Kaiserslautern’s Spermbirds were one of the leading lights of the mid-Eighties Euro-Hardcore explosion, and their debut album ‘Something To Prove‘ (from ’86) is hands down one of THE definitive records of the era. Picking up on the North American Punk sounds that had started to drift across The Atlantic these German dudes nailed short and snappy melodic songs influenced in part by the likes of Agent Orange and the Angry Samoans. But giving them a real killer edge was having a gen-u-ine American singer – hot dang! Indeed, Lee Hollis (a former GI) proved to have the most sneering fuck-you voice this side of Checkpoint Charlie. The reputation was set.
There’s been plenty of blood, sweat and beers under the bridge in the past 25 years for The Spermbirds, but the great news is that they are still with us. ‘A Columbus Feeling‘ is their first album since 2004’s ‘Set An Example‘, and as soon as the thumping opener ‘Matter of Fact’ comes blasting out of the speakers… big riffage, pounding drums and Lee’s snottier-than-thou vocals… I’m in familiar territory, been digging these guys for 23 years… and am instantly digging this brand new collection of songs, ear candy for the OG’s, hah!
The Spermbirds were always about sharp and catchy songs (‘She’s Got V.D‘ anybody?!) and the 13 tracks on ‘A Columbus Feeling‘ carries that tradition ahead in spades… cracking melodic Punk anthems, loaded with plenty of bite and vehemence, and with an average song time of about 3 minutes… no fucking around… right down to closer ‘Honestly’ that has a funky kinda Big Boys feel to it.
There’s talk of some UK dates later this year. I’m already there!
Pete Craven
The album is due out on September 3rd but you can stream some tracks from the band’s myspace and learn more about the album below…
éS‘ Skateboarding Starts With éS series continues as the 2004 addition was added to the website last night. The retrospective look at the shoe company shows the many highs they’ve experienced over their continuously influential lifespan.
2004 includes Rick McCrank’s infamous 50-50 at Hollywood Bowl and why Koston’s worst trick caused him to start a secret training facility you might have heard of…
Check below for the link and head here for an interview we did with Crankers last week.
Below is Nick Richards’ edit covering the opening month action from the Cardiff Barrage Plaza. Click here for our Spot Check of the Gravity park, and see below for the amazing edit Nick filmed for us.
Cliché and Etnies rider Charles Collet recently celebrated the launch of his new collab shoe Eurostyle by travelling like a gypsy for ten days, skating in three different countries.
You can check out his One Man Band Tour video below, and watch carefully because the question that follows relates to the clip. Answer correctly to be in with a chance of getting all those sexy looking products above.
The deadline for this competition is September 13th.
Reading and Leeds festivals are always the big ones of the summer. Somehow bittersweet as it’s always a blast yet kind of signifies the end of the summer. Yes, there are still a couple of festivals lurking in the corners of September but R+L just seem like the culmination of summertime musical events before the Autumn touring onslaught begins. And what a climax! People always rubbish the line-up before really looking at it. The truth is that the majority of people are going to find something that tickles their fancy within this immense bill of bands.
We’ve picked out a few who could well be worth your time. Now, this is a bit of a mammoth list. And it’s not even all the bands who’d be on our list if there were no clashes and an infinite amount of energy to see as many bands as you wanted. This is merely a suggestion of how you could spend your precious hours at the festival if you’re stuck for activities (as if). Shame on those people who never leave their tents due to an alcohol/drug induced semi-coma!
There’s often a bit of a wildcard as the opener of the festival but, whilst Young Guns will be unknown to many a festival-goer, they’ve truly earned their place on the bill here this year. Releasing their debut album totally independently and starting to sell out venues across the country, they’ve achieved a lot and this will be a fitting end to a busy summer for the young Brits!
A Day To Remember
Main stage (1pm at Reading; 12.45pm at Leeds)
ADTR play a bombastic pop-punk/hardcore hybrid type of music that shouldn’t really work but just kind of does. They’ve built up a solid fanbase over here despite being from the US so expect their followers to be out in force despite the early set time!
Pulled Apart By Horses
Festival Republic Stage (3.50pm at Reading; 3.45pm at Leeds)
PABH’s set is not to be missed. Always raucous, amusing and crammed with deafening riffs, the band’s live performance is steadily building them a reputation as one of the UK’s most exciting new acts. In fact, we’re kind of surprised they’re not billed higher on this stage… Still, maybe this timeslot will provide them with a bigger crowd. Let’s hope so!
Streetlight Manifesto
Lock Up Stage (5.50pm at Reading; 5.40pm at Leeds)
Now, I’m really not an advocate of ska in general. But Streetlight Manifesto are some of the best musicians who’ll be present at this festival. And their music is super-happy but still manages to avoid being really grating like a lot of ska music ends up being. Top notch.
