The time has come. The first show of the new year. 2022 is finally here and now for some Pop Punk? Yes. Punk? Damn Right and Ska? only joking, who doesn’t love a bit of Ska? Time for a little bit of a boogey.
Kicking things off are the Yorkshire based Pray For Hayden. This is one of their first shows back as a band after the pandemic with heir previous shows being forced to be cancelled right at the beginning of the pandemic all those years ago now. But it was totally worth the wait because it’s fantastic to see so many talented musicians from the area all coming together again. Hitting the notes where they count, it’s thet kick off to the Pop-Punk-y goodness that gets people in.
Heading over to the next act in Lyon Estates with one member Mr Johnny Gill fronting and on main vocals for this band, there’s a definite Jimmy Eat World vibe to what I remember most but with a little more kick. Heading in with some excitement, they continue to keep the crowd in the palm of their hands and settle into their set very well. Every since their formation, the band have always produced some solid sets and fit perfectly within any bill and always looks s if they’re enjoying themselves.
Next up the ever energetic Shark Bait. One band that’s guaranteed to get you moving no shatter what, they always keep the crowd in the palm of their hands, they perfectly roundhouse kick their way into everyones hears. With one of their mainstays for their set ‘Better Late Than Never’ gets the warmest welcome of the show of any set so far which proves yet again to be a great banger.
Giving us a good pallet cleanser is the punk trio Stray Weather. Exploding into some riffs and political views, you forget it’s a Pop Punk night for moment and sometimes that is a good thing. For one, when you get to the proceedings, it all kicks off with a luminescent bang and they’re as sweaty as they can be with all the trashing they’re doing . Hitting the sweet spot, they’re nothing if not a fun watch.
Now I know what you’re thinking, Ska. possibly some memes come to mind and I get it Ska isn’t everyones cup of tea but does Plot 32 care? I think not. and the answer to that question is because they’re having a massive good time. Whenever this band were on stag, it was as if I was watching a dysfunctional sitcom TV family play out to their hearts content and that is always such a beautiful thing to be watching. It’s easy to forget that in an instant, especially when you see some members of the crowd performing a ska dance but do we laugh? no. we join in as if there’s no tomorrow.
Now the community here today has just pure been mind blowing, everyone’s come together for the music that’s played today and that couldn’t be better. By the time the headliners in This Time Last Year take to the stage, everyone is just warmed up that more the more moshes can happen and the vocal singalongs can happen. In fact, every moment of the show on the day has been intricately woven together to the collective goal of continuous entertainment where there’s not a moment of silence during the sets where you can take your eyes off it all.
There’s more life injected into the crowd during TTLY’s set, they’re an absolute powerhouse of crowd pleasers in the best way to say that the setlist just feeds off one another, with a little help at the end int he form of some covers to just help lift the roof off its hinges more.
FOLLOWING A SHOCKER OF A 2020, 11 BANDS COME TOGETHER, CLAWING BACK LIVE MUSIC, SUPPORTING AN AMAZING INDEPENDENT VENUE AND VERY LOUDLY CELEBRATING THE FUTURE OF THE MUSIC SCENE VIA THE MEANS OF ROCK, METAL, HARDCORE & POP PUNK.
That’s what’s been described for Claw It Back, a brand new all dayer for the Yorkshire scene as the live music industry will try to get back up on its feet and with the help of some Rock and Post-Hardcore bands, this is surely set to host some spectacular sets for one of the first shows of 2021.
Here is the lineup.
Newmeds
Old Selves
Realms
Amongst Thieves
This House Is Haunted
Cast Out
Pray For Hayden
Fizzy Milk
DLVRR
Matter Of Mind
Air Drawn Dagger
Claw It Back is set to take place on Sunday 31st January 2021 at The Fulford Arms, York.
Hello everyone, and welcome to a brand new monthly post here on Almost Anything Media. I’ve wanted to make a new post for a while. A monthly post that’s inclusive of the local area of York as well as its outlying and other areas of the country and showcases the talent I know there is around here. One way was to write a post about the latest singles you need to listen to, but I thought I might need to reach out to more people before that does happen. In truth, there’s nothing I enjoy more than getting right out there to meet some new people and to listen to some great music and discover bands along the way, so without further ado, I welcome the monthly post of the Mondo Monthly Gigs. This is all the recommended gigs I’m looking forward to in a particular month. Now, of course, there will be one’s I won’t always have the chance to get to but they’ll always be a few local to me around the Yorkshire and outlying areas.
Similar to the weekly Music Video countdown list, this list will compromise of ten gigs I’m sure will be a fun treat for all those involved so let’s dive straight into a local show that’s happening within the Yorkshire area.
1.Foxhaunt. The Crescent, York, 09/08/19
Support: inFade, Avenoir, Pray For Hayden
It’s a showcase of some of the best talents within York for the Alternative scene as the celebration for Foxhaunt’s latest single is being released down at one of the best venues in The Crescent. Armed with inFade, Avenoir and Pray For Hayden as their supports the Alternative outfit are sure to put on a unique night for fans of the genre.
Tickets for the gig at The Crescent on the 9th August are on sale now for £6 in advance.
2. This House Is Haunted. The Crescent, York. 16/08/19
Support: Amongst Thieves.
This House Is Haunted are a three-piece from York. Zak, Dom and Jenn blend influences from post-hardcore and metal with influences from Alexisonfire and Deftones alongside narratively styled instrumental bands such as Mew, Mogwai and Explosions In The Sky.
This House Is Haunted have the sensibilities of melodic, hooky vocals and guitar lines, with post-rock bass and drums. Often This House go in tangential directions to reveal rich sonic landscapes to crushingly heavy riffs.
With Amongst Thieves as their main support for the evening, everything is set to go off as one of the best nights for the local scene in recent memory.
