Lonely The Brave Play a Magical Set in a Beautiful Church

Sometimes, when a tour gets announced I can spend days on end agonising over what venue to get tickets for. I analyse the pros and cons of the acoustics, the location, the date and the capacity. Every detail falls under scrutiny.

This was not one of those times.

Lonely the Brave are one of the most magical sounding bands in the top 40 at the moment, not to mention the most intense performers around.

So when you see them billed to play a church – you go.

All Saints Church in Kingston is a beautiful place filled with architectural marvel and steeped in history (the first King of England – Athelstan – was crowned there in 925 AD.)

It continues to be at the centre of Kingston’s community, regularly using music as part of its day-to-day operations and playing host to some pretty special shows.

Lonely the Brave released their second album, Things Will Matter, earlier this month and have embarked on what appears to be a non-stop tour embellished with festival appearances.

The Cambridge quintet’s hypnotic melodies reverberated through the church and filled the otherwise

calm and tranquil venue.

The crowd were respectfully hushed, presumably breathless, only applauding at the end of every perfectly executed track.

That being said, grown men were heard to squeal in excitement as each song started.

Backroads, from the debut EP The Day’s War continues to carry incredibly well on stage, only getting stronger each time I hear it live.

As performer’s Lonely The Brave are exceptionally intense. Vocalist David Jakes tends to linger towards the back of the stage allowing his powerful voice to do the work for him.

Lonely The Brave are not the types for stage shenanigans. They don’t need to be. The stunning nature of their sound ticks all the boxes on its own.

Besides, how much performance do you need when the back drop is a giant stain-glass window lit up in pink glory?

Tonight Lonely The Brave also showcased their second album, Things Will Matter, in fervid style. As a band they are moving from strength to strength only becoming more entrancing as they do it.

This leg of the UK tour continues and a whole bunch of new UK dates have been announced for October too: 

New October UK tour dates:

03/10/16 - Brighton – The Haunt*

04/10/16 - Southend – Chinnerys*

06/10/16 - London – Camden Electric Ballroom*

07/10/16 - Bristol – Marble Factory*

10/10/16 - Nottingham – Rescue Rooms*

11/10/16 - Glasgow – King Tuts*

14/10/16 - Leicester – 02 Academy*

15/10/16 - Leeds – The Key Club*

18/10/16 - Oxford – 02 Academy*

19/10/16 - Hull – Welly*

21/10/16 - Birmingham – 02 Academy*

22/10/16 - Cardiff – SWN Festival. The Tramshed

*w/special guests Tall Ships

Please note: Tickets for the October tour will be available on Tuesday 31st May at: www.lonelythebrave.com

Yes! I got through the whole of this review without mentioning The Hydro show last May!

Oh wait. DAMNIT! 

Monster Treasure land in UK ahead of debut album release

Briana Granados- Guitars/Vocals

The Lexington, London

23/05/2016

For the first time ever, Monster Treasure have touched down in the UK. Landing earlier this month the Californian trio have already played a string of notable British venues to prepare us all for Friday’s release of their hypnotically bittersweet self-titled debut album.

Monster Treasure have made no qualms about the record’s meaning, stating that it’s inspired by heartbreak, mortality and financial struggle. With that being the case you could expect a pretty melancholy result, and in many ways you wouldn’t be wrong.

But there’s another dimension to Monster Treasure, bordering on ‘sweet’, which also shined bright from the stage of London’s The Lexington on Monday night.

RJ Mar - Drums

The Lexington, London

23/05/2016

Monster Treasure’s layered vocal work, shared between Briana Granados (guitar) and Rachel Orimo (Bass), is engrossing to see live. Their harmonies give an almost psychedelic feel to the live performance, perhaps nowhere better then in Weird, the last track of the new release.

Catching up with the band ahead of their set drummer RJ said: “People that haven’t seen us physically think that we’re just an all-girl band…really there is a male drummer.”

