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Manifesto FREE music magazine, written, edited and printed in Sunderland, England. Featuring news, reviews and interviews from the Sunderland music scene.
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Feburary
g2009 / FREE
The chapman family / TSSLS / barcode the warms / paper street/ live listings / top fiveS
Sonner decleration of war
09
independant - edit star shape
february Yowzer. To coin a phrase from Joe Strummer, it seems like “war is declared and battle come down”. Aye, you heard me right, Sonner are asking the music loving public of Sunderland what side their bread is buttered on. Are you a posing Libs wannabe fashion victim, a nerdy art rocker or a straight down the line meat and taties rock ’n’ roll star? The revolution’s coming, which side are you on? Me? I’m just a slut that loves it all. Happy Valentines Day, everyone.
-Jarvis
04070810131822252930
10The Warms
16oxjam bash15sonner
14Music and technology
news
top tracks + minifesto quiz
five minutes with....
BREAKING BANDS
ten questions with Mattie Vant
Reviews
top fives
listings
letters
‘Give me the horn’
disclaimer The articles in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the views of the editor or the Sunderland Music Forum.
manifesto
Contents
EDITORPhilip Jarvis
DESIGNCallum Brand
LISTINGS and newsChris Wake
WORDSNina Cowey, Daniel Clifford, Stephen
Gilbert, Michael Brand, Kelly Horn
PHOTOGRAPHYNicholas Gray, Josh Cockroft, Ian
West, Jazzy Lemon, Callum Brand, Amy Brammall, George Whittaker
MANIFESTO MAGAZINEc/o 29 STOCKTON ROAD
SUNDERLAND SR2 7AQTEL / FAX 0870 922 0336
EMAIL: [email protected]. MYSPACE.COM/
SUNDERLANDMUSICFORUMWWW.SUNDERLANDMUSIC.COM
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News
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Sunderland Pianoforte Society Samantha WardIts time to tinkle the ivories once again as the Sunderland Pianoforte Society presents yet another of its many talented members. This time up we have 26 year old English pianist Samantha Ward. Having worked with Senior Professor Joan Havill of the Guildhall School, Samantha has a busy schedule in recitals, concerto work as well as in her other love - chamber music. She often ac-companies singers and plays in a Quintet, Trios & duos. Plus she has made a number of T.V. and Radio appearances – not bad eh? Her Programme features: Beethoven - Six Bagatelles Op.126/ Chopin - Nocturnes Op.48/Polonaise in a flat Op.53/Schumann - “Papillons” Op.2/Prokofiev - Sonata No.2 in D minor Op.14/Allegro ma non troppo/Scherzo/Andante/Vivace. So if you fancy some quality music in tropical surroundings then head down to the Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens on Tuesday 3rd Feb at 7:15pm.
Admission is £10 & £3.00 for Students & Claimants.For further info please ring 0191 553 2323 or visit www.twmuseums.org.uk/sunderland
The Glenn Miller Tribute Orchestra
On Thurs 26th Feb at the Sunderland Empire at 7:30pm get ready to experi-ence a truly magical journey. Based on the legendary Glenn Miller AAF band,
this tribute orchestra will guide you through the musical career of the man who created one of the most popular sounds in music today. Make sure you
don’t miss out! Admission is £15.50 - £17.50.
For more info - 0844 847 2499,[email protected]
www.sunderlandempire.org.uk
Beyond the BarricadeIt’s only February but al-ready the musical event
of the year is about to hit the Sunderland
Empire on Sun 8th Feb at 7:30pm! Beyond the
Barricade is the UK’s leading musical theatre
concert and this time round marks its special
10th Anniversary Show, recreating the songs, music and sound of the world’s most popular
musicals. This cast of past principal performers from Les Miserables and the West End perform songs from Miss Saigon, The Lion King, Phantom
of the Opera, We Will Rock You, Chicago and many more major hit productions, climaxing with a spectacular finale from, of course, Les Miserables!
Admission is £10.00 - £18.50. 0844 847 2499
News
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The Glenn Miller Tribute OrchestraOn Sun 1st Feb at 7:30pm the Sunderland Empire goes all retro with That’ll Be The Day. Back by overwhelming public demand, the legendary show returns with a BRAND NEW show. Over 20 years on tour and now established as the Nations Favou-rite Rock ‘n’ Roll variety show, this all new produc-tion combines classic gold hits from the 1950s right through to the 80s with fabulous feel-good comedy routines to make this show bigger and better than ever! Prepare yourself for a party with all the hits and much more in over two hours of non-stop nos-talgia. A wonderful night out, not to be missed!
Admission is £11.00 - £19.50. 0844 847 2499,[email protected] www.sunderlandempire.org.uk
Sing-A-Long-Joseph
The Davy Lamp Folk Club
Look in any dictionary for the defini-tion of February and you’ll find the
simple description – ‘Davy Lamp Folk Club’. That’s because the ‘Lamp is dominating three Saturday nights
in a row at 7:30pm with a deluge of all-star folk performers.
On the 07 Feb they welcome back regular guest and ex-Lindisfarne
singer/songwriter Rod Clements – who always has a great selection
of songs to offer. Then on 14 Feb the ‘Lamp forms part of a European Tour for Linda McRae (with Steve Leveke)
- an award winning singer/song-writer and multi-instrumentalist from Vancouver in Canada now living in Nashville. Finally, on 21 Feb one of this country’s greatest song-writers,
Steve Tilston takes the stage. With his magnificent guitar skills and great
voice combined with the fact that many of his songs are considered
modern folk-song classics the Lamp has truly made February a month
not to be missed!the Arts Centre Washington -
0191 219 [email protected]
www.artscentrewashington.co.uk
We all have dreams…but how many of us have dreamcoats? I
know at least one guy; his name’s Joseph and he’s doing a gig over
at the Sunderland Empire on Tuesday 3rd Feb at 7:30pm – oh yeah, he said you guys can come
along and sing too.Joseph and the Amazing Techni-
color Dreamcoat by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice is one of the world’s most successful musicals. Now this classic musical becomes Sing-a-long-a-
JOSEPH with lyrics, fancy dress, fun bags, dancing and a whole lot more! For the first time ever the
multi-million pound film of the original stage version, starring Donny Osmond, comes to the cinema…with on-screen lyrics so everyone can join in. Burst into song and dance in the aisles at the most colourful
event in years. Fancy dress is not obligatory but highly recommended!
