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

Jellyskin - She Sung Oceans

She Sung Oceans 

Greeted once more with the presence of Leeds based band, Jellyskin, our ears are met with their newest creation She Sung Oceans. Having only started as a band in the spring of this year, this steadfast trio have already released their first track Grey Glass Hat and have teamed up with fellow fresher band, Sealand, to create record label Sea of Skin. Hacking through a starter band's checklist, Jellyskin are hastily commandeering a market which seemingly demands for a sound that's as if Kate Bush had joined Sonic Youth. And given that the band's mantra is not to sound like someone else, it comes as no a surprise that their desire to 'have a distinctive sound  that people will attribute to us' (says lead singer Zia) is accomplished.

Following on from their debut track, Jellyskin have managed to continue the melancholic transcendence that started with a visit from a mysterious man in a grey glass hat in their first track now to a girl who apparently sings oceans in their second. In its efforts to upkeep the reputation from their first song, She Sung Oceans seems to dip its toes into the seas of grunge, dream pop, and psychedelia, flooding your ears with ambient vocals, metronomic drums, and trance inducing guitars.With a climatic middle and a synthesised conclusion, each genre that the track moves through rolls over you like a wave.

Jellyskin

With images of that Simpson's scene where a bunch of teens bob to Smashing Pumpkins, and the track's sonic waves crashing around you, She Sung Oceans truly is a transient hipster daydream.

Currently toying about with ideas of organising their own gig in Leeds, says guitarist Will, and with more songs in the pipeline, we can look forward to future for Jellyskin, because it's bound to be as big as Alison Goldfrapp's hair.

Find out for yourself and dive into the oceans that she (whoever that is) sang:
Jellyskin/SheSungOceans

Meatraffle at Fighting Cocks

Fighting Cocks

If you were lurking around Old London Road in Kingston Upon Thames late Friday night, you would have stumbled upon the sweat of the socialist spectacular that is Meatraffle. Finding their way from the 'south side of the river called the Thames to the south side of the river called the Thames' (quoting frontman Zsa Zsa) they came to the Fighting Cocks with an aim to create carnage, but instead all the they got was a luke warm sway. However, although the crowd was tame, their performance was anything but.

Performing first before Meatraffle, and seemingly who most of the crowd had come to see, were non-binary trio The Misters of Circe, and yes they were a Sisters of Mercy tribute act too, nonetheless. The second were the shouty foursome Fightmilk, who sang about the drags of working in admin, and how they envy your girlfriend (apparently). 

Meatraffle/twitter

After struggling with technical difficulties and already rocking a sweet sweat shine, Meatraffle were ready to serve a fat slice of death ragga. With loopers and trumpet sounds in abundance, they created a sweaty leftist utopia that apparently only a select few of the crowd were able to feel- given that they were the only ones dancing. The constant wait for a crush of people seemed to be endless and anti-climatic, despite the fact Meatraffle's setlist was a creation based on a socialist's wet dream. Playing tracks from their album 'Hi Fi Classics', The Wickerman, The Horseshoe, and Madame Hi Fi, as well as Brother From Another Mother, they offered a trip more psychedelic than taking lsd in 1943.

Drawing a close to the evening, the band performed The Bird Song, sung by their bassist (also known as DJ Lady Gaga) which addressed the fact that 'no one is any one's "bird"' and that we are all just humans. Unfortunately it was a great shame that some members of the crowd ignored this fact and instead took advantage of being in a gig environment and completely violated the personal space a friend of mine. This kind of behaviour is a disgusting act of objectification of another human who is definitely 'not your bird'.

However, despite a relatively monotonous crowd, Meatraffle still pounded out tunes as if their fingers were hammers and sickles.

Buy your raffle tickets here, and get porked:
Meatraffle/facebook
Meatraffle/soundcloud

Girls against/website (help stop sexual harassment at gigs)

SGP - Petite Meller

SGP

Whilst Sunday maybe a festival's quietest day, their stages are still as alive as ever. Hidden on the east side of the fields was The Next Stage, new to SGP this year. On which you could have found the french powder-puff mademoiselle, Petite Meller (yes that's her real name) and her extremely talented Afro-French band, enact the most aesthetically pleasing performance that required three outfit changes and looked as if it was extracted from the dreams of Wes Anderson.

Outfit number 1 (bar the heels)
source: @Petitemeller

For most people, the sexualisation of adolescence or the appropriation of culture are areas of discomfort, however, for this Lolita archetype, who is enamoured with African culture, these are topics which should be so obvious that they are neither damned or damaged nor are they glamorised. And with her degree, and soon to be masters, in philosophy this girl knows her stuff when it comes to repression, Lacanian theory, sexuality, and what we see as literal- something she likes to release when on stage. With this in mind, it becomes clear that her imagery isn't just an artistic stunt, instead she claims that "bringing the libidinal unconscious dreams into reality is what fascinates" her and for this reason she aims to create realities that are "more real" than the unrepressed ones we have in our consciousness.

Whilst her philosophical passions can be hard to get your head around, her performance of fun electro-pop-eurotrash-inspired French chansons (in English) are easy to get along with and groove down to. Unfortunately for Petite her set happened to be during the Sunday headliner, Air, so the crowd was a petite as she is. The size of the crowd even left one member asking whether fellow gardeners knew what was about to happen and then deciding it was better they weren't there as it left more space to dance. And how the crowd did.

Petite and co.

Filling the stage with bizarre instruments of the jazz and electro variety, were her band, dressed in coordinating blue and mustard garments, and looking as cute as hell. Then without a moment to spare Petite greeted the stage with her sugary sweet presence in her first outfit of the night: "a Russian hotel blanket", 70's velvet platforms, and what looked like a safari helmet. With only a few singles out in the mainstream, her setlist wasn't as chunky as her heels, yet she still played her pop-jazz fusion with an unstoppable tenacity (despite a few stumbles and nip slips). And although her set was small it was solid, squeaky gold that called for dancing that seemed to be a hybrid of structured motifs and eye rolling seizures, that the crowd seemed to conquer with by flailing their bodies to the beat. After performing such crowd favourites as Babylove, Barbaric, and Milk Bath, and wearing three different kinds of hat, Petite finished a set that felt like she could have gone on forever, and given that the crowd were the "best ever" (according to Petite) they probably would have let her.

With her high notes and sax sounds still ringing in gardeners' ears she left the crowd confused by a mysterious blindfolded character on stage (that she left there) and a toothache from just how sweet she was.

Take a bite out of this cupcake and find out for yourself:
Petite Meller/Website
Petite Meller/Twitter

Petite Meller/Facebook