When I arrived at Newcastle’s Academy 2, it was as though I was there to see a band I had never heard of. As soon as I entered the venue there were girls handing out flyers for a band called Me, I get into the room and there are a tonne of teenage girls all donning a T-shirt for the said band. After the first support, whose name I don’t recall ever being mentioned, on came Me and the girls went wild, it was as though Justin Bieber had just walked in the room… If Justin Bieber looked and sounded like a Panic! at the Disco tribute act, that is. They played their set and the girls energy never seemed to die. They screamed after every song and jumped with all their energy to whatever they sang.  Finally the set ended and The Xcerts came on to a crowd of no more than seventy people, none the less the room was full of devoted fans who you could almost guarantee would turn up to any future gig they play and the atmosphere was electric.

Kicking off with ‘Do You Feel Safe?’ the show continued with the same pace, banging drums and fantastic energy. The energy never seemed to fade as they kicked into ever classic songs such as ‘Nightschool’, ‘Scatterbrain’, and ‘Crisis’ before Murray told anecdotes of previous shows, mainly Birmingham which apparently hadn’t been the best experience and had kicked off with someone throwing a stink bomb at the stage and when the audience shouted comments at the stage they were happily received by the band who would get into a conversation before jumping into another tune.

The gig ended with Murray being left alone on the stage to sing a beautiful rendition of ‘Aberdeen 1987′, Murry’s vocals seemed perfect and when he stepped away from the mic to sing it was obvious that this was a bad who have real talent. No encore followed; instead there was time for people to go outside, look at merch and have a chat with the band who were more than happy to entertain anyone who approached them. Overall I had a perfect night listening to one of my favourite bands, the only thing I would ask The Xcerts to do differently would be to bring some different sized T-shirts with them. Not everyone is a size medium.

Official Website

Keane’s

‘Strangeland‘ marks a hugely successful return for the band and has made the top ten around the world. It is their fourth studio album, and follows their other chart topping releases ‘Hopes & Fears’ (2004); ‘Under The Iron Sea’ (2006); ‘Perfect Symmetry’ (2008) and the ‘Night Train’ EP (2010) (which also topped the UK’s main album chart).

As the Sunday Times’ Culture magazine stated, ‘Strangeland’s literate, piano-driven songs “pull the heartstrings with a strength that even a band as notoriously emotive as Keane have rarely managed before”. Or, as the Sunday Mirror put it, “It’s good to have Keane back”.

Said Keane frontman Tom Chaplin: “Eight years ago we set out on a pretty extraordinary adventure, happy in the knowledge that just releasing a record was enough for us as a struggling band! It’s a fairly surreal but lovely feeling to find that further on down the road we’ve now reached five out of five number one albums.

“Our bloody-mindedness and desire to keep on changing as a band seems to have kept us alive, as well as our incredibly loyal and dedicated set of fans – thanks to everyone who has supported us! We hope to see lots of you out on the road over the next year, after which I guess we’ll get back in the studio to try to make it six in a row!”

Keane are now set to continue their ‘Strangeland’ world tour (which has already featured sold out dates in Russia, America and Bexhill-on-Sea) with a string of sell out UK dates in May and June, before heading to North America and Europe. Full UK listings as follows:

Keane – UK live dates 2012

May 23 – O2 Academy, Newcastle SOLD OUT

May 24 – O2 Academy, Glasgow

May 25 - O2 Academy, Birmingham SOLD OUT

May 29 - O2 Academy, Leeds SOLD OUT

May 30 – O2 Apollo, Manchester SOLD OUT

June 4 - Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone SOLD OUT

June 5 – O2 Academy, Bristol SOLD OUT

June 6 - De Montfort Hall, Leicester SOLD OUT

June 8 – O2 Brixton Academy, London SOLD OUT

June 9 – O2 Brixton Academy, London

Keane will release their new single ‘Sovereign Light Cafe‘ on 16th July, through Island Records.

