Venue Report: The Borderline

Anyone who knows me will tell you that I have a terrible sense of direction. I get lost everywhere, whether it is in a little shop or in a big city like London. In 2012 I was going to see New York punk band Polar Bear Club at somewhere called The Borderline in London. I got off of the tube at Tottenham Court Road and headed towards The Borderline. One problem, I got horrendously lost and ended up wandering around Soho for the best part of an hour before eventually finding it. I have since been back a number of times, often getting quite lost before finding it again. At one point I had a theory that it was like the island in Lost and it kept moving so people couldn’t find it. Now I can find it first time, every time and it has become one of my favourite venues. Here is why.

 The first thing that will hit you as you walk down the stairs leading into The Borderline is its size. On first impressions The Borderline looks tiny but it actually holds almost 300 people. It has a decent sized floor space with no barriers between the stage and the crowd. For those not wanting to get too involved in the dancing the area around the floor is raised so you can still get a great view of the stage. What’s more, if you do want to get close to the stage without getting sweaty there is a small seated area, where you can sit with your drink and still see the whites of a bands eyes.

When it comes to sound I don’t ever remember a gig I’ve been to at The Borderline when I thought it was poor. All of the nine gigs I’ve seen (Polar Bear Club, The Menzingers, Make Do and Mend, Random Hand, Jim Lockey & the Solemn Son, Allister, The Beards, Jesse James, The Toasters) have sounded fantastic. My one complaint is that sometimes the times between sets can be a little long and can become quite boring.

Like most of the smaller venues I’ve been to for gigs the atmosphere is always friendly. The security and bar staff are always chatty and approachable. Unlike The Underworld or Our Black Heart security does have a more of a visual presence at The Borderline but they have never stood in the way of people having fun and I’ve never seen them try and throw their weight around which is always good.

If you want to visit a small, intimate venue in the centre of London then The Borderline is the place to go. They put on some great up and coming bands as well as some more established ones. The venue is a great place to see live music and you’ll feel very welcome and at home. If you can find it I strongly advise going.

Now listening to Riverbank by Get Dead

Classic Albums: American Idiot by Green Day

I was shocked and amazed the other day. I was in utter disbelief. I discovered this month it has been ten years since arguably the most successful punk rock albums ever was released. The album I am talking about is of course American Idiot by the mighty Green Day.

Released on the 20^th of September 2004 American Idiot is the San Francisco based bands seventh studio album. It received a huge amount of praise from music critics and fans all over the world. American Idiot that took Green Day from being the biggest punk band on the planet to one of the biggest bands on the planet. Now ten years later I am going to review American Idiot.

The album kicks off with one of the most recognisable guitar riffs ever before blasting into the lead single with the same name as the album American Idiot. This anti-George Bush anthem is everything you would expect from a Green Day song. Music played at a break neck speed accompanied by Billie Joe Armstrong’s poppy snarl as he belts out some smart lyrics.

Track two is where the album get’s interesting. American Idiot is Green Day’s attempt at a rock opera. It tells the story of Jimmy’s life from birth to death. The song Jesus Of Suburbia is the first of two nine minute long songs on American Idiot. A song comprised of five different parts (Jesus Of Suburbia, City Of The Damned,  I Don’t Care, Dearly Beloved, Tales Of Another Broken Home), it tells a tale of Jimmy becoming frustrated with life and running away. For a punk band to write a song this long is almost unheard of but Green Day make it work to fantastic effect.

Up next is Holiday. Opening up with another very recognisable guitar riff this song is the most political on American Idiot. Billie Joe sings with a sneer reminiscent of a man intent on changing the world.

Holiday is followed up by Boulevard Of Broken Dreams. This song tells of how Jimmy has grown disenchanted with life and how he feels alone. He then begins to question his existence in the following song Are We The Waiting. Both of these songs see the band slow things down a notch. Are We The Waiting is a brilliantly atmospheric song and Billie Joe’s vocal delivery is perfect.

