Wednesday 31 March 2010

Failures Union

Last up was Failures union all the way from Buffalo NY, apparently we made a little bit of history for the band as we were the first venue they'd played outside the North American Continent. The band made a slice of Out Of Step history by becoming the first international band to take the Alchemy stage.

From the first moment of the set Failures Union balanced their material perfectly, the fast songs were loud and fast and slow songs were slow with smooth vocals. The musicianship from the whole band was spot on and they were genuine and funny when interacting with the audience.

Just like the other three bands they were great to have a chat to and you should take the opportunity to see them live.




































































































































Joyous

The third band to take the stage were half local big beat act Joyous who like all the bands played their hearts out for the full set getting very sweaty in the process. They held the attention of the audience with their unique brand of electronic indie rock backed up with some powerful soulful vocals, deep bass and neat angular guitars.

Here's what their set looked like in a 5 photo's, again a lovely bunch to have a chat with and if you get a chance go see them live!





























































Bronze Medals

As promised here's some pics of Bronze Medals form Monday, they were really good live and had a tight live sound mixing vocal harmonies with angular guitars and the drummer didn't miss a beat for the whole set. Unfortunately for them Wolverhampton traffic wardens ruined their dinner plans so they had to get some to reheat.

I would definitely recommend seeing them live if you get the opportunity and make sure you go and say hello to them to as they're really nice guys and interesting to have a chat with.












































OUT OF STEP 29th March

Like Rich said in the previous post Monday's Out Of Step had an epic line up with some of the best live acts I've seen this year. Photo's of which will be uploaded soon.
I was gutted to miss Cajole Cajole and didn't hear a bad word about their set from any of the a
udience and although I didn't get to enjoy their set I had a very entertaining dinner with Failures Union.

Again as Rich said before a massive thanks to Peter for keeping the sound spot on all night! Big thanks also to all the bands and most of all everyone who came and helped make it such a great night.


Below are some nice pictures of the audience enjoying one of the fo
ur amazing acts we put on. The light's look amazing and I like the way the same girl managed to get into all the pics.


Tuesday 30 March 2010

Cajole Cajole

Well it was simply epic is all i can say. Having Failures Union down on the bill of a list of brilliant bands was the icing on the cake.

All the bands played great set's and for the first time i did not have to stress about the sound due to the amazing work of Paper Tiger's Peter Gomberg who was at the desk and making the feedback go away.

CAJOLE CAJOLE

Wolverhampton has this thing where bands want to sound like Oasis or the like 1995 never happened.Tho with Cajole Cajole you just seem to fall in love with their honesty that comes through in their music.
Live they are joy to the ears and eyes,mixing the jagley guitar sounds of Good Shoes and Pete and the Pirates .Ones to look out for im sure.







Monday 29 March 2010

THE TWO PIGS CHELTENHAM


On the 23rd April we are Djing at the great Indie bar The Two Pig's in Cheltenham

we will be bringing all our out of step sounds upstairs from 9- Late.

The poster has been drawn by our good friend and rad illustrator James Nash and according to him he said "i just started with the ribs and just tried to make it as complicated as i could"nice.

Friday 26 March 2010

Big Cartel Shop



You can now get all back issues of the Zine from our own shop online.It's £1.50 per zine,be quick on the 1st not many left!

Also the 2nd Zine can be found in We Create* Shop on Victoria St Wolverhampton and Created In Birmingham shop located in the Bullring.

We will also have a small run of 50 Ltd A1 poster's from gig's and the club night on sale real soon.

John Arthur Webb from Male Bonding Q and A time




Could you tell us all how you all meet and where all the bonding began?

WE ALL WORKED IN THE SAME 2ND HAND RECORD STORE. ME AND KEVIN WORKED IN THE ISLINGTON BRANCH, AND ROBIN WORKED IN THE CAMDEN ONE. THAT'S WHERE WE FIRST MET. A FEW YEARS AFTER THAT WE FOUND OURSELVES ALL LIVING TOGETHER.

