We are ONE Years old

Shit it's finally here. It's finally been a year since i started doing Out Of Step.In all honesty it's totally crazy. After starting out as just a weekly club-night to putting on rad bands that i just wanna see and hear every month.

We hope you can all come celebrate our Birthday with the brilliant line up we have in store for you!!

It may run a bit late sorry on the day but will try are hardest.

Door's open at 5pm and we have reduced the door price to squeeze more of you into Alchemy bar.

DIB 6:15-
AGED YUMMY -6.45
FEVER FEVER - 7.45
MEN-8.15
JOYOUS - 8.40
HOLY STATE - 9.20

HOT CLUB DE PARIS - 10.20 TILL 11:15

LAST TRAIN FROM WOLVES TO BRUM IS 11:21

We all hope to see you there for loads of free cake.There is loads of cake and yes the BBQ!!

Burgers £1

Veggie Burgers £1

And really cheap drinks all night to

£1.50 San Miguel

£2 Bulmers

£2 Corona

£1.50 VK's

Plus we are giving away free ear plugs because we know how loud it get's in there!

See you all there

Rc x

Out Of Step Presents APPLICANTS album launch

Monday saw Out Of Step present an album launch party for London based Art Punk outfit Applicants new release ‘Escape from Kraken Castle’. An album that has already created waves in the music press most notably with a very positive review in NME where it was rated eight out of ten.

The night kicked off with bad news as Ethical Debating Society couldn’t make the show due to car trouble on the plus side it did mean that the other acts could play longer sets. The first act to take the stage were Only Shadows a local band who mixed the sound of indie-rock, pop-punk and at times bands such as Jimmy Eat World. Although not specifically to my taste the audience including loads of people heading to the Band Of Horses show at the Civic lapped up their energetic style.

The second act completely blew the crowd myself included away with their individual and energetic style. Bad Apes are another local band who prove that the Wolverhampton scene doesn’t solely consist of bands trying to be the next Oasis. Their sound was pure noise punk and they definitely played it loud. Although I am no expert on noise punk the obvious comparison in my mind was to US Lo-fi two-piece No Age. They incorporated many elements that shouldn’t work for example offbeat drumming with mad guitar lines and created an eclectic sound which was overall mesmerising to watch mainly due to the energy which was put into the live performance.

This is a band that Out Of Step are predicting very big things from and with new recordings on the way I think these could be back to play an Out Of Step event very soon.

Finally Applicants took the stage and played an energetic selection of tracks from their back catalogue and more importantly the new record. They played like an experienced live outfit and had all the exuberance of punk rock throughout the performance. More importantly from start to finish they worked the crowd hard and created a real atmosphere with the audience worked into a frenzy.

As the set developed the only change I would have made to the live show would have been to include a keyboard rather than a backing track as it would have added a further layer to the music. However when travelling between London and Wolverhampton in a car it is totally understandable that a keyboard was not an option. I will hope to see the band playing on home turf and find out if a keyboard is included.

Overall all three acts played their hearts out for us and represent different sides of the DIY spectrum respectively. After such a successful album launch party we’re hoping to put more on so if you’re launching a record or a single and want to get Out Of Step involved contact Rich, Gem or Ben and we’ll get something hooked up.

BA

Jim Lockey & The Solemn Sun @ Out Of Step 24th May 2010

The last band of the night were Cheltenham's folk punk heroes Jim Lockey & The Solemn Sun. The band didn't even take the stage to start their set instead they brought the show into the audience with an acoustic number in the very middle of the room this turned out to be the perfect way to warm up an audience.

Again Jim Lockey & The Solemn Sun showed a different musical direction with an obvious influence from folk music again combining the traditional folk style with more modern ingredients. The combination of traditional protest songs with aspects of youthful revolt create a style that it's impossible not to warm to.

In my time as a resident of Cheltenham I saw Jim Lockey & The Solemn sun develop into the band they have now become and with every performance they seem to improve. There is of course a nostalgic aspect in my appreciation of their music but this has now been overtaken by simple appreciation. Again like Joe Summers I'm looking forward to hearing the record when it comes out in July and we will be looking forward to the band returning to play for us again very soon.

Boat To Row @ Out Of Step 24th May 2010

Boat To Row are a band who have attracted a lot of attention from local music writers in the last few months, this attention added an extra level of anticipation and expectation to the set. As they took the stage and started to play the opening track I knew this attention was more than deserved the individual style this four-piece has blends traditional folk with other aspects of acoustic music with comparisons to both Fiona Regan and Get Cape Wear Cape Fly made by other journalists I wasn't sure how they would work but they do work perfectly as a live act.

I'm scarred at how many of the local bands that Out Of Step admires have members of BTR involved and even more scary is how young these guys are. The maturity they show in the music they make is amazing and the instrumental balance created throughout makes live sets a pleasure to watch.

Sunrise Over Europe @ Out Of Step 24th May 2010

Sunrise Over Europe were second up and created a great deal of anticipation from their sound check which can only be described as loud. This band like the other three acts on the bill create an individual style of folk inspired music which takes influence from a diverse range of musical and lyrical styles.

The most obvious style the band have is shoe-gaze although the distorted fuzzy guitars do mix beautifully with angular violins and soothing vocals. As a live act the band were intense with their energy on stage almost equaling the walls of pure noise delivered. The set was balanced perfectly with just enough quiet tender moments to balance the pure noise elements.

Sunrise Over Europe are definitely a band that you need to see to fully understand and we are looking forward to having them back sometime soon.