Lars Ulrich

The uplifting documentary Mission to Lars will be premiered at Hackney Picturehouse on June 6^th 2021 at 9 p.m. There will be a Q&A with its directors chaired by Richard Bacon after the screening.

Ticket prices are between £8 and £10, click here to purchase. The film will be shown in Picturehouse theatres nationwide – info here:

Directed by James Moore & William Spicer this is a film that looks beyond disability, and uncovers the soul of a very cool guy. Mike Lindsay from Tunng scores, and the soundtrack includes Bob Dylan, Devendra Banhart and Blur.

www.missiontolars.com

Manchester based 4-piece Scuttlers

Firstly, tell us a bit about Scuttlers and the music you make. 

Well we’re four very close mates who have been making music together, whether it be 2 of us or in other bands for quite some time. We write strictly on past experiences that people can instantly relate to…you could say like a life line so people can realise it’s not just them who’s experienced a low blow or maybe even a euphoric moment. And our name comes from a gang in 18th century Manchester who pretty much aimed to take over everything.

And along with past experiences influencing your songs, does coming from Manchester influence you as a band in any way?

Well funnily enough there’s only me and Tim, the drummer that are authentic mancunians haha Andrew and Joseph are from stoke and settle. We met through mutual friends and previous bands really. But there’s a lot to see in this city, plenty to write on the back of both hands. Even If it’s name checking a local establishment we often show our faces in…it’s home….it’s so easy to relate to also.

Are there any bands or musicians you would say inspire you as writers of music?

Any band, or poet who has something to say really, with the observational lyrics of Johnny Clarke and morrissey they had a big impact on us, but as far as melody goes there’s a wide bunch that inspires us from the kinks, the las, steppenwolf, and billy idol even does it for us.

You played your first gig supporting The Last Party last month, where else can HIVE readers see you in the coming months?

We did…and what an evening it was. Well we have a gig at the Ducie bridge inn on the 25th may, and also we have eurocultured festival on the 3rd june…some amazing acts on that jubilee weekend.

And do you have any plans for recording or releasing any material soon?

We’re currently deciding on a studio to record our debut EP. We feel that time is of no limit as we want the songs to have a big impact.

Finally, if you could name any song you wish you’d written, what would it be and why?

For me it would have to be “I’m down” by the Beatles just due to its sheer Rock & Roll authenticity. it’s absolutely timeless and if there was ever a track written to cheer people up then that’s the one.

To find out more about Scuttlers check out their Facebook page and follow them on Twitter.

Just two minutes long, ‘How Is This Even A Job?’ is short, snappy and as infectious as the A-side continuing This Many Boyfriends’ trend of creating no-nonsense, good time pop songs and you can hear it below:

‘(I Should Be A’) Communist’ will be released on limited Soviet red vinyl and digital download on May 21st through Angular Recording Corporation.

Less of a political statement and more of a song about “our bass player, money and cardigans”, as this video shows..

 The band are using this release as an excuse for a good old knees-up and will be hosting two single launch parties this weekend: one in London and the other in their hometown of Leeds! Both shows are FREE, and This Many Boyfriends will be playing alongside some of their favourite new artists, more information can be found using the links below.

MAY

19th: LONDON, The Waiting Room (Event information here)

20th: LEEDS, Oporto (Event information here)

www.thismanyboyfriends.com | www.arc018.com

Boasting the Single of The Week accolade on BBC Radio 1 this week with world renowned DJ Zane Lowe – The Gaslight Anthem have made their brand new single, “45” available on iTunes and Amazon. The Gaslight Anthem will take the stage in the US this week for two intimate sold-out gigs at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn (May 16^th) and The Roxy in West Hollywood (May 18^th). The shows are the prelude to a full schedule of tour dates, festivals, and television appearances throughout the summer in support of their highly anticipated fourth album, “Handwritten”, scheduled for July 23rd release on Mercury Records.

