Back in Black

Hello my lovelies,

Before you give me the same old lecture about how I’ve been gone awhile and how much you’ve missed me give me a moment to explain. I’ve been doing a bit of collaboration with a good friend over a Treble With The Bass about an upcoming Brighton artist. Read it? Why not?! I suggest you get yourselves over there to check out my astounding writing…I mean…the astounding artist?

Here’s a little link for those too lazy to scroll down:

http://treblewiththebass.com/2016/03/17/bass-interview-sami-james/

Anyway, moving swiftly on.  As anyone and everyone knows I have a particular love for the band Black Veil Brides? Well frontman Andy Biersack began a sideline solo career about a year ago, under the name Andy Black. Still maintaining his gothic theme from Andy Sixx to Black Veil Brides to Black. Releasing “They Don’t Need to Understand” in May last year giving fans a glimpse into his new world.

Check the video below:

As we can see he adapts a 50’s ambiance and attire, however with the still poetically honest lyrics. I personally fell in love with the single immediately, although I know others it has taken a while for them to fall or others who are stuck at comparing it to BVB…but I’m going to bite my tongue instead of going into more detail on those people…then there are some who genuinely don’t like it, but each to their own I guess.

A week ago Andy released details to a UK tour as well as the pre-order of his solo record, which I admittedly clicked “buy” a little too quickly…hey don’t judge me! You’ve done far worse; yes I’m looking at you mister in the third row. Details can be found below about tour dates and a link to his site to purchase his album. But I’m going to make you read the rest of this entry first…muhahaha…unless you quickly scroll to the bottom…but lets be honest you’re too indulged in my writing to move on and miss a word!

To top it all off he release the official video to “We Don’t Have To Dance “ this morning. Have a quick peak:

As we can see he carries on the theme of black and white, but incorporates a James Dean look as well as the stylist shirt, tie and braces.

We can also see elements of his fascination with Religion creep into this project too. So he is still maintaining specific elements that make him the writer he is.

I love the lyrics, as a songwriter, I find them clever and intriguing making you think after the record has come to an end. One of many reasons as to why I have so much respect for him. The chorus combines the idea of artistic intrigity (his honest, self-reflexive lyric) with..if this is a genre that is...if not I copyright it aha...a rock-lounge music ambiance.
How can you not love these:

“We don’t have to talk,

We don’t have to dance,

We don’t have to smile,

We don’t have to be friends,

It’s so nice to meet you lets never meet again,

We don’t have to talk,

We don’t have to dance”

As a songwriter the hardest thing to do is write relatable lyrics, whilst retaining the factor of it being ‘catchy’ and easy to listen to. I find with Black’s, and even Biersack’s work with BVB, that he manages to write songs that I can fully relate to on a lyrical level…that’s right folks I’m a dark and twisted soul…you’d have never have guessed right? Right?! Either way, he manages this whilst making them easily listenable to a…dare I say it…a mainstream audience.

“You’re never gonna get it I’m a hazard to myself,

I’ll break it to you easy this is hell, this is hell,

You’re looking and whispering you think its someone else

This is hell, I am in is hell”

That’s it for today my pretties.

Here’s the information I promised you:

Tickets to this UK Tour: 
http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/Andy-Black-tickets/artist/2220204?tm_link=artist_artistvenue_module 

Pre Order Here:
http://www.andyblackmusic.com/#home

Until next time,

Unpleasant Dreams.

Treble With The Bass

So we did a little collaboration with Treble With The Bass with Brighton artist Sami James. Check it.

http://treblewiththebass.com/2016/03/17/bass-interview-sami-james/

Watch this Space.

Hello my pretties,

Yes yes I know. I know. I know I've been neither here nor there these passed few months, there's so much to do...wait I know you don't want to hear my excuses. But I will say this. I have so many gigs lined up in May so there will be multiple posts heading your way then. Also been doing some blog work for my good friend Treble With The Bass, which I will link you guys up to as soon as it's made public!

Hope you are all as miserable as ever!

Until next time,
Unpleasant dreams.

Moving On Up

Our boys over at Rory Indiana are hitting the big leagues with a killer review in this weeks Kerrang! Recieving KKKK rating for 'Ruling Class Crooks' buy to read the full review.
I've been watching, listening and blogging about them for little over a year now, and now they're hitting the big leagues. But trust me I'll keep getting all the dirt you guys want to hear about them first.


Short and sweet just like me...except I'm not short...or that sweet...still you get what I mean!

Unpleasant dreams my pretties.

"Death of a Bachelor" Panic! At The Disco

I’m back again! Twice in the space of a one week? What’s going on?!

