Big Things For 2014

I have 3 bands that are going to smash it in 2014; watch this space.

1. The Orwells
The Orwells have already had huge commercial success this year, with 'Who Needs You' and 'Dirty Sheets' being on loop from prodigy Zane Lowe and they've also secured slots of the mighty  Jools Holland television show - but this is the year everybody knows their name. The lead singer resembles Fred from Made In Chelsea; so if that alone isn't a reason to fall in love with the band then I really don't know what will be. The Orwells, hailing from Illinois infuse punkie garage rock with a twisted, raggedy edge to their vocals. Arctic Monkeys have also announced they'll be the main support on their American tour YOU MUST LIKE THEM NOW

2. Darlia
NME are already paving the way for this band to be 2014's Palma Violets. If the success of Swim Deep and Peace are anything to go by; all three bands would be struggling up the chain if it wasn't for The New Musical Express. So welcome to 1 of three bands about to be blown into oblivion Darlia. The three piece from Blackpool have a sound like no other; a mixture of elongated vocals hitched in between heavy guitars with a punch of teen spirit. Song 'Napalm' had been massive in 2013 and in 2014 the band are only going to get bigger, and bigger. Catch them in un-known tiny venues this January while you have the chance; because come November there'll be the slimmest chance of getting a ticket.


3. Circa Waves
All hail NME for introducing the world to bands that are actually really good, surprisingly coming from a magazine that sometimes knows absolutely nothing about music, but occasionally (occasionally) they find something truly amazing. Luckily, Circa Waves is definitely one of those bands you're going to stop your car to listen to and thing "fuck". The band are the purest form of indie pop; supporting Swim Deep on their most recent tour back in September and also being the warm-up act for Two Door Cinema Club at the O2 in London must mean they are doing something right doesn't it? They must be areet really. They're going to be massive in 2014 watch this space.

Up-Coming Gigs // Palma Violets + Peace

For a concert enthusiast, your personal postman slowly becomes to be your best-friend. Shitty day? Postman rocks up in his regal red van delivering concert tickets. Great day at sixth form / college? made even better by the surprise arrival of gig tickets. Tickets, tickets, tickets. The premium, sort-after piece of card that can turn your friends and foes green with envy with a quick swipe under their noses.

Two sought-after precious cards came through my door today - a welcoming surprise after my utter abysmal day at dreary sixth form. The two passes, which are soon to open up the world of euphoric wonder for a handful of hours, are two relatively known bands who's reputations are steadily exceeding themselves. The two prestigious bands are Palma Violets and Peace.

To be fair, I'm more excited to see Peace's support act on the November / December tour, rather than themselves. Drenge support Peace this Winter. Drenge. Breathe. Drenge are possibly one of the most highly rated bands around at the current time, consisting of the two Loveless brothers. Loveless by name, loveless by nature. 'I Wanna Break You In Half' and 'People In Love Make Me Feel Yuck', give off the impression that maybe Drenge aren't going to be that shoe gazing pop group playing about with the synthesiser.

Four-piece Peace from Worcester however, need no introduction. NME has crammed their name into every issue and it's seriously impossible to get away from them. But, are they worth the hype? Yeah, definitely. I seen them live at T In The Park earlier this year, and their live performance is full of camp sparkle to get you dancing. Harry Koisser was dressed for the Scottish weather appropriately, with a large, over-sized fur coat dangling off his skinny body, as the band raced through their roaring set from debut album 'In Love'.

Peace's gig (originally being held at Hoult's Yard, Newcastle) has been moved to Northumbria Uni, on December 1st. I haven't been to Northumbria Uni for a gig before, so I'm hoping that when I report back it'll be a positive experience from an intimate gig.

The second ticket that came through the post today was Palma Violets. What can I say? There is only one word that can possibly describe Palma Violets: fuck. I also seen the the indie-rock quartet, originating from Lambeth London, live at T in The Park this year also. It was one of those performances that had you completely mesmerised, and at one point I did feel tears streaming down my face.

Palma Violets are supported on tour by a band called Baby Strange, who I am yet to look into - but to support a band, also heavily promoted by NME, must mean their half-alright doesn't it? Palma's bring a fusion of energy and the mood of a wild party to the stage with tracks from their debut '180'. They play Newcastle Uni on November 22nd and are sure to deliver another unforgettable set in a sweaty, intimate basement setting. Every human in the room is bound to be doused in twenty other peoples sweat. And strangely, I for one, can't wait for either of them!

The New NME

Question - What famous accronem hypes up bands so far up their own arses that the never seem to drop of the Radar?
Answer - NME

NME has been going since 1952 and since then the idealistic writers have penned their opinions in their own blood, and has been created super-hyped-up bands since then. Think of Haim before NME as a ham sandwich. Sprinkle some fairy dust in the form of NME and the plain ham has pretty much magically turned to bacon over-night. The magazine has changed lives: fact

NME isn't dear. It's £2.40. That's 2400 pennies that would've been used for our music mad teenagers to purchase their next bag of weed, which sadly, they're so much more interested in.

