If the cryptic title doesn’t explain it, this show includes the two brand new tracks: “Fireworks” from Van Susans and “Dark Vision” by October Sky.  We also included two songs from the very interesting Edinburgh independent record label Song, By Toad Records.  Props to Matthew Young for doing what I’ve been thinking about doing and starting a record label in his living room off the back of his blog.  And with a great ethos to boot, support them because they support independent music with a good heart.

The Deportees at Discovery 2

See you next week!  It’s good to be back.

~Justin

When Screama Ballerina took to the stage the first thing that couldn’t be ignored was their unique trademark clothing. The band dress in a style that I can only describe (or attempt to describe) as punk crossed with circus entire. Which (as you can imagine) is extremely intriguing…leaving you wondering what the night will bring you.

Having never seen the band perform before I was eager to see how it would all play out. It wasn’t a disappointment. The ‘show’ (the word gig doesn’t do their work justice) was very theatrical and continuously entertaining to watch.

Sadly the turnout for the event was lacking, which ruined the atmosphere somewhat. However in spite of this the band managed to get the people there up and dancing. They weren’t much with the words on stage, however when they did speak you got the chance to see their quirky personalities. “Don’t worry about people thinking you’re weird, we are the weird ones…just look at what we are wearing!” (Charlie – Lead Singer) After meeting the band I can say that they’re a really funny, silly but surprisingly normal group of individuals. They were even nervous before the gig, which they took on with such crazy confidence and mental energy.

Their single “Papercuts” was released on the same day as the gig (now available on iTunes) and is a track about societies obsession with money. I think the most engaging thing about this band is the hard-hitting messages behind their music, they aren’t just singing to sing but instead to prove a point. “Skeleton Army” is about the size zero society we are living in, with lyrics such as “can’t you see them dying”. Whereas “Rich Kids” insults all things pretentious, my favourite line being:  “nobody cares about your Abercrombie bra!”

Their song “Animal” was actually the track of the night for me, as well as being the last played. The best part of seeing this band live was the little performances that happened throughout the gig.  There were ongoing aspects of dances routines and theatrical aids that transformed the gig into a rehearsed show. Ciaran commented that the band is: “A circus of madness”, and this describes them and the night perfectly.
Screama Ballerina have already won two Exposure Music Awards and will go on to do much more. Their next gig is at The Grey Horse in Kingston on Friday, the 4th of May so I advise you to get involved and see the madness for yourself.

~Claire Rozario

End of the month again, and time for another preview for the Discovery 2 gig.  I’m speaking with Alex KW and Umong about this month’s lineup which includes Eliza Shaddad, The 1930s, Jason Clarke and Taurus Trakker.  We’ll all be down at the AAA on Thursday, why don’t you listen to this podcast to sample the tuneage and them come down?  You won’t regret it.

Doors: 8pm  Show starts: 8.15pm

Tickets are 5 pounds in advance, 7 on the door.

AAA (under Archangel) www.aaa.uk.net

11-13 Kensington High Street London W8 5NP

020 7938 4137

Kensington High Street Tube

Click to www.discovery-talent.co.uk for tickets and more information.

Alice Rock pile in their equipment into the flat for a rousing (and possibly neighbor disrupting) live session.  They also spoke to us about their origins, how they came to live in London (and then Colchester), the new album, drum sticks, marriage, and their new video for Model QT100 which involved painting shorts green.  I couldn’t make this stuff up if I tried!

A big thanks to Mark Riley for his sterling help on the show – he’s invaluable in just about any situation!  And to my wife Jamie for sorting out dinner for everyone, teas, drinks, and for taking undue abuse from me during the show.  It has been recommended that I be nicer to her on air, and I’ve promised to take it under advisement.

Tabby and Alice of Alice Rock

Speak to you soon – stuff will be coming down the pipe but not live again until 7th of May with Robbie Sea!

~JW, MR, JA

Broadcasting live from the Açores island of Sao Miguel this week as a joint show with Rodrigo de Sa of Cowboy Cantor.  We only were able to do an hour due to the delicious fish being cooked by Rodrigo’s mum.  Yup, we got to meet the whole family.  We also got to hear new Stevie Hawkins and Asteroid Funk, Alice Rock, Bus Stop Dreams, Pepper and Shephard, and Rodrigo played a Portuguese band located in New York called Vovete.

It’s a pretty fun show even for an hour.  Thanks to Rodgiro, Maura, Jamie and Rodgiro’s brilliant family who were all waiting for us to finish the show so we could eat: Carolina, Sergio, Isabelle, Daniel and Alice.  We miss the Açores already.

