Cursive are coming to the UK and releasing new album over here too!
Cursive’s gripping new album ‘Mama, I’m Swollen‘ will get a UK release on 1st June through Saddle Creek Records complete with country-specific exclusive bonus tracks.
Check out the poetic video for new single ‘From The Hips’ here –
With a live show that’s up there as one of the greatest we’ve ever seen, Cursive’s UK tour is not to be missed. You can catch them on one of the following dates –
May
12th LONDON Dingwalls
13th CARDIFF Clwb Ifor Bach
15th BRIGHTON – The Great Escape Festival
16th BIRMINGHAM Hare and Hounds
17th NORWICH Arts Centre
18th MANCHESTER Academy 3
19th YORK Fibbers
20th NEWCASTLE Academy 2
21st LONDON – Stag and Dagger Festival
22nd LEEDS – Stag and Dagger Festival
23rd GLASGOW – Stag and Dagger Festival
24th NOTTINGHAM – Dot to Dot Festival
Screamo, Emo, post-hardcore, metal-core, christian-rock. Label them what you will but Underoath just plain slay, pure and simple.
After various line-up changes (you can spot original vocalist Dallas Taylor in dirty southern rockers Maylene and the Sons of Disaster) the boys from Florida really made a name for themselves with the release of ‘They’re only Chasing Safety‘ in 2004. An album full of passion and a more melodic approach to previous releases, it spawned the catchy, anthemic single ‘Reinventing Your Exit‘, helping launch the band to a wider audience – If you don’t know it the line ‘Up against the wall, up against the wall‘ might ring some bells.
The band really stepped up a gear with the release of the heavier and downright epic ‘Define the Great Line‘ in 2006 and have gone from strength to strength since with a live show so intense it will literally take your face off.
Another excellent release in the shape of latest album ‘Lost in the Sound of Separation‘ released at the back end of last year has continued the ‘oath juggernaught that keeps on rolling and they just satisfied their UK fanbase with a duo of simply stunning live sets at Give It A Name in Manchester and London this week. New single ‘Too Bright To See, Too Loud To Hear‘ was released this week.
Tommy P caught up with keyboardist Chris Dudley just before they headed to Europe to find out how things are going in the Underoath camp:
You released ‘Lost In The Sound of Separation‘ towards the end of last year. 6 months on are you happy with how the record has been received both here in the UK and in the US?
Honestly, we couldn’t be more happy. The songs have been going over awesome live, which we believe is the best judge of how an album is received, so we are super stoked!
Did you take a different approach to recording the latest record?
Yeah, we did. As a whole, we focused on trying to give the record more of a loose, live feel than the previous record. We made an effort to edit as little as possible to just keep that feel to it. Plus working with Adam (Dutkiewicz) just makes it a really laid-back environment, which is a big deal for us.
You recently toured South America for the first time. Do you enjoy taking your music to new places and how did the crowds differ from the US and Europe?
Oh yeah, that tour was AMAZING. It was really an opportunity of a lifetime and we hope to go back soon. The crowds there are honestly crazy. Much more so than in the US and Europe. There were kids like banging on our bus, breaking through security, hanging on the bus when we were leaving and all kinds of crazy stuff. It was insane!
Speaking of Europe you just played some dates over here. Do you look forward to hitting European shores when you’re scheduled to come over?
Absolutely! The last time we were over there at the end of last year were the best shows we have ever played there, so we are always really excited to see how these shows do!
So you guys have a new single out. What made you decide on ‘Too Bright To See, Too Loud To Hear’?
We honestly just thought that was one of the best songs on the record, and we love playing it live. We have also heard a lot of people say it was their favorite song on the record as well, so that just made it an easy decision on our part.
And we understand there was a competition for the people of the UK to get involved in the video for the single?
Yeah, what we did is to have people film their own videos for the song, and the person who made the video that we think is the best got to come hang out with us at Give It A Name. We figured since kids always shoot videos on their own anyway, we would really see what they could do!
You are heading back on the Warped tour this summer. After having to pull out of some dates in 2006, do you still look forward to playing Warped and its grueling 2 month schedule?
