Slam Dunk Festival 2021 Review

So Slam Dunk Festival got moved around a handful of times and nearly didn’t happen but our prayers were answered and everything got to happen as scheduled!

They came out on top but they ultimately had to lose a number of bands due to covid restrictions but…. do we really need to complain? The show went on at both dates in Leeds and Hatfield as scheduled!

The day was in a nutshell, inspiring, exhilarating and emotional to say the least where in fact for some bands for the first time since the pandemic began to a fully live audience!

Okay so firstly just getting there, everything ran without a hitch. With the coach service to the festival running more smoothly everything was off to a good start.

When the floodgates opened shall we say…. there was just an absolute collective rush of energy which had been building for the last eighteen months. People running off to get their spot for their favourite bands, such. sight!

So after the little work of figuring out who to go see, first up on the day was The Key Club stage with For You The Moon. The newcomers to the scene did get people going, even if they were on the softer side of things for the day but it made me all the more hungry to want more from them. Speeding over to the Jägermeister stage for the the end of Blood Youth, you could feel the energy in the pits as well as the emotion for what was would be what was frontman Kaya Tarsus’s last show with the band. Who can blame them for a YOKRSHIRE chant? What I was quite surprised by was how full that crowd was because I don’t think the tent was less than half full for a single band on the day! Way to show your support people!

Shifting across back to The Key Club Stage for the The Hara, this was a band full of energy and genuine craziness.They’re one band on the day which just gave me everything I wanted and more which fed in well over to Doll Skin, with some powerful tracks at their disposal and one performance that is simple but it works so well, with a few acrobatics on it as well. Leading into the special guests which were… (drumroll please) MCFLY! Quite a few people were surprised to say the least but I found myself quite shocked at how heavy they sounded considering they’re quite a more pop orientated band. But realistically, they have to book McBusted for next year right?? It’s the only logical option.

After a little food and watching As It Is from the grass on the Rock Scene Stage I did manage to catch Creeper where they prove just how far they’ve come over the years. Last time they set the festival alight and they’re carrying on that trajectory and I give it maybe five years or so and they could be potential headliners to the whole thing.

Moving back over for The Key Club stage in Static Dress, I do have to say they were a little disappointing not really hitting the mark because of technical difficulties plaguing their set where they compensated with the amount of energy from frontman Olli Appleyard.

It was from this point, I ran into a few problems. The first was being for Funeral For A Friend as well as Trash Boat because I honestly couldn’t get into the Jägermeister Stage! Now it’s amazing to see that there was so many people off to watch them but I don’t think the festival organisers were anticipated the crowd. Nevertheless, I managed to hear a few tracks while I was talking to one or two people and honestly, it was exquisite.

Heading across for the highlight of the festival over to the Rock Scene Stage (even though they were plagued by twenty minutes of technical difficulties) and making their first appearance of a band for six years were We Are The In Crowd. Now I’m not going to lie, thirty seconds into their set, I was nearly in tears, mainly because it felt so good to have this band back, and also because they opened with The Best Thing (That Never Happened) and that song is just so great to listen to.

Now, moving back quickly for the last of Wargasm as well as Lizzy Farrall over on The Key Club stage, there was plenty of energy about again where the terrible twosome of vocals for Wargasm were nothing short of amusing yet amazing. There’s something always so atmospherically charged when they take to the stage and oh so amazing to watch where I’m pretty sure there was a music-gasm during their set but we’ll let the audience decide on that one..

Now onto Lizzy Farrall, one of the festival veterans having played multiple times where previously the artist has only played acoustically here but with her full band debut it’s always so utterly fantastic to watch her play. It feels as if the release of her record ‘Bruise’ really stepped up her game where her sass and banter just come out in full force.

Moving across back to the Rock Scene Stage for State Champs, I wasn’t sure what to expect really but for them the performance was just effortless. They got into the swing of things so quickly and had people up and down as if it was too easy for them. with he added tracks to their catalogue of ‘Just Sound’ and ‘Outta My Head’, these only helped strengthen the emotion of their set just in time for some crowdsurfing.

Rushing back across to The Key Club Stage for the last few tracks in Normandie’s set, the Sweedish band show you they show you why they deserve your attention. Fans will know their music is a lot of build and not just rise and fall where the vocals of Phillip Strand just add to the experience of what you’re witnessing.

