Intamission Music #2

REVIEWS | LIVE REVIEWS | INTERVIEWS | PHOTOS

FEB ’13 #2 FREE

dead retinas

WE SEEK BRIGHTNESS REVIEW & INTERVIEW

+ THE RATELLS LIVE

REVIEW

MCKENNA LOREN REVIEW & INTERVIEW

+ THE INDIeANNAS SINGLE REVIEW

WHAT’S IN INTAMISSION

INTAMISSION MUSIC

Greetings from the first issue, glad to see you wanted to stick us from the last one. This issue is crammed full of more interviews and review from the world of unsigned music with a tad bit from the signed world, from bands like ‘Snuff’ and ‘Less then

Jake’, so yeah a lot bigger and badder then the first one. Me and Sofee did the main feature for this one with the guys from the Manchester punk band ‘Dead Retinas’, these guys are a lovely bunch of lads and made having them as the main feature an absolute pleasure so sit back and get your read on! Ciro

RANDOM QUESTION TIME 5-‐7 BILLY LORD 9-‐10 WE SEEK BRIGHTNESS 11-‐12 MCKENNA LOREN 13-‐14 DEAD RETINAS 16-‐20 REVIEWS 23-‐28 LIVE REVIEWS 30

RANDOM QUESTION TIME

andy palahniuk Name: Andy Ralph

Age: 27 Band: Palahniuk

Instrument: Lead Vocals and Guitar Have you ever received a hairy sweaty hug of a fan or something similar? I have received a hairy sweaty hug from a fan, they must have been dancing something mad that night. She had a great beard, though. Would you ever do a gig naked? Under my clothes I am always naked, so pretty much every gig I do as nature intended. Who’s your least favourite person in your band? I hate the lead singer and guitar player. That guy has a massive ego. Pooing or peeing? Depends on what they ask for. What would you put on a subway sandwich? Meatballs. Cheese. Lettuce. Gerbil. How would you get an elephant into a fridge? I would breed the elephant with a pig to make a pigmy elephant. Then put the tiny elephant in the fridge. If you were a brick in the wall which brick would you be? I would be the one to the left….no, my left….no, look, this one. Which band member would make the best girl? Shaun, only because of his sensuous beard. How long can you hold your breath for? Starting from….NOW! I'm a man of action, a swashbuckler, a rogue, a wanderer. A man who can hold his breath for ten minutes! Peter piper picked a peck of pickled pepper, where’s the peck of pickled pepper peter piper picked? 7


jack inego Name: Jack Farnworth

Age: 20 Band: INEGO

Instrument: BASS Have you ever received a hairy sweaty hug of a fan or something similar? No I have yet to receive my first hug from a fan Would you ever do a gig naked? Of course Who’s your least favourite person in your band? Me Pooing or peeing? Peeing What would you put on a subway sandwich? Tuna How would you get an elephant into a fridge? I wouldn’t If you were a brick in the wall which brick would you be? That one Which band member would make the best girl? Me How long can you hold your breath for? Starting from….NOW! …


alex all at sea

Have you ever received a hairy sweaty hug of a fan or something similar? I have received a few hugs from fans but generally they smell pretty good! Must be a fan thing Would you ever do a gig naked? I wouldn't like to no I think I would scare the fans away! Maybe after a few beers? Who’s your least favourite person in your band? Ben because he vegetarian farts sink to high heaven! Pooing or peeing? Both at the same time normally does the job! What would you put on a subway sandwich? Chicken,Cheese,Salad,Mayo How would you get an elephant into a fridge? I would build a fridge big enough to put one in there! If you were a brick in the wall which brick would you be? I would be that brick that Pink Floyd are always talking about Which band member would make the best girl? Jason How long can you hold your breath for? Starting from….NOW! ...... Peter piper picked a peck of pickled pepper, where’s the peck of pickled pepper peter piper picked? …

Name: Alexander James Elliott Age: 22

Band: All At Sea Instrument: Bass Guitar

billy lord interview What do you hope listeners/fans can get out of your music? Love, sorrow, hope… I want them to escape from every day life for a moment… to dream a little about a life without boundaries. Freedom. If you weren’t very good at music and writing/singing the songs you do, would you still of gone out and played music in the streets? I was working homeless in Manhattan for nearly two years… The only place I played was on the streets. And I was not at all good when I started. When I was younger, that may have prevented me from playing outside in front of people, but these days, music is my salvation and I've never been more in love with anything the way I am in love with singing and playing guitar. I always tell people starting out that they will need to be bad for a long time before they start being good. But to press on… It will come. But only if you have a true passion for it. What do you think about talent shows like the X Factor as a way of achieving your dreams?

