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Post by marcusjr on Apr 21, 2009 19:14:46 GMT 1
Fracture is who I was thinking of. So no The after all.
Beverley was Jimmy Danger's band I think he's still playing. The Red Eye Masters renamed themselves Escape Hatch and went acoustic. No idea about the rest of them.
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Post by stuhuggett on Apr 21, 2009 19:23:52 GMT 1
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Post by marcusjr on Apr 21, 2009 23:23:52 GMT 1
In terms of features the big Rumiko story of the year was the album release but there will be an EP along sometime before the end of the year and I would hope that that would be worthy of at least a review.
The releases that I am most excited about this year are the Sandrabbit albums. They have got a great sound going, the new stuff sees Dean flying the colours for TMBG's left field pop. It has got a commercially appealing sound (then again I say that about everything Dean does and the market always proves me wrong). East absolutely should send a reviewer to their next show along with Wookie and a review/ front cover/ 3 page spread for the release - a celebration of surely the best songwriter at work in the area at this time.
A funk feature might be worth a go - Rufus remains an awesome live proposition and he can clue you into The Hastings Horns and the other stuff that Jo Brooks et al are involved in.
I would like a feature on Townsfolk concentrating on the politics of independence and the DIY culture that exists around the Basement but I wouldn't want that to happen at the expense of coverage of the individual acts. It would be reductive to run that feature in an attempt to kill several birds with one stone.
Out of the newer groups To The Moon Alice seem to be the pick of the bunch but they already seem to be on East's radar.
I will ask around to see what else is out there.
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Post by stuhuggett on Apr 22, 2009 8:43:42 GMT 1
I would imagine there's more TTMA to come in the mag in the future, partly 'cos they've got stuff lined-up this year that I expect will appeal to East's current editorial policy (this isn't a euphemism for a record deal, by the way), and, hopefully, 'cos they did rather well in the readers' poll.
I think for the moment the Jo Brooks/funk side of Hastings was rather well covered in last year's Drawbar feature, so I wouldn't expect there to be any more extensive coverage of that just yet.
Haunting The Townsfolk hasn't had a review yet, from me at least, 'cos I've not got round to it (although it's had several mentions). I've only recently reviewed The Long Goodbye album and Jonathan's EP for the mag. It's usual policy to try and follow a music feature with some relevant MySpace reviews (as was the case with the bands tied-in to the Drawbar article last year), so I'd certainly try to get the bands featured in the new issue's Top Bands story reviewed (for the 2nd time or more, in some cases) over the summer.
I've already mentioned about contacting Sara to request live reviews. As with some of their other photographers, Wookie often seems to send his photo contributions in off his own back: I'm sure this has been the case with some of his pictures that have gone up on the site in the last few months (eg. the Shapes/TTMA gig; Dusty Rosko/Ghost In Mirrors gig). It's possible he sends more photo albums to East that haven't been forwarded on to me to put onto the site, I guess, but you should still probably sound him out next time you see him.
As far as longer features (Townsfolk, Sandrabbit) go, I can't honestly say whether they'd be likely to happen or not, only that I agree they're both worth covering in depth. I don't think you could really be suprised if some of this stuff was reported together in one long feature though: there is only space for 2 main features per month in the mag, covering all the cultural areas. I will post a short overview of East's more recent music coverage though (ignoring my reviews and columns, which I've kept update on another thread here) as a memory-prompt.
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Post by stuhuggett on Apr 22, 2009 10:10:52 GMT 1
FOR REFERENCE (I'm not trying to prove something either way here!) -
Taking 2007 as a starting point (when the mag had a design overhaul, at around the time it started looking seriously at covering more in the Rother area), here's a list of East issues: highlighting cover features (I've capitalised the regional music ones) and notable local artist features, as opposed to general music event/venue ones. (Nb: the dual Hastings/Eastbourne editions only ran May-Dec 07).
Jan 07. Fashion shoot/review of 2006 cover. Connell & The Mainheads interview.
Feb 07. YOUNGPLAN cover & 3pp interview. Zoe Konez profile.
Mar 07. Polytechnic cover. Louche interview.
Apr 07. Springrox (DJ) cover. [I've not got this issue]
May 07. New Young Pony Club cover. Mumm-Ra/Youngplan 3pp feature (Hastings edition). Acusis/The Ryes 3pp feature (Eastbourne edition).