That would be a male drummer that is infinitely present. A huge part of the perfect ying-yang that is Monster Treasure comes from the contrast between those psych vocals and the ferocious and fast paced nature of that rhythm section.

Rachel Orimo- Bass/Vocals

The Lexington, London

23/05/2016

The latest single from the album, Wake Up, is just one example of how that dimension works and also has a perfectly eclectic video to match.     

Using a healthy dose of distortion to nudge it all on its side, Monster Treasure perform live with just the right amount of personal reserve. The crowd could not take their eyes off the stage.

Utterly mesmerising soundtrack feels.    

 You can listen to Monster Treasure's The Salt for free, courtesy of Leisure & District, right HERE. 

Summer City impressed at London's Nambucca

Benji Adams - Guitars/Vocals
Nambucca, London
02/05/2016

As is the case for a lot of bands world over, several other artists have been used to describe Summer City but never has a “for fans of” tag line had the potential to be so long. These guys have taken inspiration from a huge range of genres and seamlessly fused them altogether to make something just a little bit different.

After just dropping their electrifying new EP Reprobates (April 22^nd, 2016) it was only right that Summer City took it out for a spin on a 6-date UK tour winding up in London’s famous Nambucca,  where they ran into us!   

Reprobates is a vigorously animated record which left a lot for Summer City to live up to on stage but they brought all the spirit, energy and attitude that these tracks demanded and more.

Kit Parker - Bass/Vocals
Nambucca, London
02/05/2016

First single, I’m A Wreck, was a definite highlight with one of the most engrossing electro-riffs I have ever heard (warning: will make you want to rave immediately) teamed with an unyielding drum section and a practically classic rock guitar solo which comes out of absolutely nowhere.    

But the pureness of Summer City’s punk-rock roots shine brightly in Burn It Down, a more stripped

back track with less electronic influence which really gives you a chance to appreciate the natural value of Benji Adams vocals.

Don’t worry, Summer City have got the all important acoustic track nailed as well. Sound of the Crowd is a really moving track heaped with emotion and really quite intense to watch on stage (even if we do phase into Hot Line Bling at some point, why not?!)

But title track from the EP, Reprobates completely stole the show. The perfect showcase of electro-pop-punk-british-hard-rock (yep, it’s a thing, see above) but with added sing-a-long lyrics. I call that perfection.

Reprobates is a fantastic second EP, an actual breath of fresh air, and it’s incredible to see that Summer City can more than pull off these tracks live. As they head off to film a new music video you can’t help to see what they come up with! Keep your eyes peeled!   

And obviously there was no way that we were letting Summer City go all the way back to York without facing the Grab Bag so if you're wondering which member once pissed himself on stage...well then this one is for you!: 

Benji Adams - Guitars/Vocals
Nambucca, London
02/05/2016

Eliza and The Bear performed a magical set at Bristol's Thekla

Eliza and the Bear
Thekla, Bristol
14/04/2016
Photo Credit: Lauren-Alice Golding

Seeing Eliza and the Bear has been on my “INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO DO LIST” since we criminally missed their set at Glasgow’s Hydro Arena last year. Since the London quintet just released their debut, self-titled, album I decided enough was enough, the time had come. I would see Eliza and The Bear at Bristol’s Thekla on April 14^th 2016.  The timing, as it turned out, was perfect.

At Louder Now we are no strangers to impromptu and slightly lengthy (yet never excessive) road trips. Whilst our jaunt to Bristol was by no means the most extravagant of these journey’s it might just have been the most bizarre.

Somewhere between castles that were actually train stations, closed roads that were actually open and boats that were actually gig venues I lost my mind and fell in love with the place.

Chris Brand - Bass
Thekla, Bristol
14/04/2016
Photo Credit: Lauren-Alice Golding

One of my favourite things about Bristol is that my very talented friend, Miss Lauren-Alice Golding,

lives just up the road, a situation that I took full advantage of. Lauren grabbed her 3-tonne camera and met me at the castle/train station for our first ever (and first of many please) collaboration!