I'm not a fan. I don't watch TV ever, as a choice. But I have seen these shows. What bothers me about them is that it breeds this sense with people that everyone is a star. I hate to break it to you, but you're parents did you a disservice… You're not. It may make for great television, but the premise is insulting to those artists and musicians who spend all day, every day, for years practicing their instruments, writing, and performing. I view them more as singing contests. Lots of people can sing beautifully, but the stars, the ones who transcend, are not always multi octave singers, but the ones with a distinctive tone and emotion… Think Stevie Nicks, Mick Jagger, or Rod Stewart. The second you hear their voice; you know it's them. How does playing on a stage to a huge crowd compare to playing in the early hours of the morning on the streets? I'm not going to lie and feed you some romantic notion that playing to a large audience is the same as playing in the streets in the middle of the night. It's exhilarating to play to a large audience. My first real gig was opening for Uncle Kracker on the west coast. Up to that point, I'd only done acoustic shows and had to assemble a band in three days before the gig. It was messy, but it was the biggest thrill of my life. I wrote my songs under the worst of conditions; to get a standing ovation from a large audience is validation that my struggles have touched people in some way. Naturally you will always remember where you’ve come from, but what do you think to musicians who disregard where they came from and turn to the rock and roll life style of sex, drugs and Money Addiction? I get it, actually. I don't subscribe to it at this stage of my life, but it's part of it all. Without the sex, drugs, girls and money, some of the greatest may have never picked up the guitar. For me, it merely had been a means of survival. Which song has received the best response? I would say Long Road, which is arguably the worst vocal on the album. In the studio, we recorded cleaner takes, but I insisted, against my producer's advice, that we keep the vocal. It sounds tired, weary, breathless, and

billy lord interview imperfect. I think people respond to that because it's real. In a world of auto tune, hearing singer's voice crack is like seeing a shooting star… extremely rare. Long Road is also autobiographical, and people respond to that as well. I'd say Fighting Back has also gotten a great response. It was voted Best Rock Song of 2012 on Twitter, beating out the likes of Imagine Dragons. Hell yeah, I was proud. What do you have to say to people who are in a similar position to yours and want to make it in music? What would be their first step? It's like that rap lyric, "There's no such thing as a half way crook." Well, there's no such thing as a half way musician either… You need to become it, give yourself to it fully, and do it out of deep passion. As I type this, I'm on the subway heading to Landlord Tenant court again.. You need to be ok with suffering. As music is your life, what do you enjoy doing outside of music? I love the city, just roaming around in it. Always looking for the next adventure. But even then, I've always got my guitar slung over my shoulder. Truly, it's music all the time. Nothing better. How are you finding the world of music to the world of doing the odd job? When I was laid off from a job that had been a 15-‐year long career for me in corporate publishing. When I was fired, oddly enough I felt a sense of relief. I couldn't find another job in corporate, so I took to odd jobs. My favourite odd job was unloading trucks. It was active and simple, and I worked with great people. I quit all three of my odd jobs last Christmas to pursue music full time. I have no regrets, as tough as things get financially at times. You play in New York a lot, where else in the world would you like to play? A friend of mine has a band called Big in Europe. The name always makes me laugh. But, secretly, I'd love to be just that. Still, touring the United States during the summertime has to be the best gig ever... What’s your biggest achievement of your career so far? Just the fact that I'm having a career at all in music is the grand achievement. It's not one thing… I'm happy with what I'm doing. It's a second chance for me, and I'm profoundly grateful to have it. What are your hopes for 2013 and the years ahead? I've just been picked up by a production company to film a TV show based on my life, so that is my main focus right now. It's a brilliant concept and should be airing in the fall. I also have two albums coming out in 2013. The music I'm writing now is meant to stand the test of time. I'm building a career in music, more Bruce Springsteen than Foster the People… Anyone who wants to follow along my journey should like my Facebook fan page "Billy Lord", follow me on Twitter @billylordmusic or visit my personal website www.billylordmusic.com to follow everything that's happening. It's going to be a breakout year for me. Ciro Guadagno Photos: Courtesy of Billy Lord

we seek brightness interview We Seek Brightness are a young, unsigned, emerging, Pop-‐Punk band from Dundee, Scotland. Since forming in June 2011, the boys have played with some great acts including Our People Versus Yours, Siphon and So Many Animal Calls. I had the opportunity to ask these guys a few questions about themselves. Hi guys, I hope you’re all well. Seeing as you can get a lot of answers to the standard questions on your Facebook page I thought I’d ask a few to really give people an idea of what your band is all about. Firstly, How did you guys meet and how was the band formed?

Well, the current lineup we have isn't actually our original lineup. We were meant to start the band with another drummer but nothing happened so we found another one through our guitarist, Calum. We all knew each other from school (except the new drummer) so we got on quickly. We finally formed in 2011 around about June after I had suggested one of the song names that I wrote for my old band 'We Seek Brightness, You Seek Shame' before Calum, decided that the name was too long so we shortened it to 'We Seek Brightness. So absolutely nothing religious or inspiring about how we got our name! After a few months of gigging and recording with our original drummer we played a sold out local show which was, at the time, the highlight of our time together so far. A couple of days later, our drummer told me that he didn't have as much time for the band anymore due to his working hours that were getting out of hand so he parted ways with us. We then went on a bit of a hiatus whilst looking for a new drummer and it took us a good few months. We eventually did and here we are now! What genre would you guys specify yourselves as? Is it a hybrid of different genres? We like to say we're Pop-‐Punk, but in all honesty, we can't actually give a name for it. A lot of people say it's called 'Pop-‐core' or 'Pop-‐mosh' which is pretty much Pop-‐Punk with breakdowns so I'd say we're pretty close to that. What do you think sets you guys apart from other bands? The thing that we feel sets us apart from other bands is definitely the fact that we add an extra bit of kick and heaviness to the original Pop-‐Punk genre and we're not afraid to add in heavy parts and breakdowns like some other bands would! What I've noticed is that you guys sing with a Scottish accent in a genre that you would most likely hear an American one. What I mean is that I've seen and heard plenty of British/non-‐American pop-‐punk bands that seem to put on a Yankee accent, and just wondered whether you thought singing in your native accent is important as a band? or does it not matter? Haha, yeah we receive a lot of comments about the Scottish accent and how broad it apparently is. We're not sure if it's important to sing in a native accent but we're a band that like to remember where we're from. We would probably get a little offended if we got mistaken for an American band, to be honest hahaha! So, to us it's important that we sing in our Scottish accents but we can understand why bands put on a different accent -‐ sometimes some accents just don't feel right with Pop-‐Punk.

