There’s something really satisfying for us saying the word Drenge. It really reminds us of the time we tried to invent a brand new genre of hardcore punk rock after ourselves and two friends became very much obsessed with The Used, Cancer Bats and Alexisonfire, which we were lovingly going to name SludgeKore (specifically with a K, because admittedly we were all heavily into our nu-metal back in the day. Some of us, ahem, still are). Our band name was borderline incitement to social discrimination – we’re not going to say what it was exactly, but let’s just say it’s up there with Ricky Gervais’ rather excessive controversial use of the non-word “mong” – and subsequently the project was abandoned after about an hour of being in contemplation at one particularly boozy Brixton Academy leg of what used to be called The Taste Of Chaos tour. Anyway, we wish we had thought of the name Drenge. However, our protagonists for today’s Track Of The Day sent to us by manager bloke Murray (cheers Murray), sound absolutely nothing like any of the bands we’ve mentioned above, so all you bastards reading this with raised eyebrows can just shut up. We think they sound like Arctic Monkeys having been all rocked up by Queens Of The Stone Age, which is funny because that actually happened a little while ago didn’t it? The other thing to point out here by way of context is that Drenge are two brothers, and hence this short, stabby, crunchy groove may well be the platform to join the ranks of the other fraternal superstars out there; the Cohen’s, the Mitchell’s, the Mario’s all being prime examples. On a much more serious note, we can’t wait to hear more from these.

Somewhat of an ironically-named Track Of The Day protagonist today (which technically counts as Monday, seeing as the bell has just chimed past midnight here on Planet Killing Moon) rather than a standard aptly-named one. That’s right, kids. We’re stepping our game up. We were about to go into a self-assured digital rant about how insane the last 7 or 8 days have been for us for a variety of reasons, many of them unexpected, but several of them we’ve since been informed are due and proper unto us which makes us feel a lot better about things generally and not so much that we’re just losing our mind; or more to the point, we were going to bitch about how all of this has kept us up at night as it currently is right now and is responsible for the bout of fatigue we’re experiencing intermittently. However, we’re not going to. Why? Because this state of mind is no different from any other of ours in the last two years. We do it to ourselves, and that’s what really, um, hurts. Generally, we feel like we haven’t slept in a really, really long time. Enter The Joys Of Sleeping on the steed of musical appropriateness. We know bugger all about this guy. He popped up on Facebook at some point in February. Then again, we’ve just Hype Machined his ass to reveal that Mr. Of Sleeping is in fact a lad from Winchester (hence the correct usage of lad, at least in the geographical context), who surfaced on t’interweb at some point in late 2010. So, if we’re following this logically, he disappeared for a bit, and has since re-emerged like a rose from the grave. This tune may well have been around back then, or may well be a newb. We sincerely doubt anyone cares either way. Musically this is reminiscent of Man Made, Ajimal and a tad of Films-era Alt J. Quite frankly, it’s a stunning piece of tunage, and we can’t wait to hear Part 2, if indeed there is one.

The Joys Of Sleeping – Dude York Pt. 1

Oh yes. Oh yes, oh yes, oh yes. It’s festival season kids. It’s here. It’s arrived. Time to dig out your crustified, mud-caked tent that has “when this bitch is a-rockin’, don’t come a-knockin’” written in some kinda smokey charcoal colouration; your equally-crusty sleeping bag that has some questionable contents inside when you lay it out to be aired for the first time in 8 months because you simply couldn’t be buggered when you got back from the last big outdoor bash in the summer of 2011, like a really sinister and fucked-up jam rollie-pollie; your wellington boots that actually don’t look so bad considering the time-lapse, but that’s mainly because they were covered in shite to begin with; and your mallet. Never forget or leave out your trusty mallet. You’ll need it where you’re going. Because, ladies and gentledudes, one of our favouritist festivals owing to the gravity of the line up, the coolness of the attendees, and the tranquility of  the vibes, is back for yet another year. Yessum. It’s Latitude 2012.

