Skulls & Spikes & Stuff on a Mic

'Hit the Deck' festival bring rock 'n roll antics to Nottingham

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 07:12:00 -0400

'Hit the Deck' festival bring rock 'n roll antics to Nottingham:

Long time no post! I do apologise! The only excuse I have is that I’m a the end of my 3rd year at uni so its all a little hectic! Once I’m done I will try to keep this a little more regular as I’ve also been thinking of doing a little fashion blogging too! So we’ll see!

Any who, if you follow me on twitter (which you should! - feed on the right hand side) you’ll know that I went to Hit the Deck fest in Nottingham last weekend! It was pretty sick being able to talk to We Are the Ocean and We Are the In Crowd before seeing them and Don Broco perform!

So if you fancy finding out what happened and what We Are the In Crowd had to say about Paramore’s new album, click the link above!

Meet C2C, who although having been around since 1998, I’ve...

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 16:28:00 -0500

Meet C2C, who although having been around since 1998, I’ve only recently been introduced to thanks to my boyfriend.

As a french urban band specialising in “turntablism”, they don’t sound like they would necessarily be in my liking, But what do you know miricles happen, and OH MY GOD are they ridiculously amazing and can produce songs that will go around you head for days, week and quite frankly months!

The video above is ‘Delta’ which is the worst song guilty of that trait. But their current album ‘TETRA’ has a tonne more where that came from. With ‘Happy’ which will literally make you feel ecstatic with is vibrant beats as well as ‘Arcades’ which is flawless.

I haven’t been this excited about a band since well Skindred and they are still on my recently played list.

So if you have a sec give them a go and see what you think. If they hit it big they are going to HIT IT BIG. I love them and so should you. Now go listen and listen again which I know you’ll have too!

So with a growing love for R&B and hip-hop at he moment. I...

Sun, 03 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0500

So with a growing love for R&B and hip-hop at he moment. I am currently trying to learn the lyrics to Azealia Banks - Liquorice Bitch. But not just for my own satisfaction to make me feel cool but so I can show a friend that even though my usual tastes lay in rock or metal I can still rap if I want to.

The real thing is I’m just glad there’s someone who can show Nikki Minaj how its really done. Get rid of that horrendous blonde hair, bright make up and whatever the hell it is you’ve got implanted in your arse… and concentrate on the actual song. I mean she claims to be an artist doesn’t she? I just loose the will to live when they get paid all this money and still produce the same old rubbish that you hear everyday.

So with Azealia its nice to know she still knows her roots and where she came from, (its New York if you weren’t sure) which I have far much more respect for as it can make a hit a floor filler or a complete flop. And she can;t half belt out a tune too - so for me she has it all, cutting edge rap and a voice that has you singing along to any of her songs.

And this is why I love Azealia. She can rap like a pro about coitus and not give a flying f***. She also brings the sound of the 90s back into the mainstream which I’m in love with. The 80s and 90s produced some of the best music and film as matter of fact. I mean who does’t love Back to the Future, Teen Wolf and The Fifth Element? Go on admit it I know you love them and there outrageously cheesy scenes too.Its nice to know that some musicians get their inspiration from good era’s in music.

So please oh please take the time to listen to Azealia, she’s got a lot more to give so watch this space.

Mr. B is ready to spread some good old ‘Chappishness’ in Lincoln

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 15:05:00 -0500

Mr. B is ready to spread some good old ‘Chappishness’ in Lincoln:

Meet Mr B the Gentleman Rhymer.

Chap-hop extraordinaire and all round gentleman, Let him serenade you with his tales of the high life and growing one fine mustache.

Read the pre-view of his up and coming gig at Lincoln’s Strait and Narrow on Thursday 31st January 2013.

Enjoy!

Yay! @lostprophets feature with @jockojohnson in @thelinc...

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 08:05:10 -0500

Yay! @lostprophets feature with @jockojohnson in @thelinc exciting

Meet sisterly folk rock band The Staves

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Meet sisterly folk rock band The Staves:

Eldest sister Emily Stavely-Taylor tells me about the girls tour with Bon Iver, their next headlining tour and a new album release!