we seek brightness interview Are people your age your desired market, or do you just sing about the things you know and just hope people of all ages will like them? or a bit of both? We never really had a target audience for our music, we were just hoping to please everybody but we have noticed that it's usually teenagers that tend to get more into our music. We hope that people of all ages listen our music and that it can say something to everybody though. I'm guessing that your subject matter refers to personal experiences, do you that at your age music is the best way to express yourself? Yeah, music is definitely the best way to get something off your chest nowadays. Whether it's listening to a song that you can relate to or even singing about your life in a band, it definitely helps. What do you think of the current pop-‐punk scene? Do you think it's alive and healthy or do you feel you're one of a select few bands still flying the torch as it were? Sadly, it feels like Pop-‐Punk is slowly dying (especially in Scotland). It does feel like we're one of only a hand-‐full of bands from Scotland that are trying to represent -‐ and bring back -‐ the Pop-‐Punk scene. America have it pretty good though, don't they? We're sure they're full of Pop-‐Punk bands over there! I've just read a brief description on your facebook of what you've got planned such as tours etc, are you guys excited for 2013? We're majorly excited for 2013. We've got so many new ideas and plans to follow through on (including touring with Our Final Hour) that will hopefully start making a bigger name for ourselves. We're also maturing as a band all the time so we can't deny that 2013 will be another big learning year for us, we're always learning about new things and the ways of the music industry! What do you hope to have achieved by the end of this year? Our main priority is definitely to build a bigger fanbase -‐ especially out of our local area. If our name was floating around Scotland by the end of the year, we would be delighted! Maybe it will be all over Britain? If only... If you could tour with one band, who would it be? It can be any band from anytime That must be an unanswerable question! There are so many good bands out there that we would love to tour with. Can we say one for each of us? For Chris, it would definitely be You Me At Six without a doubt.. Or maybe Mayday Parade. Calum -‐ AC/DC. Kieran -‐ A Day To Remember. Ross -‐ Biffy Clyro! Finally, just out of general interest, what’s the music scene like in Dundee? Where are the best gig venues? The music scene in Dundee is alright. We couldn't say it's anything special but there are some really good bands from here! The best venues are definitely Beat Generator and Non-‐Zero's! We Seek Brightness will be touring be Our Final Hour in August 2013, and have their first music video coming out around the same time. Their debut EP “You Can’t Finish What You Haven’t Started” is available on Spotify, Amazon and iTunes. Liam Steers

mckenna loren interview Who influenced you to start writing music? I am a huge fan of the band The Killers. I loved their unexpected key changes and melody lines as well as their wildly interpretive lyrics. As I got better at playing the guitar, I began listening intently to the instrumentals in songs. It wasnʼt until I really got the hang of the guitar that I focused on the vocals and realized I could put lyrics to music, too. I always had a great interest in poetry, and love using metaphors to leave a line up for interpretation. And even though I listened to what I consider some of the greatest influential bands, such as The Beatles and The Stones, it really just took a little Mr. Brightside to bring out my passion for music writing. What was it about the guitar that attracted you to focus on it at such a young age? I think what I found intriguing about the guitar was the fact that you could easily take it with you! If I went on vacation, I could bring my guitar along just in case I had a sudden urge to play on the beach. Or, I could bring it with me to a bonfire in the fall. I loved the idea of not having to lug around a piano or use someone elseʼs keyboard if I wanted to put

music to words when away from my home. I could just grab my guitar and be good to go. How long does it take you to come up with a song? When it comes to writing, how long it takes definitely varies with each song. Some songs I will work on periodically throughout the week, and some songs I can write in half an hour. Most of my songs come from a combination of spurts of inspiration and energy that send me racing to my room for a quick thirty-five minutes resulting in a completed song. With those, Iʼll usually end up going back and rewriting some parts, but they end up being some of my favourite songs. I like writing a whole song in one sitting, mostly because over a period of time I might lose inspiration and passion for the idea and end up sticking it in a pile of songs I never finish! Is the song "Itʼs Been So Long" about anyone? If it is, who? The song “Itʼs Been So Long” is a compilation of different things I had going on in my life at the time I wrote it. I combined a relationship a friend of mine was in, a potential relationship I was involved in, and a little bit of storytelling I came up with myself. I chose to write this song like a novel---a bit of fact and fiction---but having finished it, I have definitely found the many ways that it relates to my life. Which one of your new songs has received the best response? I have to say that “You Canʼt Beat the City” has gotten a wonderful response, I think because it is more of a universal theme. The idea of leaving the countryside to be in the hustle and bustle of the city is quite