Warped is honestly one of the best tours ever. We couldn’t be looking forward to it more. It is hot, sweaty and long, but we wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Are there any new bands you guys are digging recently that we should be checking out over here in the UK?
Innerpartysystem is just mind blowing. We just did a tour in Australia with them, and then went to Canada with them, then we had Give it A Name with them to. You guys should try to catch them when you can for sure. (Editor’s note – we can corroborate that Innerpartysystem were indeed mind-blowing at GIAN)
And finally, after the Warped Tour what are your plans for the rest of the year? Any plans for future recording?
I really don’t know what’s going on after Warped. I know we are going to continue to work on new music, but other than that, it’s all up in the air as of now!
Lost in the Sound of Separation is out now on Virgin Records. Click below to watch a tour video of the band in Switzerland, Belguim and England last week. Fresh off the block.
What a find this is. Check out Ozzy and co in a Black Sabbath cartoon from the 70’s. This month the re-issue of Paranoid was released with quadrophic extras and instrumentals etc, go get it as it’s got the lot.
Back with a new EP, The Breeders continue their quest to bring you sombre indie after their crazy heights of the 90’s. It’s as disappointing as the new Black Lips record we think. Fans of this will be stoked to know that The Breeders curate the first ATP weekend of the year 15th-17th May. Maybe they will play old material instead…
Belgian superstars The Hickey Underworld are heading to the UK to play their first shows. Check them out on Wednesday 13th May at the Vibe Bar in Old Truman Brewery in Brick Lane as their self titled debut album is one of the best new records we have on here daily at Crossfire HQ. Check out future single Mystery Bruise below and pass it on.
Gigs start ridiculously early at The Underworld. We made our way down at 7.30pm and a band had already played apparently. It’s very deserted. At least there are a few more punters in the building when Section 13 (from Leamington Spa) get going and belt out 20minutes of fast ‘n tuneful hardcore that recalls elements of Dag Nasty, and a decent cover of Minor Threat’s “In My Eyes” kinda rams home the point… do ya fuckin’ get it??!! Point of interest; Section 13’s singer Ian Murphy fronted ’80’s UK Hardcore acts The Depraved and Visions of Change, and at 44 is still a commanding energetic frontman.
Next up, Love and a 45, who I have seen in the support capacity previously… and with minimal personal impact. Their (ever-so) punk-lite really does not hit my spot. To their credit, the singer commands the stage like Beki Bondage, hollers like Courtney Love, and they work hard at what they do…
It’s been a good 10 years since I last saw Agent Orange. I was planning on seeing them last autumn but the tour was pulled at the last minute. Then, a few days ago, their gig in (my hometown) Brighton was cancelled when striking French fishermen blocking channel ports saw the band stranded in Calais. So, tonight is definitely a case of third times the charm.
At some ludicrously hour (9.15pm) the headliners plug in, greet the by-now strong crowd, and break in to a powerful rendition of The Chantay’s ’63 instrumental “Pipeline”… perfect. Although never gaining the larger cult status of their Orange Country contemporary’s (Social Distortion, Adolescents, TSOL) Agent Orange’s influence has in fact been huge. They put the skate in to punk, and were paying homage to, and exposing, their Southern Californian surf music roots a zillion years before the likes of Quentin Tarantino brought these sounds to the attention of the mainstream in film scores.
Their hour long set packs in pretty much all their best known songs, stretching right back to their earliest recorded track (from ’79) the frantic proto-hardcore “El Dorado“, and all of their epic 1981 debut LP “Living in Darkness” whose 8 songs are some of my favourites, ever. The delivery of these classic numbers was exemplary, and I sang my heart out to the likes of “Everything Turns Grey“, “No Such Thing” and “A Cry for Help in A World Gone Mad” where frontman, guitarist and AO founder Mike Palm’s vision of sharp precise punk anthems fused with a dark surf undertow still sounds incredibly fresh a quarter of a century later.