Rodrigo and me in Maia, Sao Miguel producing the live show

1. Artist – Song title
2. Alice Rock – Cut Loose
3. Stevie Hawkins - Peace Love And Happiness
4. Bus Stop Dreams - Let Us Light A Fire (feat. Ulla Wrethagen)
5. Worst Case - Save Myself [New Mix]
6. Emily Wolfe - Lion Heart
7. Tina Dico - Count to Ten
8. Vovete - A Prayer for Good Voyage
9. Stone Pony - Across Town
10. Pepper & Shepherd - Isabelle
11. Robbie Sea - Same Old Story
12. Richie Syrett - American Mud

See you next week with Alice Rock live in the studio after dinner!

~JW and RdS

Claire is at it again, as we hear the full interviews with Vienna and Screama Ballerina from last week’s Exposure Music European Showcase down at Bar Music Hall in Shoreditch.  We’ve also got brand new tracks from Ryan Peel, Keston Cobblers Club, Jenny Dinh, The Glass Child… it’s another packed-with-music show which you were owed after a lot of Calvin Roche and interviews last week.

The JW Show store has more merch and cheaper prices as of this week.  Don’t be afraid, it’s all high quality stuff, and it helps fuel this show to keep going into our fifth year!

Vienna on stage at the Exposure Music European Showcase

Next week we are live from the Azores, don’t miss it!

~JW and CR

Artist: The Thomas Confession 

Album Title: Convolutions

Release Date: 5 December 2011

I have just got my hands on a copy of this album and I regret not hearing about the band sooner. (It’s now found a place for itself on a number of my playlists).

The Thomas Confession started in 2008, in Fresco, CA. After receiving no.1 at indie-music.com and winning Battle of the Bands at Sacramento State University,  they have worked on recording and releasing their debut album Convolutions.

Their overall style is hard to label but if I had to, I’d say they are producing energetic, indie dance music. The type that gets better the more you listen to it.

The first song on the album “Love Like Fire” is one of catchy lyrics, with a depressing tone and an angry beat comprising a majority of the track. It is a strangely therapeutic and engaging song.

Whereas “Heartbreaking Sight” offers us the opposite components, with a danceable upbeat rhythm mixed with angry lyrics. This turned out to be my favourite song (a fact that I realized after having the chorus stuck in my head for an entire evening).

“Put Your Mind to It” is probably the most ‘dancey’ track of the album, and is what made the band for me. Not because it is the best track on the album, nor is it the catchiest, instead it was the track that made me want to see the band live. You can feel the atmosphere this song would generate and you can’t help but want to be a part of that. The Thomas Confession are yet to tour the UK, but when they do it will be this track that I’ll be going to see (and dance around to).

The album offers up a few slower tracks, which is when you can really appreciate the writing. The last song entitled “Still Standing Alone” is a fitting finish to the album, with a mysterious melody, and provoking lyrics. It proves that the band has a relevant depth to them.

As I listened to the album I really began to appreciate the quality of music that this band is producing. The songs are not generic, instead they become relatively unique and increasingly relevant as time goes own. It is an energetic, danceable album, making its own by mixing depressing lyrics with upbeat music.

The Thomas Confession‘s Convolutions  is the bands first album and I think it is a very promising start. I hope to hear more from them and see them touring the UK in the near future. Get the album and just like me you’ll find yourself singing the tracks all day long: “Don’t slow me down when everyone’s dancing…”

~Claire Rozario

When Van Susans first hit the stage at Proud2, the energy of the room increased dramatically and they were met by a lively, loving crowd. It was an intimate venue (one smaller than the band were used to) but I think this made the night what it was. The closeness of the band and fans made for good atmosphere to be involved in.

After going straight into two songs the bands took some time to banter with the crowd and introduce themselves. If there music hadn’t drawn people in then their personalities would. Their likability is hard to ignore. A girl (not me) even threw her underwear on stage.

The song “Glow” really stood out amongst their set list, primarily because of the lovely feeling it willed throughout the audience. It was such a nice song to see live.

I couldn’t fault the vocals, they sounded just like the album, full of emotion and character. After meeting the band I can say that they are really as lovely as the lyrics they write. Their songs are full of heartache and happiness, and you believe every word of it.

