Make sure you go and check this event out, it promises to be a blast.
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Category: Music
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Hope Of The States
Hope of the States spent most of 2005 holed up in a studio, with only 6 live dates to keep their fans satisfied. With their limited release EP Blood Meridian being lapped up, the Chichester 6 piece return to the airwaves with ‘Sing It Out’, the first single from their eagerly awaited second album ‘Left‘.
‘Sing It Out‘ grabs your attention from the start, Sam Herlihy’s dark vocals almost veer towards menacing at first, but with the chorus comes a wave of reassurance ‘ you are not alone, you are not the only one, you were lost and now you’re found, sing it out.’
There’s no clever effects, this is stripped down and simple – and it works. Hope of the States have come back stronger than ever, this wonderful compact, tight track is everything you can hope for – they’ve overcome tragedy and if this taster is anything to go by – their new album is going be an absolute blinder.
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Ice Cube Slams Bush
Rapper Ice Cube has spoken out against the American administration recently, claiming he sees no difference between the way America is run and how Iraq was run when Saddam was in charge. His upcoming album, Laugh Now, Cry Later includes a track about American law enforcement and Bush, called Why We Thugs.
He went on to say that he knows people who have been tortured in jail and people who have been pulled out of their house in the middle of the night, but “we just call them LAPD. We call ’em sheriffs. Saddam wasn’t out there doing it with his own hands. He had his people. His people worked for the federal government. Same tactics. There’s nothing happening in Iraq that ain’t happening here on this soil, so, to me, it’s the same shit.”
On a music related note, we were invited over to Virgin records to hear the new Ice Cube album this week and it is the shit, so look out for more when we know or go to www.icecubemusic.com for all the shnizzle.
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Ministry
Having been clean from heroin for the last four years many could question whether Al Jourgensen still has the same vision and creativity upon which his Ministry work is known for. Hell even Al himself questioned it. But upon listening to ‘Rio Grande Blood’ all fears are dispelled immediately. Al has not only returned to form, he’s returned with possibly his most political and heaviest work to date.
‘Rio Grande Blood’ can only be described as a relentless assault on the senses from start to finish, much like being repeatedly beaten around the head with a blunt instrument. There simply is no let up. Whether it’s the marine inspired ‘Gangreen’ complete with Sergeant screaming obscenities, or the fist pounding, riot inducing anthems such as ‘Lies, Lies, Lies’ and the title track ‘Rio Grande Blood’ is a perfect example of industrial heavy fucking metal at its finest.
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Still Remains Live
Oxford Zodiac
15.05.06
It was almost exactly one year ago today that Still Remains took to the Zodiac’s stage as the opening act of the annual Roadrunner Roadrage tour, alongside a then little known act by the name of Trivium. For the most part it was a less than enthralling affair, the band appearing utterly shell shocked – stunned into a half hour set of uninspiring metal-by-numbers drivel performed with all the visual energy of a week old corpse.
It’s such memories that will in fact work in their favour, because tonight Still Remains are in sensational form. Blasting forth with the keyboard-tinged savagery of ‘To Live and Die by Fire’ the band lay out their intentions with hardly a pause for breath, throwing themselves around the stage like rag dolls. Front man TJ Miller in particular is in fine form, his deep-throated roars cutting through the air like a hot knife through butter, no more so than when placed against the Scandinavian backdrop of a bludgeoning ‘White Walls’.
The most impressive fact, however, is that not once does the energy dwindle throughout their hour-strong set; a factor no doubt aided by keyboard maestro Zach Roth regularly storming across the stage, banging his head to the chugged breakdowns of ‘Kelsey‘ with enough force to floor even the hardest of guvnors in their own local.
If a year on the road can make this much of a difference, then the thought of where Still Remains may find themselves in 2007 is a truly terrifying prospect. Make sure you wear clean pants.
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The Shins Live
Dungen
Koko
18.05.06
The Swedish support band, Dungen, reminded me of a Jethro Tull / The Doors with a sprinkle of Jimmy on the guitar. Not that compartmentalising this band sells their talent, but to give you an idea of how unusual they were, it seems the only way. It is impossible to label them, other than to broaden it to surf rock. Bouncing between elevator music, up to the inclusion of a psychedelic flute! The crowd was…errr…stunned?
