Recommendations from ABoF HQ!

There are so many great bands we've worked with in the last wee while, we would love to share with you some of our recommendations.

First up, Cinemechanica! They are an absoloutely awesome band from Georgia, USA. The play jerky, hectic, gloriously catchy tunes and are one of the best live bands we've had the honour of promoting in the last 6 months or so.

You can check out their video below:



We also suggest you check out Shield Your Eyes who are currently rocking venues all over the UK. They recently supported The Paper Chase at The Metro (see our previous blog post for a review of the night!) and are wowing audiences wherever they land with their unique brand of messy math rock.

Shield Your eyes live action below:



And finally, a record that has been spinning us right round (baby right round - sorry!!)... The Melvins release forthcoming album Nude With Boots in June and this has been a constant on our ipods for the last few weeks.

More recommendations soon, we thought we'd keep it short and sweet for now!

Over and out.

14th May 2008 @ The Metro: The Paper Chase + One Unique Signal + Geordi La Force + Shield Your Eyes

We were very excited to have The Paper Chase in town. They are in the UK at the moment as they are playing ATP this weekend.

Shield Your Eyes have not had a bad word said against them so far in their short existence. They play a messy, noisy, gloriously shouty/mathy set. Stef's unique guitar howls inter spliced with heavy handed picking and thrashes make their set absoloutely captivating.

On with the show and with Geordi La Force. GLF is one man, one laptop, one guitar and lots of noise! He seems determined to bring the riff back into fashion and his spikey chords and twiddling riffs dazzle and confuse the crowd all at once, but in a good way! His set is a mixture of jazz, metal and 80s rock. Fascinating.

One Unique Signal have played for us many a time before. They have a way of really making a venue burst with the sound of their rocking layered guitars. Their set is intense and they create a ruckus ambiance.

The Paper Chase are mild-mannered, unassuming guys from Texas. Who would've known how intense and impassioned they become once they hit the stage. John Congleton's off-kilter vocals fit well with the shapes he pulls to the tense and abrasive music. There's something really disturbing about their sound but there's a melody in its underbelly, which keeps heads boobing and bodies rocking. You cannot deny that they write bloody excellent songs and they play a set comprised of some of their best moments from "Hide The Kitchen Knives" and "Now You Are One Of Us".

And with that, we're off to the Cro Bar to share some drinks and toast a birthday! If you didn't get the chance to catch The Paper Chase on their tour or at ATP, then make sure you do soon. They're a force to be reckoned with on stage and a live band you won't forget too soon.

2nd May 2008 @ The Fly: ABoF vs Southern Records Club!

April's club night was unbelievably busy and we were hoping to emulate the same vibe at this month's club.

As the new summer sun loomed over London town, we were worried that most folk would just want to sit outside and drink in the sun, not head down to a small, dark venue in central London. We were wrong.

The doors opened at around 7.30pm but it wasn't until around 8.30pm, when Fago Sepia hit the stage. Fago Sepia hail from France and they were in the UK, added to our bill at the last minute, as they were doing a short tour here. They have a sound that's almost reminiscent to June of 44 in some places but with less of that jazzy edge. Their performance is tight and highly enjoyable and leave the crowd wooping for more!

It's time for Amit Sharma to take his place centre stage. Amit used to play in Stasi, who are unfortunately no more. Fortunately for us, however, Amit agreed to bring his one man band to our night on Friday and he attracted quite a crowd. It's just Amit, one oddly shaped guitar and some recording equipment (forgive me, I'm not clued-up on the technical terms here!). He records loops of his voice, hand claps, and beats against his guitar to create gorgeous layers of simplistic and captivating melodies. His set begins and ends in rapturous applause as he fills The Fly's tiny space with his haunting tunes.

Upstairs, all is well as we DJ playing a mixture of Riddle of Steel, Les Savy Fav, Man or Astro Man and Check Engine. Downstairs, Embers are about to go on. We promoted a show for Embers amongst others back in March at The Good Ship. They made such an impression on us that we simply had to have them back. Their intertwining guitars and brilliant beats make them ones to watch.