So, as rather-helpfully pointed out by the rather-helpful clip above, the headliners may have been named at some point as Bon Iver, Elbow and Paul Weller. We seriously dig no fewer than two of those (a prize if you can guess which ones), and for the remaining we seriously dig their haircut, primarily as we got seriously bollocked for publicly mocking it when we used to work at Universal and we didn’t realise he could actually hear us. His music is alright though. Ahem. On a far more mature and to-the-point note, there are many reasons why we feel a bond with Latitude, despite having only been once before, which just so happened to be last year – and that was despite the big ol’ fat rain that intermittently made us feel quite exhausted due to the scientific fact that rain simply makes everything harder. Primarily, it is one of those festivals where, strangely enough, you really don’t have to be into music that much in order to appreciate it. Again, as mentioned as the festival’s punchline in the snippet above, Latitude is more than just a music festival…

You’ve got literary stages (funnily enough we spent a considerable amount of time in this particular remit of arena, which suggests to us we may be far more cultured than people generally give us credit to be, but that’s only because we talk about eating fried chicken all day long), film arenas (we were absolutely gutted to miss a talk by Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan last year on their seminal comedic bitter-sweet BBC series The Trip last year, because we got stuck on the bloody motorway), theatre, poetry reading and spoken-word arenas… Essentially, think of anything culturally significant, suffix the word “arena” to it, and you can be pretty sure that Latitude has got it covered. It truly is one of those events where you can just wonder around for a bit, get lost and discover something genuinely stimulating to the mind and the senses that doesn’t involve doing anything illegal-ish. Or, as we sometimes prefer, you really can just plonk yourself in one of many ideallic settings on offer at the festival and just watch the world go by.

Latitude takes place on 13th-15th July at Henham Park in Southwold. Tickets are priced at £75 for a day pass or £175 for a 3-day weekend pass, with varied options for families, campervans, boutique camping or children. Although you can’t just go by your lonesome if you’re a child. That would just be stupid. You can purchase tickets right now by clicking here.

We’re pretty sure we’re staying in tonight kids. Given the amount of shit (good shit, mind) sent our way this week, this evening we find ourselves sitting on the proverbial fence between, on one brightly-lit and super grassy side, the kid-on-christmas-eve genre of excitement that we honestly haven’t felt in our made-up line of work ever before (save for the first time we were told that we had got our first internship at a real-life record label) and, on the other dampened, humid and muggy side, the complete physical and mental exhaustion that it’s taken to get to this point. We can’t actually say too much so as to elaborate on what the fuck we’re talking about right now, so believe us when we say we’re really, really trying to not screw things up by doing just that right now. But we’ll spill at the earliest opportunity, ya dig? Super. Let’s talk about music. North London’s Crows have been banging on our digital door this week with newly- surfaced tune Glamour Of The Gods, and regretfully we couldn’t bosh this one out before they hit the stage at The Macbeth with Lois & The Love. But hey, we’ve been busy, get over it. Sonic vibes are conducted into our ear-holes via the carrier waves of Nick Cave (and pretty much any and all projects the Aussie has been involved in now and in perpetuity, as well as some of our favourite acts influence by the man himself, so we’re gonna chuck Grass House into the mix here), and Muse‘s Knights Of Cyndonia has a bit of a presence here – at least insofar as feeling a bit like a cowboy when you hit the play button. Additionally, we get the impression of dudeness via this lots’ Facebook page mainly as they’re bigging up Chicago weird-bloke/genius of yesteryear Wesley Willis – we sing Rock & Roll McDonalds on the reg in the shower bath. It’s the only way to fly.

Crows – Glamour Of The Gods

Another quickie for you chaps we’re afraid. We wish we could spend more time with you. Get to know you. Treat ya right. Make ya famous. Get inside ya. But we’ve got places to be, people to meet, beers to drink and meat to consume. But hey, relax baby, it’s all good. You’ve got new Sounds Of Sweet Nothing darlings ILLLS to entertain you with this rather sexy new Track Of The Day that goes by the name of Teeth. Hailing from the same neck of the woods as other-KM faves Young Buffalo (in fact we only stumbled across the clip in question below by virtue of that very band’s manager posting it on his Facebook feed – does that make us spies? Probably. But then everyone on Facebook is in that case), namely Oxford, Mississippi, the sound is more than reminiscent of SOSN alumni Gross Magic bundled with that of near-namesakers Ill Fits. Personally, we’re just drawn to that cheeky guitar picking and the spaced out vocal. What on earth is there not to like? Get familiar with the two-piece via the clip below, as this is likely to be your feel-good hit of this summer (should it ever decide to arrive and/or stick around).

