Yuck: Tasty lo-fi rock

Yuck at Captains Rest, Glasgow
© Michael Gallacher twistyfoldy.net

Band: Yuck

Origin: London, England

Genre: Indie


Made up of Daniel Blumberg and Max Bloom from London, former members of Cajun Dance Party, Jonny Rogoff from New Jersey, Mariko Doi from Japan and Ilana Blumberg, Daniel’s sister, Yuck is a multi-national band taking the world by storm. With elements of grunge in their sound and influenced by late ‘80s and ‘90s lo-fi, the band is making massive strides in England, especially on the live circuit, as well as getting rave reviews in America. Yuck featured in the BBC’s Sound of 2011 and has been described by Paste Magazine.com as “the best don’t-give-a-damn lo-fi guitar rock”.

Releases:

Album: Yuck [2011]

Singles: Rubber, Georgia, Holing Out, Get Away, The Wall

Resembles: Dinosaur Jr, Sonic Youth, Teenage Fanclub, J Mascis

Listen here:

http://yuckband.blogspot.com/

http://www.myspace.com/yuckband

Doctors In My Bed by Yuck

Watch here:

Top 10 Happy Dance songs



© Scott Ormerod

In honour of the original Blind Blimp team jetting off to Peru tomorrow, we give you our Top Ten Happy Dance tracks:

10. Wheezer - Island in the Sun
9. Wolfmother - White Feather
8. Supergrass - Alright
7. Ben Folds - Zak & Sara
6. Gorillaz - Dare
5. Blur - Song 2
4. Vampire Weekend - A-Punk
3. Kimya Dawson & Antsy Pants - Tree Hugger
2. Ben Kweller - Wasted & Ready
1. The Fratellis - Chelsea Dagger

*Happy dance*

p.s. not to fear, the blog is being left in the capable hands of one of our contributors, Andrea. Thanks Andrea! See you all in a month's time!

What Did You Expect From the Vaccines? - Joyous, fun, Ra Ra Ra!

I just can't get What Did You Expect From the Vaccines? out of my head. And this is a good thing.

The Vaccines are an old school Indie Britpop outfit that rather missed their period – having only formed in 2010. They would've fit right in with The Clash and The Ramones.

The debut album, What Did You Expect From the Vaccines? channels the post-colonial “WTF now?” mentality that is such a strong part of modern UK culture and makes me ache to get back to Reading for some dirty-rocker festival going.

Even though their sound is strongly derivative, it is still fresh and even soothing in spots.

The Vaccines have been through the wringer in the UK press, first lauded as the new coming, then hit with a massive backlash against their “priveleged” background, even before the album's release on 14 March 2011. Happily, here in SA, we missed the hype and can experience the album with fresh ears. I can't help but love it.

If You Wanna is a cheerful, energetic and cocky come-on; Wetsuit carries an element of nostalgia and hope and builds on itself well; while Norgaard speaks of rejection in an offhand, “next-please” kind of way. Even the 1 minute and 21 second first single Wreckin' Ball (Ra Ra Ra) tickles me to death.

If UK culture and Britpop is your thing (and it should be) you have to add this album to your collection.

For more on the Vaccines visit http://www.thevaccines.co.uk/za/home/

Mona: In your face awesome rock ‘n roll

Mona at KOKO in Camden, London ©Braden F

Band: Mona

Origin: Dayton, Ohio/Nashville, Tennessee

Genre: Alternative, rock



Bestowed the Brand New for 2011 title at the MTV Awards and appearing on the BBC’s Sound of 2011 poll, Mona have been receiving a lot of attention lately even though their debut album is yet to be released. The band, which was named after lead vocalist Nick Brown’s grandmother, self-produced their self-titled debut album which is due in May in their basement in Nashville, and it was mixed by producer Rich Costey (Foo Fighters, Muse, Arctic Monkeys).

Described by Rough Trade Shops as “romantic rock ‘n roll for city folk”, Mona’s sound is big, ballsy and the kinda stuff that would be amazing live. The rumour is that they are to be the next Kings of Leon and to be bigger than U2. I believe it.

To quote the blog on Mona’s website: “The only thing slick about Mona is their hair. The rest is arm-pumping, vein-throbbing, knee-jittering, raw-throated, singalong rock ‘n roll.”

