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In a full transcription of the interview that appeared in the May 16 issue of the YEP, Andy Roberts talks to Noble - guitarist from eclectic Bowie-esque soon-to-be superstars British Sea Power about growing up in Leeds and more...
British Sea Power @ Blank Canvas
Apologising for The Rakes absence, the Leeds five piece Infrasound swaggered onto stage, fronted by singer John Walker, who looks like the original monkey-prince himself - Ian Brown.
British Sea Power @ Leeds Festival 2002
There's something uniquely well, British about British Sea Power when compared to the legions of yank bands on show at this year's festival.
British Sea Power: Open Season
Since the minor cult success of their debut "The Decline of British Sea Power", BSP have been slogging taking their "club night" to every conceivable backwater, playing a gig in any student toilet that would have them and providing live soundtracks to old black & white movies.
The Future Of Transporte: Robots Of Power EP
Some all round poor production (that's music and packaging) scores marks against new Leeds outfit The Future Of Transporte.
Female-fronted ensemble playing piano with auburn hair and vintage-style dress. No I'm not talking about Kate Nash but Rose Elinor Dougall aka Rose formerly of the Pipettes.
Band Profile: The Anonymous Groove Band
funk soul reggae jazz covers
British Sea Power @ Joseph's Well
It's good for Leeds and good for Joseph's Well to see it as full as it is tonight (sold out in fact).
Mainstream rock. For so long it's been a dirty word, associated with the kind of dross that Bon Jovi would call 'mind blowing'.
Too many bands these days have lost, or never found their mystique in attempt to drive home the harsh facts and harsher reality of our lives.
Marilyn Manson @ Leeds Festival 2005
Before we delve into those cavernous vodka-marinaded archives of Leeds Festival 2005, I'll quickly make a short, sweet statement of truth.
We catch up with power-pop trio Kenosha who chat about fame early in their careers, rehearsing in Bridlington and almost having a 'we're not worthy!' moment with their heroes...
Powered up guitar pop band
Leeds band Kram release their new double A-side single through GrooveStealer Records on Monday 12th March. Rachel Wilson caught up with the band.
The 3 Despondents play rock'n'roll punk like they remember it. Singer's Dead Boys T-Shirt is surely older than him.
John McCusker Band @ Otley Methodist Hall
How far beyond expectation is the word 'lush' when describing Scottish traditional music? Well, it can turn up here - because the musicians are the John McCusker Band, and listening to them you get the quality of the playing, the power of the sound, and a strength that is not a matter of amplification.
Richard Thompson Band @ Irish Centre
Described in this month's Uncut as "...one of Britain's greatest living songwriters" - and surely even this glowing accolade does not do justice to the musical genius that is Richard Thompson.
Manic Street Preachers @ Leeds Festival 2008
A night of torrential rain hasn't dampened anyone's spirits, although the ground is a little muddier than it has been over the previous 48 hours.
Interview: Charlotte Hatherley
Kate Zezulka meets up with Charlotte Hatherley to counteract the Spice Girls' comeback by spreading a little real girl power...
Neil Cowley Trio @ Millennium Square
The Leeds Jazz festival has become an easy way for the average music lover to be exposed to a whole host of talented Jazz musicians from across the UK.
Will Ridge interviews Tim Wheeler and Rick McMullen of the band Ash and tries to establish what the future has in hold for them now they have turned their back on the conventional album.
Joseph Seager managed to ask Italian pop/folk/indie band Amycanbe a few questions, from how their tour of the UK has gone to what they'll be up to this Christmas...
soul funk
The Yo-Yo's: Given Up Giving Up
I remember five years ago as a poor student living in Stoke-on-Trent getting the first The Yo-Yo's album and lending it to anyone who'd listen.
The Playmates: Smash Hits / Jackie Wright
The Playmates just reek of scuzz. They've got scuzz seeping out of every orifice. They've got scuzz in places you don't even have places.
We Start Fires: Caught Redhanded
Mathematics aside this is a valiant effort from this US grrrl-punk scene influenced quartet. Underneath the guitars and quirky 80s' keyboard effects of this album lies a fair dose of pop-punk fused with the daily trials and tribulations of your average young rock and roll girl.
Johnson House @ Hard Rock Cafe
Johnson House?... who the hell are Johnson House you may ask. Well, not a band that blow their own trumpets, not a band you will be reading about every week on the LMS message board - or even in YEP.
My attention was alerted to this band when a live review likened them to Big Black and Cop Shoot Cop.
Nerve Engine wield their guitars, with the precision of a surgeon's scalpel. Barrage after barrage of "Gugga Gugga" guitars rain down and some intricate playing shows off the highly flexed skills of the band.
On a warm evening in Leeds a band could be heard playing. Scouting For Girls are playing at the Cockpit with support from the newly formed Leeds band The Faraways.
Thai Bride: Non Contact Sports
Judging them on this release Thai Bride are a bloke's band. Not that they play blokes music as such, it's just that they sing about bloke's things.
Mates of State @ Cardigan Arms
Ok. So. Origami. They look kinda like Sleater-Kinney; they sound kinda like Sleater-Kinney but they get straight to the point where Sleater-Kinney dance around the kitchen table and they smirk and joke where Sleater-Kinney are over-intelligent.
Diawara, in my opinion, have to be one of the most improved bands over the last year. Musically they have got so, so much tighter and their songwriting has improved as demonstrated on this EP.
A half-filled room welcomed London-based three-piece The Primms onto the stage. Having heard the quite average two-track "Do You Know The Future?" EP (released on Destabilize Records), my hopes were less than high, and, unfortunately, the same blandness and mediocrity of their recordings was evident in The Primms' live set.
Lightyear @ Leeds Festival 2002
Lightyear are a band I've heard many good things about, though I hadn't bothered to go check them out until today.
Here we have three tracks that could be heard anywhere across the land. Grungy punk rock is the order of the day but there's neither the tunes nor the talent to match the enthusiasm here.
And so it came to pass...five young dandies from Wakefield with a penchant for cute, kooky pop and stupid clothes got together and made the earth move.
Ten Seconds Of Chaos: Don't Cut Me Out
Within the limitations of full-on rock guitar-band music Ten Seconds of Chaos squeeze out every possibility to maximum effect.
Juxtaposition come to the stage with the discomfort most bands show. However, after a frantic opening, they come to life.