Yeah, we know it’s late, but this shit can’t really wait anymore. Our very good buddies (yes, we know we say that a lot, but that’s because they are) Amazing Radio were the recipients of some rather unwelcome news that they were to be booted off their DAB digital radio space by the peeps that own the transmitter network. And for why? Well, it seems contrary to certain popular beliefs, it is very much about the money, money, money. Having spoken to some of our close chums that work at the station – who, if we’re being completely honest, are the very same people who lit the flame under our asses some time in early 2011 when things weren’t going so great on Planet Killing Moon and have been no end of support to our blog, the bands and artists we’re involved with, as well as ourselves personally, by generally giving a crap about new music when no one else will based purely on the strength of that music and not an elaborate long-term marketing campaign behind it all; to put it concisely, we highly doubt we’d be doing what we’re doing right now if it wasn’t for Amazing Radio and all that sail in her – while it’s not a great feeling to be stitched up by the powers that be, we’re amazed (there’s that word again) to see that regardless they’re striving on with their plans for expansion into the US and to continue to promote the best new music regardless of genre or prominence.

That may all sound incredibly self-righteous (have you known us to be anything than just that?), ranty, and may not have actually explained the situation well enough, mainly as we’re knackered right now. In which case, have a peruse at what Amazing Radio founder Paul Campbell had to say about the situation.

So, what to do? Well, here at Killing Moon we love to whinge, and this is probably the most legitimate occassion to whinge more than we have ever whinged about anything music-related before. It’s simple – there’s a petition. It needs to be shown that there is a demand for this particular station to exist on that particular DAB platform – which, of course, we know there is, but that’s no good unless it is voiced, as transmitter-network-bloke probably understands facts/figures/decimals/dollars a lot better than great new music. We mean, shit, after all the work they’ve put in for 5 years they deserve a modicum of back-up, right? Especially when they’ve gone out of their way to help out just about everyone else they can. It takes two seconds dudes. Click the big-ass link below this paragraph, and enter your name and location into the petition form. Have a good ol’ belly-ache with us. It’s fun. And it might just change things. The very least we can do is try.

[CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION TO GET AMAZING RADIO BACK ON DAB]

Seriously fuckin quick TOTD post for you today (we’ve even abbreviated the subject matter there, which we haven’t done in a spell, mainly as several PRs have told us they’ve confused it for something football-related. A music PR dabbling in football terminology? Whodathunkit). Heading out for a blitz of meetings with our guy Draper in a sec. Well, maybe like five minutes or something. Anyway, let’s talk about Idles who were at several points over the last week referred to us as “a band from Bristol that are actually very good”, whatever that means. A quick peruse of their Facebook page and we’re admittedly disappointed that several of our mates seem to have been following these dudes for quite some time, and yet we only get told about it recently. REAL MATES. Although they might well have told us to check them out ages ago and somehow got lost in the Big List we’ve got stashed on our person of allllll the bands we’ve ever heard of. Starting to gather props from our buddies Generator, and like we say most of the company we generally keep, current Track Of The Day Meydei gives a flavour of Bloc Party‘s debut album taken to ruskier and generally heavier heights, with elements of Joy Division available in both a sonic and lyrical sense. This should have indie-disco kids spinning around in Death Disco’s up and down the land, if it doesn’t already. Right, we’ve really got to go. Get familiar with the clip below.

Friends at Great Escape. Clearly, she had just consumed a blue Slush Puppy.

So, as promised, here’s the full, official-like, far-more-professional-than-the-ramblings-we-noted-down review from Killing Moon’s Georgina Langford. Quite frankly, we’re amazed at the attention to detail Georgina’s managed to bundle in to this bad boy, especially as we have it on good authority (i.e. from her) that she pretty much partied at least as hard as we did whilst marauding a far greater range of venues than we did. In fact, she’s only bloody gone and seen the bands that truly we intended to, as we so often do, but got sidetracked on several occasions. We’re just going to go ahead and blame time for this one. We wish we could account for every antic, every amazing live act, every mental music industry figure, and every bar receipt that we appropriated over those three fateful days but we just can’t. The fact is, this is one of those festivals where there is just so much cool shit to do, and as a result the ironic temptation is to simply park yourself in one or two locations on any given day and, y’know, just sit there. AND DRINK. But not Georgie. No, not her. She took one for the team. She was mobile. She was nimble. She was keen. She took coherent notes. It goes a little something like this…

[Live: TGE12 - The good, the bad and the just plain fucking loud]

