Bar Creeps – Interview April 2016

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We had a chat to Bannister from Barcreeps ahead of their single release for "The Hour Between Dog And Wolf" check them out here: https://barcreeps.bandcamp.com/releases

Hey guys, so how did you come together, you’re pretty recently formed with members from all over?  

Hendricks and I (Bannister) went to school together, then we went to uni with Railgrind, then we put an ad on Gumtree and found Campari. And of course we bonded over music, and played in other bands that toured together etc. 

Are you very collaborative in your song-writing process … do you share the same influences mainly and would you say you listen to a range of genres general?

We all grew up listening to fast skate punk in the mid 90s. Even though we all like many other kinds of music, our deep-seated love for this music never died. 20 years on there is something of a revival around this type of music, and we have been swept up in that! The whole point was to form a genre band – to play a very specific type of music that has a very particular audience.

The process of putting together songs is very collaborative – normally, one person will write the bare bones of a song and then we work out the remaining parts and dynamics and move on to the next one. Super efficient. There is nothing ‘jam band’ about us.

Sometimes inspiration can be found in the strangest of places … anything outside of music that really gets your creative juices flowing?

To contradict my answer above, I don’t actually think music really inspires us. There is too much weird shit going on in the world to think and write about. The music is just a kind of vehicle for communicating that. If there is anything that inspires us about music it’s that the musicians and songwriters we admire are some of the more self-aware and less narcissistic creative people out there. They were pioneers and we’re now humbly following in their footsteps, we hope… 

Real stories about people are, I suppose, what inspires us. For some reason, transhumanism and the possibility of living forever is becoming something of a theme – not consciously intentionally…

Your artistry can speak for itself as you are promoting yourselves anonymously … is that important to you to really focus on the music rather than personalities as forefront?

Yes, 100%. Neil Tennant from the Pet Shop Boys did an interview recently where he said that the main problem with popular music is that there is only one subject – the writer. He’s right. I’ve made this mistake myself, and spent 10 years writing about my love life. It was too solipsistic. BarCreeps songs are stories about what we observe other people do and say – no judgement, just stories for the sake of stories. Good ones, we hope.

Are your songs sometimes autobiographical or social comment? Do you have a general message you would like people to hear?

The songs are generally from my perspective, about things that interest me, but there is no message or moral – just observation and perspective. In some of the newer songs I’ve tried writing from the perspective of other people – a bit like the Weakerthans do. For example, we have a new song called Trauma Team, which takes the perspective of someone who has a deep faith in god, although they’re not preachy about it. The song is a rebuttal of sorts to evangelicals, saying I’m interested in helping people for real – triaging people who have had accidents, that’s how I serve god – rather than trying to abstractly save their souls.

Is there a band /artist at the moment really inspiring musically, or that you think will go far this year / would like to see more of?

I’d like to see more old school punk bands coming back. We’re still re-discovering the UK punk scene, so this would be a good question for us to answer in a few months. Wayne Adams, the guy who we recently recorded with, he has a band called Shitwife who are pretty good.

How do you see the music scene generally in 2016. Is there anything you would change if you had a chance?

There was an interesting radio show recently called the Pop Star and the Prophet, where a musician interviewed a French political theorist called Jacques Attali who predicted the decline of the music industry in the 1970s. The most interesting thing though is that he saw the music industry as a harbinger of changes that would rock (excuse the pun) the whole of society. This resonates with me quite strongly – the idea that music is a figurative canary down the mine for how technology is changing the world so rapidly. I have my moments where I would love to be able to ‘rewind the clock to a simpler time’, but obviously this is impossible. I think we just have to find ways to accept that we live in a fascinating but frightening world.

So the single The Hour Between Dog And Wolf (great title by the way!) is out on Friday, how would you describe the story behind the song?