Once again, it's that time of the month (no, not that one) but the one in which the whole of Leeds descends on the small but perfectly formed Hi-Fi club for the biggest (and longest) party in town.
Star Bodixa change their name to Bodixa (again)
Anyone doubt the power of fans? Certainly not Star Bodixa anyway. Democracy is alive and well amongst their rapidly-growing fanbase as seen in the band now reverting back to their original name of Bodixa.
Irish Indie band Ash play the Leeds Met on 1st May, but as a sneak preview and a thank you to their loyal fans, the band played an exclusive free gig at the Virgin Megastore, Leeds.
The Pigeon Detectives to release 'Say It Like You Mean It' on 20th October
Leeds band The Pigeon Detectives will release a new single, 'Say It Like You Mean It', on 20th October on the Dance To the Radio record label.
Only 19 and thrashing their long locks around on the front cover of this new EP, Desert Monkey are clearly having a good time.
Line up announced for Across The Tracks festival
The line up for Across The Tracks, the two-day festival (29/30th July) that takes place in the Leeds city centre, has been announced this evening.
Nerve Engine: Underneath The Sprawl
This is the second release from the multi regional band and once again self recorded in keeping with their independent attitude.
rock alternative
Lapdog @ Woodkirk Valley Country Club
The summer madness continues with a spanking good night of local music at The Strychnine Lounge last Friday - four bands, yup four bands - one stage and a room full of people demonstrating that the upward trend of the venue is continuing.
Star*Bodixa's single on Energy Records has a timeless and glistening appeal. Nostalgic serenity pours out of every verse.
Leeds' latest progressive-alt-rock band, Blue Sky Project, show plenty of promise with this record yet generally fall just short in delivering the quality goods expected of a band fronted by enigmatic singer / songwriter / guitarist / promoter / label boss Lewis Denby.
Just because they're kids with guitars, don't expect Outl4w to be in the same mould as McFly/Busted. You won't find any watered down rock for the teeny-bop masses on this album.
Band Profile: Captain Wilberforce
Formed after an impetuous fit of song-writing one weekend early in 2004, multi instrumentalist / vocalist Simon Bristoll, aka Captain Wilberforce, has come a long way in a short time.
This new double A-side is more of the same idea packed Muse-tinged guitar-led adventures from Kram. There are also encouraging signs that they're finding their own sound rather than wearing their influences like big hats with neon arrows.
four day Hombre single release date confirmed...
four day Hombre release their Radio One acclaimed First Word is the Hardest debut single on July 7th.
After the most stressful and unnerving day ever I was in need of some music, so off I race to RPC just in time to catch the catch the start of the All Star 69ers.
With the likes of Dumb 41 and Blink 18Poo cluttering the air waves with their supposed comical take on punk rock, I was initially worried about listening to a CD by a punk band who had previously released an EP titled "Moshy Peas." Thankfully "The Upper Crust" is a musical dictionary of the various types of punk that are available to the people of the world.
The band that everyone loves to hate right now. It would seem that everyone who never liked the Stereophonics hates them even more now.
I arrived at the venue (just) in time to interview the band, and made it downstairs just as openers Shibby were finishing up, so on them I cannot comment.
The Fiery Furnaces: Single Again
Coming on like a deranged DJ Shadow monkeyed off his eyeballs on uppers and downers, whilst various members of the Beta Band and the Delgadoes point and laugh, this is an eclectic yet energetic 218 seconds of mayhem.
Andrew WK @ Leeds Festival 2002
The one-man party machine drew a large crowd to the Main Stage to witness some self-abuse antics. The performance is full of energy from the start; Mr WK and backing band run around like lunatics.
Bands hyped up without an album, but solely because they are new, have four average songs on MySpace and a novelty name, seem to be the way music is going.
The Needles @ Bar 1-20 (Huddersfield)
Poor old Huddersfield music scene, struggling manfully under the pressure of an audience made up generally of 16 somethings more concerned about which shade of black to dye their hair before their next bout of Emo, Screamo, Eskimo or whatevermo.
Buen Chico: The stylish new sounds of...
Every so often something special comes along, something really special. Buen Chico: local laidback teenagers that created a stir of late by recording an amazing demo before sitting back to watch the labels buzz around them with avid interest and intent.
Band Profile: Guns on the Roof
Guns on the Roof come from the wrong side of Leeds, Crossgates and Halton Moor, areas that spawned the likes of 80's punk bands Abrasive Wheels, Icon AD, Urban Zones and more recently Dead Pets.
"Oh no!" I think to myself as I read They Made Me Do It's press release. We are a techno/dance/rock outfit and we recorded this CD in our bedroom.
Five O'Clock Heroes: Run To Her
Oh Jesus, When is this endless tide of pretty boy piss poor pop going to end? "Run to her" skips merrily around on my CD player but I think I am going to take it out in a minute and use it as a coaster.
Cheap Thrills was recorded at Sunnybank Studios in June of this year. Tracks are: "Run or Die", "Lesbian Pleasure", "Dirty USA", "Country Song" and "Salvation".
Many people erroneously laugh off the Kaiser Chiefs as mere Britpop pretenders, but imagine if they had actually been born into the dregs of Britpop in 1995 and not quite made it - thus leaving the music business quietly to play at local snooker clubs wearing sunglasses, a la Rick Witter?
Pounding of drums and wail of guitar signifies that My Exploding Heart have come to the stage. Singer/guitarist Danny Carr thrashes out power chords like it's the last time he'll play a gig while faces of orgasmic exhilaration come from frantic drummer Mike Quarry.
There's two of 'em, one plays guitar and one plays drums. And that's pretty much where any similarity to The White Stripes ends.
Helica are a five piece band based in Leeds and Wakefield in West Yorkshire. The band have been together for just short of a year, although they have all been making music in one way or another for a long time.
Back before this Leeds scene was a glint in its father's eye, before the advent of websites and online bitching / back-slapping forums, Orka were a name to be reckoned with, hotly tipped by those photocopying their fanzines (ask your dads) and looking dead set to be rich, famous and arrogant.
Alternative dark psychedelic progessive space rock.
It's rare that you get to see a band before too much hype, publicity or critical fanfare comes their way, and in this case, to witness a debut live appearance.
Rock music. It's not that simple these days. Like a supermarket that has so much variety it's hard to know what to get, rock music has so many flavours, it's hard to pin down which flavour of rock music is rock music these days.
I was lucky enough to review Harmacy's first offering. They must have liked what I wrote because they sent me another one!