Joe Summers @ Out Of Step 24th May 2010

Joe Summers was the first act to take the stage giving the audience a little taster of what to expect from his debut record which is due out in early July. It's rare to see an artist so young display such a great understanding of what it takes to make beautiful folk music. Joe's genuine accomplished style was a pleasure to watch and accompanied the transition between day and night wonderfully.

Joes style bridges the gap between the classic folk of Richard Thompson and the nu-folk and Americana scenes that are growing steadily at the moment. I'm definitely looking forward to hearing more from Joe and can't wait for the EP in July, with any luck he'll be back for an Out Of Step event very soon.

Out Of Step Presents Jim Lockey and the Solemn Sun, Boat To Row, Sunrise Over Europe and Joe Summers

As I'm sure you are aware last night Out Of Step welcomed four amazing acts who embrace folk in a completely different style. The night also included a stripped back approach to lighting with fairy lights adding a n intimate feel to the stage set up and projections of retro holiday and skate videos throughout each set.

As usual the next few posts will include individual reviews and a selection of the best pictures we could find from the night however if you'd rather see video of each band please head over to my Youtube channel here where you can find video of each band.

MONDAY 24TH MAY FREE OOS ZINE 3

Well we have some sad news for you all.Aspen Sails will not be playing Monday's show.Tho we have still got a great line up for you all.

Jim Lockey and The Solemn sun

http://www.myspace.com/jimlockey

We predict the folk acts of 2009'
"Fresh-faced Lockey's lyrics show more maturity than his years would suggest ... Lockey is far from a carbon copy with the influence of indie music shining through in his work. He's a great place to start if you're looking to crossover to listening to folk music and he should be one to look out for in 2009"
www.virtualfestivals.com

"Jim Lockey is one of, if not the best, singer-songwriter i met in 2008. Deserves to be massive"
Frank Turner

BOAT TO ROW

http://www.myspace.com/boattorow

BTR infuse the warm sounds of Fion Regan and Get Cape Wear Cape fly.

Guitarist in Birmingham Punk/New Wavers, Youves Michael King has embarked on a side project under the moniker Boat To Row, where his songwriting & performing talents have really been placed on show.
Michael’s knack of writing great lyrics, coupled with a good old fashioned sense of real heart-lifting melodies is a breath of fresh air in a scene where the majority of singer-songwriters opt for the easy option of moaning about lost love.

Go download the brilliant E.p 'The Young And Quirky' from I tunes

SUNRISE OVER EUROPE
http://www.myspace.com/sunriseovereurope

Harmonic soundscape shoegaze folk

Think early The Guillemots, Arcade Fire and Jesus and Marry Chain
Great live in this samll intermit venue.

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 audience 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 four 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.

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."

Myspace

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.

Myspace

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)

Myspace

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.

Myspace

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

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!

Advantage - Out Of Step 22/02/2010

Advantage completed the line up for our relaunch with an individual brand of 'Brass Rock' full of energy and enthusiasm. You can certainly see why they are one of 2010's hottest acts according to the music press. If you haven't heard Advantage yet you should go and see them live or get hold of a copy of the EP Future Echos as words cannot fully explain the 'Brass Rock' sound.

Still Bust -Out Of Step 22/02/2010

Still Bust became the first ever band to take the stage for Out Of Step and played out of their skins for us. They mixed energy and passion from their music with humor in between, if you haven't heard it all ready you should buy their latest EP Oh Long Johnson from I tunes or the band themselves.

CHECK OUT TIME

Like Paul Simon but you know more punk

Fair Ohs a London band that take more influences from Paul Simon's Grace Land then Vampire weekend do. A cross blend of Abe Vigoda with-out the shoe-gaze fuzz.

Check out there myspace below

MYSPACE

Great piece in Loud And Quiet

Disposable noise pop songs

Girls Names hailing from Belfast are less pop then there name suggests. There sound is lo-fi surf but with lead singer Cathal T Cully almost bringing a bleak Ian Curtis drone to the mic. This sounds like a breathe of fresh air compared to so many surf ,tropical fun fun punk bands going around right now.

Check out the myspace

MYSPACE

THRASHING WITH OUT YOU

There is a new demo just posted on L.A's Abe Vigoda's myspace titled 'Crush'.It's a drum roll driven affair. Still staying melodic in part's like the track's from the E.p 'Reviver'.

The album according to Pitchfork will be out mid year with a tour sounds epic check them out.

MYSPACE

BRILLIANT COLORS/GRASS WIDOW

First it was my unhealthy obsession with Bikini Kill and Mika Miko then The Vivian Girls but with Mika Miko splitting there are two great female led riot girls ethic to take the pain away and they are Brilliant Colors and Grass Widow.

BRILLIANT COLORS

A three piece punk/lo-fi all girl group from San Francisco. For fans of Electrelane when they have that hint of Joy Division with-in the album 'No shouts no call's'.

There debut 'Introducing' is out now on Slumberland Records

MYSPACE

GRASS WIDOW

There are alot of great bands like this Grass Widow another all girl punk band with hint of eraly R.e.m IRS years sound. Think Vivian Girls meet's Sleeper and i think i am almost there.

MYSPACE

3 RECORDS ZINE

UPDATE! ITS READY!!! WILL HIT BRUM TOMORROW

ISLAND BAR

TEMPEST RECORDS

SWORDFISH

SUNFLOWER LOUNGE

VICTORIA PUB

MORE TBA SEE HOW MY LEGS ARE AFTER WALKING

(The zine will be ready by Wed 3rd Feb.Sorry for the delay been a very busy few day's and the time has just gone.)

To all abroad the zine will be available as an e-zine via the blog.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE A COPY PLAESE EMAIL ME AT

richard.cartwright@live.co.uk