Unfortunately I can’t claim originality around the title (or the chord sequence, for that matter) – the title is from a book by a Cambridge neuroscientist that looks at how adrenalin and stress affect our decision-making abilities. It turns out that biology has a big part to play in this – as in, some people are better at handling stress than others because they’re just built that way (women, in fact, are apparently better at this than men on average). I just extended the idea to our psychologies – that we have these incredibly impactful experiences when we’re younger that shape our personalities and our worldviews, and no matter how much we grow and mature as people, we can never fully escape those deep feelings and prejudices. 

What else do you have planned for 2016 with regards to releases / touring?

Yes, all of the above! A couple more singles this year, then an album early next year – or maybe even this year. Shows and touring when we can, but like most musicians these days we have full-time jobs and other responsibilities that we have to work around.

We're always looking to play more shows so any bands or promoters that like what they hear and want to play a show with us, please email or Facebook us!

Thanks for your time!

Thanks Sam!

BarCreeps will be releasing their debut single 'The Hour Between Dog And Wolf' on Friday 15th April on BCHR Records, and will be playing their first London show on April 23rd, at Camden Barfly, as part of a Camden Rocks Night.

Monolithian / Darkmother / The SLM / D:Roid / Grim Ravine

/ edge of the wedge/

Grim Ravine kicked of early for this packed out show at The Edge in Southsea this Thursday. This was only the second show for these south coast based doom-mongers who treated us to some slow and heavy sludgey riffage. 

 

Grim Ravine's debut is out now on Bandcamp: https://grimravine.bandcamp.com/releases

D:roid were up next ... this 3-piece know how rock, for fans of Metal, Punk, Noise Rock, Sludge, Desert Rock they cite their influences as Melvins, Shellac, Beefheart/Zappa, the sound of the hoover, the microwave, and a boiling kettle. Check out their noises here: https://d-roid.bandcamp.com/

 

Next up in this packed bill were The SLM ... Southsea's finest Zombie-Shark-Core punks who's sense of humour and sheer pace of their sound never fails to wow their cult following!

Darkmother's 2-piece stoner doom psychedelia from Nottingham kept up the pace ... check them out here: https://darkmother.bandcamp.com/releases

Monolithian are a heavy as balls 2-piece from Falmouth Cornwall for lovers of doom metal and black metal which went down a storm:  https://monolithiandoom.bandcamp.com

Ducking Punches / Misgivings / Hot Mass / Chas Palmer Williams - March 2016

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An intimate show in Southsea's Birdcage saw Ducking Punches continue their rigorous UK touring schedule, along with Swansea's Hot Mass and Southsea's own Pizza Punx The Misgivings who really ramped up the energy for this show. 

Ducking Punches are a Folk Punk ensemble from Norwich who really pull off the genre crossover fantastically. With their genuine emotional delivery and a violin wielded like the essential weapon in their arsenal that it is, Ducking Punches really work both the folk and the punk aspects of their sound. Frank Turner's on the new album don't you know. ‘Fizzy Brain’ by Ducking Punches is out now on Xtra Mile Recordings.

Hot Mass are Swansea Pop-Punk featuring members of The Arteries, Dividers and 33. Oh yes, we really enjoyed their set, how could you not after seeing how the energy of their on-stage presence brings their already great songs all up in your face. Check out the evidence here:

Misgivings are the Southsea Pizza Punx legends who sound a little like Samiam, Jawbreaker and Bangers. The Spinal Tap of Punk. Crank it to eleven guys and check out their catchiest earworm 'Century' here:

Chas Palmer Williams: Former singer of the band Lightyear. Brightonian Acoustic Anti-Folkpioneer and generally great entertainer ... watch some magic happening right here ...

Novellas - Debut singles released this week

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Novellas are a three piece that blend dramatic, guitar driven songs with cinematic ambience. Focusing on pop sensibility and with one goal – to create songs that sound huge. This week sees the release of their double A-Side of debut singles, recorded at Brighton Electric (The Cure, Royal Blood, Foals).

Having been played on BBC introducing: The South, this Portsmouth-based band are rising fast since their live debut in April last year. We caught their set at Portsmouth's Wedgedwood Rooms a few months ago and sure we will be seeing more of them this year. 

