Currently there seems to be some issues with encoding/symbols appearing where there shouldn’t be symbols which has pretty much bodged up nearly all the posts on the site. I have no idea why, and because the tech guy is currently on holiday in Wales and is un-contactable, I’m left twiddling my thumbs as to why this has happened. I’m thinking there’s been a server move or something. Anyway, apologies for the problems, as for now updates will be on hold while I try and work out what has happened.

Cheers,

Ross, Editor

The Blood Brothers began in 1997, featuring vocalists Johnny Whitney and Jordan Blilie, drummer Mark Gajadhar, bassist Morgan Henderson and guitarist Devon Welch (who was soon replaced by Cody Votolato). They didn’t record their first album until 2000, having released a stream of 7” records (which were later compiled as the ‘Rumours Laid Waste’ Ep, which also features Welch on the cover). Their debut, ‘This Adultery Is Ripe’ was a raw, scrappy cluster of noise and epileptic shouting. Dual vocalists Whitney and Blilie were like two yappy little dogs, biting and snapping at each other in a blind fury. Two years later, the band returned to the studio to record concept album, ‘March On Electric Children’ a 9 song short story about the bleak lives of the characters Mr Electric Ocean and The Skin Army. This was the band’s first foray into utilising other instruments, aside from the standard guitar, bass and drum set up. Henderson’s use of korg synthesisers as well as a range of samples came into play, however, the terrifying highlight is the bizarre closing track that features only Whitney and Blilie sat at a piano. The pair alternates between mashing the keys, and screaming like unruly children to a rather Bugsy Malone-style, honky-tonk lead of flamboyant optimism. It’s a jarring, and disconcerting end to an album that took the template set by ‘This Adultery is Ripe’ and ripped into the notions of egotistical superficiality.

The band was soon snapped up by V2 Records and released ‘Burn, Piano Island, Burn’ in March 2003. With a bigger budget and nu-metal maestro Ross Robinson on board, it soon became their breakthrough record. Between ‘Burn…’ and ‘March….’ The Blood Brothers evolved significantly. For one thing, ‘Burn, Piano Island, Burn’ was twice as long as their previous release, clocking in at just under 48 minutes. Their style had changed considerably – the hardcore element still remained, but become tighter, reigning in more chance at experimentation and the extension of sounds. Songs like ‘God Bless You, Blood Thirsty Zeppelins!’ were cut into various scenes, shifting from alt-rock to fiery hardcore punk through razor-sharp time changes. ‘Every Breath Is A Bomb’ was the sound of a circus playing Black Flag songs via a Gay Pride Parade. ‘The Salesman, Denver Max’ spliced acoustic and stoner elements perfectly, whilst the slow burn of ‘The Shame’ and the chaotic noise-core thrash-fest of ‘Cecilia and the Silhouette Saloon’ emphasised just how far the band had come in creating something totally mind bending. It was a triumph and is often regarded as their best work to date.

‘Crimes’ followed a year later and saw yet more change. Votolato’s shrieking guitar was toned down in places, whilst more macabre sounds were injected into the fold courtesy of Henderson and Whitney as well as more percussive elements alongside Gajadhar’s drumming. The album had a subtle political message, targeting both military policy and the Bush administration, with the closing two tracks ‘Celebrator’ and mostly ‘Devastator’ critiquing the US military campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. ‘Love Rhymes With A Hideous Carwreck’ became a massive hit and was on regular rotation on the hard rock music channels, more so than ‘Ambulance Vs Ambulance’, which came out a year before. After touring ‘Crimes’ Whitney and Gajadhar worked on a new project called Neon Blonde; which mixed more electronica-based elements and dance-rock alongside the harsh punk of The Blood Brothers sound. They released the EP ‘Headlines’ in 2005 and followed it with their only album, ‘Chandelliers in the Savannah’. Blilie and Votolato joined with Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Justin Pearson and Gabe Serbian of the Locust to form Head Wound City, a band described by Bilile as sounding like “The Alien and Predator’ starting a band instead of fighting each other.” The only recorded output is a 10 minute self-titled EP, which was also released in 2005.

