Author: Crossfire

Create a skate

Post author By Crossfire
Post date February 5, 2007

One man is taking skateboarding to school.

Paul Schmitt is the man behind skateboard manufacturing and can count approximately 10 million boards made since he began some 25 years ago at age 14.

Paul has launched the Create a Skate Program that serves as an academic course teaching kids the mathematics, science, theory and practice that’s involved in skateboard manufacturing. The course is only available in the United States at the moment.

Thanks to Skate Daily for the heads up on this wicked program.

Music News

New Arctic Monkeys album on the way

Post author By Crossfire
Post date February 5, 2007

The Arctic Monkeys are back with a new album.

The Sheffield foursome, who got huge last year, have announced that their new album, Favourite Worst Nightmare, will be released on April 23rd. The single to precede it will be Brianstorm on April 16th. The tracklisting will be:

1. Brianstorm
2. Teddy Picker
3. D is for Dangerous
4. Balaclava
5. Fluorescent Adolescent
6. Only Ones Who Know
7. Do Me a Favour
8. This House Is a Circus
9. If You Were There, Beware
10. The Bad Thing
11. Old Yellow Bricks
12. 505

www.arcticmonkeys.com

Live Reviews

Ginger – Live

Post author By Crossfire
Post date February 5, 2007

Mean Fiddler
18.01.07

Given that The God Damn Whores are fronted by ‘Random’ John Poole (formerly of the Cardiacs and Wildhearts) it’s no great surprise that his band’s music lives up to his nickname. A bizarre fusion of punk fury, mammoth riffs and sheer art-rock weirdness, songs like ‘We’re In The Army, Baby’ are oddly compelling, not least because there’s almost always a big Kiss-esque chorus in there somewhere.

It’d take something special to make TGDW seem pedestrian, but it’s safe to assume that few in this room tonight have seen anything quite like Robochrist before. Imagine Brandon Lee’s character from ‘The Crow’ playing Strapping Young Lad b-sides, and you’ll have a rough idea of just how bizarre this one-man band is. By the time he exits the stage to a bastardized sample of a Werther’s Originals advert, half the crowd is laughing and the other half look confused. Which, presumably, was exactly the point.

You never quite know what you’ll hear at a Ginger solo show; so vast is the Wildhearts frontman’s back catalogue. There’s a fair few songs from last year’s ‘Valor Del Corazon’ album, a couple of Silver Ginger 5 favourites, and a couple of new efforts; both boasting the powerhouse riffs and catchy-as-fuck choruses that have become his trademark over the years. With many a faded Wildhearts t-shirt present tonight, most of this crowd are probably long-term Ginger devotees; filling every gap between songs with hearty cheers and a barrage of requests, which the man himself takes with good humour.

It’s indicative of the relationship between Ginger and his fans that he’s able to create the intimacy of a campfire sing-along in a half-sold damp hole of a venue like the Mean Fiddler. Goodness knows what lies ahead for him, but as long his songwriting skills remain this sharp, he’ll always be worth a trek into town on a cold winter night.

Alex Gosman

Buzz Chart

Biffy Clyro

Post author By Crossfire
Post date February 5, 2007

Made in Scotland, from girders. Blended with umpteen litres of industrialised carnage and topped off with a glacier cherry. Biffy Clyro are the lovely sort of group that lets their music say every word. And in the case of Saturday Superhouse, the first CD single from highly anticipated 4th album, Puzzle, their music stands up tall and screams talent.

Similar to other Puzzle tracks such as recent download only single, SemiMental, the song intercepts the sound waves beginning with a few notes, before steaming into a jerky, head shaking riff. The trio combine each of their own individual flairs with glorious results. Simon’s twanging licks, James’ vicious bass lines and Ben’s sublime percussion prove that this isn’t a one man band by any means. Neil’s voice glistens throughout, particularly on the superbly powerful chorus that will have you chanting in your sleep.

The material from Puzzle already is confirming that the delay from the Biffy factory was worth it. I have little doubt that when Saturday Superhouse is released on the 5th March that Le Biff will finally be reaping in the credit they’ve deserved for so long. Look out kids, here it fucking comes.

Music News

The Distillers are no more

Post author By Crossfire
Post date February 5, 2007

The Distillers have announced they have disbanded.

The Australians, who recently had Andy Granelli and Ryan Sinn leave for other bands [Darker My Love and Angels And Airwaves respectively], have decided not to continue under the same name.

A new band, Spinnerette, featuring remaining Distillers Brody Dalle and Tony Bradley plus Wizard A and Jon T Bonerham.

There is a promise of new music soon, and you can find out more about the new band from their myspace.

Skateboarding News

Inertia for free

Post author By Crossfire
Post date February 5, 2007

You might remember a while back, we mentioned a skate crew known as Inertia who was busy filming for a video entitled Initiative.

Well we’re a little slow on the case, but this scene video is free to watch and download. It isn’t epic, but it’s cool to see scenes get together and do something. There’s even a rollerblader, so you know the crew is tight!

The video features Santiago Pilgrim, Ashley Humphrey, Sam Evans, Little Ben, George Fisher, Mark Webster, James Backshall and more.

www.inertiaskateboarding.co.uk

Skateboarding News

Welsh Whispers

Post author By Crossfire
Post date February 5, 2007

A new scene video from Wales, Whispers , will be premiering next week, Monday 12th February from 8pm at the Buffalo Bar in Cardiff.

The video features some sick whispering from Nick Richards, Richard Green, Edward Carter, Dann Jones and more.

Watch some offcuts from recent trips to London and Cardiff.

www.whispers.cjb.net

Music News

Al Green plays UK

Post author By Crossfire
Post date February 5, 2007

Legendary singer has announced some new tour dates for the UK.

Al Green is coming over to the UK to wow crowds with his voice again. If you want to see the great man in action, then make sure you get to one of these dates:

June:

28th – London Royal Albert Hall
29th – Manchester Evening News Arena

July:

2nd – Edinburgh Playhouse Theatre
4th – Birmingham NIA Academy
6th – London Hammersmith Apollo

www.algreenmusic.com

Music News

Wolfmother design t-shirts for charity

Post author By Crossfire
Post date February 5, 2007

Famous bands design t-shirts to benefit their favourite charities.

Wolfmother, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Devendra Banhart and Rilo Kiley have all designed t-shirts which range from musical instruments to scenes of nature.

Yellow Bird, who are running the campaign, will donate 100% of the proceeds to the charities chosen by the artists. Some charities included are the Teenage Cancer Trust, Elliott Smith Memorial Fund and Art for Change.

To check out the t-shirts and get more information, check out www.yellowbirdproject.com

Music News

It’s gotta be chips!

Post author By Crossfire
Post date February 5, 2007

Badly Drawn Boy has announced the winning chip shops!

Badly Drawn Boy had invited his fans to first nominate and then vote on their favourite chip shops, so that he could include them on an upcoming Chip Shop Tour. After all the voting, he settled on three to include in his UK tour, which looks like this:

February:

13th – Queens Hall, Edinburgh
15th – Toffs Chip Shop, London
16th – Shepherds Bush Empire, London
17th – St Georges Hall, Bristol
17th – Magnet Chip Shop, Bristol
19th – City Varieties, Leeds
20th – Sage Theatre, Gateshead
21st – Smiths Chip Shop, Grimsby

23 Feb: Plaza, Stockport