Last up on The Key Club Stage were Holding Absence, the Welsh protégées who’ve refined their sound into what Post-hardcore is and when ‘Celebration Song’ hit all I heard was people going absolutely crazy for them and possibly a few pits, I’m fifty-fifty on what I saw there. Nevertheless, their performance showcased the melodic genius of their latest record, ‘The Greatest Mistake Of My Life’ which is uplifted byhow much love they’re getting from the crowd that’s come to watch.

Don Broco were the last band of mine to watch on the day and honestly, one I was looking forward to the most where it’s safe to say that I didn’t leave disappointed with the band putting out some variety across their now lengthy catalogue of tracks. With the production of their set, no expense was too little with laser displays as well as pyro sparking up, and even the inclusion of Waterparks’ Awsten Knight and While She Sleeps’ Loz Taylor joining the band on stage for the UK live debut of Action. Some tracks you just wish you could see live again because as you hear it in another way it stays with you and that’s exactly what the band did with Automatic, Technology and more.

Despite the technical difficulties through the day, it felt so good to be back at Temple Newsman and now next year, hopefully some of the bands which had to pull out can make it back and we can watch in full force with more madness!

Don’t forget check out the pics I took from the crowds below!

For You The Moon Release New Track

Now this is just a tearjerker. For You The Moon have dropped their first new track of 2021.

‘Talk’ is an emotional rollercoaster filled with the jangling guitar as much as there is tension.

Vocalist Isaac Cooter had this to say about what he wanted the track to do:

“Talk” gets straight to the point. The opening lyrics completely encapsulate that painful time post-relationship where you’re watching your life with someone disintegrate in front of you. It’s set in those painful few weeks before you’ve completely let them go and you’re both still talking to each other every day, almost to help ease the pain.

I wanted to write a more intimate song that felt like a conversation, dealing with those withdrawal-like symptoms of losing someone but underpinned by the knowledge that it’s better if you both go your separate ways. Sometimes it’s hard to see, or even believe, that at first. And as much as “Talk” is filled with those throwaway lines that you tell yourself to help you get through it, it acknowledges all those feelings of doubt, wondering whether you’ve done the right thing and if you’ll even get through this without that person.” 

Check out ‘Talk’ below.

Music Video Roundup 04/12/20

Hello everyone! Welcome back to the New Music Video Roundup. We’re here for a roundup of ten of the best recently released music videos. They’re not all within the same genre and they’re all different in some way or another but that means that there’s a little something for everyone here but come on, let’s get down to the music!

First up this week is Ginesse. This is the artist project of Los Angeles-based actress Cait Fairbanks — is sharing the video for “LA Isn’t Somewhere To Die” from her newly released EP, ‘Somewhere To Die.’ 

A hazy, melancholic indie-pop number, “LA Isn’t Somewhere To Die” is one of the five new songs featured on Ginesse’s new EP, ‘Somewhere To Die.’ Written in the aftermath of a particularly challenging breakup, the single is a thank you to the friends who stick around, even through the hard times. “LA can be a lonely place,” she says, “but this is a love song to the dope friends in my life who keep me from blowing my brains out, honestly.” Directed by Natalie Fält (Tegan and Sara, WENS, Lila Gold) and styled by Jordan Douglas at JXJ Studio, the “LA Isn’t Somewhere To Die” video is a haunting, vintage wonderland that feels like the perfect extension of the nostalgic world introduced throughout the EP.

Performing under the name Cait Fairbanks, Ginesse has already made quite a splash in the acting realm with her two-time Emmy-nominated role on The Young and the Restless and her performance as Veronica in the critically acclaimed off-Broadway show, Heathers: The Musical. In 2018 she launched her musical project, Ginesse, to enthusiastic praise from the likes of PAPER, NYLON, and Billboard. 

Perhaps due to her strong thespian roots, she admits that she often approaches Ginesse as “a character to play.” But she also acknowledge that this is the perfect outlet to boil herself down in. She’s not wearing a wig or spandex but instead presents the most concentrated version of herself by telling genuine stories via metaphors that emote relatable, uncomfortable situations and feelings. “I want my music to make people feel like the whole world is wrapping around them,” says Ginesse. “If I give someone an emotional picture of a specific moment, that is truly special.“

Seconds up this week are Scranton Quartet Tigers Jaw with their second track to come from their upcoming record, ‘I Won’t Care How You Remind Me’.

Speaking about the track, vocalist/keyboardist Briana Collins had this to say.

“The lyrics for ‘Lemon Mouth’ are very personal and introspective. Sometimes self-reflection only happens for me when I’m thinking about characteristics that I want to change about myself. It can look like this sort of scanning of my own habits, things that are so consistent and familiar- but I can’t figure out the reason why I do them.