“Too Young to Die” is dedicated to “the creepiest guy” Mike ever met, Lux Interior of The Cramps, whose rocking bones departed this earth a couple of months ago. The punk momentum is broken up momentarily with more instrumentals; The Bel-Airs “Mr Moto“, and a belting version of “Miserlou” where they are joined on second guitar by their merch guy, the very dapper Laramie Dean… this is easily one of the highlights of the set. I must also mention drummer Dusty Watson who pounded the skins to a pulp, the power coming from his kit was thunderous.
Their best known song (and debut single) “Bloodstains” was reprised late on, and instantly sent the crowd in to a slamming frenzy. This is surely one of the greatest punk songs ever… we rightly lost our minds. To close… what else but “The Last Goodbye“. And then that was it. A killer set over. The jackbooted Underworld security forced us out pronto to clear the decks for Saturday night clubbers. We walked tall in to the chill Camden air mighty satisfied by the memorable music Agent Orange had filled our ears… “everybody’s asking me what it’s like down there, the concrete floor is cold, the walls are bare“…
My Bloody Valentine have been announced as the curators for the December ATP.
The band have already confirmed the following groups for the event:
Sonic Youth
De La Soul
EPMD
Sun Ra Arkestra
The Horrors
Tickets are still available with accomodation and self-catered rooms, so make sure you get on it! Have the video for their track Only Shallow to get you up for it:
SSS are hitting the road with Cancer Bats and The Plight this month.
Mark Magill from the band said of the tour:
“It’s been a while since we’ve been out and about, so we can’t wait to hit the road this month. Dave had a baby, I insulated my loft, Foxy has been making brownies and Pete has been researching the dynamics of paper airplanes. We’ve also written 14 new songs for our next record and they’re getting so short, fast and heavy it’s ridiculous. Come down and say hello!”
Catch SSS live at the following shows:
SSS
25 Apr 2009 – Wakefield, UK – Full Thrash Assault, The Snooty Fox
SSS w/ CANCER BATS, THE PLIGHT
26 Apr 2009 – Colchester, UK – Arts Centre 27 Apr 2009 – Oxford, UK – Academy 28 Apr 2009 – Cardiff, UK – Barfly 30 Apr 2009 – Leeds, UK – The Cockpit 01 May 2009 – Stoke, UK – The Sugarmill 02 May 2009 – Nottingham, UK – Rock City 03 May 2009 – Manchester, UK – Academy 3 04 May 2009 – Birmingham, UK – Academy 2 05 May 2009 – Bristol, UK – Academy 2 06 May 2009 – Portsmouth, UK – Wedgewood Rooms 07 May 2009 – London, UK – The Underworld
SSS
20 May 2009 – Liverpool, UK – Liverpool Music Week, Barfly 23 May 2009 – London, UK – Slaughterday, The Purple Turtle
www.myspace.com/shortsharpshockuk
Amazing Baby are announced their debut album details.
The band will release Rewild on June 22nd and will play the following shows to showcase the material on a support slot for The Virgins:
April
18th Glasgow King Tuts
20th Newcastle Cluny
21st Birmingham Rainbow
22nd Leeds Cockpit
23rd London Heaven
26th Belfast Speakeasy
27th Manchester Deaf Institute (headline show)
28th London Borderline (headline show)
Screamo, Emo, post-hardcore, metal-core, christian-rock. Label them what you will but 
So you guys have a new single out. What made you decide on ‘Too Bright To See, Too Loud To Hear’?
Their hour long set packs in pretty much all their best known songs, stretching right back to their earliest recorded track (from ’79) the frantic proto-hardcore “El Dorado“, and all of their epic 1981 debut LP “Living in Darkness” whose 8 songs are some of my favourites, ever. The delivery of these classic numbers was exemplary, and I sang my heart out to the likes of “Everything Turns Grey“, “No Such Thing” and “A Cry for Help in A World Gone Mad” where frontman, guitarist and AO founder Mike Palm’s vision of sharp precise punk anthems fused with a dark surf undertow still sounds incredibly fresh a quarter of a century later.
SSS are hitting the road with Cancer Bats and The Plight this month.
Amazing Baby are announced their debut album details.