mckenna loren interview common in the minds of rebellious teenagers and people who just donʼt like small-town living. On the other hand, “Itʼs Been So Long” has gotten a great response as well. Most people who say they like “Itʼs Been So Long” more are musicians themselves. They usually say the reason is because the lyrics are a bit more complex, as well as the melody lines and key changes. As a musician, I greatly enjoy a song that changes key signatures frequently (as this one does) and keeps me guessing, rather than the usually “catchy tune.” Do you get nervous when you're playing live? And if so, is there a technique you use to get through it? It was a very long time coming, but I actually donʼt get nervous anymore. However, I can tell you that if I was performing, hypothetically, at my first sold-out, large-scale concert, that would be a whole other story. My experience in musical theatre definitely helped a lot. With all the acting classes and plays I was in, I was used to being on a stage. I still can get nervous beforehand, when Iʼm just off stage and worrying about how itʼs all going to go, but as soon as I start singing, Iʼm in my own world. It took me a long time to get to that point, but you eventually just have to stop caring what anyone else thinks and lose yourself in the song. Imagine what kind of things you would want a performer you were watching to do. If you would want that performer to be carefree and passionate, be carefree and passionate! How are you finding the world of music? So many people have told me how they feel about the music scene today, and their feelings usually fall along the lines of scary and extremely competitive. It is those things, but I appreciate it so much and I just remember that there are a million other artists fighting for this dream as well. I know what Iʼm getting myself into, and I believe that there couldnʼt be a better time for it. The indie music genre is grabbing the usual pop song listenersʼ ears and making them change the way they think about music. As the techno and rap scene had its time once again to shine on popular radio, indie and alternative rock seems to be taking over once again, and I couldnʼt be more excited. Do you prefer performing or recording? I have to say that I enjoy performing a lot more, but I have definitely gained a huge appreciation for everything that goes into recording a song. I love the feeling of being on stage and performing my music. As much as I love writing, there is just something about performing your art that makes it so powerful. Though I will always love recording. While recording my two singles at Chaton Studios, I got to see every little detail going into each song. I got to work with incredible musicians and engineers and gained so much knowledge from that experience. And now I canʼt help but pick out every detail of any song I hear and imagine it going through the processes in the studio. I can truly never listen to any song the same again, and I love it. What are your hopes for 2013 and the years after? I would love to get a lot of people listening to and enjoying my music, but all I really want to do is play. Iʼve fallen in love with writing and performing music, and I hope that I can just keep doing exactly that. And though I would be perfectly content with playing my coffee shop scene every month, Iʼm going to be promoting my music and playing at many different venues. Iʼm trying to get a number of local gigs, and have a few in California at the end of January. I have been keeping in contact with a few other local bands hoping that a tour will spark someday, but for now Iʼll just keep doing what Iʼm doing. I have amazing support that will stand by me and work hard with me to take this as far as I can. Ciro Guadagno

dead retinas “Moobs

Or Tits?...”

Dead Retinas are a four piece punk band from the exotic English island of Manchester, with Hendo leading the pack of the no nonsense funsters consisting of Jack on guitar/vocals, CJ on the bass/vocals and Lee on drums. The Dead Retinas are set to rip stages up worldwide (and in London) but first they stopped off to have a chat with us…ENJOY!

We know the name ‘Dead Retinas’ comes from the movie Paul, if you had to give it a meaning, what would it be? Hendo: We all are interested in movies. Jack: We never thought about having a meaning to it. Hendo: Well we were original called ‘Hounds’ but I went to Sonisphere and there was another band called ‘The Hounds’ so we decided to change it. Jack: It was about the time I came into the band. So CJ suggested ‘Dead Retinas’ and we thought it sounded cool. What would you say if you met Nick Frost and Simon Pegg? CJ: Oh god, I’ve already met Nick Frost and Simon Pegg. Jack and me actually went in 2006 when Hot Fuzz came out, they were at G-‐Mex in Manchester and we waited in the talk theatre. Then I asked Nick Frost about his fan base and asked him for a hug and I got a hug.

Jack: I’d like to see them again and tell them what our band is called. CJ: I saw them again in HMV with my old band when the Hot Fuzz DVD came out and I got them to sign it. Hendo: Then they went and got a restraining order against you. Haha! What other movies have inspired you? Jack: Mainly zombie films I think. Lee: Comic books. CJ: Maybe a few thrillers now and then. Hendo: I don’t really watch anything. CJ: Well you’re a boring fuck. Haha. Hendo: I like black comedy like ‘In Bruges’. Jack: We get a lot of inspiration from The Avengers films as one of our songs is called ‘Iron Man’. ‘Just because you drink Jack Daniels doesn’t mean you rock n roll’ who or what is it about?