Track number six on the album is my personal favourite, St. Jimmy. This fast paced punk rock assault is about St. Jimmy beginning to stand up and fight against the establishment he is so angry at. Armstrong is at his snarling best on this electrifying song. Drummer Tré Cool adds some excellent drum rolls towards the end of the song.

The next two songs Give Me Novacaine and She’s A Rebel could easily be one song. They continue Jimmy’s story as he delves into drugs and meet’s a girl who he feels is dangerous. Give Me Novacaine is a slow tempo number that slowly builds before going into the punchier She’s A Rebel. These songs are followed up by Extraordinary Girl, continuing the talk of women. Jimmy has found himself in a relationship with an amazing woman but finds himself bringing her down.

The tenth song is named Letterbomb and goes back to Green Day’s classic Dookie sound. Billie Joe’s vocal performance is again superb on this song. This is followed by the ballad Wake Me Up When September Ends. Here Billie Joe pulls on your heartstrings as he sings about dealing with the loss of a loved one. This is where Green Day pull out an arena sized anthem from their box of tricks. The song itself is a brilliantly written piece of music but for me it slows the pacing of the album right down and makes it begin to drag.

Wake Me Up When September Ends is followed by the second of two nine minute long songs, Homecoming. Homecoming deals with the death of Jimmy. Split into five parts (Homecoming, East 12^th St, Nobody Likes You, Rock and Girlfriend and We’re Coming Home Again) it serves as a eulogy for Jimmy’s life.

American Idiot finishes with Whatsername. This song about trying to find a loved one feels kind of out of place on the album. It’s another great song but with the story telling aspect of American Idiot you would think it would finish with Homecoming. The placing of this song is one of very few blemishes on this album.

Whether you love or hate American Idiot you cannot deny that this is an amazing accomplishment from Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, Tré Cool and producer Rob Cavallo.

Jesse James Live @ The Borderline 5/7/14

My favourite gig this year.

Album Review: A Little Scared by A Great Notion

I first discovered Peterborough based folk punk band A Great Notion after searching through Aaahh!!! Real Records website and picked up their two releases basically because they were cheap. After a first listen to both Fun With Swifts and Possibilities I Knew I had a couple of bargains, A Great Notion are a phenomenal band. On September 1^st they release their new EP A Little Scared. Here’s a review of it.

A Little Scared starts on with a song named This Isn’t Kansas. It starts out with a fiddly little guitar riff before the song bursts into life. The song itself is about not being scared to leave home to follow your dreams. The rousing chorus of “we’ve got a lot to learn and more to live for, I know you’re strong enough to fight for what you love so, hold on to your dreams and don’t let go, I know you’re scared of leaving can’t you see that I am too” really brings the song home and will inspire massive sing-alongs. Fantastic start to the EP.

Track two is titled Sleep Well. It’s the fastest song on the EP and tells a tale about two different lifestyles. The first about someone who lives their life by the book – good job, nice house and a wife, the second about somebody who lives their life the way they want to despite it not being “conventional.” The moral of the tale is that the second person can sleep soundly knowing that they are they are being themselves and having a clear conscious because of this. This is a song that will make you think about how you live your own life.

The third song is called 5^th February. This acoustic song is really quite beautiful. It’s a letter to an unborn baby about how much it will be loved. I am nowhere near good enough with words to really do it justice by writing about it so I suggest you go check it out yourself.

The final song is Peggle Forever. The full band is back for this song about two people who were in love and inseparable slowing growing apart. I love the early analogies “you’re the razor and I’m the wire, you’re the smoke and I’m the fire.” This is really inventive song writing. The song style reminds me of Gainesville punk rockers Hot Water Music, with its dual clean and gruff harmonies. Peggle Forever is a very strong closing song for A Little Strong.

A Little Scared is a great release from a band that will sadly go underneath a lot of people’s radars. I only discovered them through dumb luck. All four songs on this release are great and also very different in their own way. It’s impressive how a band can make such a varied EP. I urge you to go and check them out, they are an incredible talent. 