This time I bring you the delighted review of Panic! At The Disco’s new album “Death of  A Bachelor”. I pre-ordered this about a week ago, then received an email last night saying it would be delivered today! Safe to say I got minimal sleep last night due to how excited I was for it! Ever since seeing Panic! at Reading I have been absolutely in love with them! Seriously, ask anybody they're all I’ve been rambling on about for months now, especially the video for Emperor’s New Clothes…I mean have you seen it?! It’s amazing so theatrical! Wait…you haven’t seen it?! Well it’s a good thing there’s a link at the bottom for it then!

This is only going to be a mini review as I am slightly tight for time at the moment. Oh don’t judge me! You’re getting some of my precious time!

There are so many songs on this album that shouldn’t necessarily work together as a compilation, somehow Panic! make it work. The key thing to note about this album is that is it very different from any previous album they’ve ever produced. Good different though so don’t you worry your pretty little heads about it!

As a songwriter, you can really see how Brendon Urie has developed and really honed in on every musical influence he has. There’s Jazz, there’s Rock, there’s club feel, there’s the ‘typical Panic! sound’ this album has everything you could want.

Album song by song briefly:

1. Victorious – You couldn’t have started with a more appropriate track if you has tried. I love the children’s choir that starts it, and then pops up in various choruses. This is just one of those songs you can’t help but have fun to, dance. Have a good time. Stop caring about the world around you can just focus on you and a good time.
2. Don’t Threaten Me With a Good Time – admittedly not one of my favourite songs off the album, but still catchy and you can’t help but dance to it. Has more of a club feel, and if I was drunk enough, or drunk at all I could totally feel vibe. It’s a good song, as it goes on I fall more under the beat and bass. The chorus is definitely the thing that steals my attention on this track. Worth a listen. 
3. Hallelujah – This song has the same vibe as the entire album of Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die and could have quite easily fit on there, or been a single, however it is pleasant to see how this could be used as a transition track to link both the albums. Here the harmonises are remarkable, again, Queen ambiance being portrayed. With lyrics that are vivid and emotive beyond compare.
4. Emperor’s New Clothes – I’ve already mentioned how theatrical this song is, but also have a heavy Queen ambiance, which not a lot of artists can pull of successfully.  The song includes elements of tracks from Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die. Lyrical content has to be my favourite of any Panic! track. Without going into depth like the songwriter I am, I will say that there is such vivid imagery that you couldn’t ignore if you had tried!
5. Death of a Bachelor – now this song took me a while to fall for, but I do love Brendon’s voice in this, he shows his talent as a singer. What’s more, demonstrates perfectly how if an artist is set on one genre it can become somewhat mundane. Yet through dabbling with diverse genres you are immediately made more interesting to listen to. The unexpected nature of this song, with the brass and lounge style gives the album that final sparkle.
6. Crazy = Genius ­– I love the concept behind this song too, Panic! have definitely nailed this idea of catchy, fun tunes whilst still having a deeper meaning. Illustrating perfectly how they are entertainers not just talented musicians.
7. L.A. Devotee -  Again one of my favourites off the album, you can’t help but dance to it. Feel good track that still manages to have remarkable lyrics and musical composition. You have to play this song on full volume either driving down a country lane in the sun, singing at the top of your voice or on full volume in your bedroom, dancing around and singing like you don’t have a care in the world…until your neighbours knock on your wall telling you to keep it down.
8. Golden Days – I love the theme of this song, the first verse revolving around finding Polaroid’s in a record shop taken in 1979. Such an intriguing concept to revolve a song around.
9. The Good, The Bad and The Dirty – This song seems to sew together all genres that have appeared in this album so far. This is almost like the fight song of the album, has a particular drive that seems to ignite a force of determination. With an addictive chorus that you can help but sing along to and dance to.
10. House of Memories – The song starts chilled, again Brendon shows how strong his vocal range is here. A new style whilst still incorporating the typical Panic! sound. The song feels somewhat haunting, but not in a freaky, run away from the hell house creepy, more the haunted of past memories that you sit alone and stew in.
11. Impossible Year – Sweet and beautiful piano starts this song, following the same jazz, lounge room ambiance of Death of a Bachelor. Again with a chilling feel, but one that completely captivates you and leaves you intrigued by past memories. A bittersweet pain that everyone feels from time to time.

(This did start as my top five but I found it so difficult to simply choose five songs I just had to write about the full album!)

Brendon has to be one of my favourite songwriters of today, it is difficult to see a true specimen of pure talent when it comes to songwriting but Brendon seems to have nailed composition as well as lyrics. Lyrics are my forte and something I pay particular attention to. What’s more he is a tremendous performer on stage too, I liked a few Panic! songs before hand, but his performance at Reading 2015 is when I sold my soul to them. I tilt my hat to you Mr. Urie, I hope to be able to work with you some day, but we’ll see.