dead retinas Lee: It’s about people who you see on Facebook and they are sat there with a bottle of Jack Daniels being all erghh. Just because you drink Jack Daniels doesn’t mean you’re hardcore or rock ‘n’ roll. CJ: It’s a drink not a lifestyle. Jack: It’s what a lot of our songs are about; basically it’s about having a rant. Hendo: I chiefly write all the songs and I just tend to write when I’m pissed off. It’s all about hate really. Its clear you love movies, what movie would you have loved to write the soundtrack to and why? CJ: ooh good question, probably something directed by Rob Zombie or something like, ‘House of a Thousand Corpses’ or something like that. Lee: I’d like to record the entire soundtrack for ‘Back To The Future Part 1’ especially as it’s set in the 50’s. CJ: 24 Hour Party People. Hendo: Project X, imagine that it’s instead of like a DJ with a punk band instead. CJ: That would be pretty sick actually. Hendo: Yeah It’ll be awesome. Hendo: Jackass would be quite cool as well. Jack: A could action movie like The Expendables could do with a good punk track Hendo: If one of our songs was in The Avengers 2 my life would be complete. CJ: He would of completed music haha . You’ve finished recording a new song, how’s it sounding compared to your recent stuff? Hendo: It’s the longest one. Jack: It’s the most elaborate song in turns of melodies, the furthest away from punk. CJ: I wrote the lyrics for this one. Hendo: It came about quite quickly didn’t it when we made it. CJ: It’s one of the earliest ones we wrote as well. Hendo: From the first gig we have played it’s in near enough every single gig. Lee: It’s one of our favourites. CJ: We had some massive break down so we just keep adding to it. Jack: It’s a lot more melodic I came up with the melody for that from listening to ‘Alexisonfire’ its kind of got an

Alexis vibe to it. Hendo: It feels like I properly went for it on that one as well, because when I record I’m always like erghh. I do put effort into it but on that day I really went for it. I’m very proud of it. CJ: I think it sounds pretty good actually. Hendo: It’s not going to be on this EP but defiantly the next one! CJ: We’re trying to do it for free at the moment. Would you like to turn it into an album? CJ: I think it will be another 4 track I think. Hendo: I think right now we are like most bands you know like experimenting so we are throwing together ideas; right now we are doing a lot of heavier drop C stuff. Jack: An album is a really long process, if we were going to do an album I’d want to re-‐record songs, you’d have to have quite a bit of money. Either way I think an album is quite a way off yet. CJ: We are just throwing out EP’s for fresh content, we have always maintained we need to push new fresh content out there. There’s no point in us going hey

dead retinas look here’s an album, buy it for £13. We actually had some guy in Australia buy our EP for £13 the other week. Hendo: It’s awesome to see people wear your t-‐shirts. CJ: Like Wade MacNeil from the Gallows, wore our t-‐shirt on stage, as I know Wade quite well! Hendo: Name-‐dropping! CJ: Like we gave Wade our t-‐shirt to wear on stage and me and Jack were like HOLY SHIT! We didn’t think he’d wear it! Are there any big challenges you have conquered as a band? Jack: Mainly CJ and Hendo. Hendo: Yeah CJ and me. CJ: Yeah we argue! Hendo: Well no, well not all the time! Clash of divas! We have big egos! Jack: In terms of writing songs we all agree on what we want to do, it’s just things outside of that, like what gigs we want to play and how we want to promote stuff. CJ: It’s just how I always kick off cos I think they don’t do enough and they kick off at me cos they don’t think I do enough. Hendo: Well the basis of the band is well… We all work. CJ does all the promotions as he has a part time job. If we had time to do it we would, but we have full time jobs. CJ: Hendo does all the CD’s, Lee posts everything out I wouldn’t know where to begin with all that. So, DIY? Hendo: Yeah defiantly! Jack: It’s sort of like a DIY label as we produce our own CD’s, artwork. CJ: All the artwork is mine. Hendo: But the actually CD’s Lee does them then I spray paint them, just do it on the cheap! Jack: It’s the best way to do it these days if you’re a band starting up you don’t want to fork our loads of money unless you have it already. Hendo: CJ wants to play London but we simple can’t afford it, it comes down to the fact if we had the money we would do it! We have to rent the mini van, petrol just to get the gear down. CJ: The t-‐shirts have been a good investment though!

What are the other unsigned acts people should watch out for? CJ: HALFLINGS LEAF, HALFLINGS LEAF! I must mention Halflings Leaf! Hendo: I fucking love that band! CJ: They’re a band we know quite well! Hendo: They’re the best set of lads. Jack: Very talented musicians! CJ: Probably the best band in Manchester at the moment! Jack: There’s a couple of bands we played our first handful of gigs with, like a metal band called ‘Saving Syenna’. CJ: I’d also say Sam Smith and Company. Hendo: Kids with Machetes. Jack: They’re all a great bunch of lads! So regarding the Manchester Scene, how do you think it is? CJ: Shite! To be honest! Jack: Full of great bands on the unsigned area! CJ: I was under the principal of if we promote bands, they would promote us back and get twice as much promotion that way! That’s why we have these bands where we promote them and they promote us but apart from that #supportthescene which Designer Magazine came up with, but apart from that everyone is trying to out do one another. There’s been gigs where we have played where they has been no bands that waited to watch the other bands play. Hendo: Yeah there’s been bands, not dropping or anything, where they just played there set then bugger off! Jack: It’s courtesy really more then anything. Would you ever do a free gig? Hendo: Oh yeah defiantly! CJ: Yeah! Hendo: At the end of the day it comes down to the DIY thing again, so I’ve always had dreams where we’ve just played in someone’s back garden like project x style where everyone Is just there enjoying themselves. Jack: It’s like a free night so it brings more people in! CJ: It’s stuff like paying for venues that’s why you look for free shows and most of the pubs have shut down

