Toy @ EVAC (28/2/14)

The night started with a 99p cheeseburger, a Smarties McFlurry and a ticket for TOY.
Entering East Village Arts Center and climbing up the stairs, I wondered why they'd put this gig in the little room normally where bands that have no or one album to their name play. I could hear the first support act playing as I ascended, and prayed it wasn't one of those shitty local supports whose set would seem to drag on most of the night.

On first look of the band, I recognized them right away from a Deap Vally gig last year. I loved them but I had no idea what they were called till last night. I was disappointed to catch only half their set because they're honestly one of the best local bands I've seen live. The bassist looks a lot like good old Jim Morrison, and they've said one of their influences are The Doors. Sankofa are a psychedlic band, a bit shoegazey. I know them and bands like them, are on the rise in Liverpool.

The second support band were The Proper Ornaments, these have been on the road with Toy for this tour. The lead singer reminded me of Noel Fielding. Whilst the back story to the band is quite interesting, their music however, is nothing you haven't heard before. Not at all bad, just nothing new here. Their melodic pop songs are okay and they were tight live.

Toy were on at 10, and when they came on stage I didn't know what to expect about their stage presence, they took me as quite a dark looking band They came on to Conductor (the first song off their new album), picked up their instruments and got straight into it. The lead, Tom Dougall, had the presence of Harrison Koisser and Pete Doherty combined. He stayed in the shadows until it was his turn to step up to the microphone and tunefully moan out the lyrics.
Some of their songs were lengthened and there were repeated changes to the time signature. The whole room was vibrating with the pure noise being produced onstage. The air felt thick and heavy, fog and flashing lights added to the head crushing instrumentals.
It felt like a really long set because one of the contributing factors has to be the clash of instruments and it all coming together, sounding so great you feel like you need to sit down and catch a breath.
Motoring was probably my favourite song. They had such energy without having to jump around and dance; the head banging and swaying was enough. The fact that they seemed into it, made the crowd follow suit.
Echoing psychedelic/shoegaze is definitely one to witness, and TOY do it fantastically. If you get the chance, I'd take it up.

(By HOLLY)

Mixtape Monday #17

Amelia: Neutral Milk Hotel // Two Headed Boy

Connor: The Clash // Career Opportunities 

Laura: Coldplay // Magic

Georgie: Gross Magic // Sweetest Touch

Eve: Suede // The Drowners

Avalon: Palma Violets // 14

Molly: Pulp // Disco 2000

Amy: Mystery Jets // Diamonds in the Dark

Rohanie: Arcade Fire // Wake Up

Holly: Metz // Sad Pricks

Calum: Big Black // Kerosene

Paige: David Bowie // Speed of Life

ALBUM REVIEW // SKATERS - Manhattan

Following a year of pretty much non-stop touring, multiple festival appearances and many many pizzas, New York/Hull based quartet Skaters released their debut full length effort, Manhattan, dedicated to the big apple itself. The sound of the LP and Skaters in general is reminiscent of The Strokes circa the 'Is This It' era, and a shared hometown of NYC makes the likeliness of the two groups almost uncanny.

The album kicks of with 'One Of Us', a rumbling jagged opener which sets the tone for the rest of the LP, 'Let's get stoned' growls frontman Michael Cummings as the opener closes. Next is recent single 'Miss Teen Massachusetts' which is supposedly about stalking a girl. 'I guess I'll never change your mind' wails Cummings as the throng of sharp guitar riffs echo behind him during the song's epic chorus. 'Deadbolt' is next, a single the band released last November and rightly so, this song sits as one of the best on the record. An initial snide opening verse explodes into a loud shouted chorus as the instrumentals almost take over.



The rest of the album plays on the same strings, only varying slightly at points, on unfortunately, the albums weaker songs. 'Band Breaker' with it's slower instrumentals offers a different side to Skaters, but a less preferable one. 'Nice Hat' is the complete opposite, perhaps Skaters trying to go a bit TOO frantic, it ends up straying from their great original sound. One of Skaters' earliest songs, 'Schemers' appears, remastered and re-recorded, sounding fresh as flowers, with a great foot-tappable chorus. Likely to be their next single is 'Symptomatic' which demonstrates what Skaters do best, writing songs you can shout the chorus along to, 'I don't need them drugs when you're around me' reads the chorus, sure to be stuck in my head for weeks to come.


On a more successful slow song attempt is 'Fear Of The Knife'. Taken from their early EP, the song swoons through it's verses and chorus in which the electronic drums pulsate in the background. Also on the LP is the track that brought Skaters their initial fame, the mighty 'I Wanna Dance (But I Don't Know How)'. The groovy opening bassline explodes (and I mean explodes) into Cummings shouting his desire to dance but his lack of knowledge on the topic. Album closer 'This Much I Care' is a brilliantly crafted 3 minutes of shoulder shaking guitars as the lead singer confesses that he only wants a lass for her money.


Throughout the LP Skaters embed voice clips from around New York. Whether this be the chatter of the subways or a conversation with a seemingly drunk cabbie, it adds a layer of depth to the album, a real connection with the 'NYC' New York. All in all, Skaters are clearly capable of producing excellent songs when doing what they do best, but show they might (MIGHT) struggle on expanding on that. But for a debut album, where they're free to pander to the same genre for the entirety of the collection, I feel it's a bloody good effort.

8/10
                                                                          Written by @charlieforbesya
Buy Manhattan here: Physical (CD/LP) OR iTunes                                               
Find em on Facebook: /skatersnyc
and Twitter:  @skatersnyc

Or stream the entire album below:

My Birthday Playlist

There are certain things I seem to enjoy planning about my Birthday. One of them is my make up (I'm thinking bronze) but no one wants to hear about that, so I'm going to do my birthday playlist. Admittedly, I'm just having a few friends over (thanks for asking) but I like to pick what songs I'm listening to that day. Or, this could be a "Sweet 16" plan if they finally decide to ring up my mam and dad. However, this seems unlikely, so let's get on to the playlist...

> Reflektor // Arcade Fire
I only recently discovered this beauty and it could be love.

> Unhappy Birthday // The Smiths
Despite the overwhelming message of having a terrible day because you're a horrible person, I think it could work...

> Suffragette City // David Bowie
Yeah this is turning into more of a list of my favourite songs

> Bloodshake // Peace
Guaranteed to wake up any swine and force them out of bed. IN THE FOREST OF ARDEN.

> Taken For A Fool // The Strokes
A guaranteed embarrassing dance will occur

> Johnny Bagga Donuts // Palma Violets
Oops more dancing....

> Introspection // MGMT
SO SWIRLY

> Rusholme Ruffians // The Smiths
Sweet rhythms...

> Morning Crumble // Holidays
Dreamy spaced out melodies for yo ears.

> Ode To Viceroy // Mac DeMarco
This song will make you fall over it's so swishy...

> Cornerstone // Arctic Monkeys
I have no words....

> Rock And Roll // The Velvet Underground
This song makes me insanely happy

> Music To Walk Home By // Tame Impala
THAT GUITAR RIFFF AT THE END MAN

> You Won't Be The Same // TOY
There seems to be a slightly psych theme today...

> Lydia, The Ink Will never Dry // Maximo  Park
Like syrup to the ears...

Leave me your song suggestions below because I'm having a crisis when it comes to new music.

Lots of love, Paige x x x