Jun 07. Top 25 Bands cover & 3pp feature (inc. 'bottom' 25 listing). Liane Carroll profile.
Jul 07. Eastbourne Extreme cover. Fleeing From Finales profile.
Aug 07. Marshmellow Fest cover.
Sep 07. Street Luge cover. Keane 3pp feature (Hastings edition). Eastbourne Festival/David Ford 3pp feature (Eastbourne edition). The Satire interview.
Oct 07. McFly cover. Regular John interview.
Nov 07. Lenny Henry cover. Blair 3pp feature (Hastings edition).
Dec07. LOGAN WILSON cover & 3pp feature (inc. David Ford).
Jan 08. Jimmy Carr cover. 2007 music podcast 2pp feature (Kalestix, C.U.N.T, Connell & the Mainheads, Tim Hoyte, Youngplan, Riddles, 3 Brighton bands).
Feb 08. Alfie Allen cover.
Mar 08. Jack Penate cover. Logan Wilson interview.
Apr 08. Jose Gonzalez cover.
May 08. Judge Jules cover.
Jun 08. Global Fusion cover.
Jul 08. CAPITAL cover & 3pp feature (inc. Logan Wilson, Late Greats, YFAA, Youngplan).
Aug 08. Ava/One Love Fest cover. Joel White interview.
Sep 08. Vic Reeves cover. The Ryes/The Late Greats 3pp feature. King Size Slim profile.
Oct 08. Tricky cover. Keane 3pp feature.
Nov 08. James Yuill cover. Drawbar 3pp feature (inc. TTMA, Dr Fonda, OMT, Spleen & the Flesh Machine, Mirrors).
Dec 08. Isobel Campbell cover. David Ford interview. Liane Carroll profile.
Jan 09. Regional promoters cover. Noisepilots profile.
Feb 09. Chase & Status cover. TTMA interview. Regular John, Spaniel's Ears profiles.
Mar 09. Zane Lowe cover. Rumiko Jr, King Size Slim profiles.
Apr 09. Towner cover. Data Select Party Q&A. capital interview. Speakyourheart profile.
Prior to 2007, the notable regional music cover stars are: Toploader (Feb 03)/Joe Washbourn (Aug 06), Ed Harcourt (Apr 03), Easyworld (Sep 03 & Dec 04)/David Ford (Sep 06), Keane (Jan 04 & Aug 05), Disaster Plan B (Mar 04), 12" Matter (Oct 04), Rooster (Jan 05), The Late Greats (Dec 05), Acusis (Apr 06) and Mumm-Ra (Dec 06). These don't always equate to a full feature on those acts inside the issue.
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Post by neilm on Apr 25, 2009 13:05:56 GMT 1
Some very interesting points raised here. I definitely agree that Eastbourne bands are terribly careerist. I think perhaps that is partly due to the age of many of the bands. There aren't really any older bands that have been around for a long time. Most give up after a couple of years if they don't achieve industry recognition or move away to Uni etc. after college. I think that my band (billy & the fingers) have far more in common with many of the Hastings bands than our Eastbourne compatriots. I think that is possibly due to the fact that we are so old! We have absolutely no desire for a career or any expectation of recognition for that matter! I think a feature on the regions bands that have a distinctly non careerist approach or DIY sensibility would be very interesting. Though perhaps it would only really be of interest to those involved in it? As a band that exist purely as an outlet for creativity and something to do on a Friday night in a town that offers very little for 30 something music geeks I feel that there is definitely scope for a feature on this aspect of regional music. We operate in pretty much a complete vacuum in Eastbourne. I think mainly because we do not play live and there for no one really knows who we are. Apart from being friends with The Late Greats and a couple of other local musicians we have no links with the local music scene. This is actually incredibly liberating and enables us to do whatever we feel like playing and writing at the time in whatever style we want. I think we certainly have an interesting approach to music making that differs hugely from our local peers. I don't necessarily think that what we are doing is any good but we enjoy it and love what we are doing. Anyway not really sure what the point of my rambling is other than it would be good to see some more coverage of those of us operating outside of the mainstream (for want of a better word)
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Post by stuhuggett on Apr 26, 2009 9:09:13 GMT 1
I'm working all day in Brighton Sussex Stationers today, but am thinking of going off to Eastbourne afterwards to see capital's free Prince Albert gig (from 7pm) if you want to catch up, Neil? Or anyone else who fancies the trip?