Admission is £14.50. Info - 0844 847 [email protected]
www.sunderlandempire.org.uk
mWidows - Mourn Paris (From Your Window)
Wowzer! Jesus alone knows what these cats have been putting on their cornflakes of a morning. What-ever it is, it’s making them knock out jaw droppingly good tunes. Exciting times indeed.www.myspace.com/thisiswidows
Stringmen - Mottor Highway
Yes, they’re back! Sunderland’s dirty kings of grunge rock return just in time to see in the credit crunch in-duced slacker/1991 revival. It’s time to get your older brothers and sisters’ lumberjack shirts and ripped to fuck jeans out of the attic, kids.www.myspace.com/stringmen
The Chapman Family - The Kids Are Not Alright
This is 3 minutes 27 seconds of the most electrifying and harrowing music you’ll hear anywhere this year. The Chapmans are as mad as Hell and they’re not gonna take it anymore.www.myspace.com/thechapmanfamily
Sonner - The Real World
Like The Stooges jamming with Oasis in a dirty ga-rage somewhere in Detroit. Snarling, angry drums, rip roaring guitars and a voice that could cause another 9/11. Incendiary to say the least.www.myspace.com/sonnermusic
sGo to www.sunderlandmusic.com and listen to them and many more on our very own radio station.
manifesto
HERE’S WHAT WE’VE BEEN LISTENING TO AT MANIFESTO THIS
MONTH!!
manifesto quiz
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Answer this collection of brain destroying nuggets correctly to be in with a chance of winning a year’s subscription of Manifesto delivered to your door. Answers, along with your name and address, to
[email protected] before Feb 28th.
1. Sunderland band The Toy Dolls had a top 10 hit with Nelly the Elephant in 1984 but which chart position did it reach?
2. Complete the line up of this classic English band: Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James, _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
3. How many UK number 1s have Oasis had?
last months answers1. 20062. Rouke3. Melissa Manchester4. Geffen
4. The Doors, The Stooges and Love were all on the same record label, what was it called?
5. Name the second track on Field Music’s debut album.
6. Which oddball artist owns a tea shop in New York that sells 80 different types of tea?
5. Johnny X6. James Newell, Oster Barg, Jnr7. A Time Machine8. Roker Park
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FIVE MINUTEs with...Michael matthewsWHITE ROOM GAFFER
absorbLORD OF THE GRIME
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what you Listening to?At the minute I find myself increasingly listening to the music that’s being played in the white room, fortunately i have some control over that... to name drop a few: The Whit-est Boy Alive, The Shins, 4Hero, Boards of Canada. When I’m at home I like to chill out to Red House Painters, Bonny “Prince” Billy.
What you Watching?I tend to watch a lot of things on youtube these days as we don’t have a TV in the house. Also I got Jacques Cousteau’s Odyssey for Christmas, for any fans of Wes Anderson this guy is the real Steve Zissou!
what you readingI got a few books for Christmas and I’m trying to get through them in the small hours of the morning after a hard nights graft. Immanual Velikovsky’s Earth in Upheaval; a light read presenting documentary evidence of great global catastrophies in prehistoric and historic times. Another good book I’ve started is John Pilger’s Freedom Next Time. John Pilger is one of only a handful of truly independent journalists in our time.
Where you going to?The White Room... you can find me or the enigmatic ‘Mac’ there most nights, come say hello. We’ll be providing lots of entertainment throughout February and beyond. If I manage to get the time off I’d like to go to Leeds to see my lovely girlfriend and maybe catch some bands down there so i can bring them here for your listening pleasure.
what you listening to? I’m listening to a lot of grime at the moment. I’m still listening to a lot of Lethal Bizzle and Boy Better Know but I’m also listening to Tinchy Stryder, Wretch 32 and Double S. I’m really into dubstep too. Starkey’s new album “Ephemeral Exhibits” is wearing out my ipod!
What you reading?On The Road by Jack Kerouac... It was recommended to me by my girlfriend and its brilliant, it just makes you want to cut your ties and get out there. This country is f**ked up at the minute too so it increases your urge to go for it! It’s a great read for daydreamers and people with big imaginations.
What you watching?I must admit, I’m not a big reader and I never have been. I’m quite interested in people’s behaviour, such as what motivates people and why people are the way they are. I’m still reading Russell Brand’s “My Booky Wook” which is really good so far.
where you going to?I’m a bit of a recluse if the truth be told. I never really go out a lot unless I need to. Promotion for The BLAH EP is important so I’m taking flyers to selected shops but I think this month I’ll try and get along to Turbulence on January 30th @ Digital which features Dillinja, Chase & Status and Skream. .
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lyn bassett SELFISH WAYS DJ
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WHAT YOU Listening?As me and Johno managed to lose all our CDs on Christmas Eve in a certain pizza shop owa the road, we’ve been on a manic download to sort out some tunes. Me fave one at the minute is Space - Spiders! What I’m not listening to in my own time is KOL and MGMT. Nee offence to either of them but it must hurt that Sunderland has got them bent owa and raping them up the erm … bucket?