Episode 1: The Thursday

So this is meant to be the professional, accurate and critical review of all the bands at The Great Escape 2012 which the rest of the Killing Moon crew were too busy/drunk/busy and drunk to go and see. Yeah, here goes…

College @ Prince Albert

Everyone knows College right? Or at least, we all know A Real Hero, the insanely good track he created for the Drive soundtrack. Which everyone also knows is the greatest movie soundtrack of all time (fight it out amongst yourselves, alright.) It seems the entire festival contingent decided it would be a great way to start proceedings by cramming into the Prince Albert pub to witness David Grellier’s unique brand of electronica including his signature song. We were essentially attempting to rave at 3pm  in the afternoon, in the upstairs room of a pub with the curtains half drawn. After the set, which was unfortunately lacking any visuals (Grellier apologised in a very humble, very French way for this [Ed: Pardonez-moi, innit. Jeah] then proceeded to DJ about seventeen times across the festival to make up for it) It was going to be a very good Great Escape.

Pond @ Fitzherberts

Thursday at Fitzherberts was a joy and delight. One Inch Badge were staging an Alternative Escape showcase, including the raucous, pysch-pop-rock sensation that is Pond. Apparently, they are just about to release an EP called Hobo Racket, which judging by the enjoyable noise they were making, sounds about spot on.

White Arrows @ Moshi Moshi

Time to confess…this particular reviewer had been headed straight for the Lower than Atlantis show at the Loft when it was cancelled, leaving a gap in the schedule. Such is the beauty of TGE, by simply following the sound of some nearby live music, I stumbled across White Arrows. These American boys were not impressed by having to play in a freezing cold courtyard, but despite not being able to feel their fingers, they particularly impressed an ever-growing crowd with a final song, aptly titled Fireworks By The Sea. The gorgeous sound of their surfy/lo-fi electronic psychedelia echoing through the streets was enough to make us feel like the sun was shining, even if it really, really was not. Ugh.

Violet @ The Haunt

This was always going to be an interesting one. Violet might be a new-ish band, but lead singer Pixie Geldof has already got a loyal band of both lovers and haters. I attempted to chat to the girl herself beforehand, to get her take on what it’s like to be a frontwoman in an industry crying out for the next Shirley Manson, but I got an ice cold Geldof brush-off. Nice. Purely on the basis of the set, it’s obvious that Pixie has a great voice; it’s stronger, huskier and more interesting live than on record, complimenting her romantic, emotional lyrics. ‘Put your hands on my ribs/Under my shirt/Put your hands where my heart is/Because that’s where it hurts’. Not bad. The music was good it’s just a shame Ms Geldof can’t be a little more real.

Peace @ Horatios

Peace frontman Harrison Koisser was clearly, clearly having something of a Marc Bolan day, swaggering and swaying in a fur trimmed suede coat as they played the NME Radar stage. They’ve certainly got the whole ‘rockstar’ thing down in between the songs, which are a mixture of amazingly varied drum beats, droney/melodic vocals and unnervingly frequent uses of the word ‘float’ – honest to God, it’s in every song, unless that’s just the Tuaca talking – the banter went along the lines of “well, that was deep as shit.” They are either going to be heroes or the next Viva Brother: let’s hope it’s the former.

Episode 2: The Friday

Day two and most of Brighton was starting the day with a light breakfast of approximately six Nurofen. We know how to party hard in this town. But despite our bleary eyes, there was more important band watching to be done…after we had managed to crawl out from beneath the security of our duvets. The Friday of Great Escape 2012 was all about the strategic queue, and that strategic queue was for one act and one act only, and that act was Grimes.

Grimes @ Digital

The Canadian wunderkind rocked up to the stage looking like Marilyn Manson’s niece all white face paint, goofy smile and an anarchy t-shirt. Despite having just about every industry exec in the room while she played, Grimes seemed to be having even more fun than we were; the girl sure knows how to bust some moves, if those moves are those of a malcoordinated whelk. Bless. In all seriousness, she opened with Genesis to adoring cheers, bounced through the brilliant Be A Body and finished her 25 minute set with a big, big version of Oblivion. Very few people left that show not enraptured by her nerdy goodness. Come back soon Grimes, Brighton wants to be friends.

Doldrums @ The Haunt

It was a bit of a Canada-fest on Friday, and Grimes‘ musical peers Doldrums shook things up at The Haunt with a crazy party set featuring samba beats, samples galore and some kind of  shouty, experimental singing. It kind of worked!