After time apart with other projects, the band went back to the studio and recorded ‘Young Machetes’ their 5th and final album. The 15 tracker, would be their longest album to date. It was also a possible foreshadowing for their split; as it brought together all the various stylistic shifts the band had gone through since it’s inception. Songs like ‘Rat Rider’ and ‘Johnny Ripper’ harked back to the days of ‘This Adultery Is Ripe’ hardcore punk, whilst ‘Laser Life’ gave a nod towards the heavy use of keys and samples as heard on ‘Crimes’ and ‘Set Fire To The Face On Fire’ and ‘Vital Beach’ had elements of the band around the ‘Burn….’ sessions. Of course, their current sound was also in play: tracks such as ‘1,2,3,4 Guitars’ blended a sombre Radiohead-ish vibe of despondence with their caustic hardcore, whilst ‘Street Wars/Exotic Foxholes’ mixed ambient trance elements with a new-wave pop edge and ‘Giant Swan’ fixated on the celebration of large birds under a staccato rush of noise.

After two UK tours at the beginning and middle of 2007, the band was put to rest through a collective decision. Blilie stated later that the split was also down to “not being able to find a middle ground where everyone was happy” and generally just drifting apart.

What I admire about The Blood Brothers is their talent in creating such exciting music. Their shifts and alterations in sound over their 5 albums shows real progress in redefining their music and style. It was still heavy and discordant enough to engage those who liked the more raucous side, yet it had that dark pop edge and chaotic punk rock streak of scatter-brained insanity.

They basically destroyed what I knew about hardcore punk – they made all other bands in that spectrum of music sound pretty much irrelevant. Their music was harrowing – it stalked me. When I first got ‘Burn, Piano Island, Burn’ I found it such a difficult listen. I’d make it about halfway through and have to turn it off and just sit there thinking “shitting crikey.” I think if an album can make you do that, then it’s truly something special indeed. It was such a concentrated rush of unrelenting rage and wailing emotion, mixed with a dangerous fire of unhinged brilliance. I kept going back to it though, re-listening to certain songs over and over before moving on. It began to consume me. This was the only thing I’d listen to. I’ll always remember the look I received from my friend Tom who lived next door to me in halls who looked in during one of Whitney’s testicle-retracting screams – it basically said “you either lost your hearing ages ago” or “Ross seems to be listening to the soundtrack of someone having various vital organs removed through their nose.” – Possibly right on both accounts.

Their lyrics were largely nonsense, full of non-sequitur shouts and visions of warped depravity and at times, commentary on the current political climate, especially the material from ‘Crimes.’ A mythical place dubbed ‘Piano Island‘ was a regular lyrical feature; appearing in both their debut album and as a subject throughout most of ‘Burn….’ Due to the dual vocal attack, most of their songs were deranged conversations between Whitney and Blilie, trading lines with each other like two warring misanthropes and were for the most part, extremely unsettling once you deciphered their content.

It sounds cliché, but there will never be another band quite like them, (mostly because no-one in the world can imitate THAT voice) but they should feel proud to be one of the most experimental and influential bands associated with the post-hardcore community.

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Where are they now?

Johnny ‘sounds like a castrated choir boy being tortured’ Whitney and guitarist Cody Votolato joined with J Clark of Pretty Girls Make Graves to form Jaguar Love, a dance-punk/indie/weird beast – all camp screams and flamboyant mannerisms. Jaguar Love are now currently a two piece (Whitney and Votolato) and are set to release their second album, ‘Hologram Jams’ in March this year.

Mark Gajadhar, Morgan Henderson, Jordan Blilie and old guitarist Devon Welch have formed Past Lives, who’s debut album ‘Tapestry of Webs’ should be out soon. They released the EP ‘Strange Symmetry’ back in 2008.

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Video

Click on the player below to listen to ‘Cecilia and the Silhouette Saloon‘ taken from the ‘Jungles Rules‘ DVD.

Links

The Blood Brothers
Jaguar Love
Past Lives
Neon Blonde
Head Wound City

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By Ross Macdonald

Circle One Answer:

a) Yes.
b) Fuck Yes.
c) Sorry, I was too busy trashing the shit out of my house after seeing Mr Spencer fuck up that studio.

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Links

Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
Jon Spencer Myspace Explosion

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(Note, I’ll have something proper to put up in the next few days. Currently struggling with crippling writer’s block.)