Stream the album here: http://music.real-records.co.uk/album/a-little-scared-ep

Now listening to Peggle Forever by A Great Notion

Fantastic Records Labels.

For small underground bands a massive part of what keeps them going in terms of being able to putting out new music is people buying current music from them whether it be on a physical format such as CD or vinyl or a digital service such as iTunes or Bandcamp. When it comes to selling their music the majority of bands need support from record labels. Since the birth of the internet and file sharing it has become harder and harder for record labels to make a profit but throughout the UK there are still loads of labels still putting out great new music. Most of these labels will never make much of a profit if any at all, they do it because it’s what they love. Here I take a look at a small selection of these labels.

13 Stitches

13 Stitches Records is a label from Brighton founded by Demon Smiles drummer Steve Todd. The label was put together as a way for Steve to help bands that he loves put out physical releases. 13 Stitches has put out music by bands such as Mϋg, Demon Smiles and Dropthis.

176 Records

176 Records is a small label run out of London that also puts on gig. It has put on gigs for bands such as ONSIND and The Dauntless Elite and music by Losing Sleep and WEGROWBEARDS

Aaahh!! Real Records

Aaahh!! Real Records is a label from Cambridge and is passionate about the DIY punk philosophy. They put out records from A Great Notion, Bandit  The Panther as well as American Rapper MC Lars and have previously released music from Random Hand, Ducking Punches and Bad Ideas.

Bombed Out

Bombed Out Records is based in Leeds and Harrogate which released it’s first record in 1998. Since its formation it has released music from The Daunteless Elite, Wooderson and Joe Ninety.

Bomber Music

Starting out as a music publisher before becoming a label, Bomber Music is a label from London that releases music from all sorts of music genre’s including ska, punk, rock and psychobilly. They have released music from the cream of the UK’s underground talent such as Random Hand, The Skints, Smokey Bastard, New Town Kings, Great Cynics and The Roughneck Riot.

Cats? Aye! Records

Cats? Aye! Records is a label run from Leeds and Southampton. So far they have put out music from Leagues Apart, Break Ups, Young Attenboroughs and a split from members of the Survival Tour – Roo Pescod (Bangers), Giles Bidder (Great Cynics) and Kelly Kemp.

Disconnect Disconnect Records

Disconnect Disconnect Records is a label from London that focuses on releasing music from independent punk bands from the UK and worldwide. So far they have released music from Bottler, Home Advantage, Mike Scott and Counterpunch.

Do The Dog

Do The Dog music is a distribution company that specialises in ska music. It has released music from bands such as Smoke Like A Fish, Cartoon Violence and Three Minute Warning.

Everything Sucks Music

After starting out as a gig promoter Everything Sucks music was founded in 2012 and put out its first release in early 2013. Since then they have put out music from Bear Trade, Losing Sleep and The Exhausts.

Household Name Records

Household Name records was founded in 1996 in London. They have put out some of the best releases in UK punk since then including Civil Disobedients by Capdown and Call Of The Weasel Clan by Lightyear. More recently they put out the amazing debut albums from Apologies I Have None and Great Cynics.

Lockjaw Records

Lockjaw Records is an independently run label specialising in punk and hardcore music. Current bands on their label include Drones, Fighting Fiction, Ducking Punches and Sweet Empire.

Make That A Take

Make-That-A-Take Records is a small collective that put on punk shows and release records from the East coast of Scotland. They are anti sexist, anti-racist, anti-homophobic and anti-fascist. Make-That-A-Take have released music by Joey Terrifying, Loaded 45, Tragical History Tour as well as a compilation series named Make Yer Own Comp featuring the cream of the UK punk scene.

Ska Mutiny

Ska Mutiny Records is a record label from Leeds that specialises in Ska Punk. They mantra of the label is that they would rather fans hear the bands for free rather than never hear them at all. They have put out records from Eat Defeat, Do It With Malice andThe Fractions as well as a whole host of compilations.