WHAT YOU READING?INot so much of the bookworm I was at primary school when I was well ahead on the GINN reading levels and loved a bit Enid Blyton. My taste is more acquired to the telly guide free with Saturday’s Sun.
WHAT YOU WATCHING?A got roped into watching a wildlife program about chimpanzees the other day and was enjoying it until it showed ya turning on one of their own. A couple of nightmares since about a chimp running loose in me garden and eating me brothers girlfriend means its unlikely I’m gonna subscribe to the discovery channel. Evil things!
WHERE YOU GOING TO?My mate Holty’s for a balti, Baz and Shaun’s manorwarming, Debbies for a cuppa and some shit craic and just some general loitering! I’m also making an appearance at inde-pendent on the 20th to rub shoulders with Sonner and co! Other than that yal find me and Johno at seven every Monday with the occasional skipping cd where its obviously the decks and not us. Obviously.
WHAT YOU LISTENING TO?I’ve just recently purchased a snazzy record player so all I’ve been listening to of late are my mam’s old motown records like The Supremes and such. Top bird with great taste! I bought Paul Young’s ‘No Parlez’ for 99p from Oxfam, it was a fine investment!
wHAT YOU WATCHING?My friend recommended ‘Breakfast on Pluto’ and I accordingly watched and adored it! It’s a coming of age film set in the 70s about the endearing Irish transvestite Patrick ‘Kitten’ Braden on a search for his mother; a part played wonderfully by Cillian Murphy of ’28 Days Later’.
WHAT YOU READING?Loads. I’m studying to be an English Literature lecturer so I’m swotting up on the syl-labus! Just re-read Fitzgerald’s ‘The Great Gatsby’- the frivolity of the roaring twenties are described so well by a man who saw the party and chronicled it!
WHERE YOU GOING TO?The Coquette Collective’s Valentines themed burlesque ball is on the 2nd and it’s going to be rather monumental since it will be my last time performing (sob!) as it is deemed rather inappropriate for a teacher to indulge in strip-tease. Bugger. I’m going to have a bash at vaudeville style comedy routines for future shows which I’m looking forward to.
Kelly HornQUEEN COQUETTE
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Breaking Bands
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breaking bandsthe english patientswww.myspace.com/theenglishpatients
This section is dedicated to giving new bands the chance to tell us all about themselves in their own words.
Paper streetwww.myspace.com/paperstreetpolice
The English Patients are a Newcastle based five-piece comprised of friends of friends, coursemates and inebriated nightclub acquaintances.“Tentative practice began in the bedroom of lead guitarist and Sunderland lad James Hammond alongside rhythm guitarist and Derby native Stuart Hudson. Things quickly progressed to front room jamming in the Newcastle flat of vocalist Tom Lowery before a chance meeting on a night out between Stuart and Grimsby boy Paul Bramwell added a bassist to the line up. The group were complete when Leeds local James Routh took up stick duties. The transition was made from front room to practice room and after moving to Polestar Studios under the Byker Bridge in Newcastle, the band recorded their first demo – the Time To Think EP – after just 6 full practices.
“Paper Street are a four piece band from the north east of England, they play rock based music with massive influence from puck, mod and progressive rock. The bands started in mid 2007 and have been gigging ever since. The band originally started at Shiney row music and Performing Arts College, where Mick Obrien (lead vocals) decided to start a band, and with Jordan Mcnay (bass), Dan Waterston (drums), and Liam (Oli) Oliver (lead guitar) involved in the band, they started gigging. After a few months of playing with this line up the band recruited Johnie Hutchinson as the new bass player due to musical reasons alone, no love was lost for Jordan and he still remains a very close friend and has great involvement with the band. With Johnie now in the band they began to relearn sets and write songs, they come back to the local music scene very strong, with a boisterous, energetic and very crowd involved attitude to gigging and have since played a number of successful and popular gigs, along with some great bands. More recently the band have recruited a new drummer, Kris Robinson and are looking forward to an exciting new year.”
With their first shows hopefully coming along in February and March, 2009 looks bright for The English Patients. With influences ranging from Neil Young, The Kinks, Rolling Stones and The Smiths to Oasis, The Liber-tines, Kings of Leon and Arctic Monkeys, The English Patients attempt to present a melodic slice of social observation alongside punchy rhythms and thoughtful lyrics. After a Christmas break, the band head into the New Year with a bagful of new songs to record, gigs in the pipeline and eyes set squarely on a successful 2009.”
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Breaking Bands
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breaking bands The Warmswww.myspace.com/thewarms
The Warms are one man…. Jonny Swift and a collection of car boot-fair-acquired instruments. “I’m originally from Bristol where I played in local bands for a while then moved to London soon after & got a job in a recording studio in Queens Park making the tea.I became a recording engineer with a reputation for a rough & ready sound (I don’t do glossy, I like to capture the moment) doing loads of hiphop & dance stuff even though I have & always will love the sound of guitars. I also played bass & guitar in various bands/projects at the same time, some signed some unsigned. In the end I jacked the whole thing in, went to America for a year and got a job chopping trees down in Northern Arizona (they’ve got a lot of trees). When I came back I met my girl who was from Sunderland and we decided to move the Northeast. I didn’t go back to playing music until mid 2008 when I bought myself some recording gear and set it up in my attic. The floodgates opened & the warms were born.I’m hoping to release an e.p & an album this year, probably on my own little micro label Dollywash Independent Recordings and take the project out live.The highlight of my year/life was Billy Bloodaxe saying he thought I was a little bit like Nico, up until then I didn’t have an angle on what I was doing, it was a gift of a thing to say & came at just the right time for me personally. It’s not an obvious comparison at first but my all time favourite band is the velvet underground (followed closely by the smiths & the eels), just for the simplicity of the music, they weren’t virtuoso musicians but they made this glorious sound, that’s what I’m trying to do. So I probably sound like the velvets with a gender swap Nico singing the soundtrack to your family’s photo album (I would hope).Why?? It’s my only vehicle to communicate what’s really inside of me, the bit you probably tend not to show to the world. So far it seems to be working & people are saying some really nice things about the warms…. To be understood is all I could really ask for in life as well as music.”
