The mighty Anthrax have confirmed that they are back in the UK with a vengeance when they tour the country in April.
The band’s line up for these dates is:
Charlie Benante
Danny Spitz
Joey Belladonna
Scott Ian
Frank Bello
And the gig dates are:
April
8th – Sheffield Corporation
9th – Wolverhampton Wolfrun Hall
10th – London Astoria
11th – Nottingham Rock City
12th – Glasgow ABC
Live At The Glasshouse
(Kung Fu DVD)
It seems unfair that over the course of their fifteen-plus year existence, the Bouncing Souls haven’t reaped the rewards afforded to so many inferior bands of their genre. To label the ‘Souls a pop-punk band would only tell half the story, as their intelligent (but often humorous) lyrics and streetwise, hardcore edge have always helped them stand out from their so-called peers.
They’re also a superb live band, and Live At The Glasshouse(filmed in February 2005) is proof enough of this; having been filmed in a small, sweaty sold out club as the band ripped through an absolute wet-dream of a set-list. As with previous Kung Fu The Show Must Go Off! releases, the filming and sound quality is almost faultless. There are plenty of comedy
moments too; most notably the fluffed intros to Say Anything and Kate Is Great, as well as the entertaining between-song banter.
There are also a few extras, including a commentary of the show (involving
plenty of jokes at the expense of non-present drummer Michael McDermott);
footage of the Souls rehearsing, visiting friends and various other
touring-related activities; weblinks, and various other bits and bobs
Not bad for four guys from New Jersey who’ve paid their dues and done things
in true DIY spirit, Live At The Glasshouse may not be half as much fun as
seeing the band in the flesh, but will keep most Bouncing Souls fans happy
between tours. Newcomers would be better off watching the Do You Remember?
DVD first, but should still check this out too.
4/5
Alex Gosman
2 of the UK’s biggest skateparks launched brand new websites today. Rumour has it that the Bay Sixty 6 site are looking for people to write content and chip in footage for the site. If you are a local rider you should get in touch via the contact options on their new rig.
Check them out from the links below.
Reggae messiah and musical superstar Burning Spear is celebrating his 35th year in the music world with a new album, and another reminder of why he’s been around for so long. Spear, known to his friends as Winston Rodney, has always tried to deliver his political message to the people through the mass of popular music in Jamaica and he’s able to do it once more in this new release.
Fresh and dubby as you’d expect from him, Spear allows his personal struggles to come through in his music, giving it an edge of more popular reggae as he drives through Friends, Down In Jamaica and the bouncy positive sounding Fix Me which delivers an uplifting message about getting the most out of your life. Spear might have been in the game for over 30 years, but he’s sounding as new and as intriguing as he ever has.
Abjekt
Rhymesayers heavyweights Atmosphere have announced a short European tour, supported by their albino label mate Brother Ali. The Europe ’06 Tour kicks off with 2 dates in Germany before moving on to Sweden, Holland and Belgium, finishing with 2 shows in the UK. The dates are:
January
Sat 28th – Munich, Germany @ Ampere
Sun 29th – Berlin, Germany @ Knaack Club
Mon 30th – Copenhagen, Denmark @ Little Vega
Tue 31st – Malmo, Sweden @ KB
February
Wed 1st – Gothenburg, Sweden @ Sticky Fingers
Thu 2nd – Stockholm, Sweden @ Debaser
Sat 4th – Amsterdam, Holland @ Melkweg
Mon 6th – Utrecht, Holland @ Ekko
Tue 7th – Gent, Belgium @ Da Centrale
Thu 9th – London, UK @ Scala
Fri 10th – Manchester, UK @ Roadhouse
Tickets are available on www.seetickets.com and its rumoured that Atmosphere will be backed by a live band for this tour. It promises to be a blast and as Slug states with his last album title: You can’t imagine how much fun we’re having!
Josh Homme and Brody Dalle have just delivered a baby daughter and have named her Camille. The healthy bundle weighed in at 6lbs.15oz and is said to be very stable. Obviously the rock and roll couple are delighted which will leave most blokes gutted that Brody has finally locked down her family and is no longer available!