Their show at London’s KOKO sold out in record time and promises to be an evening not to be missed for the lucky ones who managed to grab a ticket! The band will also be supporting Soundgarden on a number of their European headline shows in June.

On June 28^th, The Gaslight Anthem will appear (for the third time!) on CBS’s The Late Show with David Letterman. The band will also make a return appearance on NBC’s Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, on July 27^th.

“Handwritten”, The Gaslight Anthem’s first album on Mercury Records, was produced by two-time Grammy Award®-winner Brendan O’Brien, known for his work with Bruce Springsteen (Best Rock Album Grammy, 2002), Pearl Jam, Incubus and many others.

The full track listing for “Handwritten” is as follows:
1. 45
2. Handwritten
3. Here Comes My Man
4. Mulholland Drive
5. Keepsake
6. Too Much Blood
7. Howl
8. Biloxi Parish
9. Desire
10. Mae
11. National Anthem

The Gaslight Anthem have several major festival appearances in the forthcoming months, including opening for Bon Jovi at Bamboozle in East Rutherford, NJ (May 20^th); appearing at the Metallica Orion Festival in Atlantic City, NJ (June 23^rd) and Lollapalooza at Grant Park in Chicago. European dates include Le Zenith de Paris on May 29th and Zitadelle Spandau in Berlin on May 31st opening for Soundgarden. The band will also appear at this years Reading and Leeds festivals in the UK.

Prior to “Handwritten”, The Gaslight Anthem – Brian Fallon (lead vocals, guitar), Alex Rosamilia (guitar, vocals), Alex Levine (bass, vocals), and Benny Horowitz (drums, percussion) – released three full-length indie albums: Sink Or Swim (2007, XOXO Records), The ’59 Sound (2008, SideOneDummy Records), and American Slang (June 2010, SideOneDummy).

Official Website

Leicester based 5-piece Formal Warning

For Hive Magazine’s very first Twitterview (the name will catch on, I promise!) I caught up with Leicester based pop-rock 5-piece Formal Warning and in the process picked up a new tip for banishing the dreaded hangover.

Hello Formal Warning! You’re our first twitter interview here at Hive. Introduce us to your band members!

Hi guys, happy to be your first Well there’s Kyle Harrold, Leon Harrold, Ash Wright, Zoe Wright and Alun Wright and we are Formal Warning!

I’m seeing a lot of matching surnames there, is music in your blood?

It sure is. All band members have been brought up in very similar ways, listening to the same music so we’re all very alike.

And how do you feel about the music scene here in Leicester?

Errm it’s a very hard city for bands at the minute. Although we had an amazing show at the O2 Academy 2 where we sold over 400 tickets for our album release so we seem to be doing well which is important in your hometown.

How would you describe your music?

Our music is very pop rock with a bit of an alternative sound and we have been told it cures broken hearts and hangovers by a random fan.

I’ll have to keep that in mind next time I have one too many tequila shots! Can you name any bands that have influenced your music?

Well each member has different influences which really helps when it comes to song writing. We get mixes such as Pink Floyd, Oasis, The Beatles, even bands like Mcfly and Kasabian you can hear a lot of in the album.

What’s your album called and where can we get our hands on a copy?

Our album is called Out Of Our Minds, Into Your Ears and it will be available from iTunes, Napster, Amazon and in local stores this Saturday (May 19th).

Great album name! So what do you have planned for the future… is a tour on the cards?

Thank you, we love it. Yeah a tour is definitely on the cards. We’re currently booking shows and sending albums to many places in the world. A lot of support from Australia and Japan at the minute.

Going global then! One final question… If you could play any venue in the world, where would you pick?

Gotta be Wembley, man. Any band that doesn’t want to play Wembley are bonkers.

We hope to see you there one day! Good luck with the album and thank you for a great interview!

To find out more about Formal Warning head over to their Facebook page or follow them on Twitter.