Both John and Kevin were in the band PRE will PRE be back or is that over? A few folk have said it’s on hiatuses.

IT'S OVER. THERE WILL BE ONE MORE RELEASE THOUGH. THE DREGS FROM THE STEVE ALBINI RECORDINGS.

Where did the band name come from?

JUST LIVING TOGETHER AND SPENDING ALL OUR TIME TOGETHER.

You have played with so many great bands in the past year or so who has been the highlight so far?
WE PLAYED WITH ONE OF MY FAVOURITE BANDS EVER A FEW DAYS BACK AT SXSW. GUN OUTFIT. I LOVE THEM. PLAYING WITH NO AGE WAS AWESOME. ALL THE UK BANDS. TOO MANY TO MENTION. WE ACTUALLY PLAYED IN AUSTIN AT THE FADER FORT LAST WEEK. NAS PLAYED A FEW BANDS AFTER US WITH DAMIEN MARLEY. THAT WAS PRETTY AMAZING.

You seem to always be on tour, what is the Male Bonding way of keeping sane, and healthy on the road?
STILL TRYING TO FIGURE THAT ONE OUT... I'M CURRENTLY WRITING THIS FROM WASHINGTON DC. FEEL A LITLE INSANE RIGHT NOW.

Paradise Vendors is your own record label am I right in thinking? If so what have been the highlights so far of running the label?
CORRECT. LOTS OF HIGHLIGHTS. OUR FIRST RELEASE - SPLIT 7" WITH PENS. THE 4 WAY SPLIT WITH GRAFFITI ISLAND, RAPID YOUTH, OLD BLOOD AND US. AND CURRENTLY THE UK COMPILATION THAT WE'VE JUST PUT OUT.


What are the three records that changed or inspired your life so far and why?


CAN NOT POSSIBLY ANSWER THIS ONE. SORRY.

Are there any bands you would recommend looking out for in 2010?

GUN OUTFIT. GRAFFITI ISLAND. PENS. VERONICA FALLS. MAZES. LOADS OF STUFF. GONNA BE A GOOD YEAR.

Tuesday 23 March 2010

TROPICAL SOUNDS FROM UP NORTH


Let's all give you the Heebie Jeebies,really the band from Rotherham. Lately the weather has been dull and right now you need a massive pick me up and i think this band is the answer to your worries.A great mix of sound's think Artic Monkey's (and yes maybe it's a Sheffield thing),Vampire Weekend and Thee Fair Ohs punk and your there.

From there myspace

The HeebieJeebies are a trio of Hot Boys from Rotherham who specialise in fruity Beefheart beats, calypso rhythms and west coast noise flex. Collectively, they bring to the mix; the fragmented sounds of haunted African tribes, post-punk dream-wishes and infamous death parties. The Heebie fuckin’ Jeebies are currently busy plotting yet more mystical happenings, developing tropical venom to spit in the eye of the establishment, and various ways they can legally loot pound shops. Bring your old toys, bring your felt tips, bring loads of fuzzy felt, bring your friends and join in the vibe!!! by Gentleman Thomas Maxwell Shore Esquire.



Monday 22 March 2010

MONDAYS SHOW


(click on poster to enlarge)

29TH MARCH 8-2 FOUR BANDS AND OUT OF STEP DJ'S ALL NIGHT
£3 ENTRY ON DOOR
FREE ZINE AND CD
DRINK PROMOS

Sunday 21 March 2010

COLD ONES and SSS


I will be the first to admit to anyone that i love Hardcore . Yes i have a problem, it's just that i can't not get enough of it.

Hardcore punk for me is the best thing in the world the pure anger,truth and passion that the music evokes is why i love it so.
Black Flack you should all know and have on your I pod is one of my favourite of the Hardcore DC 80's scene.Two band's both from Liverpool are ridding the core of hard wave that Black Flag had right now.

