An interview with... Spring King

Spring King are one of the most promising young bands in the UK at the moment. After seeing them live for the first time in November 2014, it's no secret that we quickly fell in love with their unique sound and brilliant songs. They are a band that can translate the energy you feel from their recorded tracks when they perform live. With their forthcoming E.P set to be released later this month (April), we caught the four piece ahead of their sold out show supporting Courtney Barnett in Cambridge. Note: you may understand the drawings more once you have listened to the interview...




The band's brilliant artwork... Who do you think should have won?

James

Tarek

Andy (WINNER)

Pete

Gig Review... Courtney Barnett @ Cambridge Junction, 7th April 2015

Courtney Barnett at Cambridge Junction by Matt Thorpe

Courtney Barnett is no stranger to the UK. She's been to the country a few times before, and this is her second time in Cambridge. The only difference between now and when she last played is that she has a brand new album titled "Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit" and tonight's venue is about three and a half times the size as the venue she played in just last year. Barnett has seen her fan base and support growing rapidly in the UK and across Europe and by tripling the size of venues in just a space of a year proves that. However, judging by Barnett's ecstatic live performance it's very clear to tell that she is more than comfortable to play larger venues and it would be no surprise to see her tripling venues again in the coming year.

Fraser A. Gorman stepped onto the stage with just his acoustic guitar and a harmonica around his neck. Gorman and Barnett know each other. Gorman is signed to Barnett's label Milk! Records and has appeared in one or two of Barnett's music video (and Barnett has appeared in one or two of Gorman's videos). Gorman has a very country and folk influenced sound. His sense of humour is very dry and slightly awkward, but none-the-less he got a chuckle from an audience that seemed to be enjoying his music a lot. He played songs from his E.P including 'Book of Love' and some from his forth-coming debut album "Slow Gum" (out June 2015). Gorman could definitely find himself feeling at home with Barnett's fans as his peaceful and sweet country sounds weren't too dissimilar to Barnett's upbeat sound.

Spring King at Cambridge Junction by Matt Thorpe

Spring King followed Fraser A. Gorman and they fully delivered what you would expect them to deliver. Spring King have recently released two new track from their forthcoming E.P "They're Coming After You" and needless to say, they go down well with the relatively quiet Cambridge crowd. The band were winning new fans over by making their toes tap and pleasing the few people that already were familiar with their music. In fact, they saw their first mosh pit of the tour in Cambridge and drummer/vocalist Tarek seemed to be fairly surprised by that. Rattling through tracks from E.P "Demons" such as "Can I?" and "Better Man", Spring King were using the most of their time on stage. There are big things in the future for the four piece, even if they aren't the best at drawing (check out our interview with Spring King here to see some self portraits the band did). "We can't warm you up for Courtney", Tarek told the crowd, but I would completely disagree. Spring King had set the mood for Barnett's set that was shortly to follow.

Courtney Barnett at Cambridge Junction by Matt Thorpe

Courtney Barnett's stage show was brilliant. It's hard to describe... Imagine sticking your head under your bed covers and watching a band perform, but also maybe try some hallucinogenic to recreate the cool projections above and behind the band. One guy very close to the front was getting very into it. He was either summoning Satan with his odd hand gestures or simply practising Tay Chi in the middle of a gig. Barnett started her set with "Elevator Operator", the first track from her new album. She performs with two other members, Dave on drums and Bones on bass (who's jokes didn't really work so Courtney had to stand up for him). They played a long set, well over an hour long and crammed in songs from "Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit" and "The Double E.P: A Sea of Split Peas". Tracks like "History Eraser", "Avant Gardner" and "Pedestrian at Best" went down a storm. At no point did Barnett and co. lose any energy. They closed their set with "Pedestrian at Best" before coming back on to do an encore. With the help of Spring King, "Pedestrian at Best" saw a decent pit and some crowd surfing.

