Search for two rocks performed on Thursday, 8th January 2009.
two rocks
We found the term two rocks in 95 articles.
James Taylor, singer of The Rocks, is in pain. Pain of quite a high degree, it would seem, judging by the flayed vocals which drag themselves gratingly over the most uninspired riff to have emerged in 2004.
The last time I heard anyone mention Hanoi Rocks it was in a Pitchfork Media roundup of the best records of 2006.
This evening, there are 10+ gigs taking place in Leeds, showing the very healthy state of things at the moment.
The Rocks: Asking For Trouble...
When the vitriolic, guitars-on-amphetamines shocker of 'Eyes Wide Open' blasts you off the face of the planet, you think you're gonna be in for a drooling, acidic treat.
Band profile for the band The Rocks
Band profile for the band Hanoi Rocks
Wildhearts @ Scarborough Castle
So this is what I missed Leeds Festival for then. Catching the train out to the coast first thing on a Saturday morning (well, halfway to the coast - due to trouble on the line I end up getting a bus from York) to see the last ever gig by both Wildhearts and Terrorvision, today has the omens of being a good day.
Jack Afro to release a new 5-track EP
Leeds band Jack Afro has announced the completion of their new 5-track EP which will be released from Monday, February 11th.
As always I'm going to show my complete ineptitude at reviewing by saying I don't know how to review it.
The Unisex: Pigs In Their Farms
Something's happening in Europe. I guess it was always coming, but after years of exporting nothing but throwaway pop trash, those wacky Europeans are finally delivering something great.
blues rock
Band Profile: Lemons and Limes
rock blues jazz
Band Profile: Farming Incident
alternative lo-fi
Fulc top BBC One Music Lock Up chart...
Fulc had their music accepted for the Radio One's "One Music" website this week and then went straight to number one on Mike Davies' Lock Up chart: click here.
The Pigeon Detectives: You Know I Love You
The latest band flying the flag for the Dance To The Radio label, The Pigeon Detectives' second single is a high quality slice of sharp, fast, angular indie.
As apposed to sounding like some raw disco-punk, or nu-indie-disco DFA sound-a-like, this record reminds me most of Grandmaster Flash & The Furious 5, Afrika Bamabaata and general dodgy 80s 303 led hip hop.
The Apes: The Fugue in the Fog
This debut album from Washington D.C. four-piece The Apes is a powerful synthesised guerrilla war waged against anyone who will listen.
The Pigeon Detectives release 'Everybody Wants Me' on 28th July
Leeds band The Pigeon Detectives have this week announced the release of a new single, 'Everybody Wants Me'.
Hysteria are a classic textbook example of why you should never judge a book by its cover. Their sound is that of an emotional indie/rock band with introspective lyrics.
Placebo's gender bending lo-fi pop sounds are still as popular as they ever were and their last record, "Sleeping with Ghosts" quietly sold over 4 million copies.
Electric Mud Generator @ New Roscoe
Electric Mud Generator play Lead Guitar-led heavy 70's rock with elements of blues and a whole lot of talent.
Spiritualized @ Leeds Festival 2002
Spiritualized round things off in the Evening Session Tent in a particularly sombre mood. Playing to an already small crowd it transpires that this set is for die-hard fans only.
Death in Public: Start a Fight
Lancaster's Death in Public's release 'Start a Fight' is an inventive three-track disc. The title track is full of energy and enthusiasm and sets the tone for the rest of disc.
This record nearly rules. The Whip, it could be argued, are just another NME-gangbanger, leaning heavily towards the synth-heavy stylings of The Faint, Fischerspooner or even LCD Soundsystem, the indie dancefloors are full of them.
Band Profile: Gary Stewart Band
acoustic
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.
The Zico Chain: Where would you rather be?
The Zico Chain have been pushing on the boundaries of the rock mainstream for a while now with their mix of grunge and heavy rock.
