Slotface @ The Cellar Bar, Oxford, 23rd November 2017

Norwegian indie-rock act Slotface are part roaring Nirvana-style grunge guitars, part careful string-picking, melodic indie pop - and it works a treat.

Haley's vocals are rasping, growling at times, but give way to gentler, more thoughtful moments. Scandinavian indie-pop has been known to be incredibly marvellous over recent decades, but it's mainly been led by Sweden, what with the gigantic splendour of Labrador Records leading the charge with the Radio Dept., The Shout Out Louds, Sambassadeur, and more. The rockier, heavier end of things has probably been best represented by the part-Danish Raveonettes, but I'm open to hearing about more bands I've missed along the way.

It's welcoming, refreshing to hear some new, young upstarts from Norway, I'd say. Plenty of highs in tonight's basement bar gig. The Cellar Bar is a trove of a venue and has just recovered from threats to its future, so tonight feels like a celebration and we're celebrating in other ways with a special occasion around this date being the reason for our trip to Oxford city, and this very gig. Note that, please, Oxford City Council - small music venues bring in tourism too !

One highlight had to be seeing all the young fans at the end of the night, crowding round singer Haley at the merch stall, telling her how brilliant the band's performance was. Towards the end of something like a 50-date tour, those must've been warm and wonderful words. I also liked being reminded of the years I spent approaching bands like that, nervous, young, in thrall and praise. Long may that all live!

Dreaming of bands again

More bizarre dreams about bands. This time, I was personally exposed to the latest hip new young band according to the NME: half a dozen 10 year olds dressed up to the nines in circus outfits, including a clown with a ruff round his neck, and one of those pointy hats with a bobble atop. A sea lion featured on keyboards. I met them in a pub in Brighton.

Would be a great improvement on things...

Town Bike

Town Bike are my new favourite band!

 

I saw them playing on the same bill as Tender Trap, at the Buffalo Bar, recently, and they were fab! Seeing them play live, and hearing their lovely Merseyside tones, I really want to go and have some more musical adventures in Liverpool, as it's been years since I went there!

There shall be a gig write up about Town Bike (and Tender Trap!) in the new mini issue of the paper version of The All Thrills No Frills Music Bill. I am literally just putting the finishing touches to it all! More news on here soon!

Back to Town Bike. They are wonderful punk pop, of the sort that I used to sing along to in 90s indie radio/bedroom/homework land. I love that the singer has a professional pop sounding voice that is also sugary fun and rides atop frantic indie punk guitar rock.

They have a song with an addictive chorus about how 'you fucking broke my bastard heart!' - it's sung with such sweetness and light, innocent as well as sweary, I love how it sounds. You can still download it for free.

http://townbike.bandcamp.com/album/bastard-heart-crazy-crazy-nights-single

Shamefully, I have only just woken up to the neatness of Band Camp. On one page, you can find a new band and listen to and/or download their discography (usually for a small cost), and you've got photos of the band, and upcoming gig listings on there too. So useful! Myspace didn't quite do it as well, I like this kind of site a lot. I will mainly be listening, then buying the physical music, as I don't rely on downloaded music very much and prefer records in my house!

Anyway, once again, I love Town Bike! Come back to London again very bloody bastard soon (as they say!).

Weird Menace, Shacklewell Arms, Dalston, 7th September, 2012

 

 

Write-up on the gig to follow in October's mini issue. Watch this space....