Blood Red Shoes
Festival Republic Stage (8.25pm at Reading; 8pm at Leeds)
Fast becoming big hits in the world of Radio 1 DJs (and their ever-increasing fanbase, of course), Blood Red Shoes’ latest single ‘Heartsink’ has been catching many ears and the Brighton duo look set for a triumphant set as their run of European festivals brings them back closer to home at Reading and Leeds.
Phoenix
NME / Radio 1 Stage (9.10pm at Reading; 8.40pm at Leeds)
Phoenix are those French wonders with the awesomely poppy ditties that get stuck in your head without being the slightest bit annoying. You can’t say that about a lot of catchy music. You may recognize their work from many a Sofia Coppola film; she is going out with the singer after all.
SATURDAY @ READING / FRIDAY @ LEEDS
The Walkmen
Main Stage (12pm at Reading and Leeds)
Moody indie-rock to kick-off the day? Why not! The band will no doubt be dosing out fan favourites such as The Rat along with choice cuts from forthcoming album ‘Lisbon’.
Paint It Black
Lock Up Stage (1.30pm at Reading; 1.20pm at Leeds)
Punk rock doesn’t get much better than this. Paint It Black’s lively approach will be exactly the thing to fuel you with music-oriented energy for the rest of the day.
Trash Talk
Lock Up Stage (2.15pm at Reading; 5.25pm at Leeds)
More stellar punk rock from one of the best Lock Up Stage line-ups of recent years. These Californians know a thing or two about entertaining a crowd. If you’re near the front beware of mic cables, spit, puke and flying bodies.
The Gaslight Anthem
Main Stage (2.35pm at Reading; 2.20pm at Leeds)
The Gaslight Anthem arrive on the main stage following their past two years enthusing crowds in tents at Reading and Leeds. This will be one mighty singalong with the band breaking out a mixture of ‘American Slang’ hits-in-the-making alongside solid favourites from ‘The 59 Sound’.
The Rats
Lock Up Stage (3pm at Reading; 4.20pm at Leeds)
Not the best kept secret in festival history but The Rats will actually be Gallows performing an early set in the midst of some other brilliant acts looking to emulate their cult success. Going by their other festival sets so far this year, it’s going to be a fun one and, judging by all their friends’ bands playing on the same day, there is likely to be a guest appearance or two.
Modest Mouse
Main stage (3.40pm at Reading; 3.20pm at Leeds)
Quirky is not our favourite word here at Crossfire. But Modest Mouse could well be described as such with tracks like ‘The Ice of Boston’ and ‘Paper Thin Walls’ proving their rare spark of originality amongst a sea of middle of the roadness.
Cancer Bats
Lock Up Stage (6.55pm at Reading; 7.35pm at Leeds)
Cancer Bats’ recent cover of Beastie Boys’ Sabotage was a triumph and seemed to broaden their appeal further from their already loyal fanbase. Get ready to growl along with frontman Liam Cornier the immortal words – “Let’s do this!” – as the band crank out their own ‘French Immersion’ alongside said awesome cover version.
Dizzee Rascal
Main Stage (7pm at Reading; 6.35pm at Leeds)
Dizzee Rascal is a brilliant festival act. Enough said.
The Get Up Kids
Lock Up Stage (8pm at Reading; 8.40pm at Leeds)
The Get Up Kids recently made their long-awaited return to the UK which included two shows at Camden’s Underworld. It will be a delight to see them back on a bigger stage, no doubt with a rapt audience heartily singing back every word, probably louder than the band themselves.
Bad Religion
Lock Up Stage (10.30pm at Reading; 10pm at Leeds)
A fitting headliner for a stage with such a bill, Bad Religion’s recent return to the fore meant they were a natural choice. Classic punk, delivered with as much vigour as ever.
SUNDAY @ READING / SATURDAY @ LEEDS
Foxy Shazam
Festival Republic stage (1.30pm at Reading and Leeds)
Sure to be a bizarre but exciting experience to kick off your Sunday, Foxy Shazam have already been making waves across the Atlantic with their eccentric musical sensibilities and have supported the likes of Hole over here. Definitely ones to watch.
All Time Low
Main stage (2.35pm at Reading; 2.25pm at Leeds)
Like a Blink-182 for the next generation, All Time Low are sure to provide some ‘LOLZ’ as the kids would call them. They’ve also got a fair few catchy singles under their belt so you may even find yourself singing along.
You Me At Six
Main Stage (3.40pm at Reading; 3.25pm at Leeds)
You Me At Six are kind of like All Time Low’s UK counterparts though the maturity evident on this year’s album ‘Hold Me Down’ suggests that they take themselves a tad more seriously. As well as the odd heartfelt ballad, You Me At Six also have melodic pop-rock tunes aplenty.