Courtney Barnett's live shows may not be exactly what you expect by listening to her records but it is a show you can't miss. There's energy, it's loud and there are mosh pits, everything needed for a good show. It won't be long before she is gracing stages such as Brixton Academy. Make sure you check out our interview with her here and her label Milk! Records and watch Barnett's video for "Pedestrian at Best" below:



- Words by Nathan McLaren-Stewart

An interview with... Courtney Barnett

On the release of her new album "Sometimes I Sit and Think, Sometimes I Just Sit", Courtney Barnett is playing her biggest headline shows to date and is gaining more and more support across the UK, Europe, America and her home country Australia. Tonight Barnett is playing Cambridge, a city she played less than a year ago, however tonight's show is sold out and in a venue more than three times the size of the previous venue. We met up with Barnett in her dressing room backstage to have a chat.

Touring outside of Australia is something that's fairly new to you. How have you coped adapting to the rapid amount of support you've been getting in the UK and US and other places?

It's been cool. I guess we've never really toured outside of Australia since last year so it's just kinda been crazy. New things, new places and new times.

You've played Cambridge before. Now you're in this venue that's much bigger. 

Yeah, it's a lot bigger! [Laughs]. It's pretty nice to come across the world and play bigger rooms. It's positive.

You played an album release show in London recently and as part of that show you had your own art on the walls. Do you find at times that your music can influence your art or your art influences your music?

Yeah, I think they both run into each other a little bit. I probably draw as much as I write when I'm just fucking around in my books and stuff, so it's just a different way to get ideas across.

When do you find you do most of your writing?

Urm... I don't really know, it always changes. Sometimes I don't write for a week and then sometimes I go crazy with it. But it's kinda wherever I get ideas.

Before coming to the UK you were out in America and you did SXSW. When you're travelling for a long period of time is there anything back home that you really miss?

Just general friends and family. My cat. Though I get videos of my cat [laughs]. I guess just other little bits you kinda miss without really noticing like your local things. You know, your local cafe or bar or whatever, but it's not really a big deal.

You're supported tonight by Fraser A. Gorman who is on your label Milk! Records. I noticed you're in some of his videos and he's in the background of some of yours.

Yeah. Actually we kind of fucked it up recently. We both have done more videos now and we've broken the tradition but we were trying to get a video for video cameo... But yeah, we're just friends from back home [Melbourne, Australia]. He's on my label back home and now he's also joined the same UK label.

So is it nice to come out on tour with a friend?

It's fucking awesome. Yeah, just makes it... I don't know. Spring King are really cool as well, but it's just nice having an extra face you know in a far away place.

So your album title "Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit" was taken from a poster in your grandmother's house. Do you find that the places you're in influences your music more? So if you're in the UK do you find that influences you differently than writing back home?

I think a little bit, but most of the time a lot of memories are associated with places. I guess I have been writing quite a bit whilst I've been travelling but most of the time it links back to other places. But yeah, the place totally directs where the stories are going.

Your new album explores some different genres. For example, in "Pedestrian at Best' the chorus is pretty up-beat and rock but then in other songs like "Depreston" it's a bit slower. Do you find that one style of music speaks to you more than other styles or is it more just what fits with the song?

I think that with every story there is different emotion and different emotions bring different energies. I just think it kind of makes itself obvious, there's no certain genre I try to stick by or mould all the songs around and then when we play everything as a band the emotion narrated the energy and it just becomes apparent as to what it's going to sound like.

Do you find that a crowd influences your performance a lot?

Yeah definitely. I think it bounces off each other. Their energy bounces off us and we bounce off them, it always works in different ways so I guess that's the cool thing about performing, there's no formula, you never know what it's gonna be. You could be in the greatest mood and play the shittest show or vice versa.

Lots of bands from the USA say that touring in the UK is a lot different because you can be in your next city within a few hours, where as in the US it can take up to ten hours to get to your next city. What's the difference in Australia?

Oh compared to Australia it's nothing. It takes a whole day to get anywhere in Australia so the US and UK is just like "wow! we're in a new place in a couple of hours!" It's amazing! [Laughs].

So if you were to do karaoke, what song would you do? 

[Laughs] Well probably... either "Stop Right Now" by the Spice Girls or... Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart"... or Tom Jones "Burning Down The House"... I could keep going... [Laughs].

But the thing is, if you were singing the Spice Girls you would have to do a dance too. Do you reckon you could do that?

I mean... it would really depend what mood I was in!

Depends how well the show goes! What do you reckon the best piece of advice you've ever received is?