Before the DJs hit

the decks proper style for the last part of the evening, the wonderful Pennines

rock the crowd and show us that jagged rock can definitely co-exist with melodic sensibility. Heads are bobbing, songs are rocking. There are moments of American Football in there and possibly even some softer elements of old Minus the Bear guitar soloing. Whatever their influences may be, they are absolutely rockin' it as May's headliners.

And so with Pennines, ends the live acts. However, as the crowds flood through the doors, DJ FTW and Southern Records hit those decks bringing back the awesome sounds of Southern's back catalogue along with a few cheeky cheesy numbers thrown-in for good measure. Rip This Joint, rip it up upstairs for the last part of the evening as The Attrocitator brings back a mix of 80s indie, pop and excellent numbers from bands such as Big Black downstairs. Smiley faces and jiving bodies are aplenty as the folks at The Fly hit the dancefloor.

As we enter summer we're fire-up for the next few installments of the ABoF vs Southern clubs. It's been great fun and it wouldn't be possible without the bands and the DJs. We're most definitely looking forward to the next one now, roll on the summer!

London Zine Symposium 2008

On Sunday, myself (Claire ABoF) and a a few good friends headed to the London Zine Symposium. I used to write and publish a music fanzine myself back in the day but I was never really impressed with my efforts and it was bloody hard to get out there too so I really didn't know what to expect.

We entered a bustling room with an array of wonderfully creative looking fanzines (and vegan cakes!). As we meandered around the room, what struck me most about these fanzines were the number of different varieties and topics each covered. There were beautifully drawn comics, political, feminist and music zines and even zines purely based around art and photography.

I felt more and more inspired to draw and write about something again! There was a real community feel around the symposium, we even bumped into a few people there as well. It was nice chatting to all the lovely people and seeing so much creativity and positivity there was in one room.  I could have wandered around a little longer but we had a tight schedule to adhere to!

Despite the rush, I did pick up some brilliant zines whilst I was there.

Hey Monkey Riot

Ted Leo & The Pharmacists: We Never Gave Up

The Bedsit Journal

Fever Zine

You should check these out and try and get yourself copies if you can. I'm really looking forward to next year's symposium - you should try and make it down too!

26th April 2008 @ The Metro: Soeza + Buttonhead + Man Aubergine

A hot, sunny Saturday evening reigns over London. It's hardly gig weather tonight but somehow, people keep flocking down to the Metro to see this bloody fantastic line-up.

It's been a while since Man Aubergine have played in London but they hit the stage with the same quirky, off-beat enthusiasm as they always do, that's why we love them. The new songs are sounding great, beginning the evening with a sense of fun. They're a little like a countrified Primus on Prozac. Yes, that sounds a little odd but it's totally Man Aubergine. 

As the punters pile-in for Buttonhead, there's a sense of anticipation. Buttonhead are at the end of their Tour of Life April 2008. It's a bit of a slow start as a few problems are ironed-out before they hit the Metro with their unique brand of optimistic off-kilter, sing-a-long indie tunes. It's well worth the wait. Heads are furiously nodding and there are even a few dancers at the back, immersed in the music, grinning from ear to ear. Each song is an aural delight, the rocky start ends in gratuitous applause; the kids done good!

Now, it's time for Soeza! They're currently on tour to promote their latest offering 7 Obstacles, which is available via Gringo Records. Consisting of two drummers, bass, guitar, male/female vocals and a french horn, they are incredibly tight and succinct for such a varied line-up. "Brackish Waters" and "Make It" from their album Why Do You Do? has the kids' feet tapping with glorious joy. Soeza are a band who mean business, they make a wonderfully luscious racket!

The night ends with rounds of "woo's" and "yeah's". The Metro is sweaty with Soeza's gorgeously hectic set, Buttonhead's bopping fans and Man Aubergine's happy hoe-down! What a way to start the weekend.

(Photos by Krystal Sim)