Its been a very busy year for local band Aeon. They've released their EP, "Dreams in Black and White", played the final of the Bright Young Things 2000 competition at the recently closed T&C, they had to take a forced break when singer Daz injured himself, and now they're back again with a series of gigs and a new demo.
Pop Threat: Amarantal Meltdown
Pop Threat's 4-track EP release on Mook Records begins with an eerie twist of distorted, effects driven guitars coupled with vocals by Caroline, creating a total wall of sound, perhaps an up-to-date Sonic Youth with an almost-melody shining through.
Charly Six: Get Drunk, Screw, Get High
The boys that once were Brass Monkey are now the men standing up to be counted as Charly Six. With a sound that has undergone several incarnations there has always been some question as to which C6 would be turning up.
Frankly, I'm surprised Breed 77 still have the energy for the music business. Not because they're not any good but it has to be said they're not the greatest band to walk the planet either, despite the ridiculous amount of the overtime they put in at the office.
Farming Incident: What can you do with a pig's head and sheep's brains?
Farming Incident are disturbing. Their three track CD demo is not only titled "What can you do with a pig's head and sheep's brains?", a title to get any decent human being worried about what they are about to encounter, but their opening track Rostov begins with the lyrics "When I was a boy, My father used to give me cigarettes, Then beat me up for smoking, When I was a boy, I used to torture my pets".
Electric Mud Generator @ New Roscoe
So tonight sees me journeying out to the outpost known as the New Roscoe to take in two local old-skool metal bands I've heard good things about.
This must be the aural equivalent of what happens when one of those people who try to make themselves look like Dracula smiles 'cause they're, y'know, happy and stuff.
Goldie Lookin' Chain: Safe As Fuck
Those Newport Boys are back. Unlike debut 'Greatest Hits', which featured many songs that had beeing doing the rounds of the 'Port for many years, this is a batch of brand new songs from the GLC.
Jon Doe's: For Emergency Use Only
Having been around since 1998 it is hoped that Jon Doe's would now be at ease with their craft enough to have overcome all those painful mistakes synonymous with any bands early days.
A couple of days prior to the festival, a frightening thought occurred to me. Ash, still reeling from last week's tour bus crash in America, would be unfit to play and that Reef or Toploader were on standby to take their place.
The Psychedelic Breakfast: Confusion
On this set of three studio tracks, the erstwhile Psychedelic Breakfast from Tyneside have come a long way from last year's live recording of slightly dodgy psyche-noodling and jamming.
Nikoli are supreme. Uplifting, sweeping tunes with buried distorted guitars that drive their songs on.
Another weekly dose of four band mahem that is now recognised as one of the up and coming unsigned band nights - I am of course refering to It's Gone Ballistic at The Rocket Venue.
Malibu Stacey: Cuatro discos de stomp
The first time I saw Malibu Stacey, I had no idea who they were but was blown away by their professionalism and purist punk rock style.
Agent Blue: A Stolen Honda Vision
It's been a strange few years for Potteries punkers Agent Blue since they first came bounding over the horizon some three years ago.
MARK CROSSLEY - GUITAR/VOX PETE HILEY - GUITAR/VOX GAV BAILEY - BASS/VOX JAMES RUGG - DRUMS Jack Afro formed in September 2005 from the ashes of Leeds based band Lucky Royale.
Hey dismals, cheer up. It's Tract to the rescue. They refuse to enjoy dross, shit or reality TV. They make a lovely fresh noise with bass, guitar, drums and two fine voices.
The Stations: This Globe Can Be Upgraded
With catchy songs, bold lyrics and raw vocals The Stations' second EP stands firmly in the category of "New-wave Indie", (as opposed to "Shoegazeing", 90s-style Indie).
There isn't a great deal that inspires on this 5 track EP. Opening song Perfume is about as good as it gets, with what seems to be their big song - it's as watered down as stadium rock gets.
So, they're good enough for John Peel, then. Still, he's not that fussy, is he? Let's face it, an hour of obscure euro punk and you start reaching for Radio 2 before seizures set in half the time - or is that just me?