I don't know... I don't think that people have ever really given me advice... [Laughs]. Or you know, not like, really good one liners. My uncle was a financial guy... a financial planner and he used to say "if you look after the dollars..." no, wait, "if you look after the cents, the dollars will take care of themselves" or something like that! [Laughs].

Yeah my gran has said that one!

[Laughs] Yeah! And I was like... "whatever". I always threw my cents away.

And finally, can you draw yourself in 30 seconds for us?

Yeah, I will do is with my eyes closed.

Thanks for talking to us Courtney!

Words by Nathan McLaren-Stewart

An Interview With... Nai Harvest

It's no secret that two piece punk band Nai Harvest are about to have a great 2015. Their unique sound is creating a following for them in the UK and they can only grow from here.

Photo by Nathan McLaren-Stewart (www.nathanmstewart.com)

With their debut album set to be released this year, we expect they will be playing a lot of shows and a lot of festivals. We caught up with the band on at their first show of 2015 in Norwich. Check out the video below:

- Nathan (@nxths)

Album Review... Thurston Moore - 'The Best Day'

Ex-Sonic Youth frontman Thurston Moore is back with a new album to be released on October 20th. Moore's new album 'The Best Day' will be his fourth solo release. On the release of the LP he is set to do a short UK tour in November. Though Moore is straying away from Sonic Youth, 'The Best Day' is not far different from Sonic Youth's distinctive sound. Here's what we think...

Opening with the eight and a half minute long 'Speak To The Wild', you seem to find yourself captivated to Moore's unique sound. Sonic Youth were very well known for their experimental post-punk anthems such as 'Teenage Riot', 'Schizophrenia' and 'Superstar' and Moore's solo work carries that same distinctive sound. Track two, just shy of twelve minutes long, includes long instrumentals of sounds that are simply a bit strange yet work so perfectly. 

Lyrics wise, Moore seems to have taken a little more personal approach to this album compared to some of Sonic Youth's angst-fuelled anti-sexism bangers. The distorted and slightly out of tune guitars mixed with his husky voice makes an angry sound in songs such as 'Detonation'. 'Detonation' is a song that let's steam, with powerful and harsh lyrics. It is followed by much slower 'Vocabularies' that starts with a two and a half minute long instrumental with acoustic guitars. When the vocals come in it remains a dark, grungy intense song. 

The long instrumentals continue in 'Grace Lake', a song that you can feel taking over your mind. Moore's distinctive guitar playing style accompanied by edgy drum beats creates a song that is crying for a mosh pit. The whole song feels like a massive build up. A lengthy build up of distortion to an explosion of psychedelic punk-rock goodness. Just when you think the seven minute long instrumental is over, it re starts it's self for a final minute of a calm and unforgettable guitar riff before coming to a slow yet monumental end. It's probably the best instrumental song you will ever hear.

Finally, the LP ends with 'Germs Burn'. With a heavy riff accompanied by punk-esque vocals and featuring a guitar solo that could either come from a Nirvana classic or an eighties hard-rock band, 'Germs Burn' is the perfect head nodding jam to close a brilliant album. 

It is possible that 'The Best Day' could be one of the best albums to be released this year. Moore's future after Sonic Youth is looking very healthy.

The track listing is as follows: 

Speak To The Wild

Forevermore

Tape

The Best Day

Detonation

Vocabularies

Grace Lake

Germs Burn

Out of 10: 9/10

You can steam Thurston Moore's 'The Best Day' over at NPR Music by clicking here and pre-order it here. Check out his tour dates here.

- Nathan McLaren-Stewart (@nxths)

Thurston Moore streams new album 'The Best Day' - Out October 20th

It's good news for Sonic Youth fans today! Frontman Thurston Moore is streaming his brand new album 'The Best Day' over at NPR Music. The eight-song-long LP comes out later this month on October 20th but you can listen to it now here. You can pre-order 'The Best Day' here.

Moore will be playing a few UK dates in November. The dates are as followed:

London, Islington Assembly Hall (November 7)
Bristol, Fleece (8)
Manchester, Gorilla (9)
Glasgow, Art School (11)
Nottingham, Bodega (12)

- Nathan McLaren-Stewart (@nxths)

Single Review... David Bowie - Sue (Or In A Season Of Crime)

David Bowie is a household name, and rightly so. Bowie is one of the most respected musicians in the world and has multiple classic albums to his name. Songs such as 'Heroes', 'Let's Dance' and 'Space Oddity' have gone down in history as some of the best songs ever released. There is absolutely no doubt that Bowie is a mastermind. However, the peak of Bowie's musical career has been and gone as shown with his new song 'Sue (Or In A Season Of Crime)'.