Forget the usually heavily bearded men and don your checked shirts and ukulele’s for this triplets harmonious take on the folk genre.

The Linc - Lostprophets expected to 'Bring 'em Down' at the Engine Shed

Sun, 11 Nov 2012 11:20:00 -0500

The Linc - Lostprophets expected to 'Bring 'em Down' at the Engine Shed:

Hell yeah that’s right I got to speak to the one and only Luke Johnson, drummer for amazing Welsh rock band Lostprophets!

Dream come true as he tell’s me what Lincoln can expect at their gig this Tuesday (13th November) at the Engine Shed! Which includes a bit of mix up of old and new!

Can’t wait to go! So make sure you get a ticket for one of their shows on their Weapons Reloaded tour!

Enjoy!

Sam x

The Linc: Jack Shaw gains regional recognition with Brit Writers'Award nomination

Sun, 11 Nov 2012 11:15:00 -0500

The Linc: Jack Shaw gains regional recognition with Brit Writers'Award nomination:

Meet Jack Shaw, singer/songwriter from Lincoln’s very own rock, R&B band Dancing Lotus.

Now have a go at it on his own he’s nabbed himself a nomination for the songwriter category at the Brit Writers Awards.

Find out how Jack felt to be nominated and what he’s been up to!

The Linc - Twisted Wheel can't wait to 'Do It Again' in Lincoln p.s. sorry i've been gone so long!

Sun, 11 Nov 2012 11:10:00 -0500

The Linc - Twisted Wheel can't wait to 'Do It Again' in Lincoln p.s. sorry i've been gone so long!:

Hello!

First off - apologies for my absence I’ve been so busy with 3rd I’ve had no time to update my blog! Feel like a huge fail! But I am now uploading a few more things I’ve been up too.

So first off have a read of my interview with Twisted Wheel’s lead singer Jonny Brown prior to their gig at the Engine Shed.

It was their first time in Lincoln but that wasn’t stopping him feeling confident.

Enjoy!

Sam

Squash unhappy as I prepare to cook @ChefRachelGreen ‘s...

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 13:49:56 -0400

Squash unhappy as I prepare to cook @ChefRachelGreen ‘s squash & roasted red pepper soup for #CityVibe on @sirenfm! #wishmeluck #lifepicks #radio

Listening to @MarinasDiamonds reminiscing at how amazing...

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 17:36:00 -0400

Listening to @MarinasDiamonds reminiscing at how amazing #valleyofdolls was @engineshed last night #amazingvoice #favepic #loveher #lifepicks (Taken with Instagram)

The Linc - Matt Cardle: "My new album is more honest"

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 13:55:00 -0400

The Linc - Matt Cardle: "My new album is more honest":

In speaking to former 2010 X Factor winner Matt Cardle, he told me his new album ‘The Fire’ to be released later this month let him be himself.

He was able to produce it himself as well as play most of the instruments. But not only this, he will start a short UK tour finishing in an album launch at the Scala in London on the 8th October.

”The change in sound is also similar to why the looks changed as I’m getting closer to myself and getting back to what I do and what I’ve always done. Just everything’s a bit more honest really.” - Matt Cardle

Click on the title above to read my feature for the Linc!

Enjoy!

Sam x

Matt Cardle featured published on The Latest!

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0400

Matt Cardle featured published on The Latest!:

With the Matt Cardle interview getting quite a bit of attention from American fans the feature I did on him was published on The Latest too!

Click on the link above if you fancy a read!

The Linc: Halestorm rock the Nottingham Rescue Rooms

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -0400

The Linc: Halestorm rock the Nottingham Rescue Rooms:

All my excitement was finally released when I
went to see Halestorm at the Nottingham Rescue Rooms last weekend.

Despite a cold I powered through managing to grab lead guitarist Joe’s pick, touching the sweaty back to drummer AreJay and hyperventilated when inches from lead singer Lzzy’s hand! -So close but yet so far! And of course I bought myself a rockin’ band t!

Click on the link above to have a gander at my review for The Linc. Give me some more views and I will love you forever - even if you haven’t heard of them you should give them a listen! I recommend ‘Love Bites’ and ‘I Miss the Misery’ for you newbies!

Enjoy!