Specialist Subject

Specialist Subject Records is a label and distribution service run out of Exeter. Oneof the biggest success stories on this list, they have put out some great records from the likes of Bangers, Sam Russo, Muncie Girls and Martha.

Team Beard

Team Beard is a non-profit DIY independent label who release music and put on shows based throughout the UK. Their roster of bands includes Question The Mark and The Doublecross

TNS

That’s Not Skanking (TNS) is a label based in Manchester that was founded in 2003. They are big believers in their bands coming together and helping each other out. It’s a community and not a competition. Bands who have put out music via TNS include Faintest Idea, Revenge Of The Psychotronic Man, Officer Down and Wonk Unit.

Lyrical Content

I was at a friend’s wedding last night where my good friend The Tom was doing the disco. Obviously he was playing all the family friendly pop hits that everybody loves.  I had a listen to some of the lyrics in the song and many were absolutely stupid. I’m quite convinced anyone who hold a pen or use a keyboard could have written them. That got me thinking about some of my favourite lyrics. I like a lyric that’s smart, relatable or just reminds me of a special time. I decided to share some of my all time favourites with you lovely people.

River Jumpers – Five Doors Down Well It’s Clear My Dear, While You’re Out On The Dance Floor, I’ll Be Five Doors Down Listening To All My Favourite Songs In This Place Where I Belong.”

Chewing On Tinfoil – Forty Shade Of Grey “We Have All Been Down, That’s Just The Way Life Is, We Have All Worn Frowns Instead Of Smiling Kid, We Have All Been Down, But We’ll Get Up Again, Not All Kings Wear Crowns, At Least You Have Your Friends.”

Frank Turner – Four Simple Words “Hi Ho Hi Ho Hi Ho, We’re Heading Out To The Punk Rock Show, Colleagues And Friends Condescend With A Smile, But This Is My Culture Man, This Is My Home.”

Jesse James – Growin’ up “Growing Up’s Just Getting Old.”

Zebrahead – Hell Yeah “Take A Shot To The Chin With A Grin”

ONSIND – Mildred “I Keep Running From The Storm And You Done Your Best, To Regulate And Medicate The Dark Clouds Forming In My Brain.”

Smoke Or Fire – Monsters Among Us “There Are Monsters Among Us, There Are Some You Can’t See, Their Disguised In Their Suits, Nice Shoes And Ties, And They Take Vengeance On Ethics And Honesty.”

Off With Their Heads – Nightlife “Don’t Wanna Be Like This, Anxious And Angry Or Hopeless And Upset All The Time, Unable To Get Back The Feeling I Lost Somewhere Along The Line, I Wear It On My Sleeve And Everyone Sees No Matter How Hard I Try, I’ve Never Felt Worse In My Whole Life.”

The Loved Ones – Player Hater Anthem “Do I Regret I Wasted The Breath It Took To Sing, To I Regret I Ever Admitted To A Little And Bled It All Out On The Page."

The Ergs! – Pray For Rain “I’m Sore From The Smiles That You’ve Given To Me.”

The Have Nots – Proud “If My Dad Could See Me Now, Would He Be Proud? That I’ve Become The Man I Have, That I Don’t Do What’s Just Allowed.”

Rancid – Radio – “When I Got The Music I Got A Place To Go.”

Against Me! – Reinventing Axl Rose “Just Gimme A Scene Where The Music Is Free, And Where Beer Is Not The Life Of The Party.”

Apologies, I Have None – Sat In Vicky Park “A Man Cannot Be Measured By The Number Of People He’s Fucked, The Numbers On A Payslip Are No Indication Of Worth.”

The Smith Street Band – Don’t Fuck With Our Dreams “But Now Isn’t The Time For Back Down, Got Our Feet So Firmly On The Ground, So Call Me What You Will, I Don’t Care, I Know What Happened I Was There, We Know What Happened We Were There,”

The Unseen – Scream Out “Playing Punk Keeps Me Sane, Don’t Need Drugs To Numb The Pain”

Wil Wagner – Songs About Why I Suck – “And I Sing These Songs Out Of Fury And Fear, And I Sing This Songs Because Without Them, I Wouldn’t Be Here.”