Support: WRTHLESS, Pray For Hayden, Without Andrew.
Embarking on their first steps in their new lineup, Better Days are set to kick off a new era for the band as they embark on a mini-tour of the UK.
The band have been described as a fresh new take on pop-punk which combines all the elements of the early 2000’s era and the upcoming new breed, all eyes will be on them as they look forward to the future with brand new music in mind.
4. Stand Atlantic. The Deaf Institute, Manchester. 28/08/19 (SOLD OUT)
Support: Royls, Superlove
The Aussie up and comers absolutely ripped through their debut UK headlining tour with their fresh and energetic ‘Skinny Dipping’ just a short insight to what goes into their shows. With a few dates set around their Reading and Leeds festival appearances, the band are set to storm across some larger stages than when they came across earlier in 2019.
Adding to this, with their now full-time bassist Miki, the Australian Pop-Pinks will come forth with a clear vision so fans will get a glimpse of just what to expect the second time around.
I was at their last UK tour for the Leeds date, their output was a little sub-par but from what I’ve heard since then, there’s going to be absolutely no stopping this band coming forward in the future.
5. Frank Iero, Laura Jane Grace & The Devouring Mothers. Manchester Academy 2, 28/08/19
Support: Moving Galore
I think the only way to truly describe this lineup is Punktastic! That’s the only true adjective that does come to mind as two of the heads of the scene come together for a joint UK tour.
With festival season up and running, it seemed cruel not to mention two of the best bands, Frank Iero and the Future Violents and Laura Jane Grace and the Devouring Mothers as they’re on a mission to reclaim Manchester for their true punk heritage. Both projects have new music out and fans to devour them at the ready so everyone better be primed just for what’s going to go down on the tour.
I think when independent bands come down to the Key Club, it just goes off and is a little more special. I say this because when I went to see Sumo Cyco and Blood Youth, the atmosphere just transforms and elevates the show to new heights. With the metalcore troupe in Black Tongue coming across to Leeds and their EU shows in full swing, things are just going to be sweaty and rough if things are to be believed.
Another Aussie group straight onto this list, the up and coming rockers are embarking on a lengthy UK stint in celebration of their upcoming release, ‘State Of Mind’ and it’s interesting to see what will occur on these shows coming up as you have the varying bands supporting them on their UK tour. For example with Woes, they’ve modified themselves into an experimental rock outfit but that makes them all the more enjoyable to watch and with The Faim, their transference to more Poppier sounds but with all the meaning int their lyrics shows just how much they’ll be rooted into their ways. Obviously, it’s a departure from the ‘Summer Is A Curse’ EP, but with their rhythmic sections on current singles, it shows that the crowd is going to love them all the same.
Tickets cost £13.20.
Other Tour Dates:
August 2019
27th – Dublin Academy 2
28th – Belfast Oh Yeah
29th – Edinburgh Sneaky Pete’s
30th – Liverpool Arts Club
31st – Sheffield Corporation
September 2019
1st – Norwich Epic Studios
8. Skunk Anaise. O2 Academy Leeds. 30/08/19
Support: Queen Zee
Skunk Anaise are a once in a generation band but unlike some older and well-respected bands, they’re one of the most consistent groups who are still in the scene and that’s just the only reason people still enjoy them. But it’s more than that here, as they’re continuing the experience and going further with their latest headline tour as they visit more cities following the release of their 25th anniversary live album, 25LIVE@25. As they’re hailed as one of the most exciting and greatest live acts across the globe, these shows will see the band hit a huge milestone in their career, so don’t miss out.
For fans of Local Natives and The Japanese House, the new outfit Talk More are heading over to The Fulford Arms in York for the release of their two brand new singles, ‘Planned Fights’ and ‘Heart Again’. With the three-piece band all collectively being involved in the scene for a while, this will be a true test to see what the band are capable of.
Getting in on the local gigs this week, I’m always excited to head over to The Fulford Arms and see the exciting local talent York’s always been great for. This was Pray For Hayden’s EP launch show to celebrate the release of Second Chances, the follow up to their debut EP which was of course called… Chances.
Opening up things were Lyon Estates, a band which does share one thing in common with the headliners, their member Jonny Gill but here, they do prove to be something grand and I generally hope they’re able to get there more on the touring cycle, considering the talent they have behind them. They’re arguably the strongest band on the scene tonight and always favourite’s to play on York and hopefully, we’ll see more of them during the course of 2019.
Up next, trekking all the way from Glasgow were the lads from Wrthless which says one thing, they’re nothing if not loyal to the scene and to their friends down in Yorkshire.
It’s bands such as this is why I love coming down to shows and will keep coming to them in the future. With such a dynamic range in their set, they’re showing that the Scottish bands are coming up in full force and their focussed sounds are one that’s also refreshing.
On the main support slot were Huddersfield’s own, Mr Shiraz who were able to fill in at the last minute for Blueprints whom has to cancel after one of their members fell ill.
I don’t know if it’s their charisma, their vocals or their range of their performance, but they were just hard to take my eyes off. they’re a pure gem in the scene that you don’t get to see very often and they’re one I hope is still around for years to come.
Onto the headliners now. I do have to say, how long could they have their jackets on for?! It must’ve been boiling up there! You had to be there to believe it, but from start to finish Pray For Hayden’s set was a welcomed one and especially with them, they’re a band who’ve been truly missed within York.
But in all seriousness, they just showed us why they’re headliners here tonight. Hitting the stage with a fresh new sound, you can see their energy electrify their performance where this is the new Pray For Hayden, ready for new heights with this dream of an EP showing us that good things come to those who wait. They’re a band that are fantastic to see one the scene once more and hopefully we’ll see a lot more of them within the next few years.
Almost Anything Music 