COLD ONES

Remember when you first heard TV party and Six Pack by Black Flag and you just thought man this guy's just shout about my life pretty much well Cold Ones are in that same realm.
The two E.p's you can download for free on their Myspace are a straight up mix of Gorilla Biscuit and Black Flag sound's.And is simply RAD to skate,walk,run or drink to. Have a cold one on us!.


SSS

Taking more influences from metal hardcore bands such as Cro Mag's and Agonistic Front.SSS are pure straight up. The heavy metal guitar riffs the charging drum-rolls that slap you hard in the face will make you call to arm's.Even the art work is a nod to that of Raymond Pettibon ink master pieces.



Friday 19 March 2010

FAILURES UNION


Out Of Step on March 29th is pleased to announce a forth act for the night all the way from the U.S.A and signed to Paper + Plastic Records we have Failures Union joining the bill. We are excited to have four amazing bands to present to you and the next issue of the Zine will be available to pick up form the usual places in the next few days or you'll get one as you walk in on the night. If you can't make it to Out Of Step you can catch the band on their UK tour at the following venues.
30 Mar 2010 20:00
Cavern Exeter
31 Mar 2010 20:00
The Croft Bristol
1 Apr 2010 20:00
Santiagos Leeds
2 Apr 2010 20:00
Independent Sunderland
3 Apr 2010 20:00
O’Henry’s Glasgow, Scotland
4 Apr 2010 20:00
The Retro Bar Manchester
5 Apr 2010 20:00
Big Blue Coffee Co Derby
6 Apr 2010 20:00
The Portland Arms Cambridge
7 Apr 2010 20:00
The Fat Fox Portsmouth
8 Apr 2010 20:00
The Monarch London - Camden
9 Apr 2010 20:00
Le Pub Newport
10 Apr 2010 20:00
Sigma Bar Swansea, Wales
11 Apr 2010 20:00
The Fighting Cocks Kingston

2000Trees exclusive


I've got an exclusive for all you lovely Out Of Stepper's the final announcement for the 2000Trees Festival line up


The Brute Chorus will headline the 2000trees Festival’s Early Entry Evening, delighted organisers confirmed today (FRI).

Six Nation State, Lets Tea Party and Wojtek Godzisz (formerly songwriter of Symposium) are also among the seven acts set to kick off the opening night on Thursday, July 15.

Just 500 fans will get the chance to arrive unrushed, pick a prime camping spot and start the party early with bands performing at the Leaf Lounge marquee from 5pm onwards.

The full Early Entry Evening line-up is: The Brute Chorus, Six Nation State, Lets Tea Party, Wojtek Godzisz, Che, John Crampton and Howard James Kenny.

Many Early Entry Evening passes have already been sold and cost just £10, so the remainder are expected to disappear very quickly.

These acts are added to the full line up below, Rich and Ben are going and hopefully taking some Zines so if you see them go and say hello and grab a copy of the Zine!


Wednesday 17 March 2010

Check Out Time USA




















The last few check out time's have focused on great bands from the UK and have showcased some of the best bands the midlands has to offer. Today I'm going to introduce you to the great bands on US label Paper + Plastic.

I'm going to start with
Paper + Plastic as they share our ethics by making great DIY records and covering them in amazing artwork. It makes a refreshing change for a record company to take the artwork as seriously as the music and they produce some beautiful album covers and picture disks. Band's to look out for on this label are:



Failures Union - Bringing a fantastic blend of punk rock,folk and alt country powerful vocals and a great retro feel.
Cheap Girls - Lo-Fi retro-punk with hints of alt country and folk, this band sound as good acoustic as they do electric.
Coffee Project - Individual acoustic punk two piece, pairing harmonies with trumpets and no percussion.
Spanish Gamble - Angry loud and witty
Gatorface - Aggressive melodic hardcore punk pop

These are just a few of the great bands this label has to offer I could go on all day as there are so many amazing acts signed to this label. The full roster of artists/designers and bands/recording artists can be found here


Monday 15 March 2010

Advantage













Do you remember how good Advantage were at last months Out Of Step? If you missed them, you should take advantage of the few gigs they are playing in the next few weeks.