Releases:

Debut album: Mona [16 May 2011] (available for preview and pre-order on iTunes)

Singles: Debut single “Listen to Your Love”; second single “Trouble on the Way”; third single “Teenager”

Resembles: Kings of Leon (their new stuff), Van Halen

Listen here:

www.myspace.com/monatheband 

http://www.monatheband.com/

Watch here:

Dance, You’re on Fire: The next big thing

By Andrea Vermaak

I’ve seldom been wrong at predicting a great future for certain bands. Now I am telling you that the next big thing to watch out for is Dance, You’re on Fire. Currently on tour, promoting their debut album Secret Chiefs, the Joburg-based boys do not only have an album of top notch production quality, but they bring much needed, fresh energy and enthusiasm to the South African stage with their rock ‘n roll meets indie vibe.

Dance, You're on Fire being awfully sombre

Their relaxed, happy-go-lucky attitude, charm and sense of humour is present both on and off stage. They have a no pretense, no nonsense attitude. There is still a sense of humility and gratefulness that so many bands push aside and forget about too soon. It’s almost as if they don’t know how great they are and can be. My only hope is that they keep this attitude because then they will go even further than even I can predict.

Super enthused lead singer and guitarist, Tom Manners, has been likened to the voices of Panic! At The Disco and Fall Out Boy. And rightly so. But the boys describe their music as far more creative, yet still accessible. Their rocking second single, Boxes of Tigers is currently number five on the Tuks FM Top 30 and number two on The Sondag Tuks FM Most Wanted Listener Top 20.

Dance, You’re on Fire opened for aKING at Tings 'n Times in Pretoria on Friday, 1 April 2011. They had an excitable crowd dancing and singing along to not only Boxes of Tigers, but to their first single Blockade and title song Secret Chiefs. Their debut performance of Michelle added something sweet to sway to in their set of power guitar songs. Speaking of which, guitarist Adrian Erasmus is a seriously great guitarist of whom any other SA band should be jealous!

Secret Chiefs is currently available online at www.danceyoureonfire.co.za and at their gigs, as well as at certain music outlets in Gauteng. Secret Chiefs is going to be launched in Germany, Austria and Switzerland in early June this year. Next stop, the world! 

Tour dates are also available online. If Dance, You’re on Fire is performing in your area, you simply have to check them out! When they go big, as I predict, you can say that I told you so!

Dead Alphabet: Bringing 70s American Punk into the new millennium

Dead Alphabet already has me thinking 'cool' with their name. It is strongly reminiscent of 70s American Punk and I love it. Awesome name ticked, Dead Alphabet's next step is to put together a downright impressive EP, The Kill.

The controlled but aggressive vocals of Adam Edwards remind me strongly of those of Joshua Homme. The accompaniment does not follow the jerky strains of Queens of the Stone Age, however. Dead Alphabet is more melodic, while still being well grungy and in-your-face.

The Kill, the first track on the EP is incredibly sexy, with fantastic guitar riffs that bring in the 70s rock once again. Eat you Alive, is energetic and angry. A fantastic moshy tune. I can't state with certainty that the 70s are an influence in Dead Alphabets life, but this era of raw, sincere and in-your-face rock comes through in Dead Alphabet tunes and I can only respect them for it. Of course their sound has been brought bang into the new century – no loserish throwback tracks for these boys.

I'm afraid that I promised the boys a visit to their gig last night, but missed it due to a rather heavy weekend and a desperate need of full-body hangover relief, but I don't doubt for a second that they are awesome. I didn't want to wait anymore to post this review, because the word must be spread – Dead Alphabet is the shiznizz. I can't wait to catch a gig when I'm not a zombie.

You can follow Dead Alphabet on Twitter for all the latest news (@DeadAlphabet), or join their Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/DEADALPHABET?sk=info where you will find a link to the EP, The Kill. Do yourself a favour.

Broken Bells: Bringing the brilliance

Bootleg Theatre, Los Angeles Feb 2010

(CC) Andy Sternberg - andysternberg.com

Band: Broken Bells

Origin: Los Angeles, California, US

Genre: Indie rock



Formed in 2009, Broken Bells has already played Glastonbury and is planning its second album. This is not surprising considering that the band consists of musical marvels James Mercer from The Shins on vocals and guitar, and Brian Burton – better known as Danger Mouse – covering multiple instruments and production.

Described by the duo as “melodic, but experimental, too”, their sound is a perfect amalgamation of the two gentlemen’s separate brilliances. Broken Bells are brilliant. Expect big things!

Releases:

Debut album: Broken Bells [March 2010]

EP: Meyrin Fields [March 2011]



Resembles: Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, The Shins, Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse, Fleet Foxes

Listen here:

http://www.myspace.com/brokenbells



Broken Bells - The High Road by pcagx



 October, Broken Bells by thalgyur

Watch here:

http://www.youtube.com/brokenbells