Following the release of their critically acclaimed debut album ‘Rise Ye Sunken Ships’, Brooklyn‘s We Are Augustines return to tour the UK alongside the release of brand new single ‘Juarez’ on May 21^st via Oxcart Records. This epic track will be released on 7” vinyl and available to download with a previously unreleased cover version of the beautiful Los Lobos track ‘Saint Behind The Glass’ as the b-side.

Since navigating their way into the hearts and minds of the British public, We Are Augustines have found a second home here in the UK.  Their collection of maritime tales, energetic, rocking live shows and phenomenal back story has certainly touched a nerve with those who are sailing with them.

New single ‘Juarez’, a stand out track on ‘Rise Ye Sunken Ships’,  is a song written about the Mexican town that exists on the southern border of the United States . The vibrant community there has featured in poetry, songs and films over the years due to the huge amount of people passing through there on a daily basis. Since 2009, the level of escalating violence created by local drug wars has destroyed the area leaving more than 80,000 young people unemployed and over 100,000 lost jobs due to closed businesses.

Recent headlines of the struggle attributed to Billy McCarthy composing this track from NYC. It was an opportunity for We Are Augustines to explore space and landscape in their music due to Billy’s personal connection with the area. Examples of this can be found throughout his lyrics.

The band have announced a new live date in Liverpool this week and confirmed shows at both the Great Escape Festival and T in the Park in July following a gig at the Coachella Festival in the US.

See We Are Augustines play the following shows in July:
7^th July – T in the Park Festival, Kinross, Scotland
15^th July – Latitude Festival, Southwold

Below is an exclusive clip made available from O2 Academy TV, which features Graham Coxon’s live performance of single ‘Ooh, Yeh Yeh’ from his recent UK tour.

‘Ooh, Yeh Yeh’ is the closing track from Coxon’s eighth studio album, A+E; released earlier this year to wide-spread critical acclaim. Following the conclusion of his solo tour, Coxon is teaming back up with his fellow Blur members to prepare for their huge Olympic-closing show in Hyde Park in August which is to be their biggest performance to date.

2012 appears to be quite a big year for the guitarist in a career which shows no signs of slowing down.

‘Hollow’ has had an array of excellent feedback from some of the top music industry critics, and is said to be “a breath of fresh air for those who want to get past the mainstream electronic R’n’B genre of recent times and listen to something a little bit different.”  If you enjoy the colourful journey artists like Kate Bush and Bjork take you on, then let Volenté guide you down creative avenues that will blow your mind.

There’s nothing like rare moments between the performer and the audience and the sense of being a part of something incredible, which you get in a live show.  If you’re stuck deciding which gigs to attend over the next few weeks, Volenté has not 1,but 2 single launches based in and around Cardiff, which she would love for you to attend and share in the special performances that she will be putting on.

Make sure you get involved in one of the hottest show in South Wales this spring!

Live dates:

Wed May 16 – Ten Feet Tall, Cardiff
Sat Aug 25 – Uplands Music Festival, Swansea

AltSounds – “This record is a delight. It cast an eye to past classics from a ‘rave generation’ via ‘trip-hop’ favourites and brings it all bang up to date with its bassy backdrop while still holding on to an ‘indie’ root or two.”

Samuel Saunders – “[Hollow is] a powerful, anthemic release that’s soon to shoot the starlet to a high level of fame.”

MusicEyz – “The intro contains a lovely piece of music, almost mystical and really makes you want to listen. Then a strange piece of composition introduces the amazing vocals of Volente. Where has this girl been hiding? Incredible”

The Black Flag – “[Hollow] reflects her ever evolving musical tastes and influences with the track being centred on a heavy bass line allowing Volentes vocals to almost float across the music in a somewhat haunting combination. Certainly when the album is released later in the year, if ‘Hollow’ is anything to go by, it could be one to watch.”

Tastes Like Rock – “Vocals are haunting and the melody of Hollow is infectious. There’s a sad yet soothing air to the song, perfect for a sunset worth of meditation and introspection.”

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