A great band ethic of "played with raw emotion and our art worn proudly on our sleeves" you can check out the singles here:

GALLERY / VIDEO - Divorcee / Mister Lizard / Joythief / Scared Of Everything

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MRB Design brought another mixed bag of sweets to Southsea's favorite Edge of The Wedge this Monday in the form of four distortion-based bands ... check out our galleries below!

THE DIVORCÉE
Portsmouth based weird / loud / chaotic / fun / couldtakeitmoreseriously / mathcore widdles, woo's, waah's and woes.
https://www.facebook.com/TheDivorcee
https://thedivorcee.bandcamp.com

MISTER LIZARD
London based heavy / spazz / weird / fun / loud / ooohwhatsthatsmellcore
Lots of bends, widdles and "Yaaaay".
https://www.facebook.com/misterlizardnoise
https://misterlizard.bandcamp.com

JOYTHIEF
Portsmouth based, straight up, balls to the wall "fuck you" Grindcore.
https://www.facebook.com/Joythiefuk
https://joythiefuk.bandcamp.com


SCARED OF EVERYTHING
Portsmouth based beautiful / intense / skramz / skrim / screamo / nothinglike'underoath', moreliketraditionalscreamo
Lots of deep-shooting words and twinkle-to-crash guitar riffs.
https://www.facebook.com/scaredofeverything
https://scaredofeverything.bandcamp.com

DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 36 MORE BANDS

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DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES

36 MORE BANDS

 

JANE’S ADDICTION, NOFX, SIXX:A.M., BURY TOMORROW,

PERIPHERY, ALIEN ANT FARM, AMON AMARTH AND MORE

 

MAIN STAGE NAMED ‘THE LEMMY STAGE’ IN HONOUR OF

LEMMY KILMISTER

 

Download Festival, the world’s premier rock and metal event, adds 36 new acts to an already meaty bill, including Jane’s Addiction, NOFX, Sixx:A.M., Alien Ant Farm and Amon Amarth. Download Festival takes place on 10-12 June 2016 in Donington Park. Tickets are on sale now; a special early bird ticket rate is available until 12 February.

Joining headliners Rammstein, Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden for three days of unmissable rock are the mighty Jane’s Addiction – Perry Farrell, Dave Navarro, Stephen Perkins and Chris Chaney – ready to bring their dizzying blend of funk-infused rock to Donington. The band are one of the most exciting and frenetic live acts in the game, fronted by the legendary Farrell whose spellbinding power onstage is sure to transfix the masses this summer.

Sadly Motörhead will no longer be performing at this year’s Download Festival, in honour of a true rock ‘n’ roll icon who inspired so many others on the bill, Lemmy Kilmister. This year, Download Festival’s Main Stage will be named ‘The Lemmy Stage’ in tribute to a much loved and missed legend. Download are working with Motörhead’s management on a tribute to the great man during the slot he would have performed on.

SoCal pioneers NOFX are coming to stir a hurricane-like frenzy with their politically charged punk with its tongue firmly in its cheek. Sixx:A.M., featuring former Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx, will inject their brand of old school-style, high-octane rock into the hallowed grounds of Donington.  Anti-Flag will bring a blast of white hot three-chord punk this summer. The band are about to tour the US with their new album, American Spring, and Download is currently their only UK show.

South coast metalcore mob Bury Tomorrow have been busy packing out increasingly large venues across the country over the past few years, installing themselves as one of the most exciting homegrown acts to emerge in the genre. Swaggering US rock gang Escape The Fate will come to rage with their energetic, visceral live shows that are the stuff of legend. Prepare for some nu mental antics when Cally foursome Alien Ant Farm takes to the stage at Donington. Their album ANThology featuring singles ‘Movies’ and their cover of Michael Jackson’s ‘Smooth Criminal’ turns 15 this year.

Next up, Amon Amarth; get ready to be at the mercy of these monolithic Swedish warriors whose fist-pounding take on Viking metal is not to be missed. Periphery are also confirmed and are one of the most revered acts in the progressive metal scene. Electric Wizard, the reigning kings of doom, return with their relentless, ritualistic blackness. Rightfully regarded as one of the heaviest bands in the world, expect some hefty, deep and crushing riffs that build, consume and destroy.