Lasting for an impressive seven minutes (probably three minutes too long), Bowie's 'Sue' is a chaotic and manic fuse of music that simply does not fit together. To say the very least, the song is experimental. The heavy influence in jazz mixed with Bowie's roots make for a stressful seven minutes. There is a reason why Bowie and Frank Sinatra would never work together, and that reason has been released. And obviously because Sinatra has passed away.

The song comes across as being fuelled by love and intense passion which is represented through the very off-beat drumming. Bowie's vocals are strained and most definitely not sounding as good as they once did. It's a disappointing clash of instruments that is unsettling and not as one would expect from David Bowie. Unfortunately, not even his fame or long list of great past hits can excuse this song.

Out of 10: 4/10

Have a listen to 'Sue (Or In A Season Of Crime)' below and tell us what you think!

- Nathan (@nxths)

Gig Review... Pulled Apart By Horses @ HMV Cambridge, 3rd September 2014

Back in May, Pulled Apart By Horses embarked on a mammoth of a UK tour with support from The Wytches playing some pretty intimate venues. One of these venues was The Portland Arms in Cambridge and I went down to take some photos of the gig. By the end of Pulled Apart By Horses’ set, security had given up and part of the ceiling had collapsed (probably due to frontman Tom Hudson crowd surfing during ‘High Five, Swan Dive, Nose Dive’) and hit bassist Rob Lee square in the face. It’s now early September and the band have returned to Cambridge, but instead of tearing a venue apart by loud, distorted punk rock and violent mosh pits, they are playing an acoustic set in HMV.

Promoting their new album, ‘Blood’, Pulled Apart By Horses decided that they would do the acoustic tour as it was not something they had done before. Personally, I wasn’t too sure what to expect. At no point was I expecting it to not live up to how good they sound at live shows, but it’s not normal to hear Pulled Apart By Horses and acoustic in the same sentence.

Opening their six song set with ‘V.E.N.O.M’ from 2012 release ‘Tough Love’, the band started to draw shoppers closer to hear what was going on. With Rob out of the game due to illness, the line up consisted of Tom Hudson, guitarist James Brown and drummer Lee Vincent. Playing through new songs such as ‘Hot Squash’, ‘Grim Deal’ and ‘Lizard Baby’ made me feel like I was at the Nirvana MTV Unplugged Session. Hudson’s voice suits their acoustic sound well and there isn’t many bands in their genre that can adapt to a completely different style of music. The set included a cover of Iggy and the Stooges’ ‘I Wanna Be Your Dog’ followed by the trio closing with fan favourite ‘High Five, Swan Dive, Nose Dive’.

That was awesome!!! Thank you sooooo much to @PulledHorses You're our fave! #hmv #Cambridge @hmvtweets pic.twitter.com/PSZsaF1r8N
— HMV Cambridge (@HMVCambridge) September 3, 2014

It would be no surprise if Pulled Apart By Horses released an acoustic E.P sometime soon. The response to the songs being played on this short run are nothing but positive and it’s great to see a band with so much musical talent that they can experiment with new sounds. Make sure you check out their new album and catch them on their UK tour this November (21st - Manchester, 22nd - Glasgow, 24th - Brighton, 25th - Birmingham, 26th - Bristol, 28th - London) or on their short Dr Martens X DIY European run this week.

Written by - Nathan McLaren-Stewart

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Gig Review... Catfish and the Bottlemen @ Lodestar, 29th August 2014

Catfish and the Bottlemen’s triumphant summer is drawing to an end as they prepare to release debut album ‘The Balcony’ and go on their sold out UK run of shows, including a night at Koko London. The weekend after their set at Reading Festival (which for the record was an insane gig) they found themselves in the tiny town Lode (which frontman Van McCann later used in the set to say “Blow a lode”) to play MainStage at Lodestar festival, headlined by Public Service Broadcasting.