And it’s just as well she did because the emotional rollercoaster that Eliza and the Bear were about to take me on was definitely not a ride to take solo.

My new favourite song, “Light It Up”, originally released on the 2014 EP of the same name and now sitting mid-way through the new album, kicked off the party. It’s the most upbeat, positive and encouraging track I have heard in a long time, the ultimate summer anthem and the perfect opener.

I adore that optimistic inclination that saturates everything that Eliza and the Bear do but it’s how they twist, variate and distort (key) which makes them special. “Make It On My Own” is a paramount example of this, a backdrop teetering on the verge of morose but still maintaining an affirmative energy and tempo to reduce you to tears. If you’re crying by song number two then you know the set’s magic.

Martin Dukelow - Guitar
Thekla, Bristol
14/04/2016
Photo Credit: Lauren-Alice Golding

Crowd participation is what takes a show from being great to being absolutely unbelievable, and we weren’t short of it tonight. Nevertheless the band challenged the audience with song “Where Have You Been” instructing them that it was their chance to prove that they had the album. It’s fair to say the audience passed the test.

Aside from the fact that it’s a blinding song with a parade-esque marching band beat, I have a huge appreciation for “Brother’s Boat” because live it was dynamite and also…we were on a mother flipping boat!

And just in case you doubted the bands determination (which I don’t think a single member of the crowd did for one second of this entire set) it’s worth remembering that vocalist James Kellegher asked his doting audience if they were “going to sink this ship or what?”

Whilst the tempo setting drum track from Paul Jackson maintains that addictive energy and Callie Noake’s keys add the optimistic tingles it’s the scratching guitars from Martin Dukelow that adds depth and sets Eliza and the Bear apart from the indie crowd.

James Kellegher - Guitar/Vocals
Thekla, Bristol
14/04/2016
Photo Credit: Lauren-Alice Golding

Live “Oxygen” was the best display of all of those attributes as well as a relentlessness where you could be sure that you’re being set up for a tempo drop that never, ever, comes.

Just as I was ready to declare that this performance could not possible get any more emotionally

charged Eliza and the Bear went and nailed a spine-tingling, tear-inducing, mobiles-and-lighters-up acoustic track that near enough broke my heart. For me, “Cruel” has been filed away in the playlist entitled “Beautiful songs that I must never listen to”.

After an equally beautiful chant of “YOU DIRTY SOUTHERN BASTARDS” the boys came back to play their defining tracks “It Gets Cold” and “Friends” to all the love, support and participation that a crowd can possibly give.

It was a remarkable set that, despite my months of waiting, really took me by surprise. If I ever get a chance to see Eliza and the Bear at a summer festival I will grab it with both hands because I honestly cannot think of anything that would be better.

But they are not just that summer band that you adore for festival season and then forget about. Eliza and the Bear are producing deeply meaningful and inspirational work and their live shows are nothing short of electric.

Martin Dukelow - Guitars
Thekla, Bristol
14/04/2016
Photo Credit: Lauren-Alice Golding

Eliza and the Bear are a band that you need in your life. When the stresses of work, dreams, friends, family and life have dimmed your internal lights you’ll be thankful that Eliza and the Bear are there to do what they do best and light it up.

Thankfully I can tell you that Eliza and the Bear did not sink Bristol’s Thekla. But my word did they try.

Huge thanks to Lauren-Alice Photography who took all of the stunning photos shown as well as shooting and editing this weeks Grab Bag video! She can be contacted HERE!

Go Primitive Need a New Bassist

Tomm E Williams - Vocals/Guitar
Zephyr Lounge, Leamington Spa
25/03/2016

Have you ever dreamt of joining an epically energetic band who can completely smash a live set? Do you have what it takes to tour with a seriously hard working outfit who have some amazing support slots lined up? Do you play the bass? Well then Go Primitive need to hear from you.

Hailing from Warwickshire, UK, Go Primitive have mastered their twist of emotionally charged melodic rock with attitude in abundance, and boy did they prove it at Leamington’s Zephyr Lounge in March.