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Band: Capdown
Time active: 1997-2007
Sound: politically-charged, fast-paced skacore. The band experimented with elements of dub, hip hop and hardcore in their sound, making them truly standout from the legions of other chequered-loving acts that surrounded them. Vocalist Jake Sims-Fielding saxophone playing was a particular highlight, as where his sandpaper larynx and unusual, slurred singing voice.
High points: their live shows were always a riot and they packed out toilet venue after toilet venue and lived on the road during their 10 years together. Debut album ‘Civil Disobedients’ is considered by many underground music fans as a benchmark in UK punk rock. Touring with many high-profile punk bands such as Less Than Jake, Pennywise and Lagwagon. Being part of the Deconstruction tour, an incredible live set at Reading Festival in 2001, and tours with Bad Religion and Hundred Reasons.
Low points: The six year gap between their second album ‘Pound For The Sound’ and the radically different sounding ‘Wind Up Toys’ was a killer. With a couple of superb singles and 1 live album released between then, their fanbase drifted and soon lost interest in what was once one of the UK’s most prolific bands.
Fast fact: The first gig I ever went to was Capdown at the lovely establishment known as Hitchin’s Club 85. It cost £4- great night that. Also, their name stands for Capitalist Downfall.
Recommended listening: both ‘Civil Disobedients’ and ‘Pound For The Sound’ are strong albums, with the former having a more scrappier, punk rock edge as opposed to the slight hardcore leanings of the latter. Plus, ‘CD’ has ‘Ska Wars’ the band’s notable anthem.
Where are they now?: split up in November 2007, 9 months after the release of ‘Wind Up Toys’. Bassist Boob and drummer Tim are both apparently working with Simon Wells from Snuff/Southport in a new band called The Maccalites. The whereabouts in the musical world of guitarist Keith, sax/vocalist Jake and keyboardist Eddie are unknown.

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Band: Lightyear
Time active: 1997-2003 (the band split up and reformed between 2006-2007 to play benefit shows.)
Sound: insane ska punk chaos from 7 men who would frequently get naked, use big cardboard pirate ships as stage props and generally twat about having more fun than any other band in the world ever. They retained a heavy, brash punk rock sound that was stuffed to bursting with parping brass and the quick-fire vocal delivery from vocalist Chas and trumpet player Neil.
High points: Their live shows, which were utter bedlam, plus like many bands of this ilk, touring their arses off. Shows with Capdown, Mad Caddies, Save Ferris and Nerf Herder, Suicide Machines and a place on the Concrete Jungle tent at the Carling Festival in 2002. They were also kicked off Steve-Os MTV Jackass tour for being too rowdy.
Low points: From a fan’s point of view; splitting up. From their point of view – very little. The toll of playing 300+ shows in 2 years must have drained and pushed the band to the point of exhaustion in their heyday.
Fast fact: I’ve seen Lightyear perform live on 8 separate occasions, which is more than any other band. Also, vocalist Chas signed a bit of paper to me saying ‘Clits, my dogs.’ What a guy.
Recommended listening: Their debut ‘Call of the Weasel Clan’ is a great place to start and is probably one of the most consistent albums I own in terms of quality.
Where are they now?: defunct, but probably ready to reform one last time, should the great weasel signal be displayed in the sky…

Visual: Click on the player below to see Lightyear dressed as Bully, MR T, Marty Mcfly and Egon!

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Band: Less Than Jake
Time active: 1992-present
Sound: despite several band members being hardcore metalheads, Less Than Jake’s sound is characterized by its third-wave ska punk tomfoolery and cheeky pop-punk bounce. Throughout their 17 years as a band, their sound has evolved into brass-tinged punk rock sheen from scrappy beginnings. Most of their songs stem from real life experiences and are about real people/areas in and around Gainesville where the band are located.
High points: Being one of the biggest and well-known ska punk bands in the world, Less Than Jake have built up a solid reputation in the mowhawk circles, thanks to their live performances, prolific song writing, solid back catalogue and commitment to their fans, not to mention the release of their 1998 album, ‘Hello Rockview.’
Low points: ‘In With The Out Crowd’, an album which saw them depart from their ska punk sound that flooded so freely through their past releases. However, their return in 2008 with ‘GNV FLA’ saw them combining this new pop-punk edge, with their brass backing to greater effect.
Fast fact: The band name stems from the dog of their drummer, Vinnie Fiorello. In Vinnie’s house, the dog was treated better than everyone else and the name was born.
Recommended listening: ‘Hello Rockview’ (not because it has ‘All My Best Friends….) but due to the fact it’s simply their best work, flows nicely, terrific selection of songs and the brass element has never sounded stronger. ‘Borders and Boundaries’ is also a great starting album, as is 1996’s ‘Losing Streak‘ for a more rough ska-punk edge.
Where are they now?: still going strong and are set to appear on the Vans Warped Tour this year.

