51 – ‘Measures’, Ross Bowditch’ and ‘Medusa’
Measures:
www.myspace.com/measuresbanduk
“Measures are a progressive/metal/rock band based in Bedfordshire.
Measures started in 2009 as an instrumental project between school friends. At the time the line-up consisted of Seb Camm (Bass), Joe Hartwell (Guitar), Lucio Adger (Guitar) and Tom Flinders (Drums). The rhythm section were back and forth throughout the two years while the rest of the band were still writing new and much stronger material. Early 2011 the four piece re-formed, this time round feeling like more of a ‘band’ and sounding a lot tighter as a unit. All that was missing at this point was vocals.
Enter Matt Davies. Matt had been in a lot of bands in the local area and was also a good friend of the drummer, this made him the obvious first choice to audition for the part of vocals. Matt joined the band at one of their weekly rehearsals to audition, after just three hours Matt had wrote the lyrics/vocals for two entire songs that he was also able to sing back to the band there and then. The band came to the instant decision that Matt was perfect for the part.
From then on, Measures have continued writing new material, recorded their debut EP and are prepared to gig as much as possible to hopefully build a respectable fan base who will love their music as much as they do.”
(Biography info obtained from the band’s facebook page)
Ross Bowditch:
Ross’s facebook page here
Medusa:
“You know that feeling when your aeroplane seat jolts beneath you, rattling the ice in your third beer and you notice the aircrew in collusion that something is very wrong. Upon refocusing, you realise the letters in your alphabet soup spell out meet me in the restroom and you look up to be signalled a confident wink from the minxy air hostess who gave it to you. A few moments later, as she slips through the door joining you inside the bathroom, she slowly and smoothly reaches down her chest withdrawing a hand grenade, then pulls out the pin with her teeth. Now you’re in a fix. Medusa won’t lie to you. If it’s reassurance or validation you’re after, you’re in the wrong place. You’re on yr own. After recording the raucious, 80’s inspired Self Titled debut album in late 2006, a matter of weeks after forming, singer/guitarist Julian Molinero’s band of rock ‘n’ roll lunatics took to the streets for a long stream of live dates across the UK. During this time Julian began piecing together ideas for the lengthier second album Can’t Fucking Win and recording began in late February 2009, with a new refined sound and 360 degree sonic scope, while still maintaining the same vitriolic power and purring melodies. The album was completed in December 2010, compiled and featuring production by Romesh Dodangoda shortly after he had finished recording with Motorhead. Medusa is the new rock ‘n’ roll group the 21st century has been aching for, a voice from within inciting truth and liberation. Its about power, its about passion, its about fXXXing time.”
(Biography info obtained from the band’s Official Website)
50 – ‘Hot Panda’, ‘Rotifer’ and ‘Auction For The Promise Club’
Hot Panda:
“Hot Panda are just two boys and two girls from Edmonton trying to do the same thing they’ve always tried to do: play some kind of rock and roll that’ll make people dance and feel happy…Simple stuff!
These kids -Maghan Campbell (drums), Chris Connelly (vocals, guitar), Catherine Hiltz (bass), and Heath Parsons (keys, accordion) – have toured so much in the past few years that their shabby van, $30 motel rooms, and stranger’s floors feel more like home these days than their own beds. Since the release of their first EP (2008’s Whale Headed Girl) and their subsequent signing to Vancouver’s Mint Records, the band has zigged and zagged their raucous live show across North America (ok, minus Mexico, but still…) and Europe on planes, trains, and automobiles until they thought they might die!
They’ve snapped pictures of themselves under the Eiffel Tower, played on a stage once graced by the Beatles in Hamburg, and visited royal palaces in Vienna, all when they went on tour opening for the Von Bondies across Europe in April, 2009! They’ve also had wonderful times playing at festivals like SXSW in Austin, Texas, CMJ Music Marathon in New York, and North of the border at Pop Montreal, Halifax Pop Explosion, Sled Island in Calgary, and NXNE in Toronto. Along the way, they’ve played with lots of other bands they love, like Art Brut, The Raveonettes, Tokyo Police Club, Chad Van Gaalen, Electric 6, Crystal Antlers, and lots more. So, in short, it’s been some kind of adventure!
Yet, as great adventures often go, this one suffered some moments of ugly struggle. November 2009 marked the departure of one of their founding members, shortly before the band was supposed to record their sophomore release. However, despite this sad and unsettling blow, the band kept their heads held high long enough to snag Catherine Hiltz as their new bass player/multi-instrumentalist. Hiltz’s arrival, however, has majorly revitalized the band- it’s a long story, but in short, Hot Panda is having fun again, and they’re damn happy about it!