Mull Historical Society: Am I Wrong?
Bloody hell. I ought to really like Mull Historical Society. They have a good name and they get listed in all the same places as my favourite artists like Cat Power and Yo La Tengo and Smackvan and Reindeer Section.
You can't fault it. This is as good as it gets. Instant Species have fully evolved, grown to maturity and had babies.
4mornings is an ambitious project. Each of four songs is led in by a sound montage of one of the band member's morning.
It's Monday night. And people have left their warm cosy houses, braved the elements and piled down the Well for a sloppy, dirty, nasty sludge-rock extravaganza!
BC Camplight is one man band Brian Christinzio who has been described as an "American Badly Drawn Boy", a description which should be taken with a healthy pinch of salt and more for its fashionable status than its truth.
The Prototypes: A Twist Of Fate
I can't fathom The Prototypes. A Twist of Fate comprises four songs each of which have their own unique style.
Apparently trucker style baseball caps are now "cool". Well Grandaddy were wearing them long before the ponces and poseurs deemed them suitable to wear and continue to do so now they are, but for much different reasons I'm sure than the world's fashion victims.
Wild Beasts: Brave Bulging Buoyant Clairvoyants
It would be wholly unfair to say that the stir Wild Beasts have been causing on the Leeds scene of late was entirely down to the fact that they have a lead singer with one of the most unusual vocal styles around.
The Glitterati @ Joseph's Well
I was too late for tonight's openers - I arrive and they say "thank you and good night" - just too late.
We all know about the "difficult second album" phenomenon. I mean, it's featured every year in the Great Rock and Roll Clichés Annual, next to such chestnuts as "we write songs for ourselves and if anyone else likes them it's a bonus" (he said whilst looking nervously over his shoulder at the suits from his record company) as well as the whole kafuffle of throwing a TV in through a hotel window.
Fight! Fight! Fight! While Leeds pats itself on the back for being the epicentre of new wave pop-rock it could be ambushed by its angry southern Sheffield siblings with a fair slap round the chops and a firm size 10 in the arse.
First of all, I have to report that The Young Professionals are not playing tonight, because the singer has been on a sesh since last Thursday, so just 6 days.
Cynically some musical match ups are made around the record company board table, as fat execs clasp their hands together at the thought of the money they'll make off the back of the novelty value and the combined fan bases' joint spending power.
Named after a character in a Kafka story who awakes to find himself transformed into a beetle, Samsa exude that pyrotechnic self doubt that Radiohead have as good as taken as their own.
"Watch the World Go By" is Serf's new big single. The Americana guitar band sound is fine and dandy. The main song has a big dumb and terrific chorus and the layers of strong guitar are a treat.
Spitfire Charlie play laid back and lazy blues with a whiff of the contemporary (see The Libertines) and a hint of the old (see the great Led Zeppelin).
Kram: So This Is What The Soldiers Did
It's time to hold hands up and pay a knowing nod to Kram as this year's most dramatically improved band.
Remo are from the growing collection of "alternative" rock bands hailing from the city of Bradford lately.
Full kudos must go to Dinosaur Jr for upholding the noble and valiant art of the guitar solo; almost every track on new album "Beyond" features at least one example of smartly-executed fretboard frivolities.
"like Sevendust battling it out with deftones and Metallica" - The Machine
Halifax's Jacob give off a real sense of a band with all the right ingredients but just not quite ready to come out of the oven.
The Butterfly @ Brudenell Social Club
The Engine Room is made of metal this evening as the most entertaining DIY night in Leeds introduces us to three bands that are as heavy as led - The Butterfly, Mishkin and the wonderfully titled White Boys for No.10 Down Syndrome Street (more usually known as (the slightly more offensive) White Boys For Gay Jesus).
Daughters look like they'd be a set of right pricks. The singer has a handlebar moustache, for starters, which ordinarily I'd greatly admire (this being the only acceptable variety of moustache, ever), but to be honest it makes him look like a bit of an idiot.
Reviews depend on trust so I'll try and give it to you straight. This guy from Otherside works at my place.
This second offering from York-based alt-rock outfit Heroic Trio, the follow-up to last year's Driveby EP, is a decidedly mixed affair.
Phluid's "Iconoclast" EP, a three track CD, features the band returning to a much more raw, energy driven sound.
I Am Kloot: From Your Favourite Sky
I like a good heartbreak song. For years I thought that Tony Bennett was the only man alive who could sing it better than anyone else, and I've yet to be proven otherwise, but this bunch of Mancunian misfits come damn close.
Ten Seconds Of Chaos @ Joseph's Well
I attended this show not quite knowing what to expect as I had heard a mixture of opinions on several of the bands, but when I arrived to a relatively large anticipating crowd, I thought I might be in for a good night.
The Adventures of Loki: Feminine Side
I don't write reviews. I've rarely felt moved enough to bother taking the time to do it, and I categorically do not do pannings.
Obsessive Compulsive: Crash EP
I was looking forward to listening to this CD, because it had a female vocalist, and I just love listening to bands with female vocalists and this was no exception.
My first gig of 2003 and in the dreaded month of January, the skint month, the after payday month, the "gigs are low priority on my spending list" month - but no, what's this, "you'll have to squeeze in at the back"; "you can stand on the chairs if you want"; "I'm not going to the bar again, it was murder" for tonight The Primrose is packed for its first gig of the year and the first gig ever for The Cat Pack all 19+ of them.
Somehow while living the rock 'n' roll lifestyle Red.Star.Line managed to find the time to whip up a whole album.
There's a world of male dreams, TV series and British films where the Ford Capri, wide lapels and the wah wah pedal combine to create power, speed and cool calculation.
Decoy sit musically in a category that is most definitely not indie; probably more rock, with a tendency and concentration towards creating a guitar ambience.
Being confronted by a venue the size of a half-empty aircraft hangar doesn't daunt York's heroic threesome.
The Pattern: Fragile Awareness
What I like about the pattern is that after first listening I couldn't stand them. I listen 3 days later and I can't stop ...
Picture the scene, playing a gig and someone comes up to you asking to review their CD. OK or so I thought!
For the most part, this Lincolnshire based folk-rock outfit, offer pretty ordinary acoustic picking/strumming tunes of the brand that will be eternally popular in pubs whose name begins O' or round the campfires of crusty festivals.