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Post by marcusjr on Apr 27, 2009 3:07:54 GMT 1
Nice to hear from you Neil.
Unlike Billy & the Fingers the bands involved in the"Basement Scene" do gig and release commercially available records. Like Billy & The Fingers they aren't in it for a career within an industry that has always been about indentured labour. For some members of the "Basement Scene" bands, playing gigs and selling records is their sole source of income. This is a fragile situation: the scene could evaporate shortly; a bailiff's visit is a real possibility. If I have been a little strident through the course of this thread it is because I remain disappointed that none of the"Basement Bands"have yet been able to leverage a feature in the only remaining local listings magazine, let alone anything wider. Without wider coverage this scene may well die as will may some of the bands.
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Post by stuhuggett on Apr 27, 2009 10:31:20 GMT 1
Actually Neil, if the Fingers are ever going to break their 'no gigging' rule, there's few better places to give it a go than Smugglers. You'd get a guaranteed audience, I reckon! If you've not been there recently, it's worth the trip to suss the place out next time Rumiko are playing (Sat 23rd May with Regular John, I believe), or when The Occasionals are next over.
I should be writing my next Hastings Feedback column for the June issue of East within the next fortnight, which at present could well focus on the Basement scene again (it's been a long while now since I last referred to it in the mag). I'll be back in town for the evening after Jack-In-The-Green next Monday to catch up with people for some drinking, if that's good timing to make some notes with the bands too. Anything particular happening musically on the Bank Holiday Monday? I'll miss Smugglers' afternoon gig, but I think it's Inseminate, so that's not too harsh.
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Post by marcusjr on Apr 27, 2009 13:33:20 GMT 1
Cheers Stu, nothing going on that I know about - will ask around.
Next week on Rumiko Jr and Chums our hapless heroes attempt to get arrested fails with hilarious results.
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Post by stuhuggett on Apr 27, 2009 14:39:26 GMT 1
As far as wider coverage goes, 6 Music's Tom Robinson is, by all accounts (ie bands we know who've contacted him), very reponsive to musicians getting in touch, even if it takes him a few weeks to reply. Huw Stephens' late night Radio 1 show might be worth a punt too: Regular John are amongst several local bands who've got on there in the past (see here).
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Post by marcusjr on May 2, 2009 20:59:27 GMT 1
Nice to see Rumiko get the critics vote, although with the slightly partisan panel members I don't know how much chance the rest of them stood! Will the critics comments be posted on the website like last time?
BTW if you are over Sunday night Rumiko are playing with Ambrose Tompkins at Rob's party at the Boat Club at Rockanore - we can probably smuggle you in if you fancy it.
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Post by stuhuggett on May 3, 2009 0:49:41 GMT 1
I've not actually seen the East article yet: I won't be able to pick up a copy until Monday evening 'cos I'm working at the shop all weekend (so I'll miss your gig with Ambrose Tompkins on Sunday too).
I know Reuben and Danielle were meant to be contributing to the feature though, don't know quite who else was! They were just two of around 20 names I suggested for involvment in the issue - I thought they'd be likely to nominate musicians from the Smugglers circuit, but I wan't certain, and that wasn't why I suggested them (East asked specifically for Reuben, and Danielle's work placement and own musicianship swung it for her).
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Post by stuhuggett on May 4, 2009 22:40:28 GMT 1
Ah, Carolyn got back from Hastings with the new copies of East earlier this evening - I had no idea Rumiko had actually come-out on top of the 'industry' (cough) poll!
Congratulations on that: I didn't even nominate you initially this time! Assuming other people probably would nominate bands I liked, I used up my 5 suggestions on acts that I'd missed last time and new artists (Hayley, Deepkiss720, P For Persia, Dinosaur! Attack! and TTMA - not in that order). People in the subsequent shortlist of 15 who I did also like I then gave some high scores to (ie you lot and the 'John).
Don't know about anyone else's processes really though. Good panel this year anyway, I thought.
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