Er..by the way, this is not a picture of their newborn but you get the picture…she’s gonna be a cool kid!
We are back, the beginning of a new year!
I hope you managed to sort out all your New Year resolutions and I thought this time in The Mix we should take a look at brand new tunes for 2006. It is a mission of mine to enlighten a few of you out there. I do try.
I did think about doing an “all time favourites” edition of The Mix, so if people missed any (what I think are) classics, they could get in tune. But I realised that there were some high-quality new tunes being released that I just had to get ’em out there.
Don’t forget to drop me an email at krisdrew2002@yahoo.co.uk if you want your tune reviewing, if you do want my all time favourites, if you want to put a picture of your graf on the site, or even if you want to give me some shit. All feedback is welcomed.
Another reason to mail me is because I have some free tickets to give away for the 2006 UK Beatbox Championships – Midlands heat! Check this out:
LIVE UNDERGROUND HIPHOP @ THE RESCUE ROOMS www.rescuerooms.com
FRIDAY 17TH FEB 05
Hosted 8 Mile Style by:
ORIFICE VULGATRON (Foreign Beggars)
Judged by:
WANDAN (HumanBeatbox.com)
SHLOMO (Björk collaborator)
Plus Full Live Sets From:
BROKE N ENGLISH
KONNY KON
LOST PROJECT
DJ Support From:
T-CUTT & SWIZZ
Prizes from mic(ism) and THTC
For info on entry see www.UKBeatboxChampionships.com
All you have to do is answer the following question:
“Who won the UK Beatbox Championships in 2005?”
The first 2 people to email the answer to me get a free pair of tickets to this wicked line up!
Right then let’s get on with it, take a look at this years’ new bangers:
www.musicforheads.com
www.breakinbread.org
Ok, this is new-ish but I just had to review this track solely because I loved the track Flip it with DPF on the Ghost stories EP. And guess what! You’ve even got a tangy remix of this quality tune on The Payoff. But I’m not here to go on & on about that tune, I’m here to check out the title track.
Taken from the album Seldom Seen Often Heard (out in March 2006) Asaviour and Verb T put down their unique flows over the top of some pleasing and agreeable sounds. The Payoff takes a nice and easy approach to providing us with some real funky stuff. This is one of those feel good tunes that makes you feel light on your feet and like you’ve got a spring in your step. It’s a shame it’s not summer, I can imagine sticking it on a little system at the park, sat chillin with my buddies, drinking some brew.
It’s all about getting the payoff from working hard to get things sorted. In this case, making decent money in the hip hop game. This could fit to anyone that tries hard to get the money in, or wants to sort things with their life. This is the third 12″ to come from Ghost and each one gets better and better. I am a firm believer that the LP soon to be released will do more than just break bread. Make sure you check his LP debut as soon as it’s released. This track is definitely a good all-rounder. Proper musicforheads.
This single is coming to our local specialist shops on, or around, the 6th of February. I’m sure you will all be over the moon to hear that it is another assassin of a track. With Verb T & Harry Love bringing together a destructive munitions store of serious rhythm and rhymes, how could you possibly go wrong? This is a relatively dark tune with an unstable state of mind and a vision depicting loss of ability to see reality. Good for listening in your car to get your swerve on or playing out at clubs and bars. I stuck this track in my set just after New Year and it went down a storm. Yep, I’m in to this one. What a good way to bring us into the new year of 2006 from Harry Love & Verb-T.
This is the first single to be taken from the highly anticipated album Bring it Back (To Basic) and it is aimed up to be the superlative single yet. Delusion has been released on the Silent Soundz record label. If you want to know more, take a look at www.silentsoundz.com
The second track Make it Hott (please) is a decent track too but it rings a bell so much that I just sit thinking where I know that track from. It must be Kruder and Dorfmeister or definitely something from that German K7 label. Boozoo Bajou maybe? I just can’t put my finger on it. I hope someone out there can tell me once it has been released. Keep it in mind peeps.
I’m sure this will be available from www.suspect-packages.com as soon as it is released. Keep your undelusional eye open for this one. It’s hot!
