LIVE REVIEW: One Track Mind + Support. Buffalo, Cardiff

It's been a busy time for the pop punk trio from Caerphilly. Fresh off the back of a hugely successful 2011 they hit the studio to record some new material and start planning for 2012. Through those studio sessions at Music Wales they managed to get their debut release, 'Turn It Up' into Tesco stores at various locations around South Wales! The mini-album as they call it was released officially this week and it fell in nicely with a couple of gigs they were due to play this weekend.

I've know these lads for about 10 years, and their love of all things 'OTM' is still just as apparent today as when I first met them and it's hard to believe that this weekend would bring not only a physical album release but their first headline show at Buffalo bar on Sunday May 6th with support from Dare You To Move (formerly High Demand) and Story To Be Told, both of whom are up and coming bands on the pop punk scene.

Kicking the night off, Story To Be Told a young 4 piece who play up tempo pop/punk. New Found Glory are an obvious influence on these guy's, the vocalist's style is very similar yet lacking slightly in confidence however very enjoyable and as these guy's get more comfortable they will be a force to be reckoned with! I would like to hear the vocalist 'belt it out' a bit more but that's my personal view, (please take it the way it's meant to be taken lads!) 

Story To Be Told

These guy's are a tight unit with an arsenal of catchy riffs and tracks full of vocal hooks worthy of the greatest purveyors of the Pop Punk genre! The boy's blasted through a variety of their own tracks and even threw in a cover of Bowling For Soups' track '1985'. Overall an immensely enjoyable set that you didn't have to think too hard about trying to understand (Perfect for me!) As their bassist said to me when I asked what they want to achieve as a band "Top Punk", enough said I think.

Story To Be Told will be live in The Vault at BRfm on June 20th and I'll be presenting so make sure you listen to or watch that one on the live TV stream. www.brfm.tv

Next up came Dare You To Move, I saw these guy's live last year as part of Surface Festival where they went under the name High Demand, having only very recently opted for a name change. All I can say is this band has come a long way since that show! Tight is not the word, it's like these boys can read each others mind, and the huge sound that, that creates will blow you away. 

Dare You To Move

Playing a selection of their own tracks including 'Don't Look Down' a track I've played a number of times over the last few shows, throwing in covers including Feeders', 'Buck Rogers' and 'My Hero' by The foo Fighters they too gave a high energy show. Their tracks translated exceptionally well from recordings to live performance, and they really are not far from perfecting what is already a very polished live performance. Edgy riffs, perfect timing and the sense that the lads on stage are enjoying playing the show as much as the crowd were listening to them left me very impressed and they're definitely a band I would go and see live time after time. Ending their set with their last single 'Take Off Your Disguise" the boys left the stage to a very warm an appreciative crowd, I'm sure they gained a few more fans there tonight!

OTM - Bassist - Chris Vater

Last but by no means least were the headliners/organisers One Track Mind. Despite the gig running exceptionally smoothly, the sound engineer doing a cracking a job and the two support acts really bringing their 'A game' I think this was the most stressed I've ever seen Bassist Chris Vater. If you know him you'll know that he is one the most laid back people on the planet, but tonight I saw a different side to him, an organised side and that's not something I ever thought I would say. Every aspect of the show planned with meticulous detail which meant the whole gig was a resounding success, the bands sounded great, there was a good crowd and more importantly all the timings ran with military precision!

It was time for OTM to take the stage and do what they do best..Punk with the tiniest hint of pop! If you were to ask me who OTM sound like I would have to say it's a cross between Alkaline Trio both in the guitar and vocal tone with bits of Reel Big Fish Ska thrown in for good measure. They  kick off with one of my personal favourite tracks of theirs '15 Minutes Of Fame' and as soon as it kicks in you can tell there's something different about the OTM lads tonight, something I've never really seen from them before, confidence and man did make a huge difference to their live show. They managed to take the gig up about 5 notches and I don't know how as the support acts were both awesome on the night. Karl was singing and playing guitar with almost a new sense of freedom, Rhys was as energetic as ever behind the kit and Vater played some of the best bass solos I've heard in a long time!

OTM - Guitar & Vocals - Karl Apsey

The just over an hour long set seemed to fly by, as they blasted out track after track and created a huge sound, with a texture and depth that you very really get from a 3 piece band. The crowd got involved and everyone seemed to have an awesome time, especially during the trio of Ska songs in the middle of the set including 'The Bong Song', a new track which I didn't catch the name of and a cover of 'Billionaire' by Travie McCoy.

OTM - Drums - Rhys Morgan

OTM ended the set with the title track to their debut release 'Turn It Up' and in true pop punk fashion got the megaphone out which got the crowd chanting along with them but as the track finished the audience weren't quite ready for the show for to be over yet so the boys broke out yet another new song, which yet again I failed to catch the name of and it went down a storm.