Rolo Tomassi @ The Haunt

Oh Eva Spence, what planet are you from and where did you learn to do that? The girl who can scream just as well as the rest of the hardcore boys was on fire on Friday, for their second show of the day (their earlier secret headline set at The Loft was really not very secret. At all.) Their schizophrenic musical styles and Eva’s interchangable scream/sweet singing voice was just what the doctor ordered for a bunch of Brightonites needing to wake up fast.

Dry The River @ The Corn Exchange

This band, previously reviewed here on KM, are usually epic. They have a violin on stage, ffs. The Corn Exchange was surprisingly packed out for a band still on the rise, but whether or not it was due to festival fatigue, Dry The River couldn’t quite hold the crowd’s attention. Something was missing and it meant their set didn’t really happen the way it should have done. Let’s hope they sort themselves out fast because this is a band with a lot of talent and potential.

Episode 3: Can We Just Go Home Please The Saturday

Woah. Day 3. We might have had two hours sleep (after the sun had already come up) but it was time for a final fling.

Karin Park @ Urban Outfitters

Fact: gigs in shops are always weird. When a band is setting up in the shoe department of UO it’s hard to know what the protocol is – everyone is trying very hard to ignore the customers who are wandering through the crowd clutching new purchases and wondering what the hell is going on. Especially when what’s going on is the startling, statuesque Norwegian goddess, Karin Park. One of the absolute gems of Great Escape 2012, Karin was hotly tipped by Dan le Sac and most certainly lived up to the hype. Her powerful, crystal clear voice sounds both supernatural and strong, while her brother David puts his rock background to good use with some heavy drumming (as well as playing all sorts of synths etc using his other limbs. As you do) While she sings, plays keytar and a mini electric piano, Karin is all black lines and long limbs, her angular movements contributing to the all round inspirational experience. There have already been comparisons drawn to Bjork and they are completely justified – speaking to Karin after the show, she’s a fascinating human being, hyper intelligent with the belief that imperfection is beautiful and that sometimes we have to expose the most ugly sides of ourselves in order to be honest with what we create. Look this woman up.

Aiden Grimshaw @ Coalition

Yes, the very same. Aiden ‘X Factor boy’ Grimshaw has been causing music journalists quite the hassle, by defying the classic talent show mold to come out with some pretty decent songs. He was obviously determined to impress, with eyes wide and fists clenched as he showed off an impressive vocal range on a series of Hurts-esque contemporary, dancey, synthy songs. There was definitely a little Patrick Wolf melodrama thrown in for good measure – but while his voice was both impressive and the music world’s away from the usual X Factor crap, there is always going to be the faint linger of the Cowell spectre. Is Grimshaw for real? It’s hard to tell – but try telling that to his already massive army of fans. He’s going to be all over the place by the end of the year.

Eagulls @ Horatios

Onto something a little more straight up with the best-named band at the festival. These five Leeds boys make the kind of gutteral garage punk that gives you faith in guitar music – they’ve got the requisite ‘don’t give a shit’ attitude too, but one that seems genuine. Not many bands finish their set by telling the crowd they have pouches of tobacco to sell. “We ain’t got no merch, so have that instead.”

Milk Music @ Horatios

Things got a little less shambolic but still pretty raw with the arrival of Milk Music. Big riffs and some INSANE drumming meant this grunge rock outfit made a very good impression. The vocals are a little…but y’know, no-one really needs to be able to sing to be in a band.

DZ Deathrays @ Horatios

Now this is how you do it. Australian duo DZ Deathrays grabbed the NME crowd by the neck and caused as close as we were going to get to a full on riot – the noise the pair of them make is the closest any of us are going to get to seeing The White Stripes ever again. Thrash pop? Maybe. The biggest riffs of TGE12? For sure. DZ Deathrays should be huge, but they are probably partying too hard to either notice or care – GO AND SEE THIS BAND LIVE.

That’ll be all until next year Brighton. We might just have recovered by then. JEAH!

Words: Georgina Langford

Pictures: We can’t remember. Honestly, we can’t. If you took the photo and you want appropriate props, give us a yell and we’ll get on it.