Ok here he is again…. I’m not so sure this track is even going to be released. The picture is taken from Koaste’s (Menagerie, of sorts) gallery. There is a better picture to be had but I can’t get it off the site so you will have to have a look see yourselves. This track is for those of you that love the story telling tunes, and what a story! Starting off with a very quiet “Hello Dave” this tune made me smile instantly. The imagination that has gone into the writing of this tune impresses me more every time I hear it. It takes me back to being a youngster; there are some light hearted fantasy fairy-tale bits and pieces in there with a trace of magic.
A shop that sells a paper with the last words you will speak and 1000 action figures that are all secretly alive can’t fail to make an impression on anyone that enters. Go on! Have a browse inside Papa Lazarus rarest of shops.
You can take a free sample of it at www.myspace.com/mcelemental. I guarantee, if you like the story telling side of lyricism, you’ll like this.
That’s my part done for the moment, just time left for you to have a look at the links I’ve put in this weeks reviews, and to have a look at the nice bit of artwork I’ve put in. Until next time…
www.lowliferecords.freeserve.co.uk/ (Top tunes from top people)
www.roninrecords.com/ (This is Deckwrecka, Skitz and 23 Skidoo’s home)
www.zebratraffic.co.uk/ (Label down in Brighton, lots happening here)
A bit of Graf I saw on my travels:
Send me some tracks, sites or graf if you want me to have look at them and give them a mention.
Only 50 weeks left until the next New Year party! In the meantime, have a good one.
Kris Drew. Done and dusted.
Well, welcome to 2006 everyone, I hope you all had a wicked Christmas and New Year and we have plenty to look forward to this year as far as hip hop goes. As usual, I’ll be looking over at the American underground and letting you know what’s hot in and around the small hidden pockets of hip hop.
Before I begin, I have to just back up Kris on that Verb T and Harry Love release. Harry’s beats are exquisite on that CD and compliment Verb’s distinctive vocals showing why they have been such a formidable team for the past few years and why their upcoming release will be a must have for everyone out there. Double thumbs up from both Mixers.
First up for me this time round then, is a very talented MC coming out of Texas named Cerebral Vortex. He’s got a few things in the pipeline at the moment, including a project with Kool Akiem, former DJ and producer of the brilliant Micranots, which sounds very exciting, and I can’t wait for that to drop. On top of this his crew, FTC, have a release coming out very soon with a DVD featuring all 12 members, something everyone should have a look at!
I’m linking you to CV’s myspace page so you can sample his work, and I’m sure you’ll feel it. Lead off track My Tosis is the sort of track you’d expect if you were standing in a corn field and a spaceship came out of the sky and ripped the decks in front of you. The bouncing bass lines will have the head nodding and the chorus, a catchy sung vibe, will have you furiously clicking for the reload button as soon as its over.
The other two tracks, Fuck The Space Cops and The Getup, are both bangers, following on from the first track. Fuck The Space Cops has another great bassline, but rolls in a little more mellow that the previous number, but with content such as “titty bars on Mars”, you can’t help but smile as you chill out. The Getup rounds off the trio with a fantastic light snare and a winding melody bumping behind CV’s mesmeric flow.
www.myspace.com/cerebralvortexftc
The photograph was taken by Christian Gamboa, a very talented photographer working out of Texas, who should definitely be checked out. Her myspace is at www.myspace.com/cxitlali and if you have any words of praise or want to talk to her about taking photos for you, then she can be contacted at: godlovesuglys@yahoo.com
Next we have a Minnesotan MC who goes by the name of Ernie Rhodes and who is another shining example of why Minnesota really is the place to be for quality American hip hop. The Midwest are taking it over right now, and Ernie’s opening track, Renaissance Man, has the smoothest beat which is backed up by some nice strings which play out as Ernie’s flow bounces over each line before he switches it up to show his word play and alliteration.