Limp Bizkit
Main Stage (4.45pm at Reading; 4.30pm at Leeds)
A little early in the day for a bit of Bizkit perhaps… Actually, who am I kidding? You’ll have had a few drinks by this time so this will be mighty fun. Hopefully they won’t play *too* much new stuff.
Weezer
Main Stage (7.05pm at Reading; 6.45pm at Leeds)
Much-loved in many circles, Weezer songs have the ability to unite fans of all musical persuasions. This will no doubt be one of the uniting sets of the weekend. Never ones to dwell on old material, we’ll most likely be hearing a fair portion of forthcoming album ‘Hurley’.
Sub Focus
Dance Arena (7.25pm at Reading; 6.55pm at Leeds)
Having dived headfirst into the mainstream this year with banger ‘Could This Be Real’, the D&B DJ has roundly dropped jaws on his travels including the support slot on Pendulum’s recent Arena Tour. Guaranteed to deliver one of the most fun sets of the festival, he’s definitely one to go and check out.
Magnetic Man
Dance Arena (8.25pm at Reading; 7.55pm at Leeds)
The Dubstep Supergroup of Benga, Artwork and Skream have already slaughtered all that came before them across the UK’s festival circuit and will no doubt be tearing the tent apart when they step up on the Sunday. If you’ve got fillings, false teeth or wear a wig, it might be best to bring some superglue or the basslines are going to cause havoc.
Paramore
Main Stage (8.30pm at Reading; 8.05pm at Leeds)
You may guffaw but Paramore are an incredibly talented band who’ve now unleashed quite a sizeable amount of stellar songs. It’s a fact that’s undeniable and they’re sure to sound as solid as ever as they take on the main stage.
We Are Scientists
NME / Radio 1 Stage (9.10pm at Reading; 8.40pm at Leeds)
Always entertaining, even if they don’t actually end up playing that many songs, this is a good chance to catch WAS on a smaller stage following their ruling of the main stage a couple of years ago when they played a cover of Ace of Base’s ‘All That She Wants’. Classic.
Blink 182
Main Stage (10pm at Reading; 9.30pm at Leeds)
Traditionally rather on the infantile side of things in the nature of their performances, it’ll be interesting to see how a mature Blink-182 handle the headline slot following their recent reunion. Will there be as many puerile jokes? Equal amounts of unnecessary swearing? Who knows! But you can almost guarantee it’s going to be fun. And this band have plenty of hits to feed an eager crowd.
Steel-city scene kids turned respectable metalcore 5-piece Bring Me The Horizon have posted their new video for It Never Ends online.
Imagine grotesque Silent Hill derelict hospital locations, an animated ambulance riffing it’s way through a dimly lit road and screaming. And blood, there will be blood, obviously.
Office favourite Big Boi has perfomed his album banger ‘Follow Us‘ with emo-rockers Vonnegutt on Letterman’s Late Show.
The video is below, and aside from recognising that the track being standardly BIG, please witness a winning example as to why Big Boi is a contender for having the best hat collection in the world. Strong head covering from the Outkast MC.
You should catch him on his UK tour later this year too, he’ll be playing the following dates…
November 1st – HMV Forum, London
November 2nd – The Ritz, Manchester
November 3rd – 02 Academy, Glasgow
The video for MGMT’s title track from this year’s Congratulations is as aesthetically pleasing as you’d expect from the psychadelic pop-rockers.
It’s as though E.T had a child with Elum from Oddworld, who then got lost in Tatooine suffering from a mysterious limb-losing illness like the man in the Afrika Shox video before stumbling onto the set of a Mighty Boosh episode from the second season. You know, the one that was actually pretty good.
Milton Keynes has long had one of the UK’s tightest skate scenes and yet it’s been a long time coming since a scene video dropped so those who don’t follow Tom Randall on Flickr know what’s going down in ledgetown.
Check below then for Brownie’s teasing teaser for Yesterday’s Reality. It looks banging.
Kaiserslautern’s Spermbirds were one of the leading lights of the mid-Eighties Euro-Hardcore explosion, and their debut album ‘Something To Prove‘ (from ’86) is hands down one of THE definitive records of the era. Picking up on the North American Punk sounds that had started to drift across The Atlantic these German dudes nailed short and snappy melodic songs influenced in part by the likes of Agent Orange and the Angry Samoans. But giving them a real killer edge was having a gen-u-ine American singer – hot dang! Indeed, Lee Hollis (a former GI) proved to have the most sneering fuck-you voice this side of Checkpoint Charlie. The reputation was set.
Reading and Leeds festivals are always the big ones of the summer. Somehow bittersweet as it’s always a blast yet kind of signifies the end of the summer. Yes, there are still a couple of festivals lurking in the corners of September but R+L just seem like the culmination of summertime musical events before the Autumn touring onslaught begins. And what a climax! People always rubbish the line-up before really looking at it. The truth is that the majority of people are going to find something that tickles their fancy within this immense bill of bands.