How Come I’m Dead? (Out on Mint Records October 12, 2010), a follow up to 2009’s acclaimed Volcano…Bloody Volcano!, was written with Hiltz and recorded at Vancouver’s JC/DC studios during the chaos of the 2010 Winter Olympics. It has a playful sense of humour to it, revealing the band’s sense of relief and the return of ridiculous good times since Hiltz’s arrival. Like Volcano, How Come I’m Dead draws inspiration from music’s most random corners- the album has moments of dreamy noise, circus freak dance, heartbreaking country ballads with screeching metal guitar solos, lovely harmonies, psychadelic drones, and straight up pop/rock numbers. There’s even a hip-hop track, which includes a bass scratch solo and enough f-bombs to earn them an adult content warning sticker- which tumbles directly into a grinding techno song!
Watch for Hot Panda in a town near you this fall- joyfully dispensing their new rock and roll tunes as they tour North America starting in September!”
(Quote obtained from the band’s official website)
Rotifer:
Auction For The Promise Club:
www.auctionforthepromiseclub.co.uk
“Recently listed in the Marie Claire UK Playlist alongside Florence and the Machine and I Blame Coco, 2011 is year proving to be a for the unsigned band,Auction for the Promise Club.
Introduced on BBC 6 Music by Tom Robinson and on XFM by John Kennedy as well as regional BBC Radio Show’s across the country, the female-fronted rock band have garnered critical acclaim for their unique sound, which channels shoegaze through giant hooks and huge choruses.
2010 saw Auction for the Promise Club support Paolo Nutini and Martha Wainright at the Eden Sessions and also Reverend and The Makers. The band has racked up performances at some of the country’s most renowned venues, including Liverpool’s Cavern Club, Birmingham’s Gatecrasher and the ICA in London, as well as headlining a closing show at London Fashion Week, Jalouse, Mayfair. ”
(Quote obtained from the band’s official website)
49 – ‘Ruby Surge’, ‘Aestrid’ and ‘Hollywood Tramp’
Ruby Surge:
Ruby Surge’s facebook page here
“Emerging from the depths of a drinking town in West Wales is a gang of five lads armed with anthemic, rocking tunes to break free from the shackles of mundane life.
Ruby Surge have been going for a little over 18 months, carefully crafting and strengthening their stomping set while playing gigs across the South Wales area.
Trapped by the quicksand effect of small town life, the boys are intent on making a better life for themselves through music, while aiming to improve the lives of others, if only for a three-minute song or a 45-minute show.
“Music is our way out, it’s a constructive way of day dreaming, if you like,” said lyricist Lee MacGregor.
“A lot of our tunes are written as a form of escapism – looking at the positives you can get from life, how things can get better, and they can.
“But we’re human, so others are written in anger. Times are hard, people are struggling and we feel it as much as the next person. But, again, from that we’re taking positives by writing songs, rather than smashing windows and filling our boots.”
Frontman Mathew Morris Jones emphasises the importance of playing live.
“There’s no better feeling than watching people really getting into your band’s tunes, even singing them back to you – at that point you know you are making a difference,” he said.
“Rock ’n’ Roll is not about the sex and drugs and all those clichés, it’s about having it on stage, giving people a break from their lives.” ”
(Biography info obtained from the band’s facebook page)
Aestrid:
www.aestrid.com
“Founding member, Bo Menning delivers a sound that could be categorised as something like Indie music. Songs patched together by many different sounds, picked carefully and each placed in the right puzzle. Creating something intense and emotional with melodies flying around like sparks. Like tracks that start off with the sound of a lonely choirboy echoeing down the hall, followed by a build up to where the heavens meet the stars and crashing into a patchwork of melodies that keep on expanding and expanding. In the process of songwriting Menning works purely from his broken memories and images that got stuck somewhere in him as he’s trying to re-assemble them in sound. You can taste the feeling escape in the songs as you picture yourself in the woods along with Menning’s highly emotive mix of sounds and vocals. This all results in an intense, at times blood-curling, live performance, playing with a whole range of elctronics and acoustic sounds.
For the last 3 years Bo Menning has been locked away from the world in his Omega Studio working on Aestrid’s 2nd album. Creating this bubble around himself had its ups and downs, but something pure and unique. That’s for sure.
Aestrid released their first album in 2005: ‘In d’Esprit Pornographique’, which was well received with a lot of positive reviews. The new album, ‘The Echo Resistance’ has been mixed at Real World Studios in Box, UK, by Marco Migliari (New Order, Massive Attack, Sigur Ros, Peter Gabriel, K’s Choice) and will be released in early 2011.”