Fully recommend you get your mitts on this album!

You can purchase it below:

iTunes – https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/death-of-a-bachelor/id1050385369

Amazon – http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B016ZJH7T6?keywords=death%20of%20a%20bachelor&qid=1452865852&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1

Well for now my pretties, unpleasant dreams.

Death of Legends

Hello my pretties,

How was your Christmas? Get everything your little hearts desired, or simply relied on those tight false smiles with the high pitched “thank you it’s what I’ve always wanted!”. And New Year? Did you welcome 2016 with drunken promises of a new you and all that cliché babble?

It seems the theme of all my opening paragraphs are apologetic for being somewhat AWAL and absent from entertaining you with my amusing anecdotes and opinions. But with the festivities going on it’s safe to say I’ve been a little preoccupied. Then with the deaths of legends such as Lemmy and Bowie I’ve been in mourning of some of the most influential people to have walked this Earth. I mean let’s take Bowie, to those who know me know how fascinated I am with the ideas of stage personas and how characters can be enhanced through theatricality to bring albums to life. Bowie was the first lead I have into the music world after I had picked up a guitar. ‘Space Oddity’ was the first song I learnt to play and perform; I remember being in Year Six (for my international readers out there that would have been about the age of 10) and being ever so proud that I had nailed the quick chordal changes in the small exotic bridge after “planet Earth is blue and there’s nothing I can do”; and just being desperate to show someone.

 

This man shaped the performer I would come to be, but also the type of songwriter I am today. Now I’m not saying that without David Bowie I wouldn’t be a songwriter or musician, I’m simply saying that he helped me fall in love with theatricality and how effective it can be during performance; and how writing as characters is far more interesting then writing everyday love songs.

So Mr. Jones, I raise my glass to you.

"It's Time to Separate the Wolves From the Sheep."

Rory Indiana

11th November 2015
Patterns, Brighton

Want to hear the tipsy ramblings of a mad woman? Well you’re gonna. You have no choice now. You’re tuned in. Dedicated. Passed the point of no return. So I should probably get to the point right? Right.

So this evening…after a few drinks…I ventured down to Patterns, Brighton with a dear friend of mine to see a band whom I have mentioned countless amount of times on this blog. Well…at least three times. Only difference is for this particular show they were headlining. The first day of a mini tour with The Wild to be exact. Rory Indiana, remember them? You should do. Let’s be honest you hang on every word I say, come on don’t be shy, we all have our guilty pleasures. Those shameful addictions we just can’t break, we all know that Rebel Yell is yours. Where was I heading with this? Oh yeah. Okay the gig. Rory Indiana are a band I fell in love with way back last year, during the induction day onto my BA1 course. Firstly playing at Theatre Royal, Brighton then followed by a gig that evening in at Patterns, which was then called Audio. God I feel like my age is catching up with me, I’m far to young to have little anecdotes like that, next I’ll be using “back in my day” and “how do you use this strange contraption?!”. Anyways. Moving swiftly on. Here we are. A year later. Still the same fan anticipating their next E.P. but that’s another post for another time.

It seems to me that the crowd became somewhat electrified when Indiana crept under the lights of the smallish stage. But I’m used to the insane crowd that accompanies any Indiana gig. You know what had me this time? Rory without a guitar. Yup you heard it here first folks frontman Rory hung up his guitar and took centre stage as a vulnerable frontman for the first time that I’ve witnessed. And you know what? It was incredible…strange…but incredible nonetheless. Songwriters and artists are supposed to continuously push their boundaries and comfort zones.  Rory pulled this off appropriately, getting into the track just as he would be with a guitar, but what’s more important is that he pulled this off almost effortlessly. It’s an indescribable feeling watching a band gradually progress as a fan, especially from the infant stages of their careers.

Unfortunately Harry (drummer) left the band but former drummer Josh Gale returned to the mix. This is my first time seeing the old line up play together. I can safely say I was not disappointed. To top it all off, the three-part harmony in some songs were to die for! You don’t realise how much they make a difference in a song, it’s not just my musician ears.There is something satisfying about perfect harmonies layered seamlessly. Proving how they are developing as musicians as well as artists.

My journey of following Rory Indiana is nowhere near close to an end. So yours better not be either. Either way I’ll be keeping you posted. Keep your eyes peeled for a new E.P. heading our way soon enough!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RoryIndiana?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RoryIndianaOfficial/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKmACcOjytT3aEJ4CioEIUA

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Roryindiana/

Soundcloud:

If you fancy seeing the band live yourselves, find the nearest gig near you. I promise that you won't regret it!

Until then unpleasant dreams.