After a somewhat slow January, February has come and gone in a whirlwind of musical goodness. From a ‘slutz point of view there has been some mega moments. The radio show in the middle of the month was brilliant. As I was a victim to the weather I was stranded up North so was forced to listen in for a change. It’s actually quite good isn’t it! (The March show will be a banger with special guests a plenty). Also the arrival of our Gigslutz t shirts is a belter, keep your eyes out for those coming on sale. Duran Duran also provided a highlight for this month with them sharing the Gigslutz love all over their 2 million Facebook mates with Dan Bull’s cracking For The Record Piece. Respect!
Musically this month there is only one winner though for me and it’s a band I’ve banged on about before. I caught Liverpool’s Sugarmen at the city’s basement Korva bar last weekend as part of the newly launched This Feeling Liverpool night. The whole night was a banger to be fair with Seratonin (formerly Dirty Rivers) doing what they do best with dirty riffs aplenty whilst the moody Pusher also showcased a brilliant set. Sugarmen topped it off in cracking style though. For a band still finding their way they get better and better every time I see them. By no means the finished article, once they click into place these are going to be unstoppable. Top night all round.
Thanks once again to every single person who’s reading ou work, and massive thanks to all our wonderful contributors! Onwards! Cheers, Steve-n
Elliott Homer
The high point of my February was undoubtedly seeing Chicago group The Orwells play the Hare & Hounds in Birmingham. Seeing singer Mario Cuomo go toe-to-toe with former touring mate Alex Turner the night after his famed BRIT Awards speech and declare that “rock ‘n’ roll is dead” as his band did their level best to prove him wrong by unleashing hell for just over an hour was a spectacle I won’t soon forget.
Amelia Ward
Although it’s not had ground-breaking reviews, there’s something about Temples’ new album that really strikes me. it could be because I am on a constant, on-going mission to recreate a long gone LSD session or it could be because Noel Gallagher told us that they are ‘the best new band in Britain’. I’m not sure, but either way I haven’t stopped listening to Sun Structures all month. As a runner up, or as I’d like to coin it, my ‘Carcrash Highlight’, I’ve got two words: Alex Turner.
Although it’s not had ground-breaking reviews, there’s something about Temples’ new album that really strikes me. it could be because I am on a constant, on-going mission to recreate a long gone LSD session or it could be because Noel Gallagher told us that they are ‘the best new band in Britain’. I’m not sure, but either way I haven’t stopped listening to Sun Structures all month. As a runner up, or as I’d like to coin it, my ‘Carcrash Highlight’, I’ve got two words: Alex Turner.
Mari Lane
Well, February saw me lose my 2014 gig virginity with a number of excellent live shows. One of my favourite unsigned bands – Stoneface Travellers – were fantastic at the 100 Club, blasting out their soulful blues, and Phoenix were absolutely astounding at Brixton. My highlight, however, would have to be Debbie Harry winning the ‘Godlike Genius’ award at the NME awards. She is the first woman in NME’s history to ever receive it – a fact I find shocking and, frankly, pretty sad. A statistic that illuminates the depth of an unspoken problem that the industry has been fraught with for decades. But what a wonderfully deserving recipient she is – proved by her rendition of Beastie Boys’ ‘Fight For Your Right (to party)’ at last night’s awards. Huge Congrats to you, Ms Harry. The first woman ever to be deemed ‘godlike’, and hopefully not the last!
(And today’s announcement of her appearance at Glasto 2014 has pretty much made my month.)
Dan Bull
My genre of choice this month is unashamedly pop. New York duo Heartsrevolution return with ‘KISS’, lifted from their debut LP ‘Ride Or Die’. It probably sounds nothing like Icona Pop covering a CSS and Yeah Yeah Yeahs mash-up, but that’s all I have to describe it. Champs ‘My Spirit Is Broken’ is too much like a lost Roy Orbison number it’s ridiculous, and features on their debut album ‘Down Like Gold’. The Smiths’ favourite 60s songstress Sandie Shaw features on ‘Riot Pictures’, from Davidge’s debut solo album; as electronic as it is sweepingly epic, it’s one that will run through your veins. Finally, MØ’s cover of Spice Girls’ Say You’ll Be There makes the track sound like something Lykke Li or Robyn could release to critical acclaim.
