J Mascis, Lou Barlow and Emmett Jefferson Murphy III blew everyone away when they played live between 1984 and 1989 before splitting after the classic albums Bug, Dinosaur and You’re Living All Over Me.
But those days aren’t going to stay in the past for much longer as the trio are back and playing 3 headline dates in May as well as curating a day at ATP.
Get worshipping on these dates:
21st May Manchester Academy
22nd May Birmingham Academy
23rd May Bristol Academy
The reformed Smashing Pumpkins are working on their new album, following up MACHINA/The Machines Of God, which was released 6 years ago.
They updated their website saying that the songs were being written, and though no release date has been set, they plan on going into the studio this summer.
It is unsure what the actual line up of the band is, though Billy Corgan is still in contact with both Jimmy Chamberlain and Melissa Auf Der Maur.
The Kooks, inspired by their track Seaside, have announced a tour of summer seaside resorts, playing songs from their debut album Inside In/Inside Out. They’ll tour the coastal towns in August, and will release a new single, She Moves In Her Own Way, on June 26th.
The tour dates are:
August 18th – Hastings Pier Ballroom
August 19th – Folkestone Leas Cliff Hall
August 22nd – Torquay Riviera Centre
August 23rd – Blackpool Spanish Hall
August 24th – Skegness The Farm
Barfly
19/04/06
Right, let’s get this out of the way first because everyone dwells on it far too much. Yes, Akala is Ms Dynamite’s brother. There, now we’ll move on. The Barfly’s crowd wasn’t bad, it wasn’t packed but it certainly had enough people in there to create a good vibe, and it didn’t take much to persuade them that it was time to get moving. As his live band started the proceedings, Akala, decked out in a white hoodie, popped up on stage, told everyone to move forward and then he got busy.
I admit, I was looking forward to this show, based on the two tracks I’d heard from him, and I certainly wasn’t disappointed, in fact, he far outdid my expectations. From the first beat of his DJ, the first crash of his drummer’s cymbals and the first chunky riff of the guitar, he was on point, bouncing, jumping, hyping himself up. The heavy Shakespeare was as tight as Scrooge before meeting the 3 Christmas Ghosts, the fuzzy bumping of the beat and the chug of the guitar pounded him up and down on the balls of his feet as the London MC compared himself to the renowned playwright.
His belting single Bullshit was an obvious highlight as the crowd interacted throughout, screaming “Now that’s bullshit” right back at him, waiting for the mic to come their way. This isn’t a song that gets you hooked on the chorus, this is a song where every line ends in its own mini-chorus, it’s a sure fire winner, and proved to be better live than on record, which is no mean feat.
He ended the night with The Edge, bringing the delightful Niara on stage as she floated her vocals around his rapping, again slotting in over the crunching guitar. And all the while he did this with a smile on his face and a bounce in his step. It’s clear this fella loves what he’s doing, and with good reason, because what he’s doing is brilliant.
His set wasn’t the longest, but in the time he was on stage he showcased his enviable talents, from joking with the crowd through rocking the live band past rapping in untouchable double time to throwing in a song about how great London is. And if there’s one thing that’s going to get me on your side, it’s bigging up my home town. Akala is one of the most promising sounds I’ve heard lately – now that AIN’T bullshit!
A man from Seattle has just filed a lawsuit against rappers Snoop Dogg, The Game, Snoopafly and Kurupt for $20 million, saying that they beat him on stage whilst performing a concert.
Monroe, claims that he was encouraged to go on stage but as he tried to put his arm around Snoop, he was punched and kicked. He said they beat him “like a slave”, poured drink on him, stole his wallet, watch and phone and ripped out his earrings.
He was taken to a local medical centre for treatment on bruised ribs and a broken nose, but some fan accounts state that he attempted to rush the artists on stage rather than being encouraged to go up.
Swedish punks Bombshell Rocks are hitting the UK on their first tour since the release of their new album The Conclusion and will be showcasing the new tracks on these dates.
The group, inspired by Operation Ivy, Rancid and The Clash are also due on Total Rock Radio for the Breakfast With Talita show on Sunday April 30th, the show runs from 9am til noon.
The tour dates are:
24th April
Hartlepool, The Clarendon
25th April
London, The Windmill
26th April
Derby, Victoria Inn
27th April
Bristol, Croft
28th April
London, Camden, G-Lounge
29th April
Leicester, Attik
30th April
Brighton, Concorde 2
Check out www.householdnamerecords.co.uk for more info.
Come and celebrate yet another great concrete park that is ready for business on Saturday April 22nd from noon. The more the merrier, but all the less chance some scallie bikers doing wheelies will get in the way!
Directions:
From the A1M at the Bignells Corner Roundabout head towards Services, bearing left into Swanland Road. Bear left at the roundabout onto St Albans Road, at the end of the road turn right at the roundabout onto Cecil Road, which leads into Mutton Lane. Furzefield Centre on the left, just past the speed cameras.
Alternatively, if you are coming off the M25 at Junction 24 then head straight on past two sets of traffic lights and The Furzefield Centre is on your right hand side.
Parking Arrangements:
There is a large car park, which can accommodate over 120 cars. We also have disabled parking & spaces for Mother & baby.
By Public Transport:
There is regular public transport from the Potters Bar Train Station, located in Darkes Lane. The Furzefield Centre is a 10 – 15 minute walk from the train station. The 84 bus stops just outside the Centre.
Political rockers Anti-Flag are coming to London to headline the official Love Music Hate Racism after show party on May 1st.
The group will open the post-protest party after the May Day party in Trafalgar Square and will be followed by sets from The Clash’s Mick Jones, The Paddingtons and Belle & Sebastian, at Café 1001 on Brick Lane.
Make sure you check this out brilliant day for this great organisation that sticks it to facism.
1st May café 1001 – Dray Walk, 91 Brick Lane, London E1
7.00pm Doors open
8.00pm Support act
9.00pm Anti-Flag – 5 song set
9.30pm DJ sets to include Pretty Dirty Things DJ set
12.00pm Curfew
Check out any of the following for all the good stuff:
www.lovemusichateracism.com
www.resist.org.uk
www.stopwar.org.uk
If it isn’t in your calendar already, make sure your pets are round the neighbours, your other half is out with their mates and the kids are at their Gran’s because Bowlriders is hitting Interact Skatepark, Burnley on April 22nd.
Especially for the event at hand, Interact have built a unique cradle, extensions and other wild oddities for the best bowl riders to grapple with. Good news also for those who make the trek- The park will be open till 2 am awaiting your arrival with cold beer on tap! Hooray!
When you have the rep as being the World’s greatest skate trucks ever, you know that virtually anything they touch will be golden.
Well, Independent Trucks have just launched a new website with everything you could ever ask of the moulded metal masters- Product, history, gear, and some banging team rider profiles with exclusive footage to boot.
Indy make great trucks, and now they’ve made a great site too.