM: For those not familiar with Cheap Girls could you tell us a little about the band, your sound and what it is like in your home town of Lansing, Michigan?

CG: Our sound is simple. Mid-tempo pop songs with loud guitars. The line up is brothers Ian and Ben Graham and myself Adam Aymor. Our home town is one of those towns where it can be difficult to have shows and a scene that stays around all the time. The city itself isn’t very big and most people live in the suburbs outside it growing up. There are lots of bands, but not very many of them tour, that’s why it’s easy to wear yourself thin if you only play in town. But it has been great for touring bands, people do come out and support in Lansing.

You came over to the UK recently to play a series of shows, was it your first trip to the UK and how did it go? Also are you planning to return any time soon?

It was our first time ever in the UK as a band. It was the best time ever, We did about a twelve day tour with Chillerton. Tim from You, Me and the Atom Bomb set it all up for everyone and Tom from Attack Vipers drove us all around. We are planning on being back in September or November time I think with Bomb the Music Industry. Trying to get that set up right now.

Cheap Girls

You have a split 7″ single coming out soon with West Yorkshires Above Them, how did that come about?

Above Them played a few of the shows in the north UK when we were over there. They were great and then we saw each other again at Fest 8 in Florida. I believe we started talking about it then and started getting new songs together since then.

You were recently named as one of the top ‘100 bands you need to know’ by US magazine Alternative Press – do you feel that musical tastes are changing over there in favour of bands like yourselves?

I personally have never really kept up with that specific magazine, but I have noticed that they are getting a little more diverse in the bands that they do stories on and such. Either way, we are happy and thankful to be put on the list.

What does the rest of 2010 hold for Cheap girls?

Lots of touring. We head down to Rad Fest in Wilmington, NC in May. Then we head to Chicago for the Windy City Sound Clash where we begin a US west coast tour with the Menzingers. Some more things are on the agenda as well including Europe/ UK w/ Bomb the Music Industry as i mentioned before. Working on new songs when were home. There are a couple of releases up in the air on release date and if they are happening or not but mainly we are just focused on the next full length LP.

DbR readers are always on the look out for good new music, are there any bands that you have played with that you can recommend they check out?

New Creases, Tin Armor, Spraynard, Lemuria, Little Lungs, Failures’ Union, Glossary, Iron Chic, Kudrow, The Measure, Ninja Gun, Shellshag, Magrudergrind, Two Hand Fools and Cavalcade. Among many, but those are some in my head right now.

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