12th June 2008 @ The Good Ship: Fighting Kites + Cherry But No Cake + The Cathode Ray Syndrome

ABoF have only ever ventured into gigging territory once in Kilburn. However, The Good Ship is such a friendly, inviting venue that we couldn't resist having another night of good fun!

We're surprised (in a good way!) that lots of people are turning up early to catch The Cathode Ray Syndrome. Being as the night is sunny and warm, we were expecting more gig goers to steer clear of the indoors tonight. But how could anyone resists the crashing, off-kilter tones of CRS. They make a racket but manage to maintain some sense of equilibrium as they jilt and jive under heavy chords.

Cherry But No Cake played for ABoF at The Pool Bar last year, so it's great having them back again. They are somewhere in-between Dinosaur Jr. and Shellac. Two of our favourites, and it seems everyone else is digging their sound too.

As Fighting Kites hit the stage, we are getting excited. The last time they played for us was back in April at ABoF's Club with Southern Records. their set is something akin to Tortoise but that's too general really... they are possibly better than that. Their sound is more precise, tight and their songs really stay with you. They play gorgeous post-rock tones with an underlying hint of math-inspired godness, but not too much, they are still very much themselves. Fighting Kites are truly brilliant.

And so that's it for another night. As The Good Ship shuts shop, we head home, satisfied and happy with another night of musical goodness...

Why Faraquet Are Awesome...

I recently wrote an article for the Southern Records website (I edit the WORD section of the website).

There is a monthly feature on the website called "Hindsight" whereby either one of Southern's staff or writers choose their favourite record and write a little bit about what that record means to them.

I wrote my review on Faraquet's The View From This Tower. A corker of an album.

Read it HERE.

6th June 2008 @ The Fly: ABoF vs Southern Records Club

ABoF has been quite "rocky" these first 6 months of the year so we decided to book bands of the more "indie" variety. 

The night begins with a quiet start and we anticipate that tonight's tube problems and the nicer weather are probably deterring people from entering a sweaty club. However, we are wrong and slowly people start creeping in as it gets a little too cold for al fresco drinking. 

Ice, Sea, Dead People are three charming young boys who play angular indie rock. With their influences being the likes of Jacrew and Fugazi, we had very high hopes. We were not disappointed. Their sound is reminiscent of XBXRX. They have such great energy and really are brilliant openers.

Love Ends Disaster are up next. They sound a little like The Smiths but far more uplifting and with the volume turned up to 11. They weave and turn and rock and roll and are the perfect remedy to a summer night of indie fun at The Fly.

The night rolls on, the DJs keep spinning. Just before Southern Records hits the decks, Underground Railroad take the stage to end the night before the dancing begins. They are signed to One Little Indian, a fantastic indie label. Songs like "Sticks and Stones" get your heart pounding, these guys really mean business. Their songs are almost harrowing and anthemic. They bring something of a tentative joyous feeling to the atmosphere and prove themselves to be a brilliant addition to the night.

And with that, Rock Sound Magazine hit the decks downstairs whilst Southern Records rock it upstairs. Rock Sound start the night with a little Fugazi and mix it up with Guns N Roses and other rocky delights! Later in the evening, The Attrocitator brings the party back to The Fly and gets everyone dancing until the very end. Rip This Joint keep it strictly alternative upstairs, their DJ set always comprises of some real aural gems!

We can't wait for the next one, roll on the party!

31st May @ The Metro: These Monsters + Wintermute + YouMeTheSwitch + And So I Watch You From Afar

What a line-up we have tonight. Each band is fuelled-up and raring to go! These Monsters and Wintermute are finishing their joint UK tour tonight in London and we feel more than privileged to be able to promote such fine bands at the Metro tonight.

And So I Watch You From Afar are four, friendly, Irish lads who emailed us late in the day about this gig. They were super friendly over email, honest and passionate. These are three key qualities we love in the bands that play for us. Having heard some songs on Myspace, we were fairly impressed but not as blown away as what we were as they hit the stage. Their music is a unique brand of the best bits of Isis with a hint of epic melody a la Oceansize. They make a glorious wall of noise and transport us away from the sweaty dark club that is The Metro into a stadium band like trance. They are deserved of very big things and can't wait to see what they do when they next hit the UK.

YouMeTheSwitch are up next and by far one of our favourite bands of the last year. They are impressively tight, succinct and captivating as a live band. They played dates with Japanese hard-hitting post-rockers LITE last year. As the crowds pour in, they are caught by YouMeTheSwitch's glorious sound.

Wintermute and These Monsters have been on tour together for the last week or so. Tonight is their last show of the tour. They both hail from Leeds and they are bother absoloutely brilliant. Wintermute are melodic, catchy, hard rocking and have a great presence on stage. These Monsters are, however, the icing on the cake. They all take the stage unassumingly, no bravado (with a saxaphone player in tow!) but as soon as the music starts they completely transform. They poster delightfully during their off-kilter, noise-infused set. Feet can't help but stomp to the beats and the crowd are head bobbing furiously to the beats.

Another wonderful night at the Metro, everyone leaves fully satisfied! Wintermute and These Monsters will be back later in the year and we seriously suggest you catch them when you can.