Blink 182 postpone UK & European dates
Posted by jamie on Apr 18, 2011
I’m feeling sort of gutted about this, actually. Blink 182 have postponed all of their UK & European tour dates so that they can write new songs. They’ll be here in 2012. Yes, twelve.
Here’s their statement in full:
EUROPEAN 2011 TOUR DATES RESCHEDULED
FROM MARK, TOM AND TRAVIS: It is with heavy hearts that we have to announce our planned 2011 European Summer tour has been rescheduled. When we booked the tour last year, we were confident that we would have the new album out before the Summer. Turns out wewere mistaken as the album is taking longer than we thought and won’t be outtill later this year. We hoped we wouldhave some new songs to play rather than do another ‘greatest hits tour’ whichyou all saw last Summer. As much as weknow our fans would be cool with that, we feel that we owe you guys somethingnew when you spend your money to come see us. Frankly, it’s what needs tocontinue for us to remain vital. Thethree of us are working very hard to do what we set out to do when were-formed…get a new blink-182 album recorded. Apologies to all of our fans who have bought tickets and were lookingforward to the Summer shows but we’ll be back soon with the rescheduled datesin Summer 2012, have a new album out and be able to play new songs for you all.Thanks for all of the continued support and understanding. The rescheduled dates are on our website (www.blink182.com) and are listed below.
To actually see the rescheduled dates, you’ll need to go here. Otherwise this post would be miles long and that.
King Blues, SB6, Random Hand: Koko show
Posted by jamie on Apr 15, 2011
King Blues, Sonic Boom Six, Random Hand
KoKo, Camden
8th April 2011
Jamie
Not so long go, gigs like this would not certainly have been at the Astoria (RIP). This is only the 4th time I’ve been to KoKo, despite the fact that it’s actually at the bottom of our street. It’s lush on the inside, done up like an old-fashioned theatre and painted deep red. It’s also pretty tall, with two balconies, one above the other, from which you can see the bands if you’re too late to cram yourself in front of the stage. Seeing as doors were 18:30, that came in handy. Predictably, the Rebel Alliance massif here out early and in numbers, so I saw Random Hand from above, behind the sound desk.
The Keighley boys definitely know how to bring the ruckus. It’s a shame they’re given just half an hour, and that from 18:45, but they make a real go of it, opening the show with aplomb. Their dirty, rough-and-ready take on skacore comes as a shock to a few KoKo regulars who have come in heels and posh dresses to stand still in the indie club which happens later, but it’s a treat for all those familiar with the lads, and will doubtless have won over a few of the relative newcomers who wouldn’t have been here had the King Blues not conquered their own little slice of the (relative) mainstream.
Thanks to the queue snaking most of the way down Crowndale Road, we made it in just after their first song, so got the sight of a pit full of raised fists and a rousing rendition of Devil’s Little Guineau Pig. The circumstances have probably played their part in preventing Random Hand from pulling off their usual giant, dirty, scary beast of a live show: it’s a relatively large venue and still filling up, and it’s daytime outside. Nonetheless, the songs sound great and there’s plenty of energy both on and in front of the stage.
In their thirty minutes, Random Hand romp through the standards of their live set, drawn mainly from Inhale, Exhale and with a couple of tracks from new record Seething is Believing. Those are new on pretty much everyone, but are generally well received. They do sound mint, by the way. Keep your eye peeled on Bananatown to see us review the album in full any day now.
Sonic Boom Six get a little bit longer. I’ve seen them support the King Blues before, just over the road at the Purple Turtle, but this is a different kettle of fish altogether. Having both opened for the likes of Reel Big Fish and Less Than Jake in recent years, Random Hand and SB6 are almost a dream support act: perfectly honed live sets and more than enough quality in their back-catalogues to entertain the early crowd. The real bonus, though, is that they get everyone down early. Before we even got tickets (two days before), facebook was packed with “get own early” and “doors at 6.30”. Such is the loyalty of this particular fanbase that everyone is in on time and ready to party.