Tuesday, 16 March @ Old Blue Last, London (Old Street Tube) with This Contrast Kills(ex Capdown) and March Of The Raptors(ex Adequate Seven)
Facebook
See Tickets

Thursday 8th April @ Varsity, Wolverhampton
Facebook

You can also download the bands EP Future Echoes here and name the price you are willing to pay

2000Trees Festival line up


2000Trees Festival has just announced the line up and released the poster (below). Rich and I are both going and you should come too! The festival is a great small unbranded festival with a focus on the environment and obviously great music.

Frank Turner is one of the greatest singer song writers around at the moment and his live performances are full of emotion, passion and Frank putting everything he has into every single performance. The Subways are also famed for the passion and enthusiasm they put into every show they play.

The Smaller stages also have some great acts for you to enjoy with Kill It Kid bringing a unique blend bluesy folk noise, Jim Lockey & The Solemn Sun show anyone who hasn't heard of them why Cheltenham love his brand of folk punk (you can have a preview of them at May's Out Of Step), Aspen Sails (Out Of Step May) bring harmonic folk and beautiful lyrics and Three Trapped Tigers bring guitar driven Electronica. Personally I am looking forward to seeing as many bands as I can fit into one weekend.
I'm sure 2000Trees is a large factor in Cheltenham being listed fifth in NME's most musical places in the UK. Tickets are £50 for the entire weekend including camping and the bar and food vendors are far cheaper than the branded festivals making the festival even better.

The full line up (so far) is below and the festival opens on Thursday 15th July to a select 500 VIP's for a surprise line up (rumors say Frank Turner fully acoustic)






Sunday 14 March 2010

CHECK OUT TIME

Well it's Mothers day and if you haven't got your old lady
anything good then maybe you should get her a record by one of the following bands below?That's if you can get hold of their stuff that is.If you do im sure a CD-R will be good enough.

First up on the check out time list



The Racket

Real lo-fi shitgaze punk band from London.There really obsessed with The Ramones so that's a good start.
Taken of their myspace in their own words

"When boy meets girl, or girl meets boy, there is only one certainty... Boy will eventually leave girl, or girl will eventually leave boy. Rather than get angry about this situation The Racket decided to steal all The Ramones records they could get their hands on, 'borrow' old electric guitars from ex-lovers and write a whole load of songs about romance, ice cream and artistic exhibitions.Sometimes they play in other bands, sometimes they put on club nights and sometimes they even write Middle 8s.

One day they will play a gig, they will dress with style and wit, and probably break your heart just a little bit. But that's ok you wouldn't want to marry The Racket anyway. It's a holiday romance thing, a Friday night house party thing, a rebound thing. Going steady just isn't their way."


Second up
Bronze Medal's.

This Birmingham three-piece are playing at Out Of Step this month and were all looking forward to them. Having a hearty mix of Minus the Bear and Good Shoes angular guitar sounds their track's up on their myspace are a joy to the ears.


Third up
Ice Sea Dead People

Names of bands can be really shit but i think Ice Sea Dead People has to be my favourite band name i have heard in a long while and i can think of a thousand flyer/poster illustration idea's when they get round to playing at Out Of Step. Their sound is early Q and not U and Foals with-out the math style punk.

"Awesome."
Zane Lowe - BBC Radio One (well if he think's it,so should you)


And last up
Cajole Cajole

The thing with Wolverhampton is everyone want's to be The Twang and think that 1995 never happened for some strange reason. Wolverhampton's own Cajole Cajole are a real breathe of fresh air in the Midlands indie scene right now. They have been describe by many as 'Strokes fronted by Ryhs Jones of Good Shoes.
The track 'over the landscapes' sounds like the Maccabees before they went all shit.
And there playing Out Of Step on 29th March so you have to come see them before they head of into the big wide world of N.M.E cover's.