So think of it like this; kids these days are so far up on the indie scale, and the trippy part of Youtube (which is usually un-covered on a nocturnal time of 5 in the morning) is at their finger-tips... So why do we still need to pay for a magazine? Why do we still need NME?

The front cover of the brand-spanking-new issue which adorned by David Bowie, holding what seem to be the paper-to-swan party trick, has something written on it which answers our needy questions.

 'The Past, Present & Future of music'

The Past of music -  It's been the eye-catching prize of every music obsessed teenager for the past sixty one years, it's written down the hearts and souls of teenage icons in black and white.
The Present of music - think about all the new bands that have suddenly risen from the decay of pop music, thanks to the likes of Nicki Minaj and Lil' Wayne. Without NME, Swim Deep would've just been another dare at the pool side. Peace would've been a valid reason to smoke weed. And Palma Violets would still've been those awfully bright coloured sweets you desperately avoid in the multi-pack sweet packets.
The Future of music - basically; how about you ask Liam and Noel Gallagher how many more records they've sold since they've been mentioned in every NME issue at least once every week?

You might find kiss-assing and puckering up to the likes of Arctic Monkeys and swooning over Miles Kane too much... But you can't deny that at one time or other, NME has been the first website or first magazine you've scoured to find.

'Writing about music is like dancing about architecture'

What's in this weeks issue?
The first issue of the more compact sized NME is no-short of music. Normally the NME has an exaggerated number of pages plastered with shit that nobody actually cares about, like the downfall of Razorlight for example. Not now. Brimming with new music and jam-packed with serious opinions from some of the best writers in the country. Throw in a column by Radio 1's Huw Stephens and we're seriously on to a winner here.
And for the David Bowie super-fans you scream? A ten page spread to fill all your sexual cravings from the man with many faces!

NME has seriously bucked it's ideas up. It's back. It's smaller, but it's no short of packing a punch. And it's about fucking time.
 

Sunday Night Haim

They're fucking everywhere, Haim. You may be able to avoid hearing their acquired taste of jangly music, but you can't face the facts that they are everywhere and I mean e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e!

They've played at almost every festival this year, accompanied with all their sing-along songs, (three to be exact) and have been in almost all of the NME issues this year. Next time you pick NME up, instead of spotting Noel or Liam Gallagher in each issue (which they are if you don't believe me (I kid you not I mean every issue)) try to spot the Haim sisters.

They're tall, they're quirky-lee beautiful and play a rocking guitar riff which sends ripples up your spine. I'm a bit late to be boarding the Haim train; but in all honesty I really haven't been able to stomach them until tonight.

There's something really dazzlingly different about Haim; they're not the students cup of tea, but once you have a drink you'll be crazy to believe your life was worth living before them. Too extreme? Have you even heard 'Don't Save Me' yet?

Released almost 9 months ago, 'Don't Save Me' is an un-mistakable grower. It's inevitable but it takes time - and I mean it really really takes time. I first heard the foot-tapping electrifying 'Don't Save Me' when the hype had just started to build around the three American girls in this band. And it was fucking awful. Their dreamy patters of their voices are just too much America-dream-Barbie on first listen. But once in the swing of it all - it dawns on you. They've really created something special.

Their space-pop voices rattle around the booming echos of their killer guitar riff. Add in a splash of western influence on 'The Wire' and you've cooked up a storm of colour and images which can only lead back to the three girls never-ending legs.

Sunday nights are made for music. And they're made for re-kindling new-love and re-instating realisation. Haim are a tough listen; but once you've adjusted yourself to the right place... Colours burst in your eyes and you finally do understand the hype that NME have delivered so much of.

Wavves / Sail To The Sun

It's fair to say that this mysteriously deceitful song will be one which will be on repeat again and again and again. 

Starting off with a peacefulness which could only be described as making you feel light-headed and happy; it seems as if Wavves has created the ultimate lazy summer sleep song. But with a sudden twist the song is set into orbit leaving you with one word on your lips "wow". "Sail to the Sun" is about leaving your 9/5 job at home, doing whatever the hell you want and getting so fucked up on the way that you can't even remember what your name is, or who the girl you've just slept with is. Living fast and dying young.

The droning and elongated lyrics which Wavves exaggerates a long, hot beach day, are turned on their heads and blend in directly with the sea. Not many artists can really create that sense of transportation to a happier time; but Wavves has seriously succeeded. 

With a casual excited tone, Wavves will have you singing "I don't wannaaaa / get left behind" for the rest of the day. And when the summery-grungy guitar riffs rip in to the chorus, all hell breaks loose and the dreams fulled by alcohol and party substances begins to flow. 

"Sail to the Sun" is that tune of Summer which you think "fuck it, road-trip!". It's the ultimate feel-good tune to get you singing and dancing around the campfire; or at least dreaming about it on these cold spring days filled with snow.