Monster Truck will provide an amped-up, modern take on good old fashioned bluesy rock. The Canadian rockers pack searing guitar riffs, intense vocals and just the right amount of vintage appeal. Graveyard have been capturing the hearts and minds of the rock world over the last few years, establishing themselves as one of the best live acts on the scene. The Swedish three-piece will also bring a blast of retro-cool to Donington.

Municipal Waste will lead the thrash metal party charge. The band plays with expert precision and intensity, embracing and feeding off the crowds’ constant chaos. Japanese phenomenon, One OK Rock have skyrocketed in popularity over the last few years. The enigmatic four-piece have been on tour with All Time Low and have just been announced to support Issues later this year. Nottingham’s Heck, formerly Baby Godzilla, will also bring the carnage to Donington.

Pop-punk upstarts Hill Valley High are ready to rock with their energetic and infectious party vibes; Turbowolf, renowned for their debaucherous live shows, will bring some of the chaos to Donington; Grand Magus are set for one hell of an exciting live show with bulldozer riffs and powerful vocals courtesy of frontman JB Christoffersson. Southern rockers Whiskey Myersprovide some straight up, booze swilling, highway-driving, great country music.

Cane Hill have been pounding the pavements since their inception a few years ago and will bring their fresh interpretation on nu metal. With a set list guaranteed to be full of huge moments, London rockers Zoax are also confirmed. Canadian three-piece Danko Jones will have crowds in the palm of their hands with a smart mix of hits, fan favourites and cuts from their latest album, Fire Music; and Shvpes, formerly Cytota, are ready for a lethal concoction of aggressive hardcore and hard-edged metal.

With a raucous mix of death and doom backed with atmospheric black metal, The King Is Blind will blow the lid off Download Festival. Buckle in for one full on live set of head bangers from these metal behemoths. Berlin trioKadavar have quickly become one of the most prominent acts in the European heavy underground, bringing retro, blues-fuelled psychedelic grooves to the masses at this year’s festival. As Lions, the new band from former Rise To Remain members Austin Dickinson, Will Homer and Conor O’Keefe, also join the bill.

Slaves (US), featuring the show-stopping vocals of Jonny Craig, will add drama and rock dynamism to the bill. Wage War will bring their heavy hitting sound, ready for an all-out energetic, circle pit inducing set, while Palisadesprovide their swirling concoction of hook-laden metal for the dance club masses.

Bristol crew Ashestoangels will add to their growing legions of fans with a hearty, gothic rock-tinged masterclass; London up and comers The Kennethswill perform some unapologetic, brash and bouncy punk, and indie-rockersMuncie Girls will make a splash with their unique injection of book-smart lyrics and streetwise musical sass.

Last but by no means least, Download also welcomes newcomers Reigning Days, who have hit their thunderous musical stride with latest single ‘Friendly Fires’, released last month. Brighton born quartet Black Peaks will pack a punch with their mix of hardcore and progressive rock. Strange Bones will bring unashamedly loud guitars and a real raw edge. The Blackpool trio are turning the heads of the rock scene off the back of their debut single, ‘Sick Of It All.’ Finally Transatlantic tech-heads Good Tiger will bring their fusion of metal, prog riffs and hardcore energy. 

Download Festival is the home of rock music and takes place on the sacred grounds of Donington Park, which have been associated with rock since the eighties. The festival attracts icons of rock and metal to its main stage, plus some of the best and hottest new acts in the world. AC/DC, KISS, Metallica, Aerosmith, Guns N’ Roses, Rage Against The Machine, Slipknot, Linkin Park and many more have all headlined its main stage.

Tickets for Download Festival are on sale now. A special early bird ticket rate is available until 12 February. For further information, please visitwww.downloadfestival.co.uk

Krista Papista - Interview

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Photo Credit BLØR

Photo Credit BLØR

We chatted to Krista Papista this week, an emerging artist whose self-coined “Sordid Pop” blends Electronica with a Punky Pop edge ... like a cross between the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Charli XCX with a Riot Grrrl attitude.