OUT OF STEP ZINE No2


With the cover created by the brilliant Bethan McKnight,here it is out of step zine number two.
It has inside it's photocopied pages interview's with Hot Club De Paris,ATTA Girl Dj and organiser Claire G,La La Vasquez interview and much more all for free.

You can find the zine from the 18th March at the following

Wolverhampton
We Create Shop (Victoria st)
Alchemy bar
Oldies ULTD
One way music shop
SAD building (Uni)
Light House Chub Building

Birmingham

Victoria Pub
Sunflower Lounge
Swordfish records
Island Bar
Yellow Vintage shop (Digbeth way)

email for a delivered copy at a fee of £1.50 for postage



Wednesday 10 March 2010

JOYOUS//BRONZE MEDALS//CAJOLE CAJOLE


After day's of drawing and drawing,sleepless night's, bands dropping out every time we book them and zine issues we have finally got the poster ready and the bands ready for 29th March 2010 people!!

Yes you can all cheer us....(please do)

Ok we have Joyous,Bronze Medals and Cajole Cajole and you can see them all for just £3.With your £3 you get a free cd full of the radist tunes around right now that we here at Out of step are loving!.Also a zine hand made by us printed by us and blood sweet and tears by us.It has some great interviews with La La Vazquez,ATTA Girl Q and A and Hot Club De Paris have a chat.

SO HAVE A LOOK....
29th March starts at 8-2
£3 on door
Free cd and zine for all who come!
Out of step Dj's playing the usual indie punk noise!

Monday 8 March 2010

U.S GIRLS Victoria Pub Birmingham


R.I.P TEMPEST RECORDS




Well it's the end of another great independent record store in the midlands.
We will miss spending hours upon hours searching the shelf's of vast spines of cd's for that one rare gem that HMV don't have.
We will miss the pure hardcore trash metal bands played by the staff who have more musical knowledge then that of Rob Gordon.
End of over counter banter about which Sterolab record is worth my £10.
I just wish i got No Age Nouns on vinyl while it was still in there just for the art work inside the sleeve.

Birmingham Mail say-

A RECORD shop which has sold everything from reggae, ska and hip hop to generations of Brummies will close at the end of the month – ending more than 40 years of trading.

Tempest Records, in Bull Street, has become a mecca for music-lovers ever since it opened in Lozells Road in 1968 but will shut because of the growth in digital sales.

Almost 600 people have signed up to a Facebook page in honour of the independent business, begun by Keith Thornton and taken on by his son Marcus five years ago.

“It has obviously been quite a tough decision for the family, especially myself because ultimately it was my choice,” said 37-year-old Marcus.

“I was born with it and it was always in the family, so it has been quite a torrid time to come to the decision.

“My father’s seen the downturn in the industry as well and agrees. We’ve always tried to do things properly and this way we can walk away with our heads held high instead of running it for the sake of it.”

The shop, which moved to its present location about 25 years ago, employs nine people, has about 7,500 customers on a database and is currently breaking even. There were 16 staff at its peak, about ten years ago, when Marcus said every young lad in the city dreamed of being either a footballer or a DJ.

Stocked over three floors, its collection is half CD and half vinyl and has been imported and bought second-hand.

Marcus, whose family lives in Sutton, said: “It was a nice lifestyle to be around growing up. It was vibrant with music always in our lives and it probably got me a few extra friends at school. We’ve covered so many genres of music. Ska was obviously a very big movement in the late 70s, we’ve got through punk and we got quite heavily into the early hip hop scene and used to import a lot from America.

“We just followed the genres really and supplied people with what they wanted. It’s such a vast industry you can’t really know everything without listening to the customers.”

The closure follow’s that of high street chain Zavvi’s flagship store in the Pavilions last year.

Tempest Records Online store