dead retinas What are the other unsigned acts people should watch out for? CJ: HALFLINGS LEAF, HALFLINGS LEAF! I must mention Halflings Leaf! Hendo: I fucking love that band! CJ: They’re a band we know quite well! Hendo: They’re the best set of lads. Jack: Very talented musicians! CJ: Probably the best band in Manchester at the moment! Jack: There’s a couple of bands we played our first handful of gigs with, like a metal band called ‘Saving Syenna’. CJ: I’d also say Sam Smith and Company. Hendo: Kids with Machetes. Jack: They’re all a great bunch of lads! So regarding the Manchester Scene, how do you think it is? CJ: Shite! To be honest! Jack: Full of great bands on the unsigned area! CJ: I was under the principal of if we promote bands, they would promote us back and get twice as much promotion that way! That’s why we have these bands where we promote them and they promote us but apart from that #supportthescene which Designer Magazine came up with, but apart from that everyone is trying to out do one another. There’s been gigs where we have played where they has been no bands that waited to watch the other bands play. Hendo: Yeah there’s been bands, not dropping or anything, where they just played there set then bugger off! Jack: It’s courtesy really more then anything. Would you ever do a free gig? Hendo: Oh yeah defiantly! CJ: Yeah! Hendo: At the end of the day it comes down to the DIY thing again, so I’ve always had dreams where we’ve just played in someone’s back garden like project x style where everyone Is just there enjoying themselves. Jack: It’s like a free night so it brings more people in! CJ: It’s stuff like paying for venues that’s why you look for free shows and most of the pubs have shut down.

I’d happily just make money of merch and selling CDs then gigs as you don’t make much off gigs. Hendo: I’d quite happily put on free shows. CJ: Get a generator and do it in the middle of Market Street in town! Haha! What does 2013 hold for you guys? Jack: Just get the name out there! Hendo: Well I’ve got no plans; well obviously I’ve got plans. CJ: I want to branch out a bit more; I really want to play London. Jack: Maybe a mini tour, couple more festival slots maybe. CJ: We’re playing some Stockport Festival; we’re headlining the 2nd stage. Hendo: I’ve always said I want to do a gig every month! CJ: It’s difficult, as we can’t do a gig in Manchester every month. Hendo: My brother lives in Preston so we have talked about doing a couple of gigs round there. So you have a big following outside of Manchester? CJ: Yeah we have a big following in America, surprisingly! Hendo: My brother does a shit load of promotion for our band you know? Cos I gave him a couple of CDs and he just hands them out! And he says our stuff is just great! CJ: It’s more northwest then anything! Couple of Europeans! Couple of Australians! We put our video on Blank TV which is a big unsigned youtube channel and we got a few from there erm..we have some a Swedish skateboard mate where he uses our song in his promotional video. Where do you see yourself as a band in 5 years? Hendo: Headlining Leeds! Haha! CJ: Lower your expectations there! Haha! Headlining the second stage at Leeds! Hendo: Ideally I’d want to live in New York! CJ: Well fuck you then! Hendo: No! With the band, I’d do a Frank Carter! Jack: Touring outside the UK defiantly! Europe, Japan,

dead retinas

That’s the dream! Hendo: I had a bet with my mate if we aren’t in NME, doesn’t have to be major just a tiny article in a few years time I will give him a fiver and if we are he gives me a fiver! CJ: NME is shite anyway! Hendo: At the end of the day it’s coverage! Jack: It’s all about Intamission now anyway! CJ: I want to be in big cheese. Moobs or tits? CJ: Moobs Hendo: Tits, I do like a good tit! Interviewer: Ciro Guadagno Photographer: Sofee Bryan

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Buy their EP: Dawn Of The Dead Retinas www.deadretinas.bandcamp.com/album/

dawn-‐of-‐the-‐dead-‐retinas-‐2

rubicava chance the sky ep Born from the ashes of alternative rock band, Dead Letter Office, Rubicava have already been beset by their fair share of woes, primarily when Karen Jones, the original drummer, dislocated her knee (I’ve done that, and it’s not funny), leading to her departure from the band and an enforced hiatus for remaining members, Jevon Davies, Kyle Gayne and Benjamin Hiorns. Then up steps Matt Bennett to occupy the drummer’s throne, and soon to follow was their inaugural album, Get Well Soon. This month sees the release of their latest collection of songs; Chance the Sky. The first track, Fingerprints opens in a flurry

of drums and guitar, not a million miles from Buzzcocks or Replacements-‐era garage punk. But the overall sound is one far grander, with soaring guitar feedback and cathedral reverb vocals. There’s variation on the guitar riffs too -‐ clean and dirty, picked, strummed and pizzicato, showing the band is savvy enough to keep the audience interested right to the end. Next up is Sanctuary, with its stadium-‐filling drums and ethereal guitar, kinda like The Pixies would have sounded if they’d had John Bonham flaying the skins. Again the lyrics are intelligent; A confident liar / A ghost in the crowd / Pushing through the static / To feel my way out. There are also Sigur Ros soundscapes at work here, though slightly less maudlin, and the song ends with feedback and pad synths, providing an inspired segue between the songs and giving the EP a welcome sense of continuity. Depth Charge continues where Sanctuary left off, guitar harmonics and minimalist piano tinkling adding to the dreamy atmos. The song builds with the guitars, weighing in with reverb and distortion in equal measures. And there’s some great backing vocals here too, giving the whole production a sense of size and depth throughout the mandatory, repeat-‐till-‐fade final chorus. Who’s On First opens with a guitar and piano combo that wouldn’t sound out of place on an album by the mighty Elbow. The vocals are delivered with an Ian Astbury snarl, and the big guitars are back in moderation, though happy to take a back seat during the songs quieter moments, but return to end the song with a flourish of The Bends-‐era Radiohead feedback and overdrive. Finally there’s Make God, where mournful strings and choral backing vocals provide an atmospheric counterpoint to the frenetic drums gymnastics. The song builds to a triumphant crescendo. Add a couple of erupting volcanoes and you’d think you were listening to Pink Floyd Live in Pompeii. Overall, Rubicava are capable of writing melodic and intelligent tunes, and of producing them in a dynamic and interesting way, assuming you like feedback and reverb. And how does Chance the Sky compare to Rubicava’s earlier work? I’ll let the band answer that: The results (we like to think) act as a necessary counter-‐balance to the comparative optimism of 'Get Well Soon'. Happy Armageddon! Hopefully we’re not quite that close to self-‐annihilation yet, but just in case give Chance the Sky a listen before it’s too late. And if it does turn out to be the soundtrack to the Apocalypse (aside from choruses of cherubim and seraphim, obviously), you can always say you heard it here first. You know, if you have time. Jason Kenny