Luckily we were there! But unluckily they announced that their bassist Ben Goodwin is to leave Go Primitive just days later.

It’s a mighty shame (and slightly troubling, hope it wasn’t something we said) but it does open the door for somebody new, who could be you!

But before you go polishing that music CV of yours, here are some things we learnt about Go Primitive, just so you know what you’d be getting yourself in to.

1)      Go Primitive write songs about dinosaurs and have been to outer space.

Correct me if I’m wrong but when a band announces on stage that “this next song is about dinosaurs” you know that they’re your new favourite band. ‘Velociraptor’ is a honed example of that tunefully classic hard rock sound that Go Primitive have nailed. It’s also called ‘Velociraptor’, do you really need another reason?

Go Primitive have also just released a video for their new single ‘In A Band’, cunningly titled because it’s about, you guessed it, being in a band. But in a shock twist, the video shows the boys turning their talents to space exploration.

Of the track the band said: “’In A Band’; the anti rock star song, is a contradiction to the cliché and a nod to our dedication and perseverance. The video represents our journey as a band, the struggle, the training to ultimately achieve our goal…you know…be astronauts!”

Well things are more entertaining in space.

Ben Goodwin - Bass
Zephyr Lounge, Leamington Spa
25/03/2016

2)      Go Primitive seriously shred.

Dinosaurs and Astronauts aside, the whole set was saturated in raw energy and did not disappoint. Screeching guitar solos take pride and place on stage supported by a consistently solid drum track which makes it impossible not to head bang (and how many bands can you actually head bang to nowadays?)  

3)      Go Primitive do not allow slacking at shows.

And even if they did you wouldn’t want to. Music this good and performances this fun are contagious and the Leamington Spa crowd filled the dreaded floor/stage gap with bouncing, clapping and dancing on request.

4)      Go Primitive’s warm up makes them sound like llamas.

What? Oh you want some clarification on this point? No problem, check the video below.

5)      Go Primitive get encores.

Well you can’t get a crowd all hyped and sweaty and then leave them hanging. After a sterling performance you could be fooled in to thinking that Go Primitive had nothing left to give, but you would be wrong. Shouts of ‘one more song’ were not ignored and the GP lads clambered back on to the stage for another shot.

It was a spectacular performance at the Zephyr Lounge and clearly Go Primitive’s stints supporting the likes of Mallory Knox, We Are The Ocean, The Subways and Lonely The Brave have been just the experience they needed.

Tomm E Williams - Vocals/Guitar
Zephyr Lounge, Leamington Spa
25/03/2016

Dan Teale - Drums
Zephyr Lounge, Leamington Spa
25/03/2016

Not to mention that the EP ‘100 Ways’, released last summer, is ridiculously good with belter after belter.  The set list practically writes itself.

To pull off a show as high in standard as this one takes dedication and frank perseverance. Go Primitive are serious contenders in the scene and you don’t get this good without a lot of hard work (and clearly quite a lot of fun).

But if you think you’re up to this task then there may be no better band to join right now then Go Primitive so head over to their Facebook and send them a message.

Dan Teale - Drums
Zephyr Lounge, Leamington Spa
25/03/2016

Cardinal Bay showcase new EP 'Answers'

Let's do things just a little bit different this time: 

Want to see that video on our YouTube channel? Of course you do!

Text from article reads: It’s obvious to anybody that has seen them play that Cardinal Bay are a force to be reckoned with. From thunderous new music to playing most of the show in the crowd, the Bridgewater 5-piece are nothing short of determined to deliver a good set.

Besides, it’s not as if they don’t have the experience to do just that. All five members have played in other bands in the local scene but joined forces in 2014 to make the post-hardcore super group that is Cardinal Bay.

Now they’re preparing to unleash their second EP ‘Answers’ on May 13^th 2016, which all but formed the set list for their incredible performance at Leamington Spa’s Zephyr Lounge last week.  

