The Dabhands - The Chicken Pen

Crawling out of the clean-cut depths of Surrey come The Dabhands, an alternative rock four piece with the intention to get dirty. Although their name may suggest that their fingers are covered in some sort of stimulating substance, what actually comes from their dab-hands are some fine rifts and  beefy drums. Despite being fresh on the scene, the foursome have already scored themselves slots supporting the like of Slaves, The Amazons and The Carnabys, and Novemeber of this year has marked the release of their second single The Chicken Pen.

Combining the nostalgia of 2012's dominant alt rock notorieties with typically "British" musical characteristics. It's like Lily Allen had a love child with Lower Than Atlantis, in an attempt to bring English alt rock back to the forefront of the indie scene. The Chicken Pen embodies this with fancy hooks, heavy drums and catchy lyrics, and if that doesn't float your boat they've got some slick cinematography to accompany it.

If this is hard to believe watch The Chicken Pen for yourself and find out:

Find The Dabhands:
The Dabhands / Facebook
The Dabhands / Twitter
The Dabhands / Soundcloud

Stal Kingsley at The Cavendish Arms

If you happened to be lurking around some of the less lit streets of Stockwell last fiendish Friday you may well have come across the enigmatic workings of the one man band that is Stal Kingsley. Still stuck in the media age of cassette players and VHSs, one wonders whether this strange kid is trying to be indie for the sake of it or genuinely believes technological advances should have stopped in the '90s. Either way it goes without saying that watching one man in a boiler suit thrusting around stage with his jangly guitar playing along side a recording of himself from a cassette is truly unmissable.

Unsurprisingly, Stal Kinglsey's sound is just as weird and wonderful as his performance proposes. Playing for what must have been a mere 30 minutes the small but enthused audience were met with an upbeat set list of tunes that sounded as if Mac Demarco had shacked up with Fat White Family (probably against their will) in the home of Ben Howard. Unbelievable, I know, but despite this apparent confusion of genre Stal Kingsley embodies a dystopian lo-fi psychedelia that you didn't know existed but carries some sort of groovy nostalgia that you've been missing. This is perfectly accompanied by a relatable reflection of life as a post-modern millennial, expressed through his lyricism: consisting of what it's like to be a useless boy, the influxes of nihilism that comes with life, and finally the desirability of love and it's eventual destruction of all you know. All of this is then ended with a loud twenty second countdown and a miraculously finished illustration.

Overall, whilst Stal Kingsley, and his one man show, may present him as an archetypal art graduate who is grasping at hipster straws to be an individual, he's actually a satirical come lyrical genius. He puts to the test how musical performance should be presented to you and more specifically what medium it's presented in. Should it be through a charmingly charismatic curly haired wanderer in a dirty boiler suit only playing a guitar, through a grainy almost inaudible cassette tape or through an cleverly comic farce played via VHS? I guess you'd have to find that out for yourself...




If you think this is enough to get your weird rocks off check out Stal Kingsley here:
Stal Kingsley / Bandcamp 
Stal Kingsley / Facebook
Stal Kingsley / Twitter

Callosum Closure - So Sweet

The newest record 

For a band to find their sound, it can take a while. For foursome Callosum Closure, their soundcloud would suggest that this rings true. However, with the newest and maybe most publicised track So Sweet (taken from their newest come debut record) the band are entering the "alternative" indie rock song scene with a track that showcases each member's contribution to the band and what sweaty mess they can produce musically. Based out of Hampshire, but congregated from around the country, these boys have made a tune that has so many hooks you could hang the contents of your wardrobe on them.

From the start of the song, you're slapped in the face with the band's lack of concern with major issues such as global warming or political agendas, and instead are met with somewhat orthodox lyrical simplicity, aiming to just have a good time and tell a girl how tasty she is. However, whilst the lyricism behind So Sweet may suggest that this quartet could become the indie scene's trashier, dirtier and stankier boy band equivalent, that doesn't seem to be the point of this track nor the band itself. Rather what they are attempting to create musically is a visual image, one that's bubblegum pink but is as sexy as the red lipstick that that bubblegum is popping over. It's funky, it's noisy, and maybe most importantly it's flirty, in an attempt to both draw on such rock and roll luminaries as Elvis Presley and The Doors whilst mashing in the fuzz from the likes of Twin Peaks or Fidlar. Fundamentally, they're endeavouring to fuse together the so dirty it's good style of late 70s rock together with archetypal garage punk riffs. 

