We Dance Like Dogs

Shut Your Eyes And You'll Burst Into Flames/Wintermute/Paul Marshall @ The Grapes, 18/6
Dartz!/I Was A Cub Scout/The Stations @ The Plug, 21/6


One of the things I've noticed since I've started keeping this here blog is that when bands Google themselves they may come across what I've said about them. I don't blame them for wanting to find out what people say about; I used to do it when my band was more accurate. We once got described as more annoying then Crazy Frog. That was pretty good. Anyway, it lead to think that I should offer some tips to young bands googling themselves and maybe pass on all the lessons I learnt on the road. If you are in one of these bands don't be offended by what I'm saying - it's for the best.

Let's start with the band Wintermute. Let's be honest, it's not a great name but then again most band names are pretty bad so we'll skip this point for the time being. Musically, what was once a band that sounded like a bad Smashing Pumpkins now sounds like a furious post-punk racket. Sure, the singer still has a tendency to go a bit Billy Corgan at times, but the good bits far outweigh the bits that suck, which how it should be.

Next band is I Was A Cub Scout, a band that definitely Google themselves. I believe one of them got banned from You Tube for having a go at someone who suggested that their fan base was made up of 15 year old girls. Whilst this is pretty accurate, it's not really a bad thing. If I had the choice between having a fan base made up of jaded, cynical twentysomethings who spend most of their time making fun of bands on message boards or a load of 15 year olds who stand at the front of gigs enjoying themselves and saying things like "OMGZ I LOV THSI SONG LOLZ!!!!" I know which I'd choose. A word on your performances: if you're going to have tons of synths and sequencers and remain a two-piece, try and find a way to have everything easily within your reach so you don't have to spend half a song looking really worried about how you're going to reach that arpeggiator button. And try and sing into the microphone; the kids love the hooks. They're pretty good hooks. And is that second drum kit really necessary?

Shut Your Eyes.. and Dartz! are both great bands. I've got nothing else to say about them.

As for The Stations, it'll probably be best for everyone if you just stop playing. You're giving tapping a bad name.


So that's it. I hope I helped. I await the deluge of anonymous comments.

BYE!

Let's All Have A Massive Hug

Rotary Ten/Heart/Yeah! @ The Grapes, Sheffield,
Owen/The City On Film/Laura Grooves @ The Brudenelll, Leeds
DANANANANAYKROYD/Safety Word/Situationists/My Psychoanalyst @ The Fly, London

Thanks to the likes of Damien Rice and James Morrison, the phrase singer-songwriter usually strikes fear into the hearts of most music fans, conjuring up images of Richard Curtis/Hugh Grant rom-coms and coffee table books. Thankfully both Mike Kinsella and Bob Nanna, Owen and The City On Film respectively, manage to avoid such pitfalls. Owing to drunkenness and illness, both sets are a tad lacklustre but the fact that Bob played three Braid songs makes the whole trip worthwhile.

Lacklustre is not the word you could describe Dananananaykroyd with. Playing with more energy then most bands I've seen recently. Despite the venue being tiny and having the lowest possible ceiling, their singer still managed to crowd surf into a pillar and knocking over far too many glasses. Danananannaykroyd are currently my favourite new/unsigned/whatever band. This blog ends now because I am far too tired to think up anything interesting to say. Let's have some mp3s instead.

Dananananaykroyd - Totally Bone

Dananananaykroyd - Some Dresses

The City On Film - Secret Santa Cruz

Owen - One Of These Days