In not-quite-so-pop related things, U2’s ‘Invisible’ was not only pretty good because it raised $2 million for charity while giving the track away for free, it was also an exciting pinpoint of where they’re at right now. Bono says the new album’s influenced by Krafwork and Ramones, but there are definite hints of Joy Division there too. Although the chorus is a little safe, there’s hope for some of the album. And it’s bound to sound amazing at their “intimate” (to quote the frontman) rumoured O2 residency. (No need to request passes, I got this one!)
My live highlight was The Jezabels, who I didn’t start listening to until the day I saw them live, but haven’t stopped listening to since, my writing highlight was Duran Duran sharing my “For The Record” on their debut on Facebook, and last but not least: Beck, Foals and Outkast for Bestival, The Fall and Daughter for Beacons, Klaxons and Warpaint for Glastonbury… It’s beginning to look a lot like festival season!
Kate Tittley. The Titts!
Right February you vicious Son of a…
I was out and about for GigSlutz quite a bit in this wee month so got to experience some awesome and some god awful music. The absolute best was The So So Glos and Ezra Furman – both of these acts blew my absolute face off with awesome! Smart, funny, retro, modern, ladies in the street but freaks in the bed, yeah they were everything you could want in a date and then some! I implore you to go see if you get a chance.
In other awesome February based news my teen idol Brody Dalle is back, and her musical hook up with Shirley Manson is to die for! I’m gonna backcomb and soap my hair into a Mohawk until she agrees to be my besty…
Allan Nerssesian
The greatest thing about discovering a new artist these days of social media is that quite often they’ll shout-out other artists that are inspiring them. One such artist is Kwabs who tweeted his appreciation of Royce Wood Junior, who worked and played on Woon’s debut album and also contributed to Kwabs’ forthcoming album. His only solo release is this beautifully soulful track with it’s stumbling beats and laid-back chords. With powerful yet delicate vocals and tight-fitting harmonies it’s exciting to see what comes next from this fresh artist…
Marcella Sartore
When I eventually listened to her brand new single ‘Meet The Foetus/Oh The Joy’ I literally jumped with joy: “Brody Dalle is back!”, I thought. And I was right. Maybe she’s not as punk as she was in The Distillers. But I think she has improved a lot since her last project with Spinnerette and, oh God, she rocks! She’s a mother to two children, a wife, certainly not a desperate housewife! Call her what you want, it won’t change the fact she’s one of my favourite female musicians on this earth! And, honestly, I can’t wait for her upcoming album ‘Diploid Love’ to be released next April. Between me and you, have you heard who’s collaborated to Brody Dalle’s new album? Alain Johannes, Shirley Manson and Emily Kokal of Warpaint (who provided backing vocals fo “Meet The Foetus/Oh The Joy).
Melissa Svensen
Gotta be Foals at ally pally or The Horrors’ new track!
Nick Harland
For me it was probably Brody Dalle’s new single: ‘Meet the Foetus/Oh Joy’. Truthfully, I’ve never listened to Dalle’s music before this, but it’s the hardest-hitting single I’ve heard in some time. It’s a sleazy blues romp in the first half, with Dalle’s vicious guitar sounds and hissing vocals dominating, before hitting the accelerator and becoming a fist-pumping punk anthem in its crescendo. Now I’m keeping my eyes peeled for the album release.
My highlight of the month would undoubtedly have to be Beans on Toast. Having seen him live at the O2 in London I became hooked on his lyrical genius, which covers topics spanning from British politics to a carefree hedonism to drugs and why they aren’t really all that bad (sometimes). Controversial and political, Beans on Toast is a pleasant change from meaningless lyrics and recycled themes of vague and generalisable emotion and how brilliant alcohol makes everything.