Catfish and the Bottlemen have always been a band that put all their effort into their gigs and Lodestar was no different. Opening the set with single ‘Rango’, the band drew a crowd that was strong with teenagers all there just to see them. Young girls at the front were holding a sign for the band whilst a dad held up his 6 or so year old son up in the air for the entirety of the set. “Hey little man, I know you!” McCann shouted at the young boy, recognising him from Latitude Festival and later gave him a setlist.

Powering through all their singles, Catfish and the Bottlemen were giving the crowd a reason to dance and have a good time. The hits such as ‘Kathleen’ and most recent single ‘Cocoon’ were getting a strong reaction. McCann, being the charmer he is, kept on thanking the crowd and telling them how grateful him and the band were and told them that this show was just as special as Reading and Leeds Festival.

Catfish closed with a new song that they have been playing at festivals over the summer, ‘Tyrant’, which will be released as a single very soon. The night didn’t end there for Catfish and the Bottlemen. As soon as the band were offstage they were in the crowd meeting fans and taking photos, showing how much they do appreciate the people that go to their shows.

We at It’s All Indie can’t wait for the album to come out and are counting down the days until their debut UK tour starts. If Ewan McGregor likes the band, you do too!

Written by - Nathan McLaren-Stewart
Photos by - Nathan McLaren-Stewart

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Bands To Look Out For At Y Not Festival

Heading to Y Not Fest this year? So am I, so that’s why I have made my list of bands that you’ve got to catch over the three day festival. First let’s start with the Friday:

My first act to catch at this year’s Y Not Festival are Woahnows. I caught Woahnows whilst they were supporting Gnarwolves recently and I impressed. The young, noisy and upbeat indie punk act will certainly get you moshing. Andrew W.K is headlining the Giant Squid Stage and when it’s time to party, Andrew W.K party hards. The Californian party hero will certainly get you moving on the Friday night. Heading onto the Quarry Stage you’ll find Itch. The ex King Blues frontman has a raw sound that could not possibly be missed. Circa Waves are to play the Quarry Stage later on and with their summer anthem ‘Stuck In My Teeth’ they are a band that you don’t want to miss! Now moving onto the Main Stage (i.e The Big Gin Stage) you’ve got Superfood. Fresh off supporting Wolf Alice on their mammoth May UK tour, Superfood are being backed by the likes of It’s All Indie, DIY and NME. Their sound is different and will be a sure hit, especially if the sun is shining.

Don’t get too partied up on the Friday night though as the Saturday of Y Not Festival has some incredible bands. The Giant Squid Stage is graced by the raw and noisy Slaves. With unbeatable energy and a strong punk influence, Slaves are slowly taking the scene by storm. My advice is to grab your best mate and throw them into the pit because Slaves are not one to miss. Next up on the Giant Squid Stage are The Wytches. After seeing The Wytches supporting Pulled Apart By Horses on their most recent UK tour I have had them playing almost every day. The raw and grunge sound will be filling the whole tent and will definitely create an atmosphere like none other. If you are wanting to stray more into the rock scene then definitely check out the guys in Canterbury. Off the release of their latest album, Canterbury are second from headlining the Big Squid Stage and I wouldn’t be surprised if next year they are headlining. Saint Raymond will be bringing his bouncy indie to the Quarry Stage and I doubt you’ll see a single person standing still during his set. Over on the Big Gin Stage, Catfish and the Bottlemen will be getting the crowd going. Catfish and the Bottlemen have a distinctive sound and are on the verge of turning into one of the UK’s biggest indie band so this is your last chance to catch them play a more intimate festival! Straight after Catfish and the Bottlemen you won’t want to leave main stage as next up are Birmingham 5 piece Swim Deep. With the sun on your back, it’s definitely going to be a nice day with these guys as they are sure to make your watch tick slowly (see what I did there?). Swim Deep’s ambient yet bouncy indie music will get the whole crowd jumping.

Moving on to the final day of Y Not Festival, Sunday see’s some great live acts. On the Giant Squid stage you absolutely must see Baby Godzilla. Baby Godzilla are a band like no other. The “General Extreme Noise” band will absolutely tear down the stage. I took photos of them at Moles in Bath and I still have not got over their set. Highlight of their summer so far could possibly be moshing in a bin at this year’s 2000 Trees Festival. These dudes take crowd participation to a whole new level. Bipolar Sunshine will be bringing good vibes to the Quarry Stage on the Sunday. The chilled, electronic sounds are sure to get the festival moving. Finally on the Big Gin Stage you’ve got your best friends in Palma Violets. With sing a long summer anthems, Palma Violets are going to be a great band to catch just before the sun goes down.