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Band: Adequate Seven
Time active: 2000-2006
Sound: More funk-punk orientated than the ska leanings that other acts in this article display; but the A7 were familiar touring buddies of Lightyear and Capdown so they deserve a place. Riot-provoking hardcore funk, with a driving horn section, dancing trombone player and a superb collection of catchy, uplifting songs.
High points: signing to Household Name Records, releasing ‘Songs of Innocence and of Experience‘ in 2003.  Their touring schedule rivaled Capdown’s for shear weight of artists involved, including Hundred Reasons, Fishbone, Lightyear, Cypress Hill, The Slackers and European tour with the Suicide Machines (see SM feature here) They went on to release their second album through their own label, before recording a live album and then splitting up in 2006.
Low points: splitting up really! They seemed to be at the top of their game, but I’m guessing the stress and pressure of touring finally called an end to proceedings, which is a real shame.
Fast fact: Their debut album title is taken from a William Blake poetry book.
Where are they now?: Defunct. Although I’m reliably informed that some members are working on new bands (vocalist Jamie is in a metal band now!) and bassist Will Davies is now in Attack! Attack! who are signed to Rock Ridge music and will be featuring on the next Guitar Hero. Nice work!

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Band: Jesse James
Time active: 2000-2007
Sound: brass, brass and more brass. It was like someone had stuck the horn section from a marching band in a punk rock outfit and told them to get on with it. The horns were more in league with those of Rocket From The Crypt than the noisy frivolity of Reel Big Fish. Their live shows were never quiet, and relied on a barrage of sound and blasting energy, backed up by the quality of their songs and the passionate nature in which they were delivered.
High points: recording their second record ‘Mission‘ with Ryan Greene, (NOFX producer), being signed to Deck Cheese and Golf Records, both popular ska punk labels at the time,  ‘Shoes‘ being a massive and I mean massive underground hit and a stint in the punk tent at the Carling Festival in 2002.
Low points: losing members every so often and the pressures of touring.
Fast fact: their infamous ‘Dear Jesus’ video being banned by UK tv and they were the first band I ever reviewed for my University newspaper!
Recommended listening: Both the ‘Shoes’ and ‘Hotwired‘ Eps are a good starting point, but the debut ‘Punk Soul Brothers’ is worth a listen as is ‘Mission’.
Where are they now?: saxophone player Pete and guitarist Ben are now both part of tyrantcore 4 piece Down I Go.

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Band: Leftover Crack
Time active: 1999-present
Sound: Like Dani Filth fronting a skacore band who can barely play their instruments. The Crack have a no-nonense, anti-everything style of raucous, mangled punk, with a vocalist who possibly eats broken glass for a living. As well as being fiercely anarchistic, angry and anti-government, Leftover Crack are actually one of the first bands to fuse ska with death metal. You’re probably shaking your head at this, but really, it’s not that bad honest. Plus, they sounded pretty good most of the time.
High points: Having a strong following in the underground community and generally being a band that inspires hope, if a somewhat misguided yet angry hope within people.
Low points: Death of drummer Brandon Possible in 2004, plus numerous bannings from various venues around New York, Canada and vocalist Stza’s continuing trouble with the PoPo.
Fast facts: Their name is an oxymoron and their second album was delightfully entitled ‘Fuck World Trade.’ Stza’s previous band, Choking Victim released an album called ‘No Gods, No Managers’ and featured no barcode.
Recommended listening: ‘Medicore Generica’ is 33 minutes of fucked-up skacore that has more crust than a steak and ale pie from a local truck stop.
Where are they now?: Still together (despite more line up changes than Zao) and set to tour America in June.

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Links

Capdown
Lightyear
Less Than Jake
Adequate Seven
Jesse James
Leftover Crack

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By Ross Macdonald

In any case, those that are familiar with Frank Turner’s work, but never really heard the stuff he did before ‘Sleep is for the Week’ or ‘Love, Ire and Song’ should seriously consider getting ‘A Song To Ruin’; plus the inclusion of single-only release ‘I Gave My Eyes To Stevie Wonder’ (which is one of their best songs) and ‘Medicine’ is a nice touch.

Frank Turner is set to release a new album in September entitled ‘Poetry of the Deed’ (pun-tastic!) in September via Xtra Mile and Epitaph. (Cheers to Punknews for this and the above info!)