Not for the first time, SB6 have coordinated their outfits, in part, at least, and tonight it’s yellow. The Road to hell and Sound of a Revolution kick off a short, sharp support set. They’re practiced at this and know to get as many tunes in as possible. It’s a pain for them, then, when something goes wrong with the laptop, but at least Barney gets an opportunity to get his cheeky-chappy talk out. An affectionate reference to Random Hand as their “brothers” gets turned around and becomes “like brothers from Yorkshire who don’t wash very much” and then joins in to a few more Yorkshire jokes. Affectionately meant, of course.
It’s quickly time to get on with the show, and new single New Stlye Rocka gets a live outing. It’s really good live actually. For the record, it’s Barney who takes on Tonn Piper’s verse. Meanwhile, back in the Real World comes after it, and then there’s another huge cheer when Kids of the Multiculture is dedicated to the fact that without multicultural Britain we wouldn’t have any of the bands that are here tonight. Without the sampler, they can’t play Ya Basta! so, after deliberating with their new(ish) guitarist Jimmy T Boom, acting as the emergency engineer, Laila and Barney decide to “just sack it off and play some tunes”. It’s here that Sunny Side of the Street becomes the third new song in a shortened set of only seven. Deliberately or not, it’s performed as a semi-acoustic, breezy, almost reggae tune. Amongst all the technical problems that have hampered their usually super-slick live show, this improvisation is actually the stand-out moment of the set: it’s an incredibly beautiful song, just perfect for the occasion, and it’s really satisfying to see them just “sack it off” and get on with it. No doubt it’s liberating, if perhaps a little stressful, for the band, but it’s actually a joy for all of us watching as well. The song will doubtless become a favourite, praise indeed given the competition it faces, but the performance here, even without the circumstances, stood out as one of the most memorable moments of the whole evening, and a collector’s item to boot. Not bad for an emergency improvisation by a support band.
As regular service is resumed, it’s then time for Laila to big up Random Hand for “kicking the shit out of every ingle night” of this tour and their hombres the King Blues before a larger, and louder, than life Piggy n the Middle brings the set to a close.
The changes to their line up and the set have inevitably changed Sonic Boom Six’s live set, and the technical problems can’t have helped either, but there’s another excellent new band emerging here, and enough of that was evident to set the night in full swing and ready for its headliners.
And headliners they are. One of the things about the rest of the world discovering the King Blues is the arrival of newer, more mainstream punters in the crowd. Predictably, then, there’s the bigger venue and the bigger drinks prices. There’s the second-song surge of (presumably) first- year students who’ve waited this long at the bar and now need to be front centre. Despite all this, though, and despite the mini-scandal when Fruitbag left, it’s reassuring, having watched them in concert for the first time since they were catapulted in to the public consciousness, to see that, while the spotlight has brought with it so many new and different things, it’s just like watching the same band that some of us in here saw play across the road and, afterwards, play outside in the road. Alright, then, on the big traffic island just by KoKo, Costa, and Mornington Crescent.
That night two boys were ejected from the Purple Turtle for being under age. Word got around to Itch and instantly touched a nerve: “I’ve been a punk rocker since I was twelve years old”, I remember him bawling, “trying to sneak in to CapDown shows. And those boys have been thrown out, so, if they can’t come to the show then after the gig we’re going to take the show to them – we’re going to go and play another set outside just for those two boys”. And they did: two nervous looking lads were ushered to the front to see the King Blues play three acoustic songs just for them right outside KoKo. They’ve returned here as big name stars but, and this is a relief more than anything, evidently unchanged. You can’t play impromptu gigs on traffic islands when you’re a major rock star, at least not in Central London, but the spirit remains the same among those of us who were there before. Just here there are more of us: it’s bigger and more bombastic.