The set opened with new single ‘Answers’ which tackles a solemn and conspicuous social issue with all the energy that it deserves.

“The track ‘Answers’ is about divorce and how it affects any young children of those parents” the band have said “It’s about how a child might perceive the situation, perhaps believing or only hearing one side of a story … and not understanding until they’re older, trying to find ‘the answers’ themselves…”

With a vivacious drum track from Matt Ward, ‘Answers’ translates perfectly in a live setting and the dash of scream adds the edge that the topic needs.

Once the precedent had been set the rest of the night kept up the pace showcasing what could be the most promising EP release of the year.

Vocalist Josh Rogers complained of a scratchy voice but it didn’t hold him back one bit, launching into the crowd and staying there for a majority of the set you would have to be blind to miss his undeniable vigour.

‘Hold Tight’ and ‘Way Back Home’ from last year’s EP (of the same name as the latter) were also thrown into the mix. Both tracks have stood the test of that short time and stack up nicely against the new offerings. Somehow they add even more raw brashness to the live performance and it will be a sad day when either disappears from Cardinal Bay’s set list.

It was an electrifying performance and remarkably distinguished. If this is their output at 18 months then the potential here is staggering, they may well be able to outdo those artists they’re constantly compared to. Watch out Mallory Knox.

But yes, all of that is completely obvious to anybody who has seen Cardinal Bay live. But what might not be obvious is that they do really questionable things before they walk out on stage and would completely sell out given half a chance to tour with Justin Bieber. No seriously, you can hear all about it on our YouTube channel. 

• ·         Catch Cardinal Bay on the main stage at Teddy Rocks Festival at the Blandford Forum, Dorset,  on April 30^th 2016
• 
  
• ·         The explosive second EP ‘Answer’s will be released on May 13^th 2016
• 
  
• ·         Watch the video for new single ‘Answer’s on the bands Facebook

CARDINAL BAY CAN BE STALKED AT:
https://www.facebook.com/CardinalBay/...
http://www.cardinalbay.co.uk/
https://twitter.com/CardinalBayUK
https://www.instagram.com/cardinalbay/

How All Time Low Convinced Me They Are NOT A Pop Band

Jack Barakat & Alex Gaskarth
3Arena, Dublin
16/02/2016

I’m not going to sit here and claim that All Time Low are some sort of hard rock band, because I’m not on drugs or delusional (not currently or completely at any rate). That being said, they have for the most part stayed on the right side of the line that divides ‘rock music’ from…let’s call it everything else.

Nevertheless, I haven’t seen them in a year (didn’t see them at Reading Fest, only went one day, got no money, please send cash) and I’m man enough to admit that I was starting to worry. Risky moves have been made and I was pretentiously passing judgement all over the place.

But All Time Low eliminated those worries, shot down my pretentious judgement and proved that they are still the same boys that I fell in love with when I was 16. It wasn’t easy though. The way I see it, they adopted a four step program to achieve it.

Step 1: Take Good Charlotte out on tour.

YEP. YOU GUESSED IT. CAPTAIN HIPSTER HAYLEY SAW GOOD CHARLOTTE IN THE GOOD OLD DAYS.

No but seriously I did. I had to do the research but I haven’t seen them since 2005, and that was a good 5 years into their career.

Alex Gaskarth & Joel Madden (Good Charlotte)
3Arena, Dublin
16/02/2016

Good Charlotte are a part of pop-punk identity and by taking them out on tour All Time Low have played a huge part in preserving that. Better yet, they’ve helped re-launch it.  

The rough challenge of making a ten-song set list out of a ten-year career was made to look easy with some expected tracks (Girls and Boys, Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous) but more importantly with some absolute bangers in Riot Girl and The Story of My Old Man.

I thought I hit peak nostalgia at Reading but that was N-O-T-H-I-N-G in comparison to seeing those songs played live again. Mad props to All Time Low for having the balls to choose a band that holds a piece of pop-punk history, and means something to the community on a deep level, as opposed to a corner-cutting act that realistically might have sold a few more tickets. Way to hang on to your identity, and your place on that dark side of the line.