So there you have it: the bands I am most looking forward to seeing at Y Not Festival in two week’s time. My advice is to check out as many bands as you can and to have a good time. Also, keep an eye out on It’s All Indie for some photos. See you in the sunshine!

Written by - Nathan McLaren-Stewart

26 Things Idiots Do At Festivals and What Not To Do!

Here at It's All Indie we like a festival, but what annoys us is the ladish behaviour of teenagers and whingey girls. Here's a list of WHAT NOT TO DO at a festival and things we've seen people do over the years!

1 - Wearing sunglasses at night - WHY it doesn't make sense! 

2 - Girls who wear bands of flowers in their hair - Much like the photo below, you don't look lovely you look stupid, get those dandylions out of your hair!

3 - People who wear glasses like Kanye West's in his video "Stronger" - you look like a total douche, if anything it makes you see less! 

4 - Connor wrote - "A girl sat on my feet at Reading thinking it was the ground and did a poo in the crowd." Now despite people saying festival bogs are bad, it's still better than shitting on someone's foot, expect a kick up the shitter if you try that!

5 - The total bellend that pushes people into the pit - do this and expect to be mauled!

6 - In relation to the above post, we have people that mosh to the wrong type of band, I've seen people mosh to Mumford & Sons, Alt-J performing "Matilda" and Lianne La Havas - seriously, who are you people!

7 - Dancing to Azelia Banks off your nut - seriously!!! (Below is a video of me doing so)

Post by Fred Bambridge.

8 - Cerys put - "People who wear Nirvana t-shirts and ask who Kurt Cobain is" - This has and will always annoy everyone who knows who Nirvana are!

9 - Nathan commented - "Oh and shout out to the guy that was walking around Reading 2010 during Blink 182's set with his dick out and pissing everywhere. Toilets, use them."

10 - Richard wrote - "The poo girl from Leeds who fell into the trench after trying to reach for her purse" - Link here of the story.

"Poo Girl"

11 - People that steal chairs - come on! It's a festival, share the love and don't steal, if anything wait until we're drunk then ask us, we'd say yes if you're kind enough!

12 - People who shit near tents - Look, there's enough toilets around the site, USE THEM!

13 - Nathan also wrote - "Those people that walk about Reading Festival carrying 20,000 cups or so just to get a couple of quid, I mean I'm all up for recycling but there's music going on!" - Takes the piss if you ask me, who wants to pick up rubbish when bands are playing? NOT ME!

14 - Matthew said - "People that stand there criticising the whole entire performance of something quite spectacular. "Oh those drums aren't in time and the crowd are all idiots" ... " - You try and do it!

15 -  Josh said "The people that try and sing-along to the song and magnificently fuck up" - Especially when on screen!!!

 16 - He also said "The girls that are on shoulders for the ENTIRE performance, one or two songs yes, but give someone else a chance to see the band play!"

17 - Matthew has said the best thing so far "People who do a massive poo on a stick and throw it around like a spear" - Just NO!

18 -  He also put - "People who buy laughing gas balloons for five pound"

19 - Josh commented - "Piss in cups is a hurter" - Why do people do it! HOLD IT IN!!!

20 - Josh also went on to say "people who don't go to the music at all" - It's a festival of MUSIC, hint's there guys!

21 - Also, do not spend all day getting beer from TESCO! 

22 - Courtney said - "Anyone who has ever shouted Steve, Fenton or Alan in their life" - Just die!

23 - He also went on to say "... or tried to get laid by playing a very painful rendition of "Wonderwall" on some shit little guitar"

 24 - Throwing bottles at the performers, although for this one 'act' it's fine!




25 - Nathan put - "People that bring ukulele's to festivals" - WHY!!!

26 - Onsies - Where do I even start, I don't care if you look like a Penguin, just piss off!

Idiots

JUST HAVE FUN - AND IF YOU SEE ME - SAY HI!