Jamie jazz and then Itch arrive separately from the others, to bigger and bigger cheers, and the band race through We Are Fucking Angry and then Let’s Hang the Landlord, when big gangs of lads gatecrash the front. There’s an irony that, while the band are singing about peace and love, in fact those exact words, the biggest circle pit of the night opens up. I guess that’s the sort of thing you see from two floors up.
Mr Music Man appears in amongst newies Set the World on Fire and I Want You. By now the place is a giant, rowdy, boozy singalong, with sweaty bodies wrapped around each other, and rolling across the top of each other, far below us. I’ve got a football injury that’s classed as “delicate”, bless, so were up in one of those boxes that the old men used to shout abuse from in the Muppet movies. I actually saw Hassan from Chapter Eleven almost swimming, as he dragged himself forward over the top of the crowd. Respect. Then there’s a full stage invasion, as the Sonic Boom Six and Random Hand join the King Blues on stage for My Boulder. It’s a proper celebrity moment, yet with a lovely sense of family – that sense of really belonging has survive the move to the bigger venues, and it’s really touching to see and to feel a part of. Streets Are Ours gets a rapturous response, and another new track, Sex Education, gets an even bigger cheer: it’s mainly down to the introductions they’re getting, because this one was funnier: “Sex Education”, says Itch, is “about how, by the time you get your first sex education lesson, you’ve already seen 2 Girls 1 Cup about 5 times”.
The best audience participation comes during Headbutt, though: all three floors gleefully chanting along in unison. Breathless, and drenched in sweat and adulation, we’ve got time for just two more: Punk and Poetry’s The Future’s Not What It Used to Be, again dedicated to “our excuse for a government”, and a gloriously anthemic rendition of I Got Love.
One of the downsides to KoKo is that it actually is time now, and with one short encore, we’re actually outside before ten. The SB6’s Dangers of Rock and Roll sums this problem up nicely, so there’s no need for me to rant about it.
The King Blues do return, though, with Five Bottles of Shampoo, one of the poems off the new record, and an ode to respecting and valuing women, and delivered on his own by Itch. It practically brings the house down, and, remember, we’re on the second floor. The Scroungers is out next, before we’re finally done with Save the World, Get the Girl. It’s been a stunning show from start to finish, and despite the fact that it isn’t bedtime yet, I think everyone in here is exhausted. When I drifted back to proper consciousness I could just see disoriented bodies, blinking like baby mice, hunting each other out in the smush of so many plastic cups. It’s not 10 o’clock yet. Good night.
Popes / Truebeat: UK tour
Posted by jamie on Apr 14, 2011
Our mates the Popes of Chillitown and True Beat are off on tour together, starting in London this Saturday (16th April). Artwork and all the dates to follow.
Have a look at this from our inbox:
Hey guys, Austen from Popes of Chillitown here!
Celebs. They’re great, aren’t they?
Here are those dates if you need to copy and paste them anywhere:
April
16 - Nambucca, London
20 - Edge of the Wedge, Portsmouth
22 - Duke of Cambridge, Hounslow
23 - Redhouse, Sheffield
24th - The Sailing Club, Llanfairfechan
May
19th - Hobgoblin, Staines
20th - Leo’s Red Lion, Gravesend
21st - Folkestone, The Chambers (Skabour Warmup)
[spunge] : on tour now
Posted by jamie on Apr 13, 2011
Tewkesbury ska-punk terrorists [spunge] are on tour as I type. Nottingham, Birmingham and Exeter have all already been rocked and the boys are in London tonight.
If you can get down there, you really should. It’s at the Islington Academy.
Those remaining dates in full:
13/04/11
[spunge] in London O2 Academy United Kingdom
Time: 7:00pm. Admission: £9.
Address: N1 Centre, 16 Parkfield Street, Islington, N1 0PS.
Venue phone: 020 7288 4400. Buy tickets
14/04/11
[spunge] in Norwich Waterfront United Kingdom
Time: 7:30pm. Admission: £10. Age restrictions: 14+.
Address: 139-141 King Street, Norwich, NR1 1QH.
Venue phone: 01603 615463.
