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INTERNATIONAL WEEKENDER. THE ATTIC ACCRINGTON FRIDAY 26TH & SATURDAY 27TH MAY 2006.
A3h Promotions' John Winstanley is quite mad and for that we should be thankful. Who else would think of bringing to Accrington some of the world's best up and coming bands ? Over the past twelve months, the local music scene has mushroomed into something very special. Blackburn has spawned the ultra - successful Independent and Corrupted nights, d.i.y. punk label Noize Anoize has augmented its position as the north west's leading punk promoter by joining up with Fungal Punk for the excellent Spit and Sawdust tour and A3H Promotions continue to book some of the country's most exciting new bands at The Attic in Accrington and at The Cellar Bar, Blackburn. Add to that Bolton's Music collective and the Bolton Metal Alliance plus Lancaster's Feedback and L.A.W.M. nights to name but a few. Don't you think it is time the London - centric music press turned its collective head northwards ?
Held over the Friday and Saturday nights, the International Weekender is looking to become an annual event. It helps that the bands are also appearing at Liverpool's International Pop Overthrow Festival later on over the Bank Holiday weekend. John Winstanley has managed to pick the cream from their line - up.
First band of the night are Sweden's THE MOP TOPS and as the name suggests have a strong Beatles influence though there's a lot of the Byrds Rickenbacker jangle in there. The songs are pleasant without being too taxing, a good opening band.
Next band THE NASH from Spain set the tone for the night. In the past they have toured with The Buzzcocks and jammed on stage with members of Green Day. They are a band rammed full of talent. Although they are based in Spain, they aren't a typically Spanish band. Singer / guitarist John Tirado is from New York and has worked in the past with the late Nikki Sudden and various members of Hanoi Rocks. Guitarist Brett Lomas comes from Brighton whilst Luis Segura (drums) and Angel Cubero (bass) do in fact hail from Spain. Their music is from the more commercial, melodic end of punk (Green Day, Blink 182, Undertones) but live they play it raw, fast and intense. John Tirado has a great, fast - talking native New Yorker style delivery and the whole band play it tight and sharp. They go down a storm especially with the rest of the night's bands.
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WHAT THE....? from Atlanta, Georgia are up next. Prior to the gig, the trio had suffered at the hands of British Rail or whatever they are called now. The whole journey from London to Preston (four hours) was done standing up but luckily, as they pointed out, they were stood next to a piss - filled stinking karzi throughout. Despite this great advert for our public transport system, they delivered a fine set of melodic, southern blues rock topped off with an art school Talking Heads kind of humour. Earlier that week, they had been in Holland recording some new songs which they played tonight. Each member sings so there was some fine harmonising going on whilst the playing was as tight as it gets.
Sweden's THE VIRTUES hit the stage as the venue started to fill up. Their music is a mix of Big Star at their most reflective and Neil Young circa Harvest with just a small hint of West coast country rock. The vocals are full of fantastic harmonies again reminiscent of Big Star and Crosby Still Nash and Young. The lead singer sounded very similar to John Power from Cast. Again they went down well. It often seems to be the case with Scandinavian bands, they borrow music styles totally alien to their own and do a damn fine job of replicating them.
THE STABILISERS from Kent gave us a great set of very English punk. The band featuring guitarist Allan Crockford, once of The Prisoners and James Taylor Quartet fame have just signed to the legendary Acid Jazz label who will hopefully give them the support they deserve after their last release disappeared without trace due to crap distribution and shit label backing. They were easily the loudest band of the night, their songs almost oi - like in their delivery, full of humour with great choruses. Check their website here to download their songs.
Accrington's UNCLE JEFF played the role of house band for the night so it was only fair that they close the show. Having lost Jaggs, their keyboard player recently, it was left to band leader Ste Hudson to fill in alongside his regular guitar and singing duties. They played all the favourites, Life In Flames, Frank 'n' Debbie, Juggernaut and an as ever awesome Beggin' For A Meteorite. The next twelve months should be make or break for this very talented band. They desperately need to recruit a new keyboard player as the synth parts add an extra dimension and texture to Ste's songs. It is nearly a year since we first reviewed Uncle Jeff and they have grown in confidence in that time, their new songs are beginning to show what they are fully capable of as a band. They even had a few people up dancing doing that hopping on one leg backwards classic.
Thankfully, a bigger crowd for tonight's gig. Opening the proceedings were Sweden's MARMALADE SOULS playing their brand of 60's inspired summer sunshine pop. They wouldn't look out of place on an episode of Ready Steady Go. Again plenty of Beatles influences permeate the songs, in particular the ridiculously catchy Yeah Yeah !! with its opening Day Tripper inspired riff.
Up next were THE SUGAR RUSH from Finland. They mine a similar vein to last night's star turn The Nash. Lots of high energy bounce - around commercial punk. They have the swagger and the look too though I fear that they will struggle to make their mark outside of their homeland as there are millions of bands doing this kind of music. Entertaining nonetheless.
Chicago's THE SONNETS were great. Black suits, black ties and a great line in The Who and Kinks inspired rock 'n' roll. Bags of enery and street cool from start to finish.
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Another Chicago band, LEAVE were up next, probably one of the more established acts on the bill with a few albums already under their belts. Singer / guitarists Jim and Mike do some wonderful harmonising on their well - crafted songs. This is pop in its purest sense, heartfelt, catchy and full of surprises, devoid of bandwagon jumping tricks. Their influences range across the decades from rock 'n' roll, through the British Invasion bands of the 60's to the likes of R.E.M. and Crowded House.
"We are from Israel, home of Jesus Christ and Gene Simmons." Few bands can boast an opening line as original as that. THE GIRLS were Probably my band of the weekend. This Tel Aviv quartet have it all; attitude, great songs and in Sharon K a fantastic frontwoman. She is two parts P J Harvey to one part Patti Smith. They play top drawer U.S. style garage rock, the kind you'd probably find in CBGBs in about 1974, they even managed to get a sluggish and static Accrington crowd jumping around a bit. They didn't try and ingratiate themselves, they just got up there and did the business. They were snotty, brash and genuine. Favourite song of the night was the title track from their last album 'Talk To The Pervert', possibly the best song PJ Harvey has never written.
And now for the weekend's abiding memory. Before the final band took to the stage, John Winstanley from A3H Promotion got up to explain the idea behind the weekend, thank the bands, Attic staff, audience etc. Someone shouted 'sing us a song' and before we knew it, were being led in a rousing rendition of a sixteenth century agrarian communist protest song. The audience at first bemused, started clapping and cheering, before long, the whole room was at it. I told you he was mad.
The house act for tonight were Cheesepress favourites, Darwen's AVALON WAY. They always give themselves a mountain to climb by going on stage after a band that has just blown the audience away. To their credit, they are so good that they always pull it off. With the imminent and reluctant departure of bassist James just weeks away, their recent gigs have tended to be highly charged affairs as if they are trying to make each gig and therefore each memory something to cherish. It makes for great rock 'n' roll. The music is hard, attacking Foo Fighters style riffing with vocals not too far away from Eddie Vedder but they do it so well and are so much more than mere copyists. Songs such as 'Had Enough' are not one offs, they have a full set of great songs. Avalon Way probably stole the night on sheer energy alone.
I really hope this does become an annual event, the selection of bands over the weekend has been excellent covering all genres of music. Give it your support.
Johnny Asshole. (p.s. Apologies for the shit photos as usual, I really haven't got a clue.)