‘Lemon Mouth’ is the only song on the record that Colin [Gorman, bassist] plays guitar on and the first song that we had ever worked on writing together, which I think is really special. In the early stages of writing for the record, I showed Colin an iPhone voice memo of an idea I had written on guitar for a verse, but the chorus wasn’t all the way there and I wanted to know if he had any ideas. He picked up the guitar and played what he was thinking could work and it immediately made the song feel more complete. He helped push ‘Lemon Mouth’ from just a rough demo idea to a real song.”

Now recently, Eighty Ninety — the NYC based alt-pop project of brothers Abner (vocals, production) and Harper (guitar, production) James — have released the official music video for their new single, “Better As Friends.” In keeping with the band’s musical style, the new music video is both cinematic and minimalist, juxtaposing the picturesque New York City skyline with intimate studio shots.

“Better as Friends” is a dreamy mix of contemporary pop and hazy chillwave production propelled by a driving pulse that culminates in a yearning, widescreen chorus complete with soaring melodies, lush arrangements and the band’s distinctive guitar work. Following the brothers’ previous release, “Happier,” “Better as Friends” is the second single from Eighty Ninety’s forthcoming sophomore EP, slated for release in 2021. The EP was created in collaboration with Grammy-nominated producer Gian Stone (Maroon 5, Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Halsey, Dua Lipa).

Eighty Ninety first broke out with their hit 2016 single, “Three Thirty,” which climbed to #2 on Spotify’s Global Viral Charts and was closely followed by their debut EP Elizabeth. Since then, the duo’s music has garnered over 26 million streams, featured on numerous Spotify playlists (New Music Friday, Pop Rising, Indie Pop, Chill Vibes, Viral Hits, and many more) and was even hand-picked by Taylor Swift for her official Spotify playlist “Songs Taylor Loves.”

The NYC based duo’s songs fuse intimate storytelling, sticky melodies, and minimalist pop productions built on acoustic instruments and electronic sounds in a style they call “808s and telecasters” — a shorthand for both their music and their anything-goes mentality in the studio. “We let the emotional arc of the song, rather than any set of genre conventions, lead us to instruments and sounds,” the brothers say of their process.

Moving on in this weeks roundup Brooklyn-based indie pop artist Middle Part creates synth-laden music in the hopes of making you feel something. Composed with honesty and sincerity, his music takes inspiration from both 90’s and early Millenium alternative bands. Middle Part was born when singer Andrew Selkōw moved to the deepest parts of Northern Alaska to find himself, after experiencing a major meltdown. Living in a shipping container in the isolated vastness of the Alaskan wilderness, Selkōw ignited his love for literature and music, with the musician sharing, “Art is important, no matter how you decide to approach it. There’s no age or formula so just create. It’s the most healing form of therapy I’ve ever experienced.”

His latest single “Busy” is the third single to be released off of I Wish I Was Alive. Detailing the songwriters interpersonal relationships and ego death, it is inspired by early millennium alt pop artists like Michelle Branch and Natalie Imbruglia, with a modernized sonic twist to the likes of Clairo. The stripped back “Busy” is set on a backbone of chugging acoustic guitars, breakbeats and sprinkled with synthesizers to achieve a sonically nostalgic song about the pitfalls of friendship in an attempt to signify that ego is unnecessary, and vulnerability should be the priority. 

Selkōw confides, “A lot of this record is about ego, vulnerability, and dealing with loss. It’s also about finding a balance with your mental well being. Busy touches on that theme of letting go of your ego and being more vulnerable with the people around you. That’s the message I’m trying to get across, and I feel that ties in with the EP’s title, which is all about being more present rather than mentally checked out.”

Listening to Middle Part is like reading one of Selkōw’s journal entries and uncovering all the back and forth he has in his head on a regular basis. His honest songwriting grants people access to creating art in a safe space, admitting, “I just want people to relate. I so desperately want to connect and that might be the message.”

Now this next band For You The Moon has recently been on my radar with their signing to Slam Dunk Records with new single, ‘Lost Without It’.

It’s an early teaser from the pop-rock newcomers’ upcoming debut EP, set for release in 2021, and it arrives with a video that was shot in their current homebase of Leeds.

Frontman Isaac Cooter explains: “I wrote ‘Lost Without It’ when I was in that weird period after breaking up with somebody, in that place where you’re really trying to numb your own feelings and I was partying more often than I wasn’t. You end up surrounded by other people who are just as out of it as you are, probably trying to forget their problems by doing the same thing.”