15/04/11
[spunge] in Newcastle O2 Academy United Kingdom
Time: 7:00pm. Admission: £9.
Address: Westgate Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 1SW.
Venue phone: 0844 477 2000.
16/04/11
[spunge] in Milton Keynes Crauford Arms United Kingdom
Time: 7:00pm. Admission: £7.
Address: 59 Stratford Road, Wolverton, MK12 5LT.
17/04/11
[spunge] in Manchester Moho Live United Kingdom
Time: 7:00pm. Admission: £10.
Address: Tib Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester, M4 1LN.
Venue phone: 0845 528 0441.
RX Bandits: this tour will be their last one
Posted by jamie on Apr 13, 2011
RX Bandits have decided that this Summer’s US tour will be their last together. They’ve released this statement on the subject.
“Dear friends, We would like to express our love and appreciation for all that you’ve done for us and how much a part of our growth you have been. We have all mutually decided that this summer will be our last tour. We love each other and love you all and hope to see you at the shows.” Much love & respect, Rx Bandits”
Thanks to Asher Baker for finding this here and relaying it.
Gecko: on tour in May
Posted by jamie on Apr 11, 2011
Gecko get the summer started by hitting the road again in May. They’ll be all over the UK.
Fri 13th MAY @SPANKY VAN DYKES, Nottingham
http://www.spankyvandykes.com/
Support from Liam O’Kane and the Stabilisers
Sat 14th MAY @CARGO, London
http://www.cargo-london.com/
Sun 15th MAY @Cardiff University May Ball
http://www.cardiffuniversityballs.com/
Wed 18th MAY @RETRO BAR, Manchester
http://www.myspace.com/retrobar
Support from Jeramiah Ferrari, Perkie and Tessa Hunt
Thu 19th MAY @MILO, Leeds
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=39747875374
Support TBA
Fri 20th MAY @THE CROFT, Bristol
http://www.the-croft.com/
Support from Liam O’Kane, Perkie and Miacca
Sat 21st MAY @BUFFALO, Cardiff
http://www.buffalocardiff.com/
Support TBA
Loving the cutesy artwork by Lauren Avery.
See it on facebook here.
Capdown: summer tour
Posted by jamie on Apr 11, 2011
After their advance sell out show at Camden Underworld, CAPDOWN return to the live circuit later in the summer for the following shows. Have a sneaky at the stellar supporting cast..
JULY
29th NORWICH WATERFRONT w Random Hand, Vanilla Pod
30th MANCHESTER MOHO LIVE w Mouthwash, Chief
31st BRIGHTON HYDRANT w Random Hand, Mouthwash, The Junk
AUGUST
5th MILTON KEYNES CRAUFURD ARMS w Anti Vigilante
6th BLACKPOOL WINTER GARDENS - Rebellion Empress Ballroom
7th PORT LYMPNE HEVY FESTIVAL - Main stage
An impromptu invitation led to CAPDOWN heading the Vans stage at the 2010 Slam Dunk festivals, and they had fun , so they’re back, it’s as simple as that. No timeframe. No agenda. NO PLAN. They’re here till they decide to stop, so make the most of them while you can.
See it on facebook here.
New Drewvis album..
Posted by jamie on Apr 6, 2011
Lovely acoustic ska man Drewvis has finished his new album. I’m so excited for this. As soon as we know more, we’ll tell you.
Four Year Strong: Josh leaving
Posted by jamie on Apr 6, 2011
King Blues: album release / instores
Posted by jamie on Apr 5, 2011
Pre-order here
The King blues will support the release of their new album a few in-stores as follows:
Mon 18th - Rise, Cheltenham - 5pm
Tues 19th - HMV, Cardiff - 5pm
Weds 20th - HMV, Southampton - 5pm
Thurs 21st - Fopp, Covent Garden, London - 6pm
There will alsobe a special album launch night at The Hippodrome in Kingston on 14th April in conjunction with Banquet Records.
You might also want to nosey on this cool piece form thie Independent.