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sun8pm-1am
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from 60’s to modern indie with dj’s lyndon and shellie
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acoustic showcase
with dj’s, guest dj’s and bands
with dj phil coolman, plus local bands
james brown hosts the weekly quiz
the best of techno, tech-house, prog-houseand minimal with dj’s leila, amy, kris and liam
indie, new wave, punk, northern soul, 60’s and 70’s classics and old-skool rave with dj’s ju-lea and jarvis
indie, new wave, punk, northern soul, 60’sand 70’s classics and old-skool rave withdj’s ju-lea and jarvis
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Mattie Vant1. Describe the sound of tssls in 3 wordsRaw - Delicate - Punk
2. What single piece of music has had the most influence on you?The album ‘Highly Evolved’ by ‘The Vines’
3. Apart from music, what else are you influenced by?Other forms of media (poems, documentaries, books, films, etc) that manage to draw some emotion or opinion from the audi-ence. Something with genuine thought behind it, in other words the lost art of storytelling.
4. Pick 5 acts for your fantasy festival line upNirvana, The Cure, The Strokes, The Vines, Ryan Adams.
10 Questions with . . . The Small Screen Light Show’s Mattie Vant
10 Questions With...
5. What to you is the point of making music?To connect with an audience and express otherwise avoidable subjects. It helps release anything I’m holding back and share it in the comfort of others. Also, to draw inspiration and in turn, hopefully, inspire.
6. Who or what is winding you up at the minute?Mass media and its overall ignorance and manipulation towards the vast majority of the public. Mike from This Aint Vegas has recently opened my eyes to documentaries such as Zeitgeist & the Esoteric Agenda. There are so many things kept from public knowledge it’s disgusting. People need educating. Although I was guilty myself until recently, people’s obliviousness to the gradual deterioration of the world we live in really aggravates me. It has certainly affected my approach to lyrical content as well.
7. Who would you like to see playing you in the movie of your life story?I wouldn’t. The thought of it terrifies me.
8. Has anyone in the band got any strange habbits or hobbies?Nothing particularly, Becca’s scared of chip forks, which I suppose is quite odd but is neither a habit nor a hobby. I enjoy judging people on face value when they pass me in the street, imagining what a horrible, boring little life they must lead in comparison to my own! Craig probably has a few deep, dark holes to uncover but we’ll save that for another time!
9. Where do you envisage the band being in two years time?There are two paths.1. We will be ridiculously lucky and reach heights of a fame I could of never foretold.2. I’ll be in London doing something musically related, Becca will be Designing fashion ranges for some mega-brand and Stampy will be fighting court cases for Bono when his child porn collection is unveiled.
10. If you could pick anyone, dead or alive, to form a supergroup, what would your line-up be? Robert Smith (Lead Vocals), Craig Nicholls (Lead Guitar / Backing Vocals), Ryan Adams (Rhythm Guitar / Backing Vocals), Sting (Bass / Backing Vocals), Dave Grohl (Drums / Backing Vocals). What can I say, I love front men.
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Music and Technology-Michael Brand
Music is almost as crucial to us as a method of communicating as it is to the songbird. I asked the lark who wakes me up every morning “Why do you bother?”. Elvis (that’s how he introduced himself) explained “It helps me belong and I use it to get the chicks. Besides, it’s art innit?” Given his agreeable reply, I explained a bit about technology.
The 40’s were advanced by Cinema, the new affordability of radio and of the 78 wax recordings. Therefore, the song with lyrics, musicals, jazz and the success of Frank SinatraThe 50’s, I told him; the record player, the Jukebox, the affordable, ownable 45, the amplifier. Giving birth to Rock and Roll, the 3 minute single. A true explosion in our ability to share our experiences of music through the new technology. Solo artists, backing bands.The 60’s brought the 33rpm, stereo sound, radios so small that you could listen to them under blanket and speakers which could handle the amplification. Giving rise to pirate radio, the concept album, open air festivals and the recognition of names. (Thank god for Ringo! John, Paul and George are a bit mundane. Stevie Wonder, that’s a name!) The 70’s. Colour TV, with a nod in particular to Top of the Pops, Throwing up gems like Bowie and the re-emergence of the theatrical. Then radio re-emerged and cas-sette tape and we all sat poised to record. Punk was ideal for that with a finger on play and the other on record.The 80’s. The CD and production was more important than the music. We all aspired to listening to Dire Straits through 100 watt speakers.Then MTV and VCR’s. The first song ever played being “Video killed the Radio Star”Now we have the internet, thankfully.Music is no longer shackled by the media that it used to depend on, even if iTunes etc. would have us believe otherwise. It’s free. Technology is now way ahead of cor-porate management. The Arctic Monkey, Radiohead, Prince etc know this and are making bread meet butter because of the truth, as brought to me by Elvis the Lark.
Music is an art form and most artists want what my Lark wants; to belong, to get laid, to be artistic. Given that Elvis is now under contract (one where i get all the money) how should I let him find his voice? He isnt excited by technology but he knows a lot more about media than I as he has insights only an artist could know. He likes non-commercial radio, refuses to go on X-factor and thinks file-sharing is cool. He thinks there is value in live performance and in giving away your new album in The Sunday Mail.He is my most difficult client.
The Music Collective, based at the Shiney Row Campus of City of Sunderland College is an initiative which provides full-time students of the College with free rehearsal facilities, studio time and advice from industry professionals.