(Biography info obtained from the band’s facebook page)
Hollywood Tramp:
www.myspace.com/hollywoodtrampmusic
“Hollywood Tramp are four young musicians with a desire to create music that takes elements of the familiar and turn it into something new. Now close friends, the band came together through mutual friends and a genuine love for music, forming in the Summer of 2009. Hollywood Tramp draw influence’s from all spheres of music and that is reflected in the playing style of each member. On lead vocals, rhythm guitar and piano/keyboards is Sean Colley. The front-man, founder member and chief songwriter. Philip Swan plays lead guitarist and backing vocalist. Akin to Amadeus Mozart, Phil’s first gig was at the age of seven. Steven Dent is Hollywood Tramp’s bass player extraordinaire. Steve often occupies a place next to Phil on backing vocals and is quite adept on the cello too. Holding the whole operation together is Drummer/percussionist Rowan Cox, who’s drumming style has been forged by a heavy influence of Hip-Hop. Having picked up his first pair of drumsticks aged 9, he hasn’t looked back since.”
(Biography info obtained from the band’s facebook page)
48 – ‘Krossbreed’, ‘Bletchley Park’ and ‘The Insight’
Krossbreed:
“KROSSBREED stands for non-compromising metal. It’s a mixture of 4 different minds and 4 different ideas about metal formed into one hard and heavy unit, in other words a crossbreed of their own creativity.
KROSSBREED was formed in 2003 in Antwerp, Belgium. KROSSBREED has no real boundaries, what leads to a style of metal that is hard to name. But one thing we can agree on is that it’s a band that will take you to every corner of the metal world. Going from fast ripping riffs to catchy mind breaking tempos, KROSSBREED has it all.”
(Biography info obtained from the band’s facebook page)
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Check out Krossbreed‘s Music video for “Ashes of Tomorrow” – a song from their album “3 Cheers for the Misery”:
Bletchley Park:
www.myspace.com/bletchleyparkband
“Bletchley Park is growing to become a high-aspiring band in the indie scene. Highly influenced by bands Editors, Interpol and Bloc Party amongst others, the female-fronted quintet has produced a distinctive sound that continues to catch the interest of many.”
An indie rock band with a particular sound in mind, one you are to discover.
Bletchley Park first took its novel tunes out of the garage during the Rookie’s Battle of the Bands of June 2009 which brought together (or against each other) twelve bands from contrasting genres. The band made its way through to the finals until it was announced winner of gigs in Copenhagen, Denmark and of a production project with renowned British producer Paul Powell.
The band started off its in-studio experience with David Vella, from Temple Studios Malta, who left a trail of his musicality in five original pieces: ‘Alien’, ‘Dust’, ‘Hold The Trap’, ‘The Last Star’ and ‘Fake Smiles’.
The first single released – ‘Alien’ – was in the Maltese charts for over 12 weeks and hit the number 1 spot on XFM’s Homegrown chart and Bay Radio’s Malta’s Top 10 chart. ‘Alien’ is currently being aired on UK Radio 10 – The Varmint show:www.varmintshow.net
In the mean time, the band was promoting its music through a number of public appearances on TV shows and radio interviews while having press releases published in the printed media.
Bletchley Park’s second single ‘Hold the Trap’ has also made it to the top place in the local charts – Bay Radio’s Malta’s Top 10 & also those of the Malta Music Charts(Smash).
Bletchley Park have been nominated for the Best New Artist Award of the Malta Music Awards 2009 honouring their achievements in just a few months.
The band has myriad plans for the coming years, the nearest being rocking Copenhagen and production of an album with Paul Powell during Summer 2010 in Ibiza.”
(Biography info obtained from the band’s facebook page)
The Insight:
“The insight est un groupe breton, de rennes plus exactement …le style musical est dans la lignée de The Cure, Joy Division, Interpol.
La nouvelle vague bretonne écume à nouveau les terres arides de nos platines. Et Rennes retrouve son statut de scène innovante quelque peu égarée depuis Marquis de Sade. L’intermède des Transmusicales ne faisant qu’importer une fois l’an un savoir faire trop bien caché. The Insight a en revanche choisi la langue de Shakespeare pour convoler en juste noce avec la créativité. Une différence de taille qui pénalise d’entrée toute diffusion radio, trop dépendante des quotas « chanson française ». Oui, côté musique, il ne suffit pas de naître en France pour être français. Et si The Insight chantait en Breton, ils seraient français ? Allez savoir… Côté influences, la bonne pioche serait les cartes Cure et Joe Division à n’en pas douter.”
(Biography info obtained from the band’s facebook page)
London Unsigned Music 