While !!! certainly wouldn't win a 'Google-friendly' award they seem to have built quite a loyal fan-base and concreted a strong reputation as an enthralling live act.
Daryl Palumbo (formerly of Glassjaw) returns with his new band's second full length album after 2004's strong, if rather inconsistent, debut effort Decadence.
This 3 track set from York's AKp, is being actively aimed at the copy it and give it away market. AKp aim to be "the UK's premiere avante-garde pop existentialists".
This Days Fury don't so much wear their influences on their respective sleeves as paint them in thirty foot high day-glo letters and carry them around on a rotating bill board.
Disarm: By Any Means Necessary
What can I say about Disarm? This is a band of energetic musicians that makes a team Sir Alex Ferguson would be proud of.
I was a Think Tank and Strangeways virgin before tonight. With a reputation for putting on some great live events, and an ace indie night to boot, it was about time I actually went to find out what the whole Strangeways fuss was about, and their one-year old birthday party was the ideal choice.
Despite all the bad press, Gay Dad still have the songs you can spin your gran round to. So, it was somewhat surprising to see the size of the crowd that had made the uphill trip to the Carling stage from the main arena.
Nikoli: Take It & Go / She Asks Me
This two-song single confirms two things. Firstly, there is now no shortage of high-quality song-writing, musically-rich bands in the marketplace.
drum 'n bass
Edison Medicine @ Joseph's Well
Apologies to Mizkarrage of Justice, as I was late (I always seem to be late these days). I got there in time to hear something I recognised but couldn't place and as I was scrabbling round for a pen realised it was cover of something.
I don't know what it is about Joseph's Well, but even after numerous visits, I still can never remember how to get there.
Yourcodenameis: Milo: Schteeve
Following their impressive Albini produced debut mini album, Yourcodenameis: Milo release their first single proper produced this time by Flood.
Once upon a time, a young man named Rob from a band called The Mighty Stars declared "There's a lot to be said for conciseness and brevity", and I suppose he's right.
Interpol had to drop out due to pressing engagement catching criminals in Paris airports (actually they were doing a Peel session if I heard rightly).
Spoonfish. Hmm. Interesting name. It's good. This Keighley four-piece band are definite contenders. They play energetic enthusiastic metal in a classic style (but claim to be NU).
It's been a funny few years for Incubus. From the dizzy heights of success with the mall-metal of their breakthrough album 'Morning View', to nu-metal's untimely demise and losing their bassist, the good looks of lead singer Brandon Boyd aren't the only thing that draws people to them any more.
Joseph's Well is already half full by the time that Leeds' The 7 Inches open up proceedings, immediately jetting us back to the eighties with some old-skool indie in a Wedding Present style.
Narco are the start of a riot. Machine gun fire pings round my room and I duck for cover before the dirty grinding bass line of 'Hey You' kicks in like an exploding atom bomb on repeat.
Towers Of London: Blood Sweat and Towers
Or "the dangers of setting your stall too high" as this album should possibly be called. Don't get me wrong, this is still a good album.
Review featured with permission from www.whisperinandhollerin.com Upon walking through the front doors, the first thing you notice tonight is just how young looking 90% of the 300 strong crowd is inside the aircraft hanger like Cockpit.
Sound Asleep @ Woodkirk Valley Country Club
CUTOUT HERO This three-piece were the first band of the day that I saw as I was late. Playing a mellow sort of rock/punk with even a little bit of ska thrown in every now and then, they sounded pretty good for their age, and were reasonably well rehearsed.
Three may allegedly be a magic number, but everybody at the Cockpit for Futuresound's third competition heat must have been doing too much calculus recently, accidentally multiplying three by something else and making the end result only distantly related to our original magic number.
Misled Vision have come a long way since the last time I saw them, when they were a good band but were too inexperienced as musicians and as a band to make any real impact, but the fact that they played the Cockpit today shows how far they have come.
Strike Anywhere @ Joseph's Well
The sound has always been well in the Well, prompting the recent influx of American hardcore bands like Samiam and Propagandhi and these 'intimate' gigs.
It's fresh, it's loud. It's the Alamo. Four bars, four beats, four songs, four kids. And they're doing a great enthusiastic blast of natural rock with no frills and no attempt to imitate anyone except themselves.
indie
Little Japanese Toy @ Life Bar
Life Bar is a hollowed-out cavern of swank, devoid of an audience, save a handful of people, and obviously not accustomed to its new guise as a platform for Leeds' thriving music scene.
Wildbirds & Peacedrums @ Brudenell Social Club
I like to think that one day Forest of Sound will make a mistake: they are clearly just too good at choosing the right acts to book for the right nights.
Guitars. Lots and lots of guitars. Leather, screaming girls, sweat, passion, sex, sleaze, bourbon. Just some of the things that pop into my head when I think of the words Rock n Roll.
A year and half on from the first studio release of seven track CD "Stripes", five-piece Mojo Pin have developed a maturity and focus that sings out with real confidence.
The Chiara L's kick off tonight's trio of female fronted bands each of whom bring their own distinct style and charisma to proceedings.
Jim's Super Stereo World @ Joseph's Well
Much pop history has come and gone since Jimbob and Fruitbat decided, in the mid-nineties, that they just weren't having fun anymore and disbanded Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine.
Ex- Babes in Toyland Singer/Guitarist Kat Bjelland's three-piece band do the dirty in the dingy glow of Leeds City Centre.
The Boy Tate: In The Head Of The Ice Cream Girl
Well, thanks, Dave. 12 tracks, a terrible band name and an even worse title. I cursed the day the editor was born, reached for my trusty Star Trek phaser and set it to "snore".
Chickenhawk's debut long-player is an ambitious and heroic montage of many different types of metal. Crunching riffs swing themselves between battering rhythms and off-kilter tempo changes, and are often interspersed with throat-destroying vocal theatrics and glitches of weird electronica.
We arrive at the Met bar ten minutes before doors open, to see the queue stretching all the way down the road, towards Millennium Square.
And The Return aren't content to merely execute the clichéd climbing the speaker stacks. Instead, frontman Dale Stacey insists on coming out into the audience to climb on the Cockpit's bar.
With a name such as The Crypt, you'd be forgiven for thinking that this band is a Goth-rock or black metal outfit.
Deadstring Brothers @ New Roscoe
Decisions, decisions! In town tonight there's Joseph Arthur at The Cockpit, Brendan Benson at the Uni and then his friends from Detroit, Deadstring Brothers at the New Roscoe.