Cate Le Bon could be the love-child of Nico and John Cale. Often—and myopically—compared to the former Velvets chanteuse due to the haunted and Teutonic quality of her voice, the Welsh singer shares more with her countryman than their Carmarthenshire roots; namely, a knack for creating melodic, experimental pop music that refuses to follow conventional arrangements, and utilises the traditional voice, guitar, bass & drums format to produce music that sounds vital and wholly original. On a wet Monday night at Brighton’s Komedia, Le Bon and her band tore through an hour long set of songs drawn from her recent album Mug Museum, along with a few old favourites to please the die-hards in the audience. On the angular ‘Can’t Help You’ and the cacophonic ‘Wild’, the sound was heavier and more raucous than the recorded versions, while the delicate ‘I Think I Knew’ made the cosy Komedia seem even more intimate. In an alternative reality where Simon Cowell and his ilk haven’t removed the quirk from mainstream pop music and neutered its capacity to thrill and challenge audiences, Cate Le Bon would be selling out the O2.
Corrine Corrodus
February is always a great month for me, mainly because my birthday is on the 26th – but also because I’m always looking forward to that long deserved half–term rest. Half- term was slightly less calm and quiet than usual; in fact so much happened it’s kind of a bit ridiculous. In the wider world we had the Sochi games and political problems in Ukraine kick off- in my world, I had two great gigs: Swim Deep on Monday 17th at KOKO and Drowners in store at rough Trade on Saturday 22nd. Both were amazing: I won’t forget Austin Williams spraying me with champagne or my chance to get a CD signed by all the Drowners’ boys and snap a selfie with Matt Hitt. However, the highlight of my half term and month had to be Alex Turner’s speech at the Brits, not just because it was absolutely hilarious, but also because it was so unbelievably controversial and iconic. As you may know Arctic Monkeys are my favourite band, so yes- I felt smug when they swept the ground from beneath One Direction, but I was also glad to just see good, guitar music getting recognised for once at such a huge, corporate event. Anyway, for me, those were my February highlights and I can’t wait to see what March brings!
Corrine Corrodus/ @alt_ernate
Nicky Lee-Delisle
‘In this free country, where nothing is free, the cost of living is killing me’
A brand new offering from East London Punk-Reggae band The Skints was my musical highlight of the month. The release of the official video to their brand new track ‘The Cost of Living is Killing Me’ managed to fill the void that was left since their 2012 ‘Part and Parcel’ tour. ‘The Cost of Living…’ maintains the ingredients of a steady ska beat alongside the harmonising vocals and rap solos for which The Skints are well known, but this time the message is grittier. Through a fish eye lens, we are taken to the streets of East London and experience the drudgery of everyday life through the eyes of the band themselves. ‘Wild like a lion, but confined to the Circus’ is the line that captures the frustration and claustrophobia of inner city life which is conveyed in all its urgency within Joshua Water Rudge’s fast-paced vocals. However before it all becomes too heavy, we are suddenly sharing a hot drink with Marcia Richards as she brings a refreshing light heartedness to the track as she yet again proves that hip hop isn’t just a man’s game with an effortless rap solo. Overall ‘The Cost of Living is Killing Me’ is a strong comeback track which both promises and teases fans that there will be plenty more from The Skints in the not too distant future.
Rosie James
This one is easy peasy: Parquet Courts at Concorde 2 in Brighton. My favourite new band to have come out in ages. This was a big step up from the tiny venues I saw them in last year, and they didn’t disappoint. Starting the set off with a few slow burners, they then kicked out the unmistakable opening bars of the “Light Up Gold” album and, to my delight, pretty much powered through the whole LP in one hit from then on. Intelligent, rugged, wry, dynamic, riff-tastic, danceable garage rock. I would go and see them play every night if I could.
My February highlight was Bombay Bicycle Club’s cover of Disclosure’s F for You on Radio 1’s Live Lounge. The cover received an amazing response from listeners, fans and the creators of the song Disclosure, who tweeted to say so, adding ‘Whoever was singing Mary’s part was niiiice!’. I can’t agree more.