This year’s collective comprises of eight local bands (although those still wishing to join are more than welcome) all at different stages of devel-opment; the only stipulation is that each group must perform original compositions. Each group has access to qualified staff, a rehearsal room equipped with a full PA, guitar and bass amps; drum kits and keyboards. When the musicians and staff feel that their songs are ready, they then move into the studio to record a CD. After Christmas the collective will invite guest speakers from across the industry to give talks ranging from making a living in the music business to gig promotion and merchandising. These sessions are free and open to any full-time students, regardless of whether they actually play an instrument or not, and will hopefully cumulate in the formation of an independent record label. Although the College plans to support the label, it will be entirely student run and will release and promote material recorded by members of the Collective.
The College’s Shiney Row Centre runs full-time music courses from Level 1 (Introductory Diplomas) to Level 4 (Foundation Degrees)
For more info on the Collective, call 0191 511 6060
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Sonner launch their EP at the Manifesto Bar (Independent’s room 2), on Friday February 20th with support from Sunday Best and The Discord..
“It’s time for a change”, reckons Sonner guitarist Gareth Ord. “Sunderland is a working class town, one of the most deprived areas of the country, yet our whole music scene seems to have been taken over by morons in skinny jeans and pointy shoes who just want to be Pete Doherty and pretentious, middle class nerds with nothing at all to say”. This lad’s bloody angry, but why should Wearside change its musical tastes and start believing in Sonner? “From the start we all shared the same beliefs in what direction we wanted to take our music and what type of band we strived to be. This was big anthems with a singer that can really belt them out, tinged with the dirt and working class passion that would at least cause a stir, if not win everyone in the world over... and to NOT be a Libertines-style mumbling, stumbling band, or a post punk band playing on our accents or a pretentious bunch of pricks with a cleaned-up sound dressed for Topman’s front window and ‘wacky’ hair”. Strong stuff.In Sonner’s first year as a fully formed band, they built up a big fan base and a good reputation locally, supporting the likes of Dogs and Complete Stone Roses in front of big crowds and managing to sell out two shows in their hometowns of Murton and Seaham, both selling out around 300 tickets. They also, within four months of forming, won a battle of the bands in Durham, going through two heats which then took them to the northern final in Glas-gow. They’ve also been gaining a lot of attention from quite a few London and Manchester based record labels. So, it seems like Sonner have a very good pedigree. To check them out, and to find out whether you can be converted from your smackhead idolatry and nerdy posturing, grab hold of their glorious EP - When You Get Everything You Ever Wanted You Lose Everything You Ever Had, it really is a blinder.
sonner
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------------------------------------------------------------Features
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oxjam bangThe Chapman Family once swore that they would never play a gig in Sunderland ever again. After a number of disastrous and poorly attended shows, Wearside just didn’t seem like an option anymore when they were booking dates. And then… with a four date mini tour of the North-East to organise (the door money from all four events going to Oxfam), they ate their words and, with the help of Polar Bear, sorted a massive gig for the 11th of this month at The White Room. The Chapmans’ star is ascending at a rapid rate - as well as playing the BBC Introducing Stage at last year’s Glasto, they were included in NME’s Top Ten Picks for 2009 alongside White Lies, and at the end of this month they play the NME Awards show at Islington academy with Spinnerette and Future of the Left.Expect an explosive set from the Teesside four-piece when they take to The White Room‘s compact stage - they’re currently carrying an advert on their myspace page asking for donations of old guitars so they can smash them at the end of their sets and they’ve been described by the Fly magazine as ‘heads down, snarling gonzo rock ‘n’ roll’ while NME said ‘shocking wherever and whenever they can, this Stockton-on-Tees rabble are fast, brash and very loud’.
Catch The Chapman Family at The White Room, Feb 11th, 8pm, £3 door charge.
The Chapman Family
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The Chapman Family gig will be held in association with the Sunderland Music Forum, whose monthly meeting will take place at The Place (on the corner of West Sunniside and Athaneum Street) at 6pm, just before the gig at The White Room. The Chapmans will be supported by three of Sunderland’s finest new acts: Widows, The Anglo Form and Billy Bloodaxe.
Widows
Billy Bloodaxe
The Anglo Form
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Self Written – Demo
A refreshingly original offering to Sunderland’s music scene, implemented with a perfect blend of care-fully crafted composition and humorously upbeat funk, Self Written ticks all the boxes. Keyboards add the perfect touch, taking the whole thing to a melodic high that completes the sound. With bass lines that rock hard enough to smash the granny out of you and guitar solos laid down in all the right places, this really is a demo worth experiencing, going from one extreme to another with hard-hitting distortion one minute and more fun than you can shake a stick at the next. Nice one.
The Town of 1770- Demo
On inserting this 10-track demo into my CD player, I was struck by how short it was – 22 minutes. That’s an average of 2 minutes per song. Nice and short. The second thing that hit me was how much this band sounded like ‘evil circus music’. As if the only record they had heard was ‘The Carnie’ by Nick Cave and then decided to write a whole set of songs around that sound. And for the majority of the CD that’s all we get – no light and shade of which to speak. Just oppressively dark music.
Brought By Order – Demo
With the raw materials essential in the makings of any rock band worth their salt, Brought By Order display such fundamentals as gravelly vocals, catchy riffs and token guitar solos. Perhaps not executed as well as it could have been with more practice, they have managed to create a palatable demo packed full of ideas drawn from a range of genres in the rock/metal spectrum. A few more trips to the practise room to define their sound and advance to a standard of higher technicality and it will be interesting to see if they could take advantage of their potential.
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cd
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World Is Static – Lobotomy Patient
This is really like two bands. One is quite a weak sounding melodic rock band and the other is a blindingly talented dance act. The singer’s vocal style is beautifully feminine, a perfect match for the ethereal dance style that World of Static can pull off and you wonder why all of their attention is not being fully pumped into that side of things. They use layering and dynamics fantastically in their dance tunes and it sounds like THIS is what they are supposed to be doing. If any better advice could be given it would be to drop the bad rock songs and embrace the electronic!