Five bands, three hundred words, no time for an introduction. Go. Tonight's Tea Time Shuffle was opened by current Bright Young Things, Behaviour.
I regret to say that last night's show at Joseph's Well was possibly the most unsatisfying one I have seen so far.
The final night of Ash's tour falls in Leeds due to the gig being postponed from a couple of weeks ago.
The name 'Market Harbour' for an album may just seem like a random name; not many albums out there with it, better than self-titled etc.
Rock/Alternative/Metal
Neurosis: The eye of every storm
After developing a cult following in the USA in the last few years it's a suprise Neurosis have never been a big name on UK Shores.
I will admit on first listening of this CD I was a bit underwhelmed. It sounded a bit too samey, nothing original.
"Yeah, but can you dance to it?" Shouts my younger brother as I sit attentively, ears wreathed in concentration, trying amazingly hard to enjoy Embrace's new album.
There's some really good talent here: in the playing, the singing and the songwriting. As Kingsley Amis said about some other very pleasing things, 'I'm clear on why I like them, thanks; but why do I like them so much?' The answer has to be a subtle intensity in Wilful Missing's often fragile-sounding songs written and sung by Sam Kipling, with a range of well-controlled instruments in the hands of guitarist Sam Lawrence and bass player Albert Freeman.
Upon the first listen to this EP I would have sworn I was listening to a group of twee American rockers, however these lads are from Essex!
It doesn't seem all that long ago that you would see a Kaiser Chief every week, most often behind a bar.
Your New Antique seem to have a solid formula for a fierce double-pronged attack on the music scene. The first of these slightly threatening-sounding prongs is one of the most efficient ways to endear your band to the media, which in this case comes in the form of a press pack.
giddy electro pop
After the sun goes down on a rare glorious spring day in Leeds, Idlewild are creating havoc among the crowd gathered in Leeds Met Uni S.
Sounding like five tracks fresh from the rehearsal rooms this demo announces another exciting project from Kevin McGonnel of And None of Them Knew They Were Robots.
The Research look like three students who have just put down their pot noodles and picked up the nearest instrument. This isn't necessarily a disadvantage. They are relaxed performers, casually introducing each song and smiling knowingly at each other when Sarah supplies another dodgy fill. It feels like they might call the whole thing off half way through a song. Thankfully they don't.
Frowser @ Ackroyd Street WMC (Morley)
So first things first I was slightly amused that four acts of this calibre had agreed to play the Ackroyd Street Working Men's Club, yet still due to the hype like many others couldn't resist the opportunity so bought a ticket from Crash Records for £2.50 (cheap cheap) just to see!
A band are generally on to a good thing if people leave the venue after their set in tears. OK, so sometimes a band might be just too damn scary and terrify young children into weeping.
No two ways about it. This is a purely beautiful debut album. Semifinalists have managed to condense hours of sweeping, emotional epic music all the way down into 3 minute wedges of charming pop music.
The bands are really packed in for this all-dayer organised by Bombed Out Records, Leeds' finest purveyor of melodic hardcore bands.
Chevron's two-track CD release on the Valentine label is a chaotic splurge of grungy-school-kid rock with an unsteady blast of musical intelligence struggling to escape.
When a band includes ex members of Guns and Roses and the singer from Stone Temple Pilots it is impossible not to draw comparisons between those bands and the new one those members have formed Velvet Revolver.
What a great opening. The first 35 seconds of "All our so called bad luck stories" are fresh young and just fantastic.
The Dharma: Can You Rely On Them
Upon receiving this CD, I thought - 'Looks promising, very slick. Maybe a better photographer could have made the live looking cover shot look a little less like they are performing at an open jam night to an empty pub.' 'Can You Rely On Them' is a tune that upon first listen seems to pull no punches, upon second or more listens you will be thinking 'what the hell is going on with these guys.' It is filled with lots of quirky little solos, which do showcase a lot of musical talent that is there, somewhere!
I have to start by saying that I really don't like the Mixing Tin as a venue, its cramped, cluttered and you can never hear a word anyone's saying.
Dogged by guitar trouble throughout his set, The Lodger battles on with an aggressive guitar style juxtaposing nicely with the tuneful vocal melodies.
Fifth Goodbye were the first band of the evening's entertainment, and they had to put in a very solid performance to be able to stand up to the following bands, and a solid performance it was.
Nights like this, usually, are all about nostalgia. The Misfits are the long-standing torch bearers of a Goth-punk scene that has all but left them behind, younger, hungrier bands such as Alkaline Trio and My Chemical Romance taking Goth to new places and heights that could only be dreamt about back in the day.
OFM @ Counting House (Pontefract)
"Doncaster's finest" reads the promo. Overzealous PR, or straight-laced fact? My mission - uncover the truth.
The Psychedelic Breakfast: s/t
The Pyschedelic Breakfast charge in where most would fear to tread. They have a very rough grasp of the way that some of the Los Angeles/San Franciso musics sounded nearly 40 years ago, and the sleeve displays a fancy dress appreciation of the basic visual elements of hippy chic.
acoustic folk indie
The Beautiful New Born Children: Hey People
Michael Becket - AKA Kptmichigan and member of experimental German electro group Schneider TM's live band - returns to his indie-rock roots fronting new outfit The Beautiful New Born Children.
Monster Killed By Laser @ Packhorse
At gigs in pubs I usually turn up too late to see the first act, sadly today was not one of those days.
To be honest I had never heard of the first two bands that were on the bill this evening, so I went into this completely blind but very open to the prospect of hearing something new and fresh to my ears.
This Et Al: Everything's irrelevant and no idea's original
The big art rock sound of This Et Al has plenty of variety and invention about it. There's a range of influences from Radiohead through Mogwai to Interpol and a vigorously accomplished approach to playing their instruments.
A Silver Mt. Zion @ Brudenell Social Club
It's sold out tonight at this tiny venue, which comes as a pleasant surprise considering these bands get very little coverage this side off the Atlantic and tonight's gig kicks of with Little Wings.
The Glitterati @ Fibbers (York)
After some initial confusion it turn out this is the Phluid I already know of, not a York band by the same name.
There are few bands on the local scene that are capable of producing a piece of work as accomplished as this.
Feeder: Picture of Perfect Youth
Feeder have made the right decision here I think. Four albums into their career many bands (or record labels perhaps) would go for the cash cow 'Greatest Hits' album.
