Maximo Park sells out Hanley Sugarmill in an hour

Mercury Prize nominated Maximo Park are set to perform an intimate gig at The Sugarmill in Stoke-on-Trent.

The Newcastle indie rockers will visit the prestigious Hanley venue on May 8.

The critically-acclaimed band sold out the event in little over an hour.

Sugarmill Promoter Danni Bronwsill said: “We are extremely pleased to welcome Maximo Park back to The Sugarmill, and honoured that they chose to come back here for one of their Great Escape warm ups.”

Only two shows were announced ahead of their headlining slot at Brighton Dome's Great Escape, the other being at The Duchess in York.

“It's been a few years since they have played here,” said Danni.

“Last time it was a phenomenal show that absolutely went down in local legend and Sugarmill history.

“We have seen the band go from strength to strength since then, so we're excited to have them back in such an intimate venue.”

Courtesy of The Sugarmill, Maximo Park will grace the stage again

After being nominated for the 2005 Mercury Prize for their debut album, A Certain Trigger, the band has released two successful follow-ups with a fourth to arrive soon.

“It's going to be a great night, the anticipation and buzz around the show is massive. 

"Maximo Park, as always, are sure to rip the place apart and make it a show to remember.”

In a recent public NME poll, The Sugarmill beat Birmingham's Custard Factory and The Rescue Rooms in Nottingham amongst others to win the accolade for Best Small Music Venue in the Midlands.

Promoter Dan Nixon said: “We are extremely proud to have topped the poll as the Best Small Venue in the Midlands.

“It is wonderful to be recognised by a respected music magazine such as the NME and the fact that it was the public who voted us into this position really means so much. To the people who voted: we salute you!”

Below is the video for Maximo Park's Apply Some Pressure: 

                               

Q&A with French group We Were Evergreen

Courtesy of We Were Evergreen, We Were Evergreen

After hearing that quirky French group We Were Evergreen were supporting King Charles on tour I caught up with Michael Liot to get a proper insight into their world.

They are in the middle of a US and European tour and will return to the UK on 29th May to headline Bush Hall in London.

How do you feel your French background affects your music?

Our influences come from all over the place. There might be something French in our music; probably in the more electronic parts of it, as well as our way of writing. French "chanson" has a storytelling tradition which could be found in some of our lyrics or our way of singing. And artists as diverse as Mathieu Boogaerts, Para One & Tacteel or The Do have probably had an impact on us.

You guys have such a unique sound, who influences you?

Pop music in all its dimensions, South American rhythms, Walt Disney films, some classical music, and our experiences growing up.

Where did the name come from?

We Were Evergreen is both a nonsensical and non-grammatical phrase: it comes from our affection for youth and our preoccupation with passing time.

How would you describe your music?

Courtesy of We Were Evergreen, Headline Show: 29th May

As something you should listen to.

What has it been like supporting King Charles on tour?

It's been great. It was our second support tour in the UK and we were able to visit many great places and reach many audiences. King Charles and his band were amazing; great people as well as great performers, we can't wait to see them again.

I find the video for 'Penguins & Moonboots' so intriguing! Who comes up with the ideas for your videos?

We made this video a long time ago; during the band's early stages. It was made by and with friends; the ideas were brought in by everyone. We shot it in three whole days in one single room, almost without sleeping. It was crazy!

Where's your favourite place to perform? (Don't feel like you have to say somewhere in the UK!)

We loved playing UK festivals this summer - Wilderness and Secret Garden Festivals especially. It seems UK Festivals have more creativity and more atmosphere than the ones we've seen in France. Other than that, we love intimate venues. Our dream place to play would be La Maroquinerie in Paris.

What can you tell us about your London EP launch in May?

A new EP will be out in early summer which will include our single 'Baby Blue'.

What else have you got planned for the future?

Quite a few festivals this summer in the UK and in other European countries - and our first album, which should come out at the end of the year or early 2013.

Find out more from We Were Evergreen and buy tickets at their official website, Facebook and Twitter.

Below is We Were Evergreen's music video for 'Penguins & Moonboots':

Laura Marling set for Stoke-on-Trent's Victoria Hall

Courtesy of Laura Marling, A Creature I Don't Know

Beautiful folk singer Laura Marling is set to perform at Victoria Hall in Stoke-on-Trent.

The 22-year-old Londoner is on the road in support of her latest album A Creature I Don't Know this Sunday (11 March).

The tour follows success from previous albums Alas, I Cannot Swim and I Speak Because I Can. The albums were nominated for the Mercury Music Prize in 2008 and 2010 respectively.

She won the 2011 Brit Award for British Female Solo Artist and was nominated in the same category this year, only to miss out to Adele.

Marling was apart of the rising London folk scene alongside the likes of Noah & The Whale, Mumford & Sons and Johnny Flynn.

Purchase tickets at ATG Tickets or by calling 0844 871 7677.

See the official video for Laura Marling's 'Sophia' below:

Album Review: Jim McShee - The Coffin Nail

UK Release: 11/02/12 - Independent

Smooth old Jim McShee is taking the town of Stoke-on-Trent by the scruff of the neck and instilling them with the sounds of modern country blues. The Coffin Nail EP is an easily accessible six-tracker expressing classic early 20^th century American guitar playing and husky lyrics. If blues is your thing or you fancy some feel good listening, the twenty-year-old might just be what you're looking for.