Thanks to: All the Louises at Mark Borkowski PR

]]> http://killingmoonlimited.com/2012/05/15/live-the-great-escape-2012/feed/ 1 The Great Escape_FI killingmoonlimited The Great Escape_Friends The Great Escape_College The Great Escape_Pond The Great Escape_White Arrows Pixie Geldof of Violet The Great Escape_Peace The Great Escape_Grimes The Great Escape_Doldrums The Great Escape_Rolo Tomassi The Great Escape_Dry The Rivers The Great Escape_Karin Park The Great Escape_Aiden Grimshaw The Great Escape_Eagulls The Great Escape_Milk Music The Great Escape_DZ Deathrays http://killingmoonlimited.com/2012/05/14/track-of-the-day-fragile-creatures-dear-michael/ http://killingmoonlimited.com/2012/05/14/track-of-the-day-fragile-creatures-dear-michael/#comments Mon, 14 May 2012 14:04:24 +0000 killingmoonlimited http://killingmoonlimited.com/?p=3014 Read more]]>

If you’ve ever watched Human Traffic (if you haven’t, do, it’s great), you might be familiar with the appropriated phrase “what goes up must come down. And down. And down”. This is essentially where the Killing Moon gang are at – apart from camera/soundguy extraordinaire Dan Bridge is concerned, as rather conveniently he doesn’t drink – following a full 72 bender in Brighton (see previous blog post for an insight into just how silly we got). We saw the sun rise three days in a row. Our body clock has been reset to Tokyo time and subsequently we’re having more trouble getting some shut eye before midnight than we ever have before. We’re in limbo. Thankfully, the calming acoustic-vocal combination of Brighton locals and aptly-named-for-the-state-we’re-in-today Fragile Creatures seems to be helping, at least in subsiding the hippy-shakes we’ve now attracted for the first time since finishing university. These boys were themselves performing at Great Escape, as evidenced by the above photo taken at the delegate-bit at The Dome where they seem to have either attracted a rapturous audience comprised of balding men in glasses and some children – which as we recall really wasn’t that different from any other venue audience, so that’s alright. We didn’t see them ourselves – we like to think we were working, but the chances are that’s simply not true – but given current Track Of The Day Dear Michael‘s  steady undertones of the likes of The Kills, Badly Drawn Boy, Aqualung and a bit o’ Band Of Horses, we’re regretful that we didn’t. We intend to make up for this by heading out and picking up a copy of this single when it receives a release proper on 11th June – which is going to be doubly great, as that’s when we’re dropping the Bluebell single on you, ya kids and ya wife.

Fragile Creatures – Dear Michael

Brain. Not. Feel. Right. You may have noticed that we’ve been a bit quiet on the blogging front for the last few days. That’s because for those few days we’ve been getting busy living (and dying, or at least now we are) at our own musical Mecca that is The Great Escape festival in Brighton. We did some things. We saw some bands. We drank an awful, awful amount of booze. We completely forgot those compilation CDs in London that we spent hours making on Wednesday night, so do just get in touch if you’d like one and we’ll sort sommat out. We got slapped right in the face by an A&R Manager called Harry outside a fish and chip shop at 3am who we had spoken to before over emails but had never physically met before.  We watched some more bands. We ended up at the Queen’s Hotel far too much. We got slept upon (on the shoulder, we didn’t actually mind too much) by a senior booking agent at a reptuable London-based firm and played with his hair whilst he was doing so, much to everyone else’s amusement. We watched the sun rise three times in a row. Somehow, in between all this, we ran an all-day stage on the Friday which, despite commencing in a waking-up-still-pissed-mode, resulted in being one of the best days of our lives, in no small part due to our excellent friends, performing acts, DJs and co-promoters being just that, and the weather being gloriously sunny against all the odds. Our one regret over this stint was in fact that we didn’t have more time to max and relax with all our buddies old and new – but hey, there’s always a next time and the rest of our lives generally. While we’ll have a far-more professional reading ensemble for you guys real soon by way of an actual review by our actual live reviewer Georgina, here’s our annual thing by which we just lift some unedited ramblings we’ve found on our iPhone whilst we were watching six live performances (which weren’t on our own stage – that would be cheating somewhat) that apparently made quite the impression on us. Here we go, in no particular order…

The Lost Souls Club

Queen’s Hotel Basement, 12/05/12

I can’t believe I just got fucking rinsed for £11 for two pints. Where the fuck is this anyway, Paris? Thankfully they are not charging me to use the loo otherwise it’s pure game over. Need to sit down. Mischa [Pearlman] wants to watch these guys up close though. Bumped into them on our way to find tinnies to attend to on the beach. Or rather Mischa knows them and I’m just tagging along because given how emotionally vulnerable I am on account of booze I really shouldn’t be alone right now. Loving this bluesy rock and roll thing these guys are doing. It’s dark and melodic. Bit like me last night. More like Queens Of The Stone Age, Bookhouse Boys, John J Presley, Dead Confederate. What the hell is that smell? My kingdom for a bar of phone signal. Just one bar. Bar.