Various Artists: FOPP Award For New Music 2005
It's so refreshing to hear something that sounds totally unique to what you're used to. For me it means taking media player off random (which I keep hoping will find me some great B-side) and searching through the endless 'unsigned' band pages that litter the internet.
For Those Lost: This Is Our Fight
When a band comes to you promising to sound like Slayer, Mastodon and Sick of It All, as a metal fan you could be forgiven for getting over excited.
The first band were STONEFISH who I'd never seen before. The things that struck me were the singer's amazing natural voice and the guitarist's energy.
From Autumn To Ashes @ Joseph's Well
As a way of celebrating some monumental Birthday, the city of Leeds has taken it upon itself to throw a massive party, and invite loads of bands from around the globe to join in.
Bad Beat Revue @ Joseph's Well
Let's get this over with. Western Suburbs have a female drummer. She's hot. Men stare, under the pretence they are watching the singer of course, but you can see their eyes wander slightly toward the back of the stage.
Electric Soft Parade @ Cockpit
Actress Hands have just released a split with the headlining band, having just toured with their fellow Brighton and Metway studio regulars British Sea Power.
Band Profile: The Dragon Rapide
avant-rock
Crack In The Sun: Jim'll Fax It EP
Firstly I will say I am not a huge fan of new punk bands but somehow after seeing these guys live in some place in Northwich the other night the energy and humour onstage from these Mansfield lads compelled me to grab a hold of one of their free CDs which humorously had several cut-outs of Jim Bowen (one complete with a doll of Bully!) on the cover along with...
The Alabama 3 train of country blues electro rock rolled into town recently and we caught up with them for a brief chat in their dressing room after their gig at the Cockpit...
I didn't have a clue who the support was going to be this evening, so I eagerly awaited the arrival of the support band: Captain.
The gig-opener Richard Jones tentatively occupies the stage, hunched over his guitar with hair carefully covering the face.
Schadenfreude. I bet The Nearly Men do this a lot. To put it quite frankly, there's a hell of a lot of bands out there that are not fit to lick these talented bastards' shoes.
Stiff Little Fingers @ Holmfirth Picturedrome
Stiff Little Fingers in Holmfirth? The sound of tinkling tea cups shattered by Belfast power chords? Mohicans mixing with the blue rinse brigade?
Porcelin @ Woodkirk Valley Country Club
I was really surprised when I turned up early to see the place packed! I've been to the Valley a few times before and have not seen it like this for ages...
The Glitterati @ Fibbers (York)
"We all wanna be big, big stars but we don't know why and we don't know how". So sang Counting Crows, which subsequently became their 'how'.
Dinosaur Pile-up @ Leeds Festival 2008
Matt Bigland, guitar and vocals, Tom Dornford-May, bass guitar, and Steve Wilson drums are the relatively new Dinosaur Pile-up.
The Cockpit is sold out tonight and the biggest challenge for me tonight will involve trying to get a brief glimpse of the band, as most of the Hundred Reasons fanbase seem to tower above the 6ft mark.
Juliette & The Licks: Got Love To Kill
Perhaps one of my biggest regrets of this year's Leeds Festival was allowing myself to get swept along with the hype and be all eager-beaverish, arriving early at the Carling Stage on the Sunday to secure a 'good spot' for young scamps, Arctic Monkeys.
The Flaming Lips: At War With the Mystics
The Flaming Lips have achieved with their last 2 albums what evades 99.9% of all other 'successful' acts - whatever your criteria for classing that is.
I could tell it was going to be a good night, when a old guy who looked a little worse for wear, started to dance in a ballroom dance fashion to the music before the first band came on.
With people still slowly drifting into the venue The Glitterati take to the stage. A crack of drums and a howl of overdriven guitars sees the band launch into 'Heartbreaker' and a rampant set that keeps upping the energy levels with each song until you feel veins are going to burst somewhere on stage.
Clowns. More club and gig night should have clowns. Tonight, The Power Of Omnipotence got some clowns to join the boozed-up throngs.
Grimper: Straight out with the Worcesters
Grimper are very nearly wonderful. "Straight out with the Worcesters" is a private labour of much love and great ambition.
The Delgados are not a band I know much about before this gig. All I have heard has been positive though.
Frightened Rabbit @ Brudenell Social Club
When the two planned supports pull out last-minute, it would be very easy for disaster to strike, and this evening Yonderboy and Fran Rodgers are drafted in on very short notice to avert a possible catastrophe.
Foley (2) @ Royal Park Cellars
My first trip of 2004 into the deep dark depths of the Royal Park Cellars. It's often dirty rock you find emanating from the cellars but this evening it's an altogether more mellow collection of bands.
Imagine a world where Axl is king, and Wayne and Garth are the court jesters. Time stands still beyond the Eighties, and Francis Rossi and Lemmy have a love child.
Five bands. The Fav. For free. F me! It must be Easter Sunday. First on The Acutes bang out their bluesy rock which, when you consider the band have no bass player, brings obvious but perhaps unfair comparisons with The White Stripes.
The foundation of this San Francisco band are Meric Long, a country blues finger picking guitarist who has studied West African Ewe drumming and Logan Krueber an ex-experimental metal drummer.
"Welcome" - a sign should state on the door "Welcome to the parade of terrible band names". Never has a bill seen a more dastardly set of band names since Butthole Surfers, Anal Beard and British Sea Power may or may not have appeared together.
Hekety @ Woodhouse Liberal Club
Hekety: a 5-piece ceilidh band from Sheffield that's very much easier to listen to than spell if you've only heard the name spoken.
lo-fi indie
The Pigeon Detectives: Wait For Me
The Pigeon Detectives have been waiting to unleash this album on the globe, and rightly so. 'Wait For Me', released on label Dance To The Radio, clearly puts the five-piece on the map as more than just friends of the Kaiser Chiefs.
The start time is really delayed, doors are at 7ish and Help She Can't Swim do not appear until 8.45pm.
Tonight's openers, Leeds three-piece Kenosha, are named after the place where Happy Days was filmed. This All-American influence has clearly permeated their musical influences as well, with their sound highly reminiscent of Queens of the Stone Age at their "Rated R" peak.
The Sunshine Underground @ Escobar (Wakefield)
Well, today was a wonderful day. Vinyl was bought, satisfying and exhilarating decision was made to quit godawful job, gig was attended.