So you started your musical journey at 14 creating songs at home, what first turned you on to music in a big way?

Music and movies always used to blow my mind. They made more sense than reality to me, or reality made sense because of music and movies. I think I realized I wanted to just do music when I learned guitar chords as a teenager, after a few years I learned how to use electronic software programs which excited the f**k out of me ... and then finally I learned how to use cameras and editing programs in uni which made me realize I can illustrate my vision in both music and videographic terms.


You produce your music videos as well as writing music, would you say these are these thought provoking art pieces as a way of conveying your message? If so, what message would you like to get across?

Yes of course the aim is to provoke thoughts, stimulate certain emotions..there’s always room for several interpretations for each video and song..in some of the tracks I aim to awaken certain sensitivities in people, other tracks are pure reckless music fun, other tracks are to awaken certain repressed parts/thoughts of the brain..See the message differs from song to song, the visuals change in every video therefore the concept changes and the influence of it too..but I like to polish my music and videos with a sense of a mystery, a layer of vulnerability where people can take the song and video, make it their own and give their own meaning to it, I like doing that.

Who would you site as your musical influences ... your work seems to draw on a range of genres?

My taste in music, in food and in people is ridiculously broad. But some musicians and certain songs have taken a precious place in my heart and musical memory;
Chet Baker
Don Mclean
Erik Satie
Arleta – Bar to navagio
Manos Hazidakis
Kraftwerk
Serge Gainsbourg
Elvis
Maria Callas
Lou Reed
Groovezone – eisbaer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s91MBFwc4Bs
Andy Williams – Moon River
Johnee Mercer – Personality
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou4f8us7_GU
Tom Petty
The who
Sex Pistols
Bikini Kill
Hole
Nirvana
The Zombies
Scissor Sisters
Pet shop boys
You know I really love this new band called “Misun”
Manos Loizos
Haris Alexiou
Anna Vissi
GREEK POP MUSIC
Yazoo – Only you
Erasure

How about your creative process, what really inspires you to create particular songs? Are your songs sometimes autobiographical or social comment?

Sometimes I’ll be out and I get a melody stuck in my head, I kind of know if it’s a good one or a shit one..I record it on my phone..then I go home and play around on my keyboard with the melody, then I open my notebook and start composing the song..the process might take from 2 weeks to 2 years depends on what’s going on.. My songs are sometimes about what happened to me, sometimes I write about what happened to other people, sometimes I write about what I wish would have happened but most songs are just my enthusiasms.

Are you very image conscious? You have a great unique look. We think the strong elements that really have teeth blended with the stripped back piano in your new single “I Wish I Had Blue Eyes”really echo the Kinderwhore fashion associated with the whole Riot Grrl scene.

 Image conscious, yes of course I am aware of it if I’m into visuals..I appreciate a good sense of style, taste in clothes is a beautiful thing but it’s really not a big deal..Yes I obviously love the Riot Grrl scene..:)

If you had to pick out one female icon in music to celebrate who who it be and why?

Kathleen Hannah cause she did actually make a change. Watch the “The Punk Singer” documentary. Also Maria Callas, her music makes me cry, the way she sings.

What about the lads, is there a male icon in the music industry you would love to work with?

Of course; I’d love to work with Mike Handreas and Robert Alfons ... perhaps with both of the them on the same track. Also I would love to work with Pete Doherty, I don’t care what anyone says..I think his great.

How do you see the music scene generally in 2016. Is there anything you would change if you had a chance?

I think there’s a lot of exciting bands coming out right now..there’s something fresh happening in this post-internet music era..i think people don’t go out that much to gigs of up n’ coming bands as much as they used to..also there’s not much money involved in music anymore and I mean it would be great if everyone listened to more to Armenian music but who gives a shit

Where would you like to see yourself this time next year, any burning ambitions?

Yeah I want be happy.