_______________________

Theme Park

Coalition, 12/05/12

This may be the one and only time I’ve used this delegate’s pass. Queue outside is insane. I feel bad for the normies but at the same time I’m glad this wristband/laminate thingy has actually come in useful at least once. Damn good timing too. Getting nippy outside, my jeans keep slipping down my already-questionable waist-line, and I need a wee. It’s Jeremy’s [Lloyd] round as well. Yay. Not seen Theme Park before despite wanting to. They look about 12. Well, the one I can actually see through the sea of bodies and really-not-usefully-placed looks about 12. I can dig it though; got a bit of wall to lean on and I can show off my dance moves to Chris [Duncan]. Damn I dance real good to indie rock. Wish I could play guitar. Actually I wish I could play guitar and be 12. Shit it’s my round.Can Theme Park buy beer?

_______________________

Devin

Above Audio, 10/05/12

Really shouldn’t be drinking this much. Got a stage tomorrow. Gotta be sharp. Chris is buying though. Devin sounds tres punk’n'roll. Shame I can’t actually see anything. The world’s largest men have decided to set up shop in front of me and I’m stood in the thoroughfare. No way I’m gonna get to the loo through this crowd. Will use the one in the venue underneath this one. I’m so bloody clever.

_______________________

St Lucia

Audio, 11/05/12

Not entirely sure how I’m still doing this. I shouldn’t be awake. Super tired after Jeah! – that was a good 12 hours on my feet. I can’t feel my feet. Although my feet are dancing a bit to St Lucia. The frontman has got a strong look. It’s like Kurt Russell and Caleb from Kings Of Leon had a secret love child who got mad into Reel Big Fish and borrowed one of their flowery shirts. Need to sit down.

_______________________

Hey Sholay

The Hope, 12/05/12

That KFC was necessary. Technically it being the afternoon that’s okay in culinary-timing terms. Most of Brighton seemed to have the exact same idea at the exact same time. Clever bastards. It is ridiculously hot in here. Jeremy is wearing a woolly jumper. Silly Jeremy. Is it Jeremy’s round? Caught a bit of The Big Sleep just now; head-nodding vibes. Whilst watching Hey Sholay for the first time I realise that it could be me and my buddies on stage right now, given that the stage manager came up to us and said “now would be a good time to go on”. He thinks we’re a band, mainly as we’re sat where all the bands have parked all their gear. We should form a band. The band should be called “Ach Is Sexy”. We will be incredible and play only 30 second songs with the NOFX drum beat and just whoaaaaaah all the time like The Misfits. Hey Sholay are getting off to a flying start. I wonder where they’re from. Jeremy reckons they’re northern. There is an awful lot of feedback coming from the PA but that’s okay; they’re still good. Got to go. Too hot. Why is there never any fucking phone signal?

_______________________

Palma Violets

Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar, 13/05/12

It’s 3am. 3. A. M. Got to be out of Brighton by 11am and the sun is already coming up. Still, wanna see Palma Violets. Jeremy’s here. Moodie is here. It’s all good. This all feels a bit Libertines. Stage interaction between the two front guys is so similar on the Pete and Carl wavelength. This has got to be [omitted due to incoherence]. Need water. Gotta go.

Honourable Mentions

Jeremy Lloyd for buying so many rounds and actually falling asleep on his feet at one of the above gigs.

Joe Parry for being shat on by a seagull and still making it to our Jeah! stage.

Jen Anderson, Mike Bradford and Andy Willers for not being angry with us for forgetting the CDs and generally allowing us to be stupid for a sizeable proportion of the Friday.

Cara Dattani and Dan Bridge for being the ultimate film crew.

Intern Adam for being a dude.

Chris Fraser and Ben Ryder-Smith for being additional dudes.

This guy:

Mischa Pearlman for hearing our sob stories and generally being a goddamn hero.

Draper for dancing to his own DJ set on the dancefloor.

Andy Ritchie for generally just being him.

Chris Duncan and The Orchard crew for making us look cool.

Anyone/anything else we’ve forgotten.