After listening to this hurtling rollercoaster of a musical offering, one would be forgiven for imagining Leeds' Grammatics create their masterpieces holed up in a candlelit gothic garage, in between earnestly skimming Tolstoy, purely for artistic merit.
Ethan and Nathan Dickens, Stuart Morrison , Rob Soulsby and Tom Francis: Fierce Panda's latest punt into the unknown.
It's a huge testament to Little Man Tate to state that most, if not all, of their material tonight is treated like some kind of greatest hits collection.
There comes a point when someone has to say: "OK lads, that'll do. Now go away and have another listen to the stuff you're borrowing".
Almost implausibly, tonight is the final of the Futuresound heats. All of the bands we've seen so far have been impressively talented in their chosen style, and tonight is no exception.
Yellow Stripe Nine: 1 White Horse
You join me amidst a stormy battle. In one corner are Leeds based rockers Yellow Stripe Nine, heavily armed with copious fine live performances under their belt and shiny new album "1 White Horse" tucked firmly under their arms.
DJ Scotch Egg @ Brudenell Social Club
As expected from a night run by omnipresent and ever-insane Leeds musicians / promoters / general busybodies Adam Benbow-Browne (Café Adam, Ad Hoc) and Matt Reid (Chickenhawk, The Grand March, ex-Whores Whores Whores), things get off to an unusual start with a rabbit playing Street Fighter in the middle of the room.
Motion City Soundtrack: Even If It Kills Me
There's been what some might justifiably call a pop-punk revolution, or revival, in certain circles since the end of the 90s - especially exposed to this are American four or five piece bands, most of which induce huge fissures between the believing faction and the less convinced audience.
Rage Against The Machine @ Leeds Festival 2008
Another sunny start proves the weathermen wrong again and brings out huge crowds. Standing on his (soap) box, Beans On Toast is one man with a guitar, making the world a better place through songs about sex, drugs, politics, MySpace and wellies.
Things look very bright for the music scene in Leeds at the moment, and tonight is a great testament to that.
Alien Crime Syndicate: Ten Songs in the Key of Betrayal
"Some people tell me to turn it down, I tell 'em no 'cause I like it loud" is a choice phrase taken from Guitar Assault Number One 'Forever Is Rock n' Roll' and a nice little taster of what this album is all about.
Stafrænn Hákon @ Brudenell Social Club
Following in the well trodden footsteps of many an Icelandic band comes Stafrænn Hákon. He (Ólafur Örn Josephsson) arrives in Leeds fresh from his interview with yours truly, and having received some truly hilarious review soundbites for the new album 'Ventill/ Poki' ("it's like crying magical tears"- Aquarius).
The Swedish four piece trip daintily on stage, accompanied by a hurdy gurdy soundtrack that conjures up images of accordion playing moustachioed fellows and Heidi running through lush meadows.
A night of ROCK down the Royal Park... when isn't it these days? The Royal Park is getting a name for itself now as a more rock sort of venue, possibly due to promoter Steve Kind's insistance that all bands rock at all times.
The Music have had a phenomenal start to their working lives. Three years on from their origins in Kippax, expectations and circumstances have said "this album has got to be massive." Early gigs at the Duchess of York in January 2000 showed glimpses of their root talents: a searing voice and twitching charismatic in Robert Harvey and a guitar trance demon in Adam Nutter.
Instant Species: The Longer You Leave It, The Louder It Gets...
Lured by some professional quality graphics I bought Instant Species' "Home Alone" CD last year. I ended up a bit disappointed by what I thought of at the time as bleak plodding music.
A cold, dark and blustery Monday night in Leeds must have seemed like a million miles from Portland, Oregon but The Thermals did everything in their power to warm it up and a half full Joseph's Well was certainly appreciative.
It is often said that 'genius steals', however he was usually 'round mi girlfriends' at the time and has ten or fifteen people willing to testify that he's 'a good boy, always in church on Sundays and would never steal so much as a middle-eight'.
First onstage tonight are the Bradford-based quintet Seven Hours, who mix a dose of funk into their otherwise straight-ahead rock sound.
Ten Floors, a totally unique 4-piece piano-based indie/rock band, are an act that have successfully established themselves as one of the most exciting and dynamic unsigned bands today, sweeping a breath of fresh air over the North of England, and beyond.
Entering the Leeds Irish Centre for the first time (after finding it with surprising ease) it was refreshing to find a large audience already gathered and paying attention to the support bands.
What a day to pick as your headline slot at the Vine... 9-11 was host to some damn fine rock action tonight, and not the sort that usually has me in a spin...
"When you're on, yeah you're really fuckin' on!" yells the diminutive Jenny Lewis, singer and guitarist for Rilo Kiley, an odd looking bunch of misfits from the stable of Saddle Creek, the label started by one Conor Oberst and pals.
Maximo Park: Our Earthly Pleasures
I had the privilege of meeting singer Paul Smith at a small record store in Durham way before 'Apply Some Pressure' had propelled them to Radio One stardom - way before the fabulous Jo Whiley had jumped on the indie bandwagon.
MALIBU STACEY This is what I need. I've been at work all day, now I'm out with my ex- girlfriend having been stood up by all the people I was supposed to meet, and here are the first band of the night, the un-heard of Malibu Stacey.
Love with Arthur Lee @ City Varieties
With one brand new song and the Love band playing more confidently than ever, this was the Arthur Lee bonus gig to complement last year's triumphant tour.
It's a harsh reviewer who criticises a charity album, you look like a complete git if you say anything honest that might be damaging to sales.
I've never seen the Mixing Tin so packed midweek, especially for a Monday night! So it looks as though we are in for a treat with the band line up this evening - or so I thought!
BRMC to replace White Stripes at Leeds Festival...
Festival promoters Mean Fiddler have announced that Black Rebel Motorcycle Club will take the slot vacated by the White Stripes at this year's Leeds Festival.
Welcome to the MTV2 Spanking New music Tour, tonight we have a real treat for you, with performances from Fields, ¡Forward, Russia!
Red Go Green Stop @ Carpe Diem
Seizethedayer Festival, in which promoters of local bands get together and organise an all-dayer, featuring a carefully selected mixture of said local talent at Carpe Diem, a basement venue with a good atmosphere a mere brick throw away from Millennium Square.
Brutal Tinkerbell @ New Roscoe
If ever there was a lesson for new bands to learn then Future Sons Of Rome are it. 1) Your singer should never wear sunglasses unless you are playing on the main stage of a festival or have sold out a well lit arena.