Girl Trouble, a song about regret and being left empty after having given everything to a lady he thought special, is something we can all relate to and the softly spoken delivery over lengthened cymbal hits and the occasional floating sample really set this one out well. Never Really Gone begins with a nice healthy dose of chirpy samples and a folk-like lick which is augmented with a bass line that strolls around Ernie’s good natured delivery and thought provoking lyrics. A track where the beat compliments the MC and vice versa, and my favourite of the three.
His album was out not that long ago, and if these tracks are anything to go by, The Orbital Effect is certain to be well worth checking out.
www.myspace.com/ernierhodes
www.dialogueelevaters.com
The last recommendation you’re getting from me is another Rhymesayers release. For those of you who know me, or who have read my top 5 of 2005, you’ll know I’m a whore for Rhymesayers Entertainment, but if they keep putting out stuff as good as what I’m about to talk about, then I’m totally justified. The album in question is Audition by P.O.S. His debut, Ipecac Neat was an absolutely immense record, with incredible production, not scared to use cellos and other various strings with P.O.S spilling his guts out into his lyrical content, sometimes living up to his pseudonym of Pissed Off Stef, whilst at other times showing his emotionally touching side.
This carries on in Audition, where he shows off more of his punk side, bringing in Greg Attonito of the Bouncing Souls for a guest spot. The production is more varied and this lends itself well to showing what a versatile MC P.O.S is, going from the brass led party stomping Stand Up [Let’s Get Murdered] to the acoustic The Kill In Me which features the female vocals of Maggie from the group Digitata to the stripped down introspective P.O.S Is Ruining My Life.
Overall it is an extremely strong start to 2006 for the Twin Cities label and they can expect P.O.S’ stature to grow stronger and stronger with this album. For more information and for previews of a couple of tracks, head on over to :
www.rhymesayers.com
www.doomtree.net
Finally then I just want to stick up a little bit of graf that someone left on the now-defunct Safeways near where I live. They put this up and it was painted over, only for the artist to make a better job of it. It’s since been painted over again and once more has been re-sprayed to provide the only bit of colour in Streatham. It keeps being painted over but at least it was something to look at on the way to the station for the few days it was there, even if it isn’t the Monet of the graf world:
So that’s it from me for this time round, I hope you have enjoyed the music you’ve heard from my recommendations, and I shall return in the not too distant future with more diamonds I’ve uncovered for your listening pleasure. If you want to get in touch with me about anything I’ve written, if you want to send me anything or if you want to ask me out on a date for hot steamy love, then hit me up at:
Until then, peace to you all.
Jektadon.
Edited by Greg Tate [Harlem Moon]
When I first picked up this book, I was a little daunted. There are 18 chapters covering a multitude of subjects as each writer attempts to focus their ideas upon one particular medium or topic and show how important black culture is to the world we live in today.
Some of this book is quite heavy going and I think it is only because I did a Communications degree that I was able to grasp the various concepts of semantics and semiotics that appear throughout some of the chapter, especially the opening effort which looks at the effect Eminem has had on the rap world and beyond, entitled “Eminem: The New White Negro“.
But what makes this collection such an interesting and enjoyable read is the wide variation on topics and relative shortness of each chapter. Consequently the point has had to be made concisely and clearly and it is done with brilliant effort and end results. I particularly enjoyed the chapter on how pimps are now a culture fetish surrounding the black community, the chapter looking at the history and origins of the word “Thug” [from India, in case you wondered] and the chapter which looks at the different black boxers throughout the ages and how they were portrayed [from Ali to the various comebacks of Foreman].
Greg Tate has done a good job gathering a group of well educated and clear speaking [or in this case writing] individuals and this books flows well. There are a few points where I was drowned in terminology [especially in the final chapter, which looks at art] but that was certainly in the minority and this books is a great way to start looking at black culture, from its origins in Africa, to the views of a white person living in a black neighbourhood, to the rise of gangster rap.
I really want to do this DVD justice when I review it because Heroin are a good team, led by a good man (Fos) and they generate great skateboarding.
Re-reading that, I feel I just did them a huge injustice with a crap introduction… I could always pick my brain for a smart metaphor or analogy between Heroin Skatebaords and heroin the drug..? No- that would really suck!