less than jake greetings and salutations After 20 years of being a legendary punk band Less Than Jake have graced the world with yet another Album that as a first time listener (shameful I know) of the guy’s music to my chirpy little ears. Roaming the streets of Manchester hearing all these punk kids and indeed new punk rock discovery kids harping on about the old school proper punk bands I finally realise why Less Than Jake were amongst the “Sick bands” I should check out, because their riffs and attitude in their lyrics stand out and knock on the door to invite the snot nose kid in you, out to course a butt load of havoc. As soon as I turned the first track of the album

fittingly titled Greetings and Salutations The Hype is soon apparent, as the first track The New Auld Lang Syne slowly creeps its head round the corner and reveals the chorus “Do your worst I’ll survive another year”, I immediately am drawn and what to know every thing about these guys. From the awesomely punkie catchy riffs from every single instrument, from the smooth bass lines to the upbeat trumpets and of course like every punk band the special ingredient the “Who gives a F**k” witty lyrics that instantly make you want to rebel and lets be honest if the album was full of soppy love songs and effected guitar then it wouldn’t make this album indeed the band for me as appealing as it is. This Album has completely opened my eyes to the reason all the punk bands I’ve seen live and been handed to review, they all have at least an element of Less Than Jake in them, from the bass riffs that are clear through out this Epic instant favourite to even the happy go lucky styling’s that are on display here. I can go on forever but I will end on this note and say I absolutely love every single track on this Album and I know you will too. Sofee Bryan

the indieannas flying high Buxton indie Rock Four piece are releasing their new single on the 2nd of February and let me tell you as a new release from these guys ‘Flying High’ seems to be a very fitting title as the introduction to the up and comers. Right ok so who are these guys and why should you even give their debut single the time of day? Well that’s a very good question, allow me to educate you. The bands called The Indieannas and their track’s called ‘Flying High’ and its almost like the sound of a spaceship taking off just cruising through space with a funky beat that oozes out of all of the bands instruments, from the fast paced drumming that partners up with the guitar so well allowing a cosmic reaction that causes unbelievable grooves from the bass that match the vocals so well.

This is a great new release from the guys, its right up my street, being a very keen rock fan. I cant see why these four musical bottles of Bux-‐fizz cant make quite a big name for them selves and I would love to see them grace the city of Manchester with their presence one day. Ciro Guadagno

we seek brightness you cant finish what you havent started

Scotland's own We Seek Brightness engineer motion that sees beyond it's capability, and with that said motion comes music of the most giving calibre. Songs through start to finish (referencing the 'You Can't Finish What You Haven't Started' EP) shocked me into reminiscent thoughts of hanging out at Moho at age 15 waiting to go in to see New Found Glory and running a span of being part of the Manchester HC scene for some years thereafter, and I hope it gives you similar feelings. This gem of a sound has tendencies to go either way at any given time, with a mix of that raw Daggermouth style of the pop punk attitude with local vocal harmonics giving it an extra edge that then meets it's maker when sewn together with an old

Chiodos/Enter Shikari reflection that compliments more than it does it shame. But these lads do seem to have something going for them here that hasn't failed them yet so don't you be the reason all of this hits rock bottom. But as a new fan, hit from the instant, I am fully sure it won't as these finely tuned individuals who came together and decided to create a fusion of talents have rendered us jealous of what there is to come for the young pop punk quarter from the Dundee area of the upper moors. Make sure to check out their now on-‐sale EP for only £3 by going to http://weseekbrightness.bigcartel.com/ and don't forget to like them on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/weseekbrightness as well as following them on Twitter @WSB_official We Seek Brightness will be set to go on tour this summer throughout August with Our Final Hour. Make sure to keep yourself updated. James Hodson

moonrunners Upon first listen to Moonrunners my first thought was the similarity to many of UK's indie pop rock bands. As I continued to listen I found the bands individuality become more clear. How often do you hear a female fronted band? The band is led by outstanding vocalist, Jordan Deehan and has well-‐established lyrics, although there is always room for improvement. I found the song Colours, a favourite of Moonrunner's offerings, although very loud and at sometimes too busy to be fully appreciated. In some parts of the song it was difficult to hear the vocals.