Next Pistols – Never Mind The Bollocks Here’s The Next Pistols
It could be argued that cover bands have the hardest job of all in the fact that they have to try and literally live up to legends they impersonate. The Next Pistols stick their fingers up to the challenge and perfectly pull off the raw punk edge of one of our national treasures, The Sex Pistols. Within seconds you know they have sussed it. It’s actually hard to believe that it ISN’T Johnny Rotten doing vocals. The Next Pistols encapsulate the energy and stripped down punk essence of the Sex Pistols and deliver it with aggression and faultless technique.
El Fuego – Illfated Disbelief
Fantastically energetic with brilliant riffs and gorgeous vocals, El Fuego have some really strong songs that are catchy and memorable. Singer, Lauren’s, vocal style is sumptuously addictive and suits the music perfectly. Their sound is refreshingly unique, each song demonstrating another style they can pull off. Finding a sound that is good enough for any pop chart but individual enough for any underground record collection is quite an achievement and El Fuego have nailed it. El Fuego have that 70’s rock feel one minute then try out punk, and have a go at pop and, well everything, and it all blends amaz-ingly!
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Words by Nina Cowey
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LIVE Barcode, The Dead Seas, The DeadWoods, The Small Screen Light Show & The Wooden Spoons. @ The White Room, 09/01/09By Callum Brand
On possibly the coldest day of this New Year, I descended upon the white rooms for a nights drinking with a few local acts throwing out sound for my ear holes to enjoy. Two things surprised me; one being just how many youngins you can fit into the cosy venue, and two being how much quality the bands had to offer.First up were the Dead Seas from Newcastle. Not really my cup of tea, or even hot chocolate, but their poppy sound mixed with a very talented drummer and saxophone player made for an enjoyable listen. I did however get the feeling that the band looked either bored or pretty unimpressed with the gig, all except the lead singer, who looked like he was having a gay ole time.The next was Barcode, who were my favourite band of the night. Good old rock, with a style that would make the most miserable of codgers tap their feet. Lively and energetic performers who really looked like they were having fun means that I’ll certainly be looking out for their future gigs.
The Dead Seas
Barcode
The Deadwoods
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please send any live reviews to [email protected]
Thirdly were a Sunderland based act who everybody seemed to know, and half the crowd were there to see; the Deadwoods. I enjoyed their happy bouncy indie songs with ‘Words That Weren’t Said’ sounding like an arctic monkeys song with a Sunderland accent, and ‘Breakdown’ with its dance-rock style that is proving very popular these days.The crowd practically begged them to play there seem-ingly signature tune ‘Boogie MC’ which when they did play, couldn’t have gone down better. I can see this band pleasing the young indie crowd of Sunderland for years to come.The Wooden Spoons next, a band which looked like a bunch of lads straight from their GCSE’s. I really enjoyed this lot, being totally different from the other bands of the night, and definitely the most original. They had a kind of theatrical, epic pop sound which in a way reminded me of Queen, which let’s face it, isn’t a bad thing to be reminded of! The lead singer impressed me the most, switching impressively between keyboard and guitar several times in each song.Finally were the Small Screen Light Show, who I found interesting to watch. Consisting of a front man, and front lady, and a drummer, the songs were quite predictable and nothing you don’t hear on the popular indie scene already. The reason they were interesting to watch was that the lead lad was really drunk, bouncing all over the place, falling over, and living the rock and roll dream, while the lead lady seemed bored and barely moved at all. Maybe this is just their style, but for me, it didn’t gel. However their song ‘I Am the Future’ was a very catchy, tuneful indie track which I could imagine being played at Independent on a Saturday night.
The Wooden Spoons
The Small Screen Light Show
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Russell’s Top 5 Sports Related Injuries
1. Tennis Elbow2. Athlete’s Foot3. Jockey’s Knackers4. Bowler’s Ankle5. Dartitis
Kieron’s Top 5 Mitchells
1. Peggy2. Billy3. Grant4. Warren5. Willie
Jamie’s Top 5 Killers
1. Dr Harold Shipman2. Charles Manson3. Fred West4. Adamski’s5. Brandon Flowers
Andrew’s Top 5 Celebrity Birds
1. Proffessor Yaffle2. Woody Woodpecker3. Emu4. Orville5. Tweety Pie
Charlie and Oliver’s Top 5 Brothers
1. Us! 2. Chemical Brothers 3. Bobby and Jack kennedy4. Sean and Mook Ward 5. Brothers Karamazov
Suzanne’s Top 5 Dancers
1. The Mackem Mover2. Pan’s People3. Rudolph Nuryev4. Hot Gossip5. Dave the Rave
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TOP FIVES
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Marc’s Top 5 Cheap Antiques
1. The Toilets in The White Room2. Everything in The Bunker3. Jarv’s PA4. Ronnie’s Sarnies5. Sunderland City Councill
Steph’s Top 5 Wu Tang Clan Members
1. Ghostface2. ODB3. RZA4. GZA5. Inspectah Dek
James’s Top 5 Browns
1. Light Brown2. Dark Brown3. Jackie Brown4. Ian Brown5. The Brown Clown
D’s Top 5 Terrorist Organisations
1. IRA2. ETA3. Al Quaeda4. Michigan Militia5. Israel
Matty & Steve’s top 5 robots
1. Jonny 52. Alpha -power rangers3. R2D24. Kryten5. Dave the Rave
Mick’s Top 5 Scousers
1. Jimmy Corkhill2. Scully3. Yozzer Hughes4. Sammy Lee5. Ringo Starr
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SEEFORMILES
thursdays, 8pm-1am
residenT dj shem + GUESTS
playing the best tunes
from retro classics
to cutting edge sounds of today
47 sunniside west, sunniside, sr1 1ba (0191) 5652050
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January gigs in Sunderland, at 7pm & free unless otherwise stated.