If anything, this news has made me put ‘A Song To Ruin’ on again and it still fucking rocks, especially the bit at the 2:30 mark on ‘The Rise and Fall’ where the drummer starts screaming. EPIC.

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Video

‘I Am The Party’ (featuring some nice MTV2 tags at the top) by Million Dead.

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Links

Million Dead Myspace
Fansite
Frank Turner
Xtra Mile

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By Ross Macdonald

The track titles for this 7 track mini album (estimated playing time over 30min Alec has added) are:

Control Drug

Shivers

Baby Skull

Vampire State

t.o.t.

If You Live Or Die (2009 version feat. Robbie Furze/Big Pink on guitars)

1000 Eyes (The Golden Foretaste of Heaven Film version 2009)

Note: iTunes will have a full concert as a bonus available. (more infos soon)

The first dark, controlled, electronic riot track ‘Control Drug’ can be played from the player below:

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You can also watch a 5 minute taster how the track ‘Shivers‘ will sound from the player below:

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Last but not least if you are one of those Nic Endo fans who is still bidding on that poster of her and haven’t even looked up when Alec and Nic are playing, the dates are below:

30.04.2009 Vorselaar (B) – Edma
01.05.2009 London (GB) – The Underworld
02.05.2009 Manchester (GB) – Satan..s Hollow
03.05.2009 Glasgow (GB) – Ivory Blacks
05.05.2009 Norwich (GB) – The Waterfront
06.05.2009 Amsterdam (NL) – Paradiso
07.05.2009 Hengelo (NL) – Metropool
08.05.2009 Reutlingen – franz.K
09.05.2009 Jena – Kassablanca
23.10.2009 Berlin – K17
24.10.2009 Cottbus – Gladhouse
28.10.2009 Linz (A) – Stadtwerkstatt
29.10.2009 Wien (A) – Szene
30.10.2009 Ingolstadt – Paradox
31.10.2009 Leipzig – Lagerhof

More dates to come soon!

If you can I would go for the London gig as that evening will be 10 years to that day since the Atari Teenage Riot was in a huge Berlin Riot!

Cash in? No not really. Tom Delonge has been flogging that Angels And Airwaves toss to death and making a packet out of that and Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker have done well with their +44 project, so it does seem that old differences have been put aside for them to carry on and good luck to them. It does beg the question: what the hell are they going to write about? I don’t think I could stand another Green Day-style ‘we’ve gone all boring and political’ collection of half-arsed attempts at songs. This perhaps means they’ll revert to their frat boy hijinks, which certainly had their charm, but Hoppus is about 36 now and Delonge must have eclipsed his toilet-humour days when he went all ‘U2-space-rock’ on us. If they were to write stuff similar to their last album, the self-titled one with the crap cover art, then I’d buy it. Mind you, if they wacked out (pun intended) ‘Enema of the State Mk2‘ I’d buy that as well.

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Actually, listening back, they’re still funny and write damn good songs.

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Video

Here’s some live footage of the Blink boys playing one of their best songs that isn’t an overplayed single (note: I couldn’t find a decent version of ‘Wendy Clear‘, which is the best Blink 182 song ever.)

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Links

Blink 182 Official
Blink Myspace
+44
Angels and Airwaves

Since our Christmas introduction post to the cheeky chaps last year, they have been the most popular post by far!

We spoke to Kunt and this is what he would like to say to all his fans:

“I would like to thanks all the fans that have kept me at the top spot this year, especially any of them who are fit birds and i would like to give them a special personal thank you by offloading some love on to their knockers should i ever meet them in person.“

To celebrate we have a completely non festive but funny as fuck song / video enjoy!

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Why not shove these up your stocking!

Original introduction post
Interview with the duo
Their Kunt-space!

Band: Static X
Time Active: 1994 – Present (however did not release their first album until 1999)
Sound: Heavy pounding repetitive riffs that thump at all pacemakers within a 12 mile radius. A vocalist that spits out so many words at a high speed that I wonder if he has mastered the art of ‘inward singing‘
High Points: ‘Wisconsin Death Trip’ sold over one million copies in the United States alone, and was certified platinum in 2001. This brought a huge instant injection of fans, including myself (like many I’m sure) having the logo as a tattoo on my 18th birthday!
Low Points: Losing their more industrial edge with their yawnathon 4th album ‘Start a War’. Then before the album was released  to the public, guitarist Tripp was fired due to two sex scandals which added publicity for all the wrong reasons.
Fast Fact: Vocalist Wayne Static is known for his vertical hairstyle in which his hair is held up in a vertical position with hair spray, a process that takes about 20 minutes to complete.
Where are they now?: Still going strong in America with thumbs up all round on their 2007 release ‘Cannibal’, the return of original guitarist Koichi Fukuda and now recording their 6th studio album!