Hand-tapping opener 'Slaughter Hill' sets you in place perfectly to know what to expect. The opening trio of guitar notes sink you into the repetitive riff before the typical lyrics of lonesome journeys commence. Although it fails to provide a climactic moment, the simple pleasantness aimlessly rolls on by successfully uninterrupted.

Empathy is felt from the pain in the sombre words of 'I welcome death so gratefully' and 'hell is a place I would rather be'. The depressing motion of death is welcomed in a habitual manner. McShee again uses a simplistic riff to focus our attention to the agonising lyrics in 'Good Old Days Gone By'. The unchanged tempo implies a contentment and acceptance of his lyrics.

Courtesy of Jim McShee, The Coffin Nail EP

McShee's 'Helping Hand' and 'Oh Faithful' seem to lack the emotional substance and texture the remainder of the EP possesses. The two tracks have proven it difficult to maintain a consistent strength across a piece of work which uses minimal instrumentation to keep the listener from falling away.

The staccato strum downs in 'Bloody Knuckle Blues' help provide a memorable line with 'one punch, two punch, three punch, four' in the catchy chorus. The rough vocals contrast well with the clean-cut, head-nodding strumming.

A gravely American-twinged McShee closes with 'The Coffin Nail Blues'. And how could we have a country inspired EP without some religious references? 'And now the church bells ring / and the choirs sing' opens the final track where the running theme of 'a coffin nail' is put to bed. He tells that 'the closest thing to love that I ever did see / is that coffin nail drive a hole through me'. He speaks of regret and sorrow to sum up a lyrically dark EP. The hidden track has the final say, implementing a positive and hopeful feel about the relationship between a man and a woman. The cycle continues...

Rating: 6/10

Below is the track listing for The Coffin Nail:

1. Slaughter Hill
2. Good Old Days Gone By
3. Helping Hand
4. Oh Faithful
5. Bloody Knuckle Blues
6. The Coffin Nail Blues

You can buy Jim McShee's The Coffin Nail from iTunes now.

Below is the Studio Diary for the EP:

Radiohead Announce 2012 UK Tour Dates

Original magazine cover from 2011

Radiohead have announced the following 3 2012 UK tour dates for their album The King of Limbs:

Saturday 6th October - Manchester Arena - Manchester

Monday 8th October - O2 Arena - London

Tuesday 9th October - O2 Arena - London

Pre-sale tickets went on sale today (7 March) and will go on general sale on Friday 9th March at 9:00am GMT.

Tickets will be available from Ticketmaster.

Check out Radiohead's unique video for 'Lotus Flower' below:

Album Review: Giro Junkie - Taxi For Dave

UK Release – 30/09/11 – Laugh Riot Records

Courtesy of Giro Junkie, Taxi For Dave

Two-piece Stoke-on-Trent folk band, Giro Junkie, open their debut album with a simple and uninspiring guitar riff. The working-class attitude displayed throughout the album is mimicked in the lazy chords of 'Hands for Feet'. The upbeat guitar change ending halfway is the surreal highlight of the average opening track.

'God Loves a Smuggler' is a pleasant follower with the beautiful softness of Rich Bloor's voice alternating well with the crashing snare and strings.

Sufjan Stevens and an acoustic Blink 182 is an unlikely pairing of influences heard in 'Playtime's Over'. The build-up of strumming and harmonies culminate well with an instant layering where the repetitive strings provide the highlight. The sombre ending felt eerie at first, but soon felt difficult to really justify within the song.

The layered vocals were a strong set-up for the climax of 'Oh-Dae-Su'.

'Razz Fadya' has nice moments with fast tempo drumming and interesting trumpet sounds.

There's an all-too-familiar sound to the album which often struggles to break any real boundaries and enter the extraordinary. Although the indie outfit clearly possess strong song-writing talent, they haven't exceeded any expectations with a record that had potential to be so much more.

Rating: 5/10

Below is the track listing for Taxi For Dave:

1. Hands for Feet
2. God Loves a Smuggler
3. A Murder of Logistics
4. A Job Too Far
5. Playtime's Over
6. Oh-Dae-Su
7. Picking up the Peasants
8. Razz Fadya
9. Feeling Not Theory
10. Like the Dog to the Vomit

Dog Is Dead's Two Devils out now

 

Courtesy of Dog Is Dead, 'Two Devils'

UK Release: 05/03/12 - Your Childhood Records

Dog Is Dead's new single 'Two Devils' is available to buy now!

The indie-pop band have delivered another gem of a single with an intriguingly beautiful video to match (see below).

It includes new track 'The Well', a Bombay Bicycle Club remix of 'Two Devils' and an acoustic version of recent single 'Hands Down'.

Read about their appearance at Stoke-on-Trent's The Sugarmill last month in this article and review.

Purchase the single from iTunes, HMV or Rough Trade.

February Review 2012

Courtesy of starbright31, Bon Iver

Best Artists

Bon Iver

Dog Is Dead

Proud Proud People

Aaron Mobberley

Cult Party

 

Courtesy of The Sugarmill, Fiction

 Best Songs

Bon Iver - Skinny Love

Aaron Mobberley - Crayons

Fiction - Big Things

Dog Is Dead - Young

Bon Iver - Perth

Proud Proud People - The Quiet Area

Dog Is Dead - Glockenspiel Song

Courtesy of Proud Proud People, Proud Proud People

Bon Iver - Holocene

Aaron Mobberley - Looking For

Proud Proud People - Pinjo

Dog Is Dead - River Jordan

Best Album

Bon Iver - Bon Iver