01/02/2009Strange Fruit@ Luma, Park LnGraham Russell @ Houghton Buffalos, Houghton le Spring 7:30pm £1Revolutionaires @ Borough, Vine Pl 9pm
04/02/2009The Phades / Deathcrew ‘92@ Paddy Wacks, Green Ter 9pm
06/02/2009The Force@ Buffs Social Club, Frederick Pl, Houghton Le Spring 9pmOn The Rocks @ Office, Victoria Rd, S.Shields 8:30pmFeed The Bear @ Smugglers Bar, Roker 9pmSimmas Acoustic Heroes @ Maltings, 9 Claypath Ln, S.Shields
07/02/2009Strobes @ Sand Dancer, Sea Front, S.Shields 8:30pmGaslighters @ Robin Hood, Primrose Hill, Jarrow 9pmMojo Hand Blues Band @ Smugglers Bar, Roker 9pmPete Macdonald @ Jolly Steward, Fulwell Ave, Marsden 9pm
08/02/2009Young Guns@ Luma, Park Ln 9pmForce@ Golden Fleece, Silksworth Ter, Silksworth 9pmAvatar @ Borough, Vine Pl 9pm
13/02/2009Junco Partners@ Robin Hood, Primrose Hill, Jarrow Time to be confirmed £tbcSlip Of The Tongue @ Houghton Buffalos, Houghton le Spring 8:30pm Achilles Heel @ Keelboat, Stockfold, Washington 9pmBehind Bars @ Smugglers Bar, Roker 9pmEddie Miller @ Maltings, 9 Claypath Ln, S.Shields 9pm
14/02/2009On The Rocks @ Coach & Horses, 23 Coach Rd Estate, Washington 8:30pmAdy Ferguson Band @ Smugglers Bar, Roker 9pmBuddhas @ Jolly Steward, Fulwell Ave, Marsden 9pmLongsands@ Robin Hood, Primrose Hill, Jarrow 9pm
15/02/2009Last Minute@ Luma, Park LnOn The Rocks @ Vane Arms, Vane St, Silksworth 8:30pm Dirty South @ Borough, Vine Pl 9pmEddie Miller @ Houghton Buffalos, Houghton le Spring 7:30pm £1High & Dry @ Robin Hood, Primrose Hill, Jarrow 9pm
20/02/2009Beer Monkeys @ Keelboat, Stockfold, WashingtonHighway 61 @ Maltings, 9 Claypath Ln, S.Shields 9pm
21/02/202009 Buddhas @ Smugglers Bar, Roker 9pmStormer @ Robin Hood, Primrose Hill, Jarrow 9pm
22/02/2009The Flytes@ Luma, Park Ln £tbcRuss Tippins@ Paddy Wacks, Green Ter 9pmFeed The Bear @ Houghton Buffalos, Houghton le Spring 7:30pm £1In At The Deep End @ Robin Hood, Primrose Hill, Jarrow Kicks @ Borough, Vine Pl, 9pm
23/02/2009The Foxes@The White Rooms, Holmeside 8pmThe Flytes@ Bonded Warehouse, Low St 8pm
27/02/202009 The Complete Stone Roses@ Independent, Holmeside, 7:30pmClear Blue Skies/Night Shift @ Keelboat, Stockfold, Washington 8:30pm/9pmTubesnake @ Sleepers Wine Bar, Station Ap-proach, E.Boldon 9pmDave Lynas @ Maltings, 9 Claypath Ln, S.Shields 9pmDelphians @ Smugglers Bar, Roker 9pmZep 3 @ Houghton Buffalos, Houghton le Spring 8:30pm £4
28/02/2009Country Legends@ Empire Theatre, High West St 7:30pm £13.50/£14.50Steve Daggett@ Smugglers Bar, Roker 9pmGeorge Wilde @ Jolly Steward, Fulwell Ave, Marsden 9pm Harvest Moon - Neil Young Tribute Show @ Maltings, 9 Claypath Ln, S.Shields 9pm
Live gigsListings
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Busker nightsMondaysBuskers Night@ The Isis, Silksworth Row 8:30pmBuskers Night@ Arts Centre, Fatfield, WashingtonAmp & Dek Karaoke@ Steels Club, Peacock St, 8pm Buskers Night@ Blue Bell, Fulwell Road, 9pmBuskers Night@ Greens, Low Row 8pmMusos Corner @ Smugglers Bar, Roker 9pm Indie & Rock Night with DJ Wayne G@ P.U.R.E, Olive St 9pmBuskers Night@ Golden Lion, S.Hylton Tom Le Moosh & Steves Open Mic @ Smugglers Bar, Roker 9pm Student Night with Steve yer Irish Busker@ Shamrock, North Bridge St 7:30pm
TuesdaysBuskers Night@ Jolly Steward, Fullwell Avenue, S.Shields 8pm Buskers Night@ BoAB Bar & Grill, Vine Pl 9pmBuskers Night@ 7even, Derwent StTerry Gorman @ Keelboat, Stockfold Fatfield Vil-lage Centre, Washington 9pm Buskers Night @ Borough, Vine Pl 9pm
WednesdaysBuskers Night@ P.U.R.E, Olive St 8pmPoulette Sur Ket@ 7even, Derwent St 8pmScott Keirs Electric Jam @ Smugglers Bar, Roker, 9pm
ThursdaysAcoustic Session @ TJ Doyles, Hanover Pl, Deptford 8:30pm Musician And Buskers Night Hosted By Paul Jackson @ Royal Marine, Sea Rd, Fullwell 8:30pmOpen Decks Night@ 7even, Derwent StBuskers Night@ Paddy Whacks, Green TerBand Night@ The Porterfield, Crowtree Rd Pete Dodds Open Mic @ Smugglers Bar, Roker 9pm Acoustic Night@ Luma, Park Ln The Crash Club@ Independent, Holmeside 10pm
FridaysRock Bands Night@ Paddy Whacks, Green Ter @ 7even, Derwent StRagnarRock @ Borough, Vine Pl 9pm
SundaysLive Band Night@ Masters, Low Row Acoustic Night@ The Porterfield, Crowtree Rd Acoustic Blues & Folk @ Smugglers Bar, Roker 9pmCome Together (DJs)@ The White Room, The Ivy House, Substance, Tunstall Rd 2:30pm
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club nightsMondays