Band: Coal Chamber
Time Active: 1994 – 2003
Sound: Early work was every teenagers rebellious dream. Chunky goth-edged tracks often blended with nightmarish Korn-themed guitar twiddles. The lyrics were also dead easy to remember and sung in a way which everyone thought they could impersonate. Later work seemed forced, a effort to listen to and above all boring.
High Points: Making a “I want money” move and going for a more “accessible 2nd record” named Chamber Music. With a pat on the back from guest vocalist Ozzy for their cover of Peter Gabriel’s “Shock the Monkey,” this launched them into the mainstream with notable radio airplay to boot.
Low Point: The second album sounded like a watered down shit version of the first!
Fast Fact: The term “nu metal” was first used for a review of a 1996 Coal Chamber concert in Spin magazine in the form “new metal”.
Where are they now?: In June 2005 Singer Fafara stated that Coal Chamber’s hiatus is permanent and will not be reforming at any time in the future. He has also described a Coal Chamber reformation as “like repeating the 4th Grade again”. He is now in groove metal band DevilDriver. Guitarist Meegs Rascon went on to form rock band Glass Piñata.

Band: Crazy Town
Time Active: 1995 – 2003
Sound: A selected carbon copy of other bands. They possibly just brought Linkin Park’s debut album and tried to perform it themselves. Oh and to make sure no one cottoned onto this they put a couple of Xzibit’s tracks in to give it that “real street” feel.
High Point: Their third single “butterfly” from their debut album (which uses a small sample from Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Pretty Little Ditty”) peaked at number 1 on the American Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2001. Everybody from bakers to the homeless couldn’t get the fucking riff out of their head as it was played all the time.
Low Point: By the time the second album Darkhouse came out in 2002 nobody  gave a shit. As predicted it flopped, and like a tiny wet fart against a flame it faded.
Fast Fact: There have been many lineup changes, with a total of 9 different people playing over the 9 years they were active.
Where are they now?: They have all gone and created already doomed bands and there is talk of a new Crazy Town album is in the guff-filled air with the title “Crazy Town Is Back”…. Oh dear…

Band: Powerman 5000
Time Active: 1991 – Present
Sound: Like flicking through a vast selection of 1950’s sci-comics while the guitarist punches you in the back of the head on his down stroke to the industrial beat. The tracks are full of meaty riffs and electronic beeps and samples that still leave you hungry for the next track. However they have now moved away from their industrial roots and now focusing on a more pop punk feel.
High Point: The release of second album “Tonight the Stars Revolt!” brought the track “When Worlds Collide” into every teenage boys bedroom as it was featured on the “oracle in a disk” Tony Hawk 2! This over the endless months playing it would leave even kids that only enjoy Snoop Dog wanting more of Powerman 5000! Oh and the album did sell over a million copies….
Low Point: The third album had to change its time of release due to everyone illegally downloading. But then after a new release day had been announced singer Spider canned it deeming that it sounded too much like its predecessor.  Because of this two long term band members Dorian 27 and Al3 left.
Fast Fact: Frontman Spider One is the younger brother of Rob Zombie.
Where are they now?: The band are now recording their 6th Studio album with only Spider One as the original member.

Band: Slipknot
Time Active: 1995 – Present
Sound: The first words I ever read about them was that they were the “sickest band in the world!” I wouldn’t go that far, but for a 16 year old with my only music store the local Woolworths, I was hooked! The steady textbook guitar grinds were nothing to talk about, but mixing turntables with baseball bats against crates and faster-than-fast drums has really got them where they are now. To finish off the tracks Vocalist Corey used overly angry husky rap/shouting to make every teenager having puberty issues feel that he understands everything your little mind is going through.  Now I demand that you punch a brick wall and then do a shit on the neighbors front lawn.
High Point: The debut album hit England like a kick to the love spuds! Within about 10 minutes of the release everybody was wearing t-shirts, hats, gloves and even fake beads induced by the 9 man army (that may be a lie)
Low Point: The release of the second album lacked everything that the first had pouring out of it, however it did reach no.1 in the uk charts so at least their satin lined pockets were not affected…
Fast Fact:  When sampler #5 Craig Jones has been asked what he would do if he wasn’t in the band he has answered in two forms: “If I wasn’t in the band today, I’d be driving forklifts in a warehouse all day long.” and “I’d probably be out killing people!”
Video: Click on the video below to watch a live version from my personal favorite track ‘Spit it Out’… Just look at that pit!