Overall the show was a huge success, bands and fans alike enjoyed themselves, it was one of the best shows I've been to for a while and although 'Turn it' up has only just hit stores, I can't wait for their sophomore  release!

you can find the bands here:

One Track Mind

Dare You To Move

Story To Be Told

There's also a photo gallery up on the galleries page so be sure to check it out.

Thanks for reading,

Craig. 

FEATURED ARTIST: BLIND TIGER

Collectively They are known as Blind Tiger but if you want to get personal they are: Charlie, Lead Singer and Rhythm Guitar, Tawny (not Tony) lead Guitarist and Backing Vocals, Joey, Bassist and Backing Vocals and last but not least Mozzie, Drums and backing Vocals.

Blind Tiger are 4 guys from Norwich demonstrating that there is still a long way to go before the 1980's rock scene fades away. They look the part. They sound great. And they write their own stuff which is miles ahead of many established acts in the charts today.

Since joining forces they have released an EP titled Against the Grain which contains energetic and explosive tracks such as Rock N Load and We Got The Fire. Other tracks such as She and No Longer Mine which were performed live on BBC Radio Norfolk offer a more mellow approach to the bands musical talents if you don't enjoy letting your hair down and rocking out. But my personal favourite has got to be I Live To Love You, which is taken from new material we were lucky enough to get a sneak preview of. And if you want to know why I suggest you listen for yourself. Trust me. 

Blind Tiger draw clear influences from some of the greatest bands of all time such as Bon Jovi, Guns n Roses and Motley Crüe. With an EP like Against the Grain at such an early stage in the bands formation only a fool will say these guys ain't got what it takes. Some bands (which cant be named for legal reasons and reasons which could put my health at risk) would kill for just one of these tracks to be handed down to them on a silver platter in order for them to say they had one good song in their back catalogue. 

Their website is listed with gigs as long as my arm for 2012 which shows these guys are committed to the Music Revolution which is around the corner. So if you fancy taking part in the revolution check out their website on www.blindtigerband.co.uk and if you can make it to one of their gigs go check them out and let us know what the live Blind Tiger experience is like. 

We're hoping we can make the journey up from Wales to catch these guy's live some time this year or bring them down to play on Welsh soil so look out for details!

Thanks for reading,

Jamie Dykes

REVIEWS: Silas - Set To Fail, Since Monroe - DJ and Keith Cullen - Losing My Way

Silas – Set To Fail


As soon as ‘Set To Fail’ begins, I am headbanging. Metal is my strongest taste in music and this appeals to me from the offset. They are from my neck of the woods in the United Kingdom and I find this even more endearing. The vocalist has a very strong voice and from the amazing instrumental work of the band through to the awesome riffs, Silas have the potential to make a mark in metal.


Here's the track taster on from YouTube, shame the immense introduction is not on here!

Since Monroe - DJ

Tighter than an indie boys jeans. Bringing Grunge back with a hint of pop this time. This is the description on the bands Facebook page. I have to say from the start of the track ‘DJ’, you get that grunge feeling, raw recording with a strong dirty bass line right from the start. This made me want to listen on. listen on. Very energetic and with a catchy chorus this band have nailed exactly what they have aimed for.

Checkout the official video on Youtube!

Keith Cullen - Losing My Way

I will be honest from the start, this is not normally my type of music. But I do not and will never dismiss talent. Keith Cullen has a very strong voice and has written a very beautiful song here. From the soft melodic piano up until the drums enter and the tempo changes. Keith Cullen has the potential to go far and has potential to go far and has already gained quite a fan base on Facebook with nearly six thousand likes.

Links to all the bands:

Silas

Since Monroe

Keith Cullen

By Kevin Lal.

FEATURED ARTIST: Xander And The Peace Pirates

So I started the show back towards the end of 2011, since then I've received quite literally hundreds of tracks, ranging from some brutal Metalcore to calming acoustic instrumental artists. There's some really great unsigned artists out there waiting to be noticed who will make it, some won't and then there comes the rare band that knocks you for six and leaves you thinking; "How is it possible that these guy's aren't signed?". Ladies and Gentlemen I give you Xander and the Peace Pirates.

This band is a 5 piece based in Liverpool and quite simply, I didn't think bands like this existed anymore. These guy's are putting songs from the heart, filled with soul and laced with funk back into the public domain. Citing artists such as Hendrix, John Mayer and Stevie Ray Vaughn as influences and adding to that the fact that they are the resident act at the World famous Cavern Club in Liverpool and you know from the start you're dealing with a band who not only know their music but can competently pull it off before you even hear them. Then add to that the fact that they opened for Bon Jovi at Old Trafford in front of 50,000 people last year and if you're anything like me you're itching to hear them.....they don't disappoint!

