OXFORD ZODIAC
28/02/06
Times are getting tough for Caliban. Not only has their recently released Roadrunner sophomore ‘This Undying Darkness’ been met with a lukewarm reception by many, but to make matters worse local lads Chokehold are whipping up a shitstorm just minutes after doors with their devastating 80’s styled thrash-fest.
It’s easy to forget just how long Caliban have been inflicting their once unique blend of metallic hardcore upon our weary ears, but it seems as though such facts may well be conspiring against the German quintet these days. It’s not that they sound particularly bad this evening – the likes of ‘Goodbye‘ boasting soaring vocal harmonies not lost on those in attendance – but rather that onstage the band seem to possess all the energy of a mushroom. The relative few in attendance do their best to keep energy levels on the up, forming a modest but eager circle pit to the sonic battle cry of ‘It’s Our Burden to Bleed’; but with mouthpiece Andy Dorner seemingly more interested in keeping a mindful eye on his neatly quaffed barnet than commanding an audience the set begins to wilt and the audience disperse.
It’s sink or swim, and on tonight’s evidence Caliban are in serious need of a jacket.
Half empty or half full you decide, but when New York’s 
Marty Leopard, the crazy frontman of Gay For Johnny Depp has managed to sustain a shattered foot during the group’s first hometown show of 2006. The singer broke his heel after he lept from a table at Brooklyn’s Galapagos venue.
Worldwide phenomenon and Crossfire favourites Gorillaz have announced they are going to be branching out even more in 2007, when they are teaming with with Shaolin monks, acrobats, martial aritsts and even the Peking Opera for the Manchester International Festival.
The already huge producer Danger Mouse, who became a bona fide fixture in people’s favourites list last year thanks to his beats on the Gorillaz album and on DangerDoom, has a new project coming out in 2006 and it is already making waves throughout the hip hop world.
The European tour the band were on throughout March has been cancelled due to an overdose suffered by Dave Wyndorf of the band. Whilst his full recovery is expected, obviously it means the band will not be able to make their way to these shores for the dates scheduled.
We know Marseille is good. We also know Brixlegg is a beast, but, do you know about Courtrai in Belgium?
In the last year, there has been an incredible increase in the amount of concrete poured for skaters to shred. Quality parks are beginning to pop up all over the globe, so summer holidays can be booked in Stoke on Trent instead of San Francisco, and the next Geoff Rowley might learn the ropes in Malmo not Barcelona…
Now you’re pissed, well imagine how the locals feel. Basically, the bowl has been ready to skate for at least 4 months, but because the landscapers think their pretty flower arrangements and green grass won’t grow in winter, everything must wait. Obviously the politicians agree because nothing looks worse on a political campaign poster than a mass on concrete in a mud field. So, like a 12 foot deep tub of ice cream in front of hungry kids, the dream of riding this beast is melting away because the table hasn’t been set.
Add to the equation, a well prepared Mayor who has a horde of aides and media types flurrying around him to make his look good. Basically, the Mayor played the skaters like a bunch of inexperienced fools, and turned the media bias around. In theory the media were their to show the politicians in a bad light, but due to a general lack of organisation, this power move was usurped by the enemy.
In any case, Courtrai’s new park will be open end of April supposedly, and is well worth a visit. To end this, Belgian ambassador, David ‘Roest’ Martelleur was asked by the local newspaper whether he sided with the local politicians he said, “I’m not a politician, I’m a skater!” Nuff said.
Most skaters would choose a magazine over a book any day if they wanted to find a connection with their skating…but this hard-backed autobiographical colour explosion is an exception to the rule.
UK skater Dave Chesson might have stepped just that little bit closer to resembling Frankenstein!