Fountainhead: Footprints in the Sand
Bethany Dowsett sings with a Stevie Nicks' catch to her voice and Tom Stupple plays very good guitar in sympathetic acoustic straightforwardness.
Downstairs at the Packhorse, 11 German and Polish blokes are running their arses off in the setting sun.
Cardboard Cowboy: The Boxroom Tapes
There's a lot to like about this collection of four tunes, which are true testament to what can be done with home recording and some decent song writing.
I battled my way through the scrum of fancy dress students that seem to be permanently hanging about near the door of the Packhorse, skipped passed the street drinkers getting out of the cold, and headed upstairs.
The Innocent OJs: Keep Your Enemies Closer
As guilty as their namesake was, the Innocent OJ's are just as guilty of flagrantly flaunting their record collections in their music.
Chugga Chugga Chug, cheeky twidly solo, screamy bits, nice bits. It's a dynamic most of us have got used to since Killswitch Engaged released "Alive Or Just Breathing", but funnily enough, this Leeds-based 5-piece have some killer songs, some wicked riffs and this whole 5-track CD just works.
Would putting rock bands in a massive hole work? With a crowd made-up of mostly of people wanting to be seen and grab the free booze, it was a triumph for the bands for so many to be grabbed from the bar by the quality of the music.
Screaming their way all the way from Japan, home of lock n loll, Electric Eel Shock are here for your daughter.
Australian indie punksters Further have been garnering the sort of press you'd sell your gran for, both in this hemisphere and especially the other, where they're revered by seemingly every disenfranchised Antipodean youth with a chip on his or her backpacked shoulder.
I'm sat at the Irish Centre, it's about 8.15pm, I'm lost. See, me being a complete tit I didn't think to check how to get to the Roscoe.
Public Relations Exercise: Maximiser Coordinator
The three track "Maximiser Coordinator" CD from the Leicester-based five-piece alt / experimental / hardcore outfit Public Relations Exercise is either a poorly timed EP release or a taster from their forthcoming album, "Come you are safe we are from the bombs", released through the indie label Field Records and apparently due late February.
Lauren Harris: Calm Before The Storm
'Calm Before The Storm' is that most frustrating of things: an album lavished with effort, polished to within an inch of its life, and with an army of people contributing to each track (five people have a hand in 'Let Us Be') and yet, it's difficult to get excited about this album.
Band Profile: The Dragon Rapide
avant-rock
To say that I was a fan of Napoleon IIIrd would be a severe understatement; this so called low-fi wizard of leftfield rock is about as appealing as leprosy and manages to push the crowd to the recesses of the dingy corners of the bar for salvation.
The Landaus look a bit of an odd bunch on stage. There's the Britpop esque bassist, Taylor Hawkins on the drums and two singing guitarists who help bridge the indie to rock gap whilst sounding at times like Caleb Followhill.
It has to be said, upfront, that The Panama Nights are probably the most enjoyable gig nights in Leeds.
Although it is a blisteringly hot day outside in central Leeds, the locals have turned out in force for this Indy feast.
Super Furry Animals @ Leeds Town Hall
As a talentless fool like Motty would doubtless say in his comedy commentating patter, "it's a game of 2 halves".
The Yards: The Devil Is Alive And Well And In DC
Years of songwriting isolation and hidden solo outings at North Yorkshire's famous rock recluse Blakey Ridge have done wonders for ex-Seahorse frontman Chris Helme.
An average crowd age of about 9, thanks to the support acts still being in their nappies, gave the Cockpit a very Byker Grove feel as teeny rockers Blake drew the curtain on their tolerable set.
The Perfect Strangers @ Rocket
I almost didn't make tonight's gig. Having arrived early to interview Beat Route 62 I was called out from work and had to disappear back off home, luckily not too far away.
The Diawara frontman looks in his element as he energetically takes it upon himself to cover every square inch of the stage before the night is up.
Proof if there ever was that this is the best advice I can give to anyone who loves music. WATCH THE SUPPORT BAND.