The boys themselves

With a track that's as groovy and distorted as this, it's easy to see the direction the band are taking, leaving behind the awkward, in-between, baby steps band phase in an attempt to become a fully fledged artists (i.e. 'make money without getting real jobs' according to their bassist) with a style that is their own. In the most literal sense the foursome themselves are the embodiment of that song The Steve Miller Band sang about being a space cowboy and speaking about the "pompatous of love". This sound seemingly relies on just how four musicians can relay that feeling you get when you tongue the person you fancy, and the taste it leaves.

In short it's thick, stylistic and might just be the sound of the best sex you've ever had...

Taste the sugar and spice for yourself:
Callosum Closure / Soundcloud
Callosum Closure / Facebook
Callosum Closure / Instagram 

Mac Demarco at Brixton Academy

Mac Demarco

If you wandered past the O2 Academy Brixton during the last two days of May you would have noticed that the jangle-pop-indie-super-star Mac Demarco was performing not one but two sold out shows. As the line of fans began to congregate on the second night, it was clear why Mac had added an extra date and manage to sell out what was to be one of his biggest show (or two shall I say) in the UK, given that it appeared to be a pilgrimage for anyone who owns a beaten up pair of vans or seen-better-days dungarees.

Kirin J Callinan 

As the electricity and garish shirts filled the 5,000 person capacity space, the excitement to see the gap-tooth Canadian with rolled up jeans began to grow. Before, however, the crowd was greeted with support act Kirin J Callinan: an Australian 80's day dream in tight leather pants and a stiff red beret. Starting the show on his own with just his guitar and striking codpiece, Kirin performed as if he was the Aussie baby of David Bowie and Jarvis Cocker who grew up on a diet of rave music. After performing the first song solo, he was then joined by his "two little brothers", Tex and Mahne, a pair of skin heads in aviators and looked as if they could nut you whilst playing the accordion. Once this weird but wonderful silhouette of the trio had been formed they pump out a set that sounded as if they made the music from 90's show Twin Peaks kinky. Both tongue-in-cheek and a little sexy Kirin provides music that takes the piss whilst withholding a deeper meaning, hes a truly sardonic artist with a backwards mullet.  He ended the show, that was full of guitar throwing tricks and attempts to flog his t-shirt, with a performance of a song that required the crowd "use their imagination" as he pranced across the stage with just an air guitar and singing about how he's not a baby and not yet a man, a toddler.

Man with the band 

After a sweaty interval, the 'beast' entered the stage to the theme tune of the God Father bearing a bottle of wine and couple of beers. Kicking off a mighty 18 tune setlist, Mac and his motley crew knocked out Salad Days for their first number. This was met with an excited caterwaul from a crowd whose anticipation for the band had come to a climax. Jumping straight into the rest of the set, with No Other Heart, Rock and Roll Nightclub and On a Level (to name a few) Mac showed that after three albums this guy knows how to pace a show. This was reflected by the unceasing of the movement of the crowd, who didn't seem to know when exactly to mosh so just did it all the way through.

As he ploughed through the set, the crowd were met with two of the band's recent canine themed tunes, Kirin's sweaty bare chest riding the crowd during Freaking Out the Neighbourhood, and a tender moment of lighter swaying love as not only an ode to viceroy but to Mac himself. However, the music wasn't all the crowd came to see, clearly the intermittent chat from Mac was too a spectacle, discussing the best place to get a salt beef bagel and his fellow band member's wedding anniversary were just some of the stand out moments. The show went exactly how it was meant to, a fun mix of sweating and song whilst watching a goofball of a musician peform the old and the new with impeccable artistry. He ended the show with what must have been a 30 minute long jam, inviting not only his family to the stage but the band's friends too, performing an amalgamation of tunes and tricks with guitars. With a final good-bye crowd surf, as expected, this old dog left the stage the same way he entered it: like he was born to be shoeless and shirtless upon it.

Check the strange pair out:
Kirin J Callinan / Shop
Mac Demarco / Site

Jellyskin - Milk of Magnesia

Milk of Magnesia

Whilst we kick off the year with a continuation of the shit storm that was last year, given that Trump is now president and the UK's government still in dismay, it would seem 2017 isn't ready to offer any kind retribution as of yet. But never fear, Leed's based trio Jellyskin have released a new track as of this month, representing "the smell of pain and the end of days" that could be upon us, whey-hey!

Not quite avant-punk but still avant-garde, and signed to independent record label Blak Hand Records, Jellyskin come back again with a track that's dark and brooding. Following their first two tracks, Milk of Magnesia is a little different and a little heavier. Having expected another single with ethereal vocals and wavey vibes, Milk of Magnesia is displacing but in the best way possible; showing off what the band can really do, and that guitarist Will can double up as lead singer too.