Sam x

The Linc: Punk and Folk come together for Brother and Bones

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 06:55:00 -0400

Being introduced to a new band is always exciting; especially when they turn out to be what you think will be the next big thing.

Before meeting Richard Thomas, the lead singer of what I would call the “punk-folk” band Brother and Bones, I had only been lucky enough to hear a few of their songs. Namely, “Don’t forget to Pray” which shows Richard bouncing up and down with his band in a square white room with nothing but an old rug and instruments. But the other thing I decided to take note of was how hairy Richard was, with his Jack Sparrow-style moustache and long wavy black locks. So naturally the first thing I had to say on meeting him was “Wow, you are hairy!”

With the five-piece band only being formed just eighteen months ago in scenic Cornwall, they have come a long way, with appearances on BBC Introducing in May 2011, the release of their EP, Skin on 20^th June and headlining their first UK tour last year, as well as appearances at the Great Escape and Beach Break Live festivals.

“We did about 20 shows. It was the first real headline tour we did as we’re quite a young band as we’ve only been together for 18 months. So that was great” said Richard.

However, he admitted his favourite show was at Beach Break Live; “we’ve had a lot of love from those guys over the years and it’s a really nice festival to play ‘cause obviously everyone’s our age, everyone’s up for partying [laughs]. So yeah that was a lot of fun. We did three shows at that festival as well so it’s what we do and what we love so it was great fun.”

Richard admitted how surprised the band has been received by fans; “We were playing small venues and were quite overwhelmed by the responses we’ve been getting from people in places we’ve never been too. I mean I’ve never been to Margate [Laughs]. A tonne of people turned up, well not a tonne but enough to have a good party and sing along to the songs and stuff and it was great.”

Richard then went straight into a stand alone acoustic tour supporting Ben Howard which took him across the UK and Europe which he said “has been amazing and a bit of a different experience ‘cause he’s (Ben Howard) playing sold out shows all round Europe so I’ve done loads and loads of travelling and been to loads of countries.”

Playing acoustically on his has own was a new experience for the singer/songwriter, but he admitted he didn’t miss his band too much.

“I can’t really say I don’t cause there all my best friends. But Ben and all that crew are all really good friends as well so I’m having a great time. I’m not going to lie! [Laughs]. I mean on stage it’s a bit of a different delivery. With the band obviously there’s a lot more energy and it’s a lot more raucous,” said Richard.

The tour also brought the southerner to Lincoln’s Tokyo, which wasn’t the type of venue he was used to; “Tokyo is pretty different. Spiral stair cases and chandeliers and stuff wasn’t what I was expecting but it’s cool. I’m up for a party tonight.”

Brother and Bones also released a new single Hold Me Like the Sun on the 14^th November which they will be promoting on their second UK and Europe Headlining tour this year. But Richard promised 2012 will be a busy year for them for another reason.

“The plan is to get the skeleton of an album together next year so we’re speaking to a lot of different producers and we’ve sorted started demoing what will be the bones of the album. So yeah it’s a bit of an on-going process really, we want to take our time over it and make sure it’s right,” said Richard.

The band have been described as energetic, as being Mumford and Sons on ‘steroids’ at their live shows and their music being characterised as not just your classic laid back folk music from the South. It’s far better than that as it mixes acoustic guitars with a much heavier and harder rock sound within it. Take ‘Here Comes the Storm’ with its increasing energy as Richard drives the song with his effortlessly rustic and brawny vocals. They are much more than Mumford and Sons or god forbid Kings of Leon.

“The five of us have a very eclectic taste in music. In terms of what actually comes through with what we do with Brother and Bones is everything from, I’m like a bit John Martin fan and I suppose the way, you know, when I play guitar that comes through. I mean I think parts of a lot heavier stuff, like some of the big “drivey” parts, like Rage Against the Machine-ie sort of thing. We’re all big Rage fans,” explained Richard.

He also went on to explain that the connection he has with a song can make a big difference when it comes to how popular it is live on stage; “every time you deliver a songs you’ve got to try and connect with it as much as you can. The best ones are always the ones where you can be in that place that you were when you wrote it, you can translate that again.”