When I heard the song Mirrors, I was impressed, unlike Colours, the song started off simple and gained momentum throughout the song, becoming busier and louder, allowing for quieter parts. Turn It Around -‐ I found a lot simpler than the previous two songs, something that gave the vocalists talent much needed attention. It gave an opportunity to listen and focus on the well-‐written lyrics. The final song I listened to -‐ Never Look Back was my favourite of all, with strong beat and well-‐crafted lyrics it showed the bands strong ability to write great music in more ways than one. The vocals and the instrumental sides to the song tied together surprisingly well and I could see it becoming a hit. Over all the band is quite impressive and I can see their fan base rising. Moonrunner's are set for big things to come. Courtney Hart

fear the fallen last goodbye ep Fear the Fallen have released their new EP ‘Last Goodbye’ on the 17th of Jan, an immense introduction to the band if you’re unfamiliar with their hard rocking antics. From the first time I clapped eyes on them at a gig in Manchester back in late 2012 I knew that these guys weren’t just an ordinary band, they were there to rock and rock hard and with this EP they just did that. Full of classic rock riffs and powerful structures to each song that are backed by Christian Slater, a man who is full of charisma and a cracking raspy rock voice that works perfectly well with this 3 song example of the bands brilliance, starting with an heavy 80s vibe and giving even the younger audience a reason to bang their head which is kind of the only choice you have when you check out all three tracks due to the melodic nature of the band. A very Mature sound to a very new rock band injected into 3minute plus songs that in my view really should be exposed to a much larger audience such as festivals and in fact arenas, but maybe that will happen in the very near future they certainly have the potential.

If I had to pick a favourite song on the album I would honestly say all 3 of them are my favourite, why? Because I get to relive 80s melodic rock that due to my tender age I haven’t been able to experience at least live anyway. The track Forget Me Not’ has probably the best catchy pure rock chorus I’ve heard in quite awhile, try this out for size… ‘Hold on to what you’ve got, think of me forget me not’! Just one of the lines to sink you teeth into, not forgetting the nonstop solo’s that cover this completely original work of art. With Last Goodbye being the latest instalment from these Darwen Rockers, I have a good feeling this Last Goodbye will be very much a First Hello. The EP is definitely one to check out, so to do so click the link to your hearts content, and defiantly buy it once it’s out, because I know I will! http://fearthefallenuk.bandcamp.com/album/last-‐goodbye-‐ep Ciro Guadagno

mckenna loren its been so long McKenna Loren’s new track “Its Been So Long” is a wonderful and melodic version of a love song from this Canton, Ohio resident who’s love for music came from an early age and teaming up with her acoustic guitar makes McKenna’s new song a straight down the line, no gimmick, classic! From the first strum of the guitar I knew this was set to be a deep song, but was slightly sceptical of what to expect (well it was the first strum after all), but anyway as soon as the soft vocals came into play all the pieces to the puzzle fit. Her lyrics, vocals and guitar skills act as an amazing team, joining heartfelt emotion in a sing-‐chat fashion creating imagery of two old friends who have a very close relationship but are keen to scratch beneath the surface and discover more of what could be, and that’s what I love about this song, in the just over 3minute song I have been dragged into a story of two former flames and want to find out more, a great skill used by a brilliant mind in a catchy format. I cant get enough of McKenna’s new track, one that I admit on paper I wouldn’t tend to go for my self because I like to avoid the old love tail but McKenna has put an up beat twist on it that I feel has drawn me in. I can’t wait to hear what else McKenna has to offer; she has a lot to offer in her young age. This vocal performance shows potential that I cant wait to see grow into bigger and better things. The track is released on the 8th of Jan and shouldn’t be missed and is available on itunes. Ciro Guadagno

the ratells live Kicking off with a symbol-‐crashing introduction The Ratells begin their all guns blazing attack on the Roadhouse stage with awesome echoed guitar riffs and a deep bass that hung from the lead singers neck. The power the band delivered was one that certainly turned up the volume from the evenings other bands, I suddenly feel like I've just walked into a heavy rock gig, great set so far, and it's only the first few tracks. WOW! After returning from a 3 year disappearance from Manchester the guys have

come armed with a fan base that were re-‐discovering the love they had for their beloved sheffield rockers with a track entitled "Legacy” that was crammed packed full of amazing amounts of guitar that fitted the atmosphere the band created for them selves even after breaking a bass string, an era that most bands fall victim to, it just means they're overpowering their instruments with the love and passion they have for their craft. Beautiful! Before coming to the gig I heard the band on a video clip and did not expect the tremendous rock show that I was witnessing, with all the echoing, flair and not to mention their breathtakingly rock version of Alex Clare's song – ‘Too Close’ that with the twangy Ratells twist making it one hell of an Epic beauty, transforming a dubstep classic into a rock masterpiece that immediately had me saying to myself "I hope it's on iTunes" like a desperate music junky after their next dose of fantastic covers. So despite the unfortunate technical difficulties which the band over came (with sheer charisma) making it look like it was an intentional era there for showing why they deserve a future headline spot on a bill as great as this. Imprinting a giant sized R directly foot note on the Roadhouse stage symbolising the bands mark they’ve made on the night and indeed on peoples iPods. Hopefully we will see them again soon. Great night, great band, great crowd and a great way to start 2013 for, The Ratells. Review: Ciro Guadagno Photo: Sofee Bryan

11th January – The Roadhouse, Manchester

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