Click on this link to read part one.

After a few months of searching, I managed to find ‘Short Strut To The Brassy Front’, their debut album released by Lockjaw records. Despite being a little rough around the edges, it was a sincere and passionate piece of work, emphasising the band’s unique heavy structure, coupled with their punk tendencies and graceful instrumental breaks. Creamer’s vocal range swung from a hoarse scream, to club-singer style croons, backed up by his trademark yelp and sometimes garbled pronunciation. Tracks like ‘Lifts, Curves and Separates’ and ‘Using Radars To Communicate’ show how thisGIRL switched from the heavy/quiet dynamic is such a graceful and delicate way, that you hardly noticed; whilst ‘Stop Making Sense’ and ‘Three Minute Spanish Film’ proved just how volatile and explosive they could be.

I didn’t see the band again, until early 2006, but they went on a number of quite high profile tours, with various bands from alternate ends of the music spectrum, including: Scottish-odd balls Biffy Clyro, industrial-we-will-never-split-up-metallers Pitchshifter and Hell Is For Heroes as well as gigs with the excellent Glassjaw and the not so excellent, The Used. Quite bizarrely they supported Deftones at Brixton Academy in 2002, and played with Limp Bizkit at that free gig in 2003 at Finsbury Park. Due to the meathead nature of the red-baseball cap wearing cretins that attended, Creamer and Co were bottled. Several fans even took the time to fill bottles full of piss, which made their way to the stage, only for Creamer to take one and empty the contents over himself.

Between 2002-2003, they released ‘…has fangs too’, a 3 song EP that juxtaposed their ability to build up a thunderous wall of sound and moments of spaced-out, euphoric rock.  In the coming months they released the ‘Demos for the Family’ EP, a rare 4-tracker, comprised of demo sessions, 1 of which made its way on to their sophomore album. The ‘Demos…’ compilation saw thisGIRL’s style change yet again, opting for a more light-hearted, almost pop-rock approach to their every altering sound.

In 2004, they signed to Drowned In Sound records and recorded and released their second album, the confusingly titled ‘Uno.’ With ‘Uno’ thisGIRL departed from their trademark scrappy alt-punk, quiet-loud dynamic and shifted into a more upbeat rock outfit, emphasising the use of groove-filled bass work and faster passages of distorted indie. ‘Master Blaster’ best exemplifies their unstable nature; sounding like a stoner’s paradise, whilst ‘Hallelujah’ followed a more conventional path of polished-punk rock. Songs like ‘Inshallah’ utilised dream-like string passages and ‘Drake’ sowed seeds of dark, almost film-noir-style slow jazz, which again proved how impossible it was to pigeonhole thisGIRL.

After a tour through January and February in 2006, the band remained quiet, concentrating on recording several demos, before announcing they were to split in November 2006. There were no details as to the reason behind the split, just that the band known as thisGIRL would be laid to rest. They promised to return in another shape/form in the future. Their last gig was at The Point in Cardiff on December 14th.

ThisGIRL were one of those bands that real came into their own as a live act. They made their albums sound flat when they took to the stage. Creamer would spend most of the time running through the crowd, tangling his mic-lead around fans, singing in people’s faces, climbing over everything, whilst Westley and Shepherd would be jumping about so much, they seem to get stuck in mid-air. This left Jenkinson; the only one who ever sits still, to bludgeon his kit senseless. I’ll miss thisGIRL, they really made music feel exciting and invigorating and were a band that I can honestly say, were totally unique but incredibly awkward.

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Where are they now?

After disbanding, Creamer, Westley, Shepherd and Jenkinson concentrated on other projects, before re-convening with a keyboardist in tow and formed Skeletons, who have been getting the kind of press coverage and feedback that thisGIRL always missed out on.

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Video

Here’s a live video ‘Sahara‘ one of the more heavier moments in their career. This shows just how frantic their lives performances were. (Might take a while to load as I think it’s high quality, oooh!)

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Links

Official site (no longer updated)
Myspace
Skeletons

By Ross Macdonald, with help from Wikipedia.