Whether it's the slow yet soulful songs like "Truth Lies" or "This Life" or the ridiculously catchy, funk laden sounds of  "Fire", "Nightdress" or "City of God" this band impresses with every note. Some songs so sublimely simple that you can't help but to relax into them and some with bass lines and melodies that are so infectious they will be stuck in your head for days even weeks. The musical talent of this band can not be challenged, if you know anything about music you will recognise that. Everything blends perfectly, bass lines that could easily be found on Chili Peppers album, Guitars which would be at home on just about any legendary blues/funk album and the soulful vocal which is almost like a chilled out Myles Kennedy is the icing on the cake.

On Saturday 29th September 2012 you can catch them live at The Tivoli Venue in Buckley, all the details can be found at the event page here. We will be attending and interviewing the band before the show so keep you're eyes peeled for that! You can find more info on the band on Facebook by clicking here.

Thanks for Reading.

Craig

Surface Festival 2012

So, Surface Festival has started all around the country with the Welsh first round due to start on March 31st at the great venue that is the Undertone Basement in Cardiff, but what exactly is Surface Festival?

We live in a time where the reality television show rules the media, in some cases making stars out of the previously unknown but more often than not promising a level of stardom and fortune that is rarely delivered. Like it or not these TV talent shows are here to stay. Talent shows, battle of the bands competitions and "showcase" events have got themselves a bad name in recent years, either because of the lack of credibility caused by the above or because of promoters who are in it for the money and don't actually care if they deliver on their promises. Surface Festival is different to all these competitions, for one reason, one huge reason. There are no false promises!

The team behind Surface have grafted over the years to create a credible event that not only gives bands and artists the chance to win some awesome prizes but it also provides in-valuable experience in larger venues as well as great advice on how to develop your career as a musician and build a business out of what you love doing. How do I know that this is the case? I know this because I've been involved with Surface, not as an employee or promoter but as a competitor. My band Blackwaters entered the competition in 2011 and ended up finishing joint top for the Welsh region and playing at the o2 in London for the international final. So I know that these guy's do everything they can to help you, they're not just interested in their take from the door at the shows, they are doing their best to help develop unsigned artists all over Europe.

Surface does not claim that it will turn you into rock stars overnight or even at all, what the guy's at Surface say is that if you're good enough to win this we will give you prizes worth around £100,000 in value to help you make this your career, including equipment, video/photo shoots, recording sessions at a pro studio, a tour and a festival appearance. You will have to do the rest. Don't get me wrong Surface is hard work and entering is not something you should take lightly, if you enter put the work in and you will have an awesome experience from start to finish. You will get out of the competition what you put in and you'll have to beat the best bands from around Europe to get the big prizes at the end.

Having said all that about the prizes, the ultimate prize is undoubtedly the connections and experience you gain throughout the competition.

We will be covering a lot of the shows here in Wales for the radio show so expect a few Surface Festival specific blogs to come your way.

The first round of shows in Wales are at The Undertone Basement, 12 Church Street, Cardiff, CF10 1BG and will take place on:

Saturday 31st March

Sunday 1st April

Wednesday 4th April

Friday 5th April

Full details of all things Surface Festival can be found here: www.surfacefestival.com

Introducing what we do.

Ok, so we're pretty new to this blogging and journalism malarkey so you'll have to stick with us for a while! We're a team of 3 people who love music and seeing as though the unsigned music scene seems to be dying off slowly but surely with venues closing and crowds dwindling due to the financial climate we decided to try and do something about it. I'm Craig and I've been involved with bands for as long as I can remember playing guitar and bass in a number of bands over the years, most recently rock outfit Blackwaters (Surface Festival international finalists 2011) and Neveready, a recently re-formed pop punk covers band. Late last year I decided to get involved with a radio station and start doing a fortnightly show dedicated to the best unsigned music.

The show has grown and is now a team of 3 people, myself as presenter, Jamie Dykes, a huge music fan and all round controversial bloke who joined me early 2012 to start reviewing tracks and act as a broadcast assistant and most recently Kevin Lal (bassist with Welsh Metalcore outfit Moments Before Oblivion) has joined in a very similar role to Jamie although his first show with us is not until March 12th.

Together we're 3 people who want to promote the best unsigned music from around the world and we are doing our best to get unsigned acts heard. Recently it's been confirmed that we will have press access to the Surface Festival shows in Wales this year and I may even be taking a more hands on role with the competition.

All this was made possible when I met an awesome person called Sian Jennifer Smith through Blackwaters when we played a show she put on, Sian is the editor of Rocking Music and a fellow presenter on BRfm and I have a lot to thank her for!

Anyway I think that's enough for my first attempt at this so keep checking back for gig reviews, news and interviews! You can catch the show every other Monday evening, 7-9pm on 97.3Fm in and around the Brynmawr area or listen online from anywhere! The website is currently undergoing a revamp so I will link to it once it's complete.

Links to all the sites mentioned in this are below:

BRfm Unsigned Show on Facebook

You can also follow me on Twitter @BRfmUnsigned

Blackwaters on Facebook

Moments Before Oblivion on Facebook

Surface Festival