As mentioned it was Holly’s first official gig with the band. You couldn’t tell. The violin adds originality to the bands sound. She has been playing classical violin since she was 6 (now 23) and she commented that classical music is much more critical so being in a band is way less pressure; “I’ve been doing it too long to be nervous.” The aid of additional (unusual) instruments is what helps this band to stand out.

As seen here they don’t limit themselves to just a standard drum set, half way through the gig the three brothers broke down with bongos and congas. This was definitely a highlight of the night.

It was only a one hour set and the band were worried they wouldn’t have enough time to play all their tracks so the gig moved at a fast pace. They didn’t even want to leave the stage for their obviously awaiting encore as it would have wasted time (and the stage was too small for unnecessary complications).

Their ‘encore’ consisted of their hit singles “Plans” and “Cha Cha Bang”.

“Plans” featured lovely harmonies with the lead singer of Korda Marshells (who played before Van Susans – they are definitely a band to watch). The crowd sung along and there was even an actual proposal during the song (which is about getting married). “My friend asked me to say ‘Dawn, Martin would really like you to say yes’ Pretty cool huh?!” Olly A. (She said yes).

Lastly they finished with “Cha Cha Bang” which was appreciated by the whole room. The energy was incredible, with everyone dancing, sing and clapping in the break (as seen in the music video). You could tell that the band loved it as much as the crowd.

All in all a great night, a great band, watch out for them.

Next playing at the Garage at Islington 28^th April.

“Come!” Olly A.

Van Susans are originally Bromley lads who leaped into fame and went from playing gigs in front of family and friends to performing at IndigO2 all in the space of a year. Now we see them playing at Proud2 to celebrate the release of their new single “Bricks Not Sticks Or Straw”.

Van Susans: (From left to right)

Holly McLatchie – Violinist/backing vocals
Rob Dullaway – Drumer
Ed Dullaway – Lead guitar
Tim Dullaway – Bassist
Olly Andrews – Lead singer/rhythm guitarist
Olly Groome – Pianist/backing vocalist.

The Interview:

(Editor’s note: If you listen to the audio portion, Claire profusely apologies for calling the band “Van Susan” and not “Van Susans”.  She has since attended another one of their gigs and her housemate has become a die-hard fan, so I think atonement has been achieved.)

How the band got started:

“Me and Olly met and started writing songs from there” Rob.
(They then recruited Rob’s 2 brothers along with Ollys brothers best mate and started Van Susans. Holly was the latest member to join, and this was in fact her first live gig with the band.)

Described your music in 3 words:

“It’s pretty good.” Olly G.

“Average at best” Ed.

Who are your influences:

“We are all pretty varied.” Olly A.

“Rihanna” Rob.

“All have different taste, I like Hip hop.” Holly.

“That’s weird. We love American rock bands – which we probably shouldn’t say since we are a British band.” Olly A.

“I find it difficult to decide who I like more out of The Wanted and One Direction.” Olly G.

How do you write your own music/choose the style of it:

“We basically fight, and the last one standing gets to decide.” Rob.

“We start with a guitar riff and then go from there. Me Rob and Ed are the main song writers of band at the moment, but Olly [G] you’ve written a few songs. It’s a pretty good team we’ve got going on.” Olly A.

Dynamics back stage:

“We are pretty mellow, play music.” Rob.

Most looking forward to:

“Playing.” Olly A.
“Going home. No I’m joking, the crowd.” Olly G.

Pre show ritual:

“We like to have a meal before hand, have a little chat before we go on. Bond. Actually we once did a hand shake on stage, before anyone said anything, it was a bit weird.” Olly G.

Best thing that’s happened to the band in the last year:

“We recently toured with the Beautiful South, only half the band, the best half, me Rob and Ed (joking) Along with Holly joining the band.” Olly A.

What’s in the pipeline:

Album released at the end of May.
“We’ve already started writing the second album, very depressing songs coming” Olly A.
“Very upbeat but sad. It will make you cry whilst dancing.” Rob.

You can follow the band on every form of social networking /vansusans.

“We also accept carrier pigeons.” Olly G.

Along with bunches of great new music from the likes of Leaving Venus, Robbie Sea, Screama Ballerina, Alice Rock, Rob Marr… the preview of Thursday’s next Discovery 2 showcase… Claire Rozario out at the Exposure European Showcase interviewing Vienna… and CALVIN ROCHE LIVE IN STUDIO.  Could you ask for anything more?  Perhaps some pizza, but then we had that too.

Calvin Roche and Josh Rigal singing after dinner

See you next week, one week before we head to Portugal to see Rodrigo!

~JW