Street 5 Student Night@ White Room, Holmeside 9pmBeer Pong@ Brogans, Crowtree RdWonderland Student Night@ Union, The Point, Holmeside 10:30pm £3 or £2 with NUSBlastbeats, Metal Music Night@ Voodoo Room, P.U.R.E, Park Ln 8pmInsanity Rock Night@ The Quayside Exchange, High St East 8pm £3Student High School Disco@ New Privilege Nightclub, Crowtree Rd 10pm £3
Tuesdays
Sunderland Music Forum@ White Room, Holmeside 9pmClassic Plastic@ 7even, Derwent St 10pmHonky Tonk Gay Club Scene @ Liquid-Diva, Green Ter 10pmAnything and Everything with Kirky and Co@ Bar P.U.R.E, Olive St 8pmCrisco Disco Gay Night with Trixie and DJ Teapot@ Ttonic, Vine Pl 7:30pmCrisco Disco 2 with DJ Big Daddy Anth@ Glass Spider, Green Ter 12:00am
Wednesday
Audio?@7even, Derwent St, 9pm
Thursdays
Student Night@ New Privilege Nightclub, Crowtree Rd Decadence@ Union, The Point. Holmeside (first Thursday of the month)Sleaze@ Voodoo Room, Olive St 10:30pmIndie Classics@ Bar P.U.R.E, Olive St 8pm
Fridays
Jarvis & Ju-lea - at thethe manifesto bar@Independant, Holmeside, 9pmThe Local with Ward 10 DJs@ The White Room, Holmeside 9pmFriday Nights@ Union, The Point, Holmeside 10:30pm £4 (Ladies free before midnight)Chart and Party@ Liquid-Diva, Green Ter £5Sounds of Substance @Substance, Tunstall Rd, 9pmThe Love Inn@ Substance, Tunstall RdJarvis + Ju-lea
Saturdays
Divine Wind with DJ Emmie@The White Room,Holmeside 9pmSounds of Substance @Substance, Tunstall Rd, 9pmHysteria Indie Night@ Privilege, Crowtree Rd 10pm £5Soul Deep with DJ Adrian Dickinson@ 200 High St, 8pmMusic For Misfits@ Independent, Holmeside 10pm £3Hunger@ Point, Holmeside 10pm £5Liquid-Diva@ Green Ter £6 before midnight
Sundays
Fundamental Sunday Sessions@ The Voodoo Room, Olive St 8pmSundays Expect Xtra@ Privilege Nightclub, Crowtree Rd 10pm £2Liquid- The R ‘n’ B Hip Hop Show@ Liquid-Diva, Green Ter £3West One@ London Inn, Spout Ln, Wash-ington 9:30pm
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q u i s t i o n a i r e
LETTERSmyspace comments
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Leave a comment at www.myspace.com/sunderlandmusicforum
29manifesto
manifesto30
“And here’s one I made earlier!”-Kelly Horn
Give Me The Horn!
For some, the New Year beckoned a fresh start, a clean slate and opportunities ahoy whereas, with me, my shoddy immune system rendered my 2009 optimism redundant. Fan-bloody-tastic. So, sausage-rolled up in a duvet on the sofa, my days off work were invested in the wastrel watchage of daytime TV. There’s only so much Jeremy Kyle demanding tracksuit clad imbeciles to ‘Get a job!’ a sane person can stand so I cannot be blamed for succumbing to Sky’s collection of kids channels. To my utter distaste, I found that tripe such as The Suite Life of Zac and Cody made me want to peel off my skin and eat it. As I sat flinching, I began to think on old-school kids shows; the ones that prompted me to scarper home from school in order to bask in the glow of a 21inch black box with a plate of fish fingers and chips warming my knees. The one that immediately springs to mind is the terrestrial gem Knightmare. Ah, good old Treguard with his swarthy good nature cocooned in fur who, I’m sure, stifled many a giggle at the inept trio of school children trying to direct their mate through low-budget special effect missions. And who could forget that hefty tin helmet the poor child had to don as a way to obscure sight and basically make the wearer look like a pillock? “Where am I?” the helmet whimpers. “You’re in a room,” was always the ever informative reply. You don’t say! Hands up those who attempted to make a Tracey Island out of a shoebox and a Fairy washing-up liquid bottle and failed miserably? I am positive that the sole function of Blue Peter was to dash the hopes of young children and exasperate non-crafty parents roped into the cardboard contraption. Absolute genius! Personally, I wasn’t into Blue Peter and Tracey Island making but fantasised about having the same artists tools as the beret-wearing, Sue Pollard voiced legend that was Penny Crayon who could draw anything with these magic crayons and they would spring into reality. Draw a Tracey Island and kill two birds with one stone, eh? I could go on forever about the kids programmes that shaped my youth but I must end by expressing my regret for children today having no choice but to watch such modern day twaddle. I’d very much like to plonk a Knightmare helmet on Hannah Montana’s bonce and side-step her into oblivion. Mwahaha!
Give Me The Horn!