Aah! And you think reviewing videos is a life of leisure…
Alright, listen: Live from Antarctica deserves a spot in your DVD collection because it represents the real fun we all have on our decks. Fos and the boys don’t take themselves too seriously, they push themselves to try new things and achieve improbabilities / impossibilities, they skate everything and anything, and they rock!
To get specific about the high qualities in this video, I would have to mention the great soundtrack, Alan Glass being behind the lens (and his hidden treasure!), the Osaka Daggers – Chopper and Hamaji- as well as other oriental cast members (Dal and Tamago) opening our eyes to new horizons, Howard Cooke– period, Fos‘ last trick (?), Chris Pulman’s youth and spirit, Rogie actually ripping the street and not some poor sod on a skate forum, and all the other multiple magical things peppered throughout this DVD. As you can see there are plenty or reasons to get a hold of Live from Antarctica.
The only thing I found a little hard to swallow was the attire Louie Jones and Nick Worthington manage to squeeze their bodies into. I swear if there weren’t boards under their feet, I’d have thought it was some obscure spandex street ballet..!? Punk it up!
Visit www.livefromantarctica.com for all Heroin related skateboard addictions and also to watch the trailer to this fine DVD.
Ralph Lloyd-Davis
17/01/2006
Islington Academy
12/01/06
When Carling sat down and decided to put on a New Kings concert, I wonder what exactly went through their heads to come up with a grime/crossover act alongside two indie acts. Maybe their tea boy should stop hiding his stash in the kettle, because it really didn’t compute to me.
Still, free drinks [naturally, I was on the Coke] and ten enthusiastic Kano fans made it all worthwhile. The rest of the audience comprised Magic Numbers and Graham Coxon fans, none of whom seemed at all interested in Mr Robinson who strode on stage to a rather muted sounding Home Sweet Home, spilling his rhymes over the drastic staccato beat telling the crowd “if you don’t know K A, you don’t know”.
P’s & Q’s, arguably the best song on his critically acclaimed [and Abjekt top 5’d] album bounced around before the heaviest of bass lines boomed into the crowd’s ears. Kano grew in stature a little during this song, getting over the apathy in front of him, pacing around talking about his gangster lean and telling us why he makes more Ps than fakers do.
The sirens then blared out across the speakers as he rolled into Ghetto Kid, sparking the set into life. What changed the dynamic of the performance was the appearance of his hype man, Ghetto, who thrashed around on stage as if he were listening to Metallica‘s Kill Em All on invisible headphones, barking out his lines with ferocious style and then hooding up for the guitar led Typical Me, which signalled the increase in volume of the sound system. This was the track that finally got some of the non-Kano fans head’s nodding in time as Kano and Ghetto rode over the chugging guitar with presence and gusto.
The next 3 songs were more radio-friendly and included his well received Streets‘ produced single Nite Nite which saw Ghetto replaced on stage by Leo the Lion, much to the delight of two female fans hanging onto the barriers at the front, not least when they were serenaded by K A himself. Sometimes followed with the young MC rapping about how hard it is for him to understand why he’s the popular one, amongst all the grime MCs around him, but on tonight’s performance it’s easy to see why. When Brown Eyes hit, an upbeat piano sampled song, Kano was in his element and as the camera phones were raised up to his “I don’t wanna fall in love” line, a small smile appeared on his face, recognising he really had arrived.
His final track, my personal favourite on the album, the Diplo produced Reload It, saw Dangermouse and the almost epileptic-sounding Demon crash onto the stage. The watery sample over heavy but uplifting drums caused me to lose control of my muscle control and dance around like a fool amongst the static indie fans. When Kano finished by quoting his t-shirt saying “I can spit like an old school MC, A B C, 1 2 3, float like a butterfly, sting like a bee”, you know he really does pack a punch in his delivery and live show.
In all, despite the strange line up, he brought his live set off well after a slowish start. Having MCs around him like Ghetto and Demon certainly helps as they can bring the crowd into a frenzy whilst Kano then mellows them out with his more laid back flow. He certainly was a King of 2005, and 2006 can only get better for the former Chelsea trainee.
Abjekt