The other week Palm Reader finally got to release their latest record, ‘Sleepless’.

The band released a video for ‘A Bird And Its Feathers’, just before the release of the record, which is one of the album’s most epic and expansive moments.

Vocalist Josh Mckeown had this to say about the track’s meaning:

“A Bird And It’s Feathers’ is a song about love, though I wouldn’t call it a ‘love song’. At least not in the traditional sense. I came to realise that I hadn’t written about it before and felt like that was an avenue I needed to explore in order to progress as a songwriter and as a human being with emotions and feelings. I wanted to speak about the intoxication of lust, of falling in love and the beauty in the darker side of those moments. I’ve found that love can feel like a sickness and also be the cure, so I really tried to get that point across. It was one of the final songs that made it to the cut for Sleepless and I’m so glad it did!”

Now, Ghoste­mane has once again teamed up artis­ti­cal­ly with his fiancée Pop­py for a grip­ping­ly dark new video, Hydrochloride. This might be one of my favourite videos to date this year and it just shows you never know what amazing things December might bring. Or whenever you watch it.

Speak­ing to Ker­rang! about the cre­ative bril­liance of Pop­py, Ghoste­mane gushed recent­ly, ​“As a visu­al artist, she’s just unmatched. That’s the one area of my career which I was nev­er real­ly able to ful­ly realise myself. It’s a weird feel­ing putting a piece of myself into her hands like this, and wait­ing to see how it unfolds. But I’m excit­ed. She’s an awe­some part­ner. It’s the oppo­site of a tox­ic relationship.

Dark Metal sensation LORD OF THE LOST just released a new official video for “We Were Young” featuring Heaven Can Wait Choir, cut from their latest classical ensemble album Swan Songs III.
 
The heart-wrenching version includes intimate reminiscences from Chris Harms’ childhood and showcases a touching new facet of their bold universe. Told through genuine memories and clearly narrated through the style of a vintage Super8 camera, the audiovisual symbolizes the most personal output to date. The outstanding band proves once again that the greatest inspiration and the best director is life itself.

“With the new video for ‘We Were Young’ I would like to say thank you to my parents. The video is a reflection of my happy childhood, thanks to them, which paved the way for me to become who I am today. The video shows real Super8 film footage from my birth in 1980 until 1994, when the magnetic tape slowly replaced the celluloid. In the credits of the video you can see the time before my birth, which my parents have captured on film for themselves since 1967. The director of this video was life itself and it shows here an origin story that could not have been more personal”. – Chris Harms

Penultimate track time now! This is the incredible Wargasm.

‘Rage All Over’ is a combination of snotty punk attitude, industrial leaning atmospheres and several boots to the temple that will keep rattling round your head long after it has finished. 

Plus the video is a dizzying three minute epic with plenty of discomforting imagery for you to lose yourself in. 

The duo had this to say about the track:

“It always starts with a smile, and ends with something sick and twisted. Politicians lie. People are brainwashed. Services get cut. No one can afford a house. The cost of living goes up. Our wages go down. Art suffers. People suffer. The forests are burning, the waters full of chemicals and every day theres a new false flag hoisted next to a very real knife dangling above our heads. Nothing changes and nothing gets better. We wouldn’t say Wargasm is a political band; but we’re not just pissed off, we’re rage all over”

Lastly this week, You Me At Six have released the title track from their upcoming new album ‘SUCKAPUNCH’, and this is a little bit of a left turn for me.

It’s a track which has a build and never say die sentiment holding it all together, where it shows how far the band are willing to push their sound. Could this be the best YMAS record to date?

‘SUCKAPUNCH’ is set for release on January 15 via Underdog Records/AWAL.

And that’s it for another week of a countdown of the best singles out in the world in the last week. Be sure to check back next-time for another round of great music videos. If you have any suggestions for me to check out, be sure to send an email or message us via the socials on Facebook or Twitter!

For You The Moon Announce Signing To Slam Dunk Records, Release New Single

For You The Moon have announced that the band have signed to Slam Dunk Records.

In addition to the signing, the band have released their new single, ‘Lost Without It’.

It’s an early teaser from the pop-rock newcomers’ upcoming debut EP, set for release in 2021, and it arrives with a video that was shot in their current homebase of Leeds.

Frontman Isaac Cooter explains: “I wrote ‘Lost Without It’ when I was in that weird period after breaking up with somebody, in that place where you’re really trying to numb your own feelings and I was partying more often than I wasn’t. You end up surrounded by other people who are just as out of it as you are, probably trying to forget their problems by doing the same thing.”