“The song I really enjoy every time, we’ve been playing Here Comes the Storm since the start, since we started playing live. Its great fun to play,” said Richard.

So, with this band having already been recognised as one to watch by the BBC introducing as well as receiving astounding reviews from many music magazines, it is definitely worth heading down to one of their shows for energy filled, punk-folk, feel-good music. So as Richard ended, “if you wanna come and hang out and get drunk and hear some music, let’s do it.”

Look out for tour dates on their Facebook page and website to see the show nearest you and get your tickets!

Here’s the article in The Linc’s March print issue as well! Mother i proud lol - Pictured below :D

First song in the acoustic session with The Red - EXCLUSIVE for...

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:45:33 -0400

First song in the acoustic session with The Red - EXCLUSIVE for Siren 107.3 FM and the Alternaitve Mix.

This is Skip A Beat! If you like it then go to The Red’s Facebook page for more tracks!

Hope you like!

First song in the acoustic session with The Red - EXCLUSIVE for...

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:44:43 -0400

First song in the acoustic session with The Red - EXCLUSIVE for Siren 107.3 FM and the Alternaitve Mix.

This is Long Boat! If you like it then go to The Red’s Facebook page for more tracks!

Hope you like!

The Linc - Lincoln band set for UK's biggest unsigned competition

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:26:00 -0400

The Linc - Lincoln band set for UK's biggest unsigned competition:

More coverage on the Lincoln funk rock band The Red!

“Meet The Red, a cheeky Lincoln based indie rock band that have a lot to show for their short time together. From playing small gigs in pubs to getting to the semi-finals of the UK’s largest music competition for unsigned bands; they may be young but they pack a punch.”

Published on Tuesday March 27th 2012.

Special podcast on local funk rock band The Red who are...

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:17:01 -0400

Special podcast on local funk rock band The Red who are competing in the regional semi-finals of Live and Unsigned - the biggest music competition for unsigned bands! Which is judged by people from NME, Radio 1 and Kerrang!

2 EXCLUSIVE acoustic tracks and interview! I am definitely spoiling you! :P

Broadcast on Siren 107.3 FM Monday 26th 2012 @ 9pm and throughout the week!

The Linc: Sam Harrison, a young man who has come a long way

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 04:56:00 -0500

The Linc: Sam Harrison, a young man who has come a long way:

I caught up with Sam Harrison, a local Lincoln musician, producer and owner of record company Xclamation Music who told me his passion began at just 8 years old.

“I used to write them all the time even in lessons in primary school and I’d get told off frequently. I just kept doing it, it was addictive. My parents bought me a little four track tape machine which I made my first album on it at 14. It was terrible!” - Sam Harrison.

Please click on the link in the title to view the article.

Posted on March 5th 2011

Skulls & Spikes & Stuff on a Mic

'Hit the Deck' festival bring rock 'n roll antics to Nottingham

Meet C2C, who although having been around since 1998, I’ve...

So with a growing love for R&B and hip-hop at he moment. I...

Mr. B is ready to spread some good old ‘Chappishness’ in Lincoln

Yay! @lostprophets feature with @jockojohnson in @thelinc...

Meet sisterly folk rock band The Staves

The Linc - Lostprophets expected to 'Bring 'em Down' at the Engine Shed

The Linc: Jack Shaw gains regional recognition with Brit Writers'Award nomination

The Linc - Twisted Wheel can't wait to 'Do It Again' in Lincoln p.s. sorry i've been gone so long!

Squash unhappy as I prepare to cook @ChefRachelGreen ‘s...

Listening to @MarinasDiamonds reminiscing at how amazing...

The Linc - Matt Cardle: "My new album is more honest"

Matt Cardle featured published on The Latest!

The Linc: Halestorm rock the Nottingham Rescue Rooms

The Linc: Punk and Folk come together for Brother and Bones

First song in the acoustic session with The Red - EXCLUSIVE for...

First song in the acoustic session with The Red - EXCLUSIVE for...

The Linc - Lincoln band set for UK's biggest unsigned competition

Special podcast on local funk rock band The Red who are...

The Linc: Sam Harrison, a young man who has come a long way

'Hit the Deck' festival bring rock 'n roll antics to Nottingham