Jellyskin

The track is instantly eery and encapsulating, kicking off the song with distorted synths not too dissimilar to the sound of organs you would find in the Phantom of the Opera. As weird as this sounds it works, setting the darker tones for the 6 minute long track. As the track continues you can really sink you teeth into sounds that are reminiscent of possible predecessors such as Sonic Youth, and even The Velvet Underground, 'White Light White Heat' era. Although in saying this the song itself sets them apart in their own right, utilising classic hypnotic riffs and monotonous drums to make it completely trancing. Needless to say its weird and its equally as melancholy, and it comes with a trippy music video, what more could you ask for?

You can also catch the trio on lurking round the stages of Leeds, considering that they have been gigging now since September. Having already secured some support slots for Crocodile and Will Joseph Cook, it's worth watching this space.

Got milk? No? Then get yours here:
Jellyskin / YouTube
Jellyskin / Souncloud
Jellyskin / Facebook 

Sorority Noise at Sticky Mike's Frog Bar

Sticky Mike's

Hidden in the labyrinth lanes of Brighton lives the legendary Sticky Mikes Frog Bar, yep truly a place that lives up to its name - sticky. Coated in local art, projected fish tanks, and glissenings of a disco ball, the Frog Bar is a fitting place for the hipster settlers to spend their Friday night. Joining the InD inhabitants last Friday were the sounds of Muskets, Puppy, and Sorority Noise.

Muskets

Whilst upstairs is lit up in all its glory, the basement of Sticky Mike's is dim but atmospheric, with only the light of the bar guiding your way. Walking into the basement you were met by the loud noises of Muskets, a long haired local foursome. Singing songs with relentless angst, and an anger that didn't seem to have its place located, this quartet tore upstage with no break for an applause. With only one EP to their name, it's early days for Muskets. However, what ever impression they give from their recorded stuff, you best believe they're better live. Sounding like Blink 182 had a baby with The Wombats, they're a weird amalgamation of American pop-punk and English grunge that seems to work enough to keep the crowd more than entertained.

Puppy

Following Muskets, were the London based trio Puppy. Staying true to the rock theme of the evening, this threesome came at the crowd with heavy metal tunes that were as soft as newly born canine. Now weighed down by the two EPs under their belt, Puppy have established themselves as the love child of 80's metal bands nursed by Weezer. Sitting happily in the intersection musical genres, Puppy greeted the stage with handfuls of harmonised guitar solos, pummelling drums, and bass that melted your face off. Unceasingly beating their instruments, Puppy crafted their weird but wonderful indie metal cross over to a crowd that got as sweaty as they did.

Sorority Noise

The final band to grace the Sticky Mike's stage was the American foursome Sorority Noise. Headlining the night, the quartet definitely drew up the biggest hoard, and aimed to make the loudest noise. Easily categorised as your average Emo / pop-punk band, Sorority Noise make it hard to look past their four man set up and songs that infiltrate the theme of juvenile angst. However, once you see through their archetypal pop-punk aesthetics, you reach of the band's gooey core that aims to motivate their listeners past self-negation and lending a hand to those who suffer from depression. Their performance on the night intertwined both their Emo roots and honest discussion of manic-depression, paradoxically encouraging self-preservation as well as body thrashing moshing.

Listen Here:
Muskets / Soundcloud 
Puppy / Soundcloud
Sorority Noise / Soundcloud

Beach Baby - No Mind No Money

Beach Baby

Since the release of their first single in 2015 the indie music scene have been expecting an eleven track blessing from London quartet Beach Baby. Having released of six, yes six, singles over the past year or so (and one EP), it came as no surprise that as of this month Beach Baby's debut album was born.

Amply titled 'No Mind No Money', Beach Baby incorporate surf pop motifs and the mesmerising power of shoegaze to create a dreamy representation of the tragedies and confused freedom of youth. With all the tracks from their singles on there, the album has a some familiar sounds as well as brand new ones; accurately exploring just what it's like to be not quite fully fledged but still suffering from the dilemmas of the real world, like not having any money or held hostage by infatuation.

The album's varying tones effortlessly shows off Beach Baby's talent, slotting themselves nicely beside such surf pop hotshots as Hawaiian Gremlins and Mac Demarco. With such cheerily mellow vibes, 'No Mind No Money' is a sure way to brighten up your mood, even if its focus on modern day calamities is almost too relatable.

Cheer up your ears:
Beach Baby/Itunes
Beach Baby/Twitter
Beach Baby/Facebook