Two support bands. Why? Why oh fucking why? Maybe I need clarification, but I thought the whole point of a support band was to warm up the crowd for the main event, not take away all the time from them?
There are countless questions that can, and inevitably have, been raised about the Futuresound Competition.
Vessels @ Brudenell Social Club
The Brudenell has played host to a number of extremely special shows in recent times, and tonight Vessels laid down a pretty good claim as to why this should go down as one of them. The homecoming gig of their UK tour, tonight showcased some of the very best in emerging talent from Leeds, culminating in one of the finest shows Radio One's favourite unsigned band have ever performed.
Hugh Cornwell @ City Varieties
Not your normal run of the mill gig this. A half full venue, average age way above the norm and seats.
Various Artists: No One Gets Out Alive
I don't profess to like metal or hardcore or any of that dark, hairy, sweaty stodge so I view this as an experiment.
As lead singer, main songwriter and all around head honcho of The Argonauts, Daniel Fell is now going solo. He's playing in Leeds at Carpe Diem on the 12th February, so Gavin Miller caught up with the man himself to have a little chat about all things musical...
The Appleseed Cast @ Brudenell Social Club
A Swedish sauna? The surface of Mars? No, tonight ladies and gentlemen we are privy to the delights of live music in the Brudenell in mid-June.
When the lead singer of Trap 2 walked onstage tonight I couldn't quite believe what I was seeing. Was this four piece really to provide support for Kasabian or a tribute act??
Everything is running late and A Destructive Issue aren't sure if they are soundchecking or actually on stage for real.
Firstly an apology. I'm going to get a bit nostalgic in this review. Please bear with me. Back in the crazy days of the Leeds Music Scene (circa 2001) I saw a band play several awesome gigs at The Well.
Gavin Miller talks wih Stafrænn Hákon prior to the forthcoming tour of the UK, which includes a Leeds show on 19th Sepember...
It's the craziest thing, really. Anyone who's been down this boozer of a daytime, or indeed walked past, will know that it's about as "indie" as Idi Amin.
On arrival at The Cockpit it appears I'm not on the guestlist after all. Spotting a man with a clipboard who looks like he must be part of the touring entourage I explain my predicament.
Vessels: White Fields and Open Devices
"You're going home in a Yorkshire ambiance!" Vessels are five young men with a grand, epic vision that resonates throughout their debut album "White Fields and Open Devices".
Tonight is a very unusual night at the cockpit, for the first time ever I have seen tables and chairs set out in room 2.
"It all kicks off around half past eight," Buen Chico's manager tells us as we stroll into the Met at the specified start time of seven o'clock.
When I arrive at Blank Canvas the first band has already started. It's ¡Forward, Russia!, a band that I have heard glowing reports about but never seen.
The Hundred Reasons journey is probably a blueprint many bands will not attempt to imitate. It's been one plagued by both in house bad decisions and the most malicious of record label misdemeanour.
I am told that Sugarvalve are a 'heavier Foo Fighters' but for the few songs that I hear they sound more like a bad Aerosmith.
The upstairs room at the Cardigan Arms is a perfect place for an acoustic gig. With its small, dark room, the atmosphere is made even better by the dozen or so candles that are situated around the room, creating a very intimate feel to the whole place.
four day Hombre @ Joseph's Well
I was looking forward to this gig as I knew pretty much nothing about goad and Leafeater and hadn't seen four day Hombre for almost 10 months.
Leeds' local punk, emo and ska promoters Strikepunks put on a veritable banquet of emo hardcore deliciousness this Friday, as the Cardigan Arms played host to four hot new bands playing the circuit for nothing more than that which is the greatest love of all, that wonderful love of music...
There is laughter in the air tonight; people look determined to have fun. Young innocent faces rejuvenate my past and my Sixth Form days come flooding back to me.
Playing their first full-length tour over here in years (as support to Ed Harcourt), Leeds Music Scene caught up with Finn Andrews and Dan Raishbrook from Rough Trade-signed The Veils as they rolled into Brudenell Social Club, to discuss their recent tour of America, file-sharing, and the horrors of white reggae bands...
'Twas a blustery wet night on Sunday 12th March 2006 when I forced my way into a packed out Cockpit in Leeds, to interview not only a legend, to all self respecting indie lovers, but also a rather splendid chap! In the immortal words of Take That would The Wonder Stuff be back for good?
What a stupid rule! You're in the venue but to get to the room where the bands will be performing you have to go back outside and round to the other entrance instead of walking ten yards through the doors in front of you, quickly supping off the fresh pint you've just acquired!
So I'm wondering where my drunken comrades are and thinking if I'm going to get my coat back from the bag they have before I have to brave it back out into the winter night.
Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip @ Leeds Festival 2008
Saturday kicked off at the main stage again. I was going to go see Fran Rodgers but having walked around for a day in wellies a size too small for me, I wanted to do as little walking as possible really.
At the end of opening act Shut Your Eyes And You'll Burst Into Flames' set the sweaty and furious drummer stormed off stage parting a hitherto static crowd.
Sky Larkin @ Leeds Festival 2007
Turbofruits - The Carling Stage Hailing from Nashville these fresh faced blues-punks are a thrilling kick off to the day.
Dan Glendining is a song writer and musician whose previous band Headswim made a little progress into the national consciousness during the 90s.
John Harvey catches up with Leeds' guitar virtuoso Jon Gomm...
To my left a group of student girls are dressed as cats. I feel 'elf conscious and try not to stare. Instead I search behind, there's a chap who must be at least seven foot tall.
Guillemots: Through The Window Pane
If Guillemots could invite anyone, living or dead, over for a dinner party, the table would look something like this.
The Sunshine Underground: Commercial Breakdown
It's here. It's black. It's got a whopping fluorescent neon logo on it. It's in a real plastic case - y'know, one of those that proper singles are packaged in when you buy them from huge chain retailers called things like 'HMV' and 'Virgin Megastores'.
Cathy Simpson talks to The Blueskins about music, festivals, The Beatles and lazy journalism...
The Leeds four piece explain why they've never felt a part of the Leeds scene, but still have the opportunity to make it big
Electric Six @ Brixton Academy (London)
An evening of pure cheesy-student-rock music laced throughout with lyrics befitting the kind of teenage cliché that surfaces so often on title sequences to All American Highschool dramas.