Iron Chic –Time Cop “Remember The Pain Of Growing Up, It May Have Hurt But It Sure Was Fun, It Made Us Who We Are Now, It Gave Us A Mystery To Figure Out.”

Bouncing Souls – True Believers “We Live Our Lives In Our Own Way, Never Really Listened To What They Say, The Kind Of Faith That Never Fades Away, We Are The True Believers.”

King Blues – What If Punk Never Happened “There’s A Lesson To Be Learnt, One That I Will Take Home, When I Return To My Normal Reality Zone, Punk Rock Has The Power To Change The World, It Lies If Every Single Punk Rock Boy And Girl, So Don’t Let Anyone Tell You You’re Not Worth The Earth, These Streets Are Your Streets, The Turf Is Your Turf, Don’t Let Anyone Tell You That You’ve Got To Give In, Cos You Can Make A Difference, You Can Change Everything, Just Let Your Dreams Be Your Pilot, Your Imagination Your Fuel, Tear Up The Book And Write Your Own Damn Rules, Use All The Heart, Hope And Soul That You’ve Got, And The Love And The Rage That You Feel In The Gut, Realise That The Other World That You’re Always Looking For, Lies Right Here In Front Of us, Just Outside The Door, And It’s Up To You To Go Out There And Paint The Canvas, After All You Were Put On The Earth To Do This, So Shine Your Light So Bright That All Can See, Take Pride In Being Whoever The Fuck You Want To Be, Throw Your Fist In The Air In Solidarity, And Shout Viva La Punk, Just One Life, Anarchy.”

 Now Listening To Lyrical Content by [Spunge]

Album Review: Smithereens by Bottler

Bottler are a four piece punk rock band based around London. Formed from other bands they came together in 2013 and released the debut EP Smithereens earlier this year on Disconnect Disconnect Records.

Smithereens opens up with the excellent Ex-Members. Starting things off slowly before erupting into a song about being in old bands that you hadn’t heard of and not giving up on playing music that they love. The chorus is really catchy and the lines “we are the ex-members of the bands you never knew” will grab you instantly and is very relatable in the punk scene. I imagine a good portion of the crowd will also have been in bands at some stage in their lives. I’m amazed my old band Thirty Six Crazy Mega Death Punches never took off.

Ex-Members is followed by Ready, Willing, Able. Ready, Willing, Able musically is quite a frantic sounding song but then lead singer Dave’s vocals come across as being very controlled. It’s a political song about relying too much on America to help us. Bottler issue somewhat of a battle cry during a break down stating “they might get pieces but they’ll never take us all.”

Track three is called Mastermind and is a fun song about breaking the law. It starts off with telling a story about breaking a window with a brick and then quickly escalates to killing someone. I loved the use of the harmonica during the song, a reference to prison time. I also enjoyed the Oi! nature of Mastermind, gives the song a new sing-along element.

Track four is title track Smithereens. The first thing you notice on the song is the bass line; it reminds me of some of the great Matt Freeman from Rancids work. This song is about working somewhere for a long time and being let go. In a tongue in cheek manor Bottler suggest “give up your dreams, before they get smashed to smithereens.” Probably the strongest song on the release on the EP, it’s got everything I like in a song – great and relatable lyrics, catchy chorus, great instrumentation and you can imagine how good it must be live without seeing it live (yet).

The final song on Smithereens is called No Questions Please. This is a song questioning organised religion, something must punk bands do at some point. The lyrics are covered in sarcasm, talking about confession “wipe the slate cream, you’re a perfect human being,” and the thought that if you don’t believe in a god “you are either with us or you are hell bound by belief.” This is another song I imagine is well received live and will garner some fist in the air action.

Smithereens shows a band with a great amount of promise. Bottler are clearly a band with a knack of writing smart, interesting and unique songs. I’m very interested to hear what they do next.

Stream and buy Smithereens here: https://disconnectdisconnectrecords.bandcamp.com/album/smithereens