The lead guitarist, Neal Langford, does for The Shins, what Fat Mike does for Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. He even has the same curly, black afro. Neal Langford opens with the line “It doesn’t have to be a one night stand. It doesn’t have to end here. You can go buy our CD’s, our Merch, and we can build a relationship”. Their long tour has them rubbing their eyes, and yawning as tell-tale signs. But Neal is full of humour down to the last breath!
With loose rumours floating about from Neal, to be from Deep Mexico, there are a few chuckles, and a few very concerned looks in the crowd. It was a joke guys! – they reside in Portland, at least crack a smile…The closest they came to being from Mexico was recording the video for Saint Simon. James Mercer, the songwriter and singer behind it all, is surprisingly quiet. Giving only a few chuckles throughout the evening.
The first track has bassist, Dave Hernandez, on the floor for the slides in “Kissing The Lipless“. They drop in an early referral to playing “The Base of Spades“, which got the magic working, and the crowd cranking. Who would have thought a few old riffs would have melted the icy crowd, into a blazing sing along furnace.
One song missed the backing vocals, which didn’t infringe on it’s structural perfection. It still sounded great, as people just danced over it, without a care. They boast a new track which festively sings of “…not knowing the words”, which fits appropriately as they forget to tell us the name of the song…I still have no idea!
A few songs later, and they almost get swept into their own joke. They burst into ice-breaker “Base of Spades” (it’s safe to say they have coined that phrase!), playing a few riffs in full metal tribute stance, and dropping in their own words.
They dedicated themselves to a 2 hour set, filled with tracks like “New Slang” , “Fighting In A Sack” , “Caring is Creepy“, and ending with “Pink Bullets” (which was massively requested the entire evening!), and “So Says I“. I doubt James foresaw how big his garage side-project would get. Boasting tracks in movies: Sponge Bob Square Pants and, Garden State.
Neal ends with the statement “The Shins love you sensually”. Enough said. The crowd was all warmly loved up, and ready to hit the cold streets of London once more. If you didn’t get to see them, be sure to steal tickets to Leeds festival-cause they gonna be there!
Niki Kova’cs
Photo stolen by Crossfire from www.abc.net.au. Come get some!
Crossfire has joined forces with Heroin Skateboards graphics punk, French and the result is some stunning t-shirts with demonic logos!
The Heavy Shit T-shirts will be given out at the Snickers Bowl at the Download Festival, with additional ltd 100 being made available in our new store that is incoming.
More about that soon.
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Youth Of Britain Video Message
We could sit here and type out the details of the upcoming Youth Of Britain gig but then where would be the fun in that, especially since we have a lovely video with the details for you lot to see:
But just in case you wanted to see the details written down, we’ll give you them too:
Youth of Britain
Loaded at The Brass Monkey,
18 Havelock Road, Hastings
Friday 26th of May
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The King Blues Support Gogol!
Folk/Punk Ska group The King Blues have been confirmed as the support for the outrageously brilliant Gogol Bordello for the upcoming tour in July. Eugene Hutz, the gypsy punk frontman, chose The King Blues and will also have support from Babar Luck. The King Blues’ debut album, Under The Fog, is due out on June 5th. The dates are:
Gogol Bordello – July
3rd – Nottingham Rock City
4th – Manchester Academy 2
6th – London Koko
Solo shows in May:
26th – London Russell Sq, The Square Social Centre (benefit for Sri Lankan Tsunami support groups)
28th – London Lewisham, The Dirty South
Shows with Babar Luck in June:
3rd – Warsop, Notts The Blackmarket
3rd – Bradford 1 in 12 Club
4th – London Camden, Dublin Castle
10th – London Russell Sq, The Square Social Centre (benefit show)
15th – The West Riding, Yorkshire
17th – Aberdeen, The Moorings
23rd – Bristol, The Junction
24th – Leicester The Attik
And a show with Ghost Mice is on 12th June – Newport, Le Pub.
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Slum Village
The untimely death of super-producer J-Dilla earlier this year hit the hip hop community hard. His influence spread throughout the hip hop world and his laid back beats inspired many great groups, including The Pharcyde who said at their last London show that if it wasn’t for Jay Dee, they wouldn’t be doing what they’re doing right now. High praise indeed.
All proceeds of the record Fan-Tas-Tic Vol 1 will go to the fund established by Jay Dee’s mother during his illness and it is an album that all Slum Village and Jay Dee fans will love. The typically smooth beats surround the vocals with that evening vibe that was always their sound, and provides the backdrop to the 24 tracks [which includes some remixes].
Kick back and chill, this one goes out to James Yancey. RIP.