Step 2: Don’t play a single song from THAT album.

I’m not one to often take chunks out of an artist publicly but All Time Low themselves have said that 2011’s Dirty Work was potentially a step in the wrong direction for them. I’m not saying the album is trash, far from it, but for me it represents a time when they very nearly crossed that line and forgot who they were.

The fact that their set list spanned their entire career, even including Coffee Shop Soundtrack from their 2006 EP Put Up Or Shut Up, but did not include one single track from Dirty Work speaks volumes about All Time Low’s determination to never come that close to the line again.

I felt the absence of the So Wrong It’s Right era, in particular Remembering Sunday, but I respect their decision to bump the acoustic track in favour of Missing You since it’s a song that clearly means a lot to them (it struck a chord with me too, there were tears).

Jack Barakat - Guitar
3Arena, Dublin
16/02/2016

Besides, they played Poppin’ Champagne with all the ridiculous bra-drenched energy they always

have done, so it’s not as if set list crimes were committed.

The night relied more heavily on Nothing Personal (because it’s a blinding record) but was dominated by the edgier tracks from last year’s Future Hearts like Kids In The Dark and Dancing With a Wolf.

Honestly, I was chuffed with their set list choices and I could have forgiven a lot more as well. Perhaps fans that have followed them since the very, VERY, beginning would have a few words to say if they saw it written down but here’s the thing, All Time Low are incredible performers and frankly, they got this.

Step 3: Stop the set half way through a song because the Mosh Pits aren’t up to scratch.

So it’s pretty clear to me by now that All Time Low really are going as far as they can to stay true to themselves and stay with us here in the alternative world. But last night they proved that there will be no crowd-slacking on their watch.

When a rock vocalist like Alex Gaskarth tells you to start a mosh pit, my advice to you all is to start a

Alex Gaskarth - Vocals
3Arena, Dublin
16/02/2016

mosh pit. If you don’t, he will stop the song, he will call you out and he will tell you that you failed and demand you work harder.

Of course, he will then completely forget what key the song is in and have to restart it again but that’s irrelevant (and mostly hilarious). My point is, you might be fooled into thinking that you can go to an All Time Low show with your glow-sticks and iPhones and spend the entire show uploading footage to your Snapchat Story or Whatsapping bae but frankly, this was a pop-punk show and you’re an eejit. Embrace the traditions that make these shows what they are, or leave.

I heard an Irish woman say eejit whilst doing an impression of a Leprechaun at the National Leprechaun  Museum on Monday. It was a really special moment in my life.  

Step 4: Announce that you’re playing Download Festival half way through the tour.

And finally, just in case anybody was still in doubt of All Time Low’s love for the rock scene, they go and announce that this summer they will be playing Download Festival 2016.

Rian Dawson - Percussion 
3Arena, Dublin
16/02/2016

Not only will they be playing at the spiritual home of rock music but they will be headlining the Zippo Encore Stage. They’ll play just after Twin Atlantic (it’s as if all of my dreams have come true) and at the same time as Rammstein.

Pop-machine bands don’t do that.

You would be right to think that going all the way across the water is a bit mental, especially considering we live in such close proximity to the London arena (and what an incredible venue that is).

It’s not even as if we can justify it and claim it was because of the band. All Time Low are not Irish. (FYI: this is an incredibly subtle way of reminding you of that time we saw Twin Atlantic in Glasgow…it’s best to remind you since I don’t bring it up a lot.)

But it turned out Ireland was the most sensible place in the world to see All Time Low. My favourite thing about this place is that it has an incredible history, an unrivalled sense of identity and the Irish go to wonderful lengths to help preserve that.

I hate to suggest that words are not omnipotent but the fact of the matter is that there are NONE to describe how happy I am to tell you that All Time Low carries that exact same spirit in their hearts.