The Darkness: Permission To Land
You must understand, The Darkness are not a joke band. This is not the Electric Six playing it for laughs.
"Welcome to your new job/ hope you have a wonderful first day" goes one of the lines in 'First Day', the riotous major label debut single from Sunderland's The Futureheads.
What is this? Another ska / punk night? It does seem like ska is taking over the underground scene and I know ska is a love it or hate it kind of thing, so will Melvyn, The Antibiotics and Bobby Six Killer be able to compete with all the other 10 a penny ska/punk bands in Leeds?
Orange Goblin @ Rio (Bradford)
With last week being the 50th anniversary of Elvis recording "That's all right mama" I've been kinda depressed.
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.
Welcome to the Faversham. The pub is stuffed with students, NUS cards in one hand, trying to blag a cheap, fizzy, sweet, artificial, alcoholic drink, yet to realise the drinking maxim - no pain, no gain - nice tasting drinks are just not cricket.
Various Artists: Attack!!!! Issue 9
Every track on Attack!!!! 9 is inspired by a piece of Dutch prose published in the previous issue of the accompanying Attack!!!!
The Charlatans: Up At The Lake
The first song on this album is the title track. It rocks and stomps, demanding volume. Burgess blends his natural voice, with the falsetto style he adopted on the 'Wonderland' album.
Uptight borrow from many sounds mostly from around the 60's/70's period to create a funky mod-rock vibe.
Well, another night of Bright Young Things bands down at Uncle Steve Kind's joint and tonight it is The Gordon Bennetts, Mutiny and Harold.
Mr Shiraz @ Warehouse (Huddersfield)
Well if there was ever a rock 'n' roll town, it's gotta be Huddersfield. Why bloody Huddersfield? I asked Mr Shiraz and their pop impresario and all-round genial chap of a manager, and they all just said 'You'll see'.
Andy Roberts gives les Flames! a grilling...
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.
Deja vu. Deja vu from the exact same time last year. Stuck in the same pokey Cockpit auxiliary room with an altogether comatose audience but nevertheless an incendiary performance from one of British rocks most talented outfits.
The Darkness: One Way Ticket To Hell And Back
Don't get me wrong, I wanted to like this record. Like most rock fans wanting a break from the whole "distorted guitars and vocals which sound like the Cookie Monster from Sesame Street" schtick of yer Slipknots and Papa Roaches in 2003, I thought The Darkness were a breath of fresh air - a group with their eyes shamelessly set on selling out Wembley five nights in a row rather than just staring at their feet and being happy to be anchored to the toilet circuit.
Hooks For Hands - The Carling Stage A packed out and excitable Carling Tent rips into a huge roar as unknowns Hooks For Hands take to the stage.
As ever I'm late, it looks like I've already missed 2 bands and I've already missed the first song from Indicator.
The Lab: One is a collection of ten tracks by ten artists all orbiting the indie and folk genres. Despite the genre correlations, each track has its own unique sound, making for a constantly surprising compilation.
I saw D-Rail once before at the Rocket and thought they had a lot of potential, even if they hadn't realised it at that time.
Interview: The Dave Bakewell Plot
Andy Roberts finds out about the Halifax music scene...
Leeds Music Scene speaks to Rob and Paul from The Automatic after their set at Leeds Festival 2008
I was supposed to be going to Josephs Well tonight to see Brody, Sugarvalve and Catylyst. Unfortunately they cancelled, so I rang my friends and said, hey no problem I'm definitely coming to see you guys now, only to check the discussion board and see that it had been rearranged at Royal Park and was going ahead as planned aaaahhhhhh!!!
Billy Talent put us straight on hangover cures and the fact that Canadian music's not all Celine Dion and Bryan Adams...
No it's not the Onion Cellar, though you'd be excused for referencing that particular venue. However, the grass is, indeed, green(ish), unlike The New Roscoe's shiny brass which is busy reflecting the populating of here, and the faces of solitary guys, with an honest lustre, (that match-making call was a good one).