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Artist Of The Week
Artist Of The Week: Ben Marwood
What do you get if you take honest music, a dose of wit, folk music played on an acoustic guitar and a pinch of punk rock attitude? The answer is Reading’s own Ben Marwood.
Ben Marwood is like a real life superhero (minus the superpowers and secret life). Working a desk job usually, Ben Marwood will more than often pick up his guitar and perform for anyone who’ll listen. Recently, he found himself touring with ex-Million Dead frontman and all round legend, Frank Turner.
Having released various splits and EPs (including his own This Is Not What You Had Planned EP in 2008), Ben released his debut album Outside There’s A Curse in January via Xtra Mile Recordings. What is contained in Ben’s music is getting harder to come by as times progress. It’s honesty in it’s rawest form. There’s nothing complex to it, but it’s not something easy to pull off and for that Ben Marwood must be praised.
Songs such as Oh My Days are highlights in Marwood’s music – a song about wanting to escape from his own hometown of Reading. While it may sound cliché, it seems Ben’s real home is touring and doing what he loves best (and what he is clearly best at). Being an opening act is never easy but on the recent tour with Frank Turner (and Franz Nicolay), Ben has shown real promise. Earning new fans up and down the country, his sharp wit and connection with the audience is second to none.
If you like your music raw with honesty, then Ben Marwood is for you. If not…what’s wrong with you?
Ben Marwood Official Site
Ben Marwood on Twitter
Ben Marwood on MySpace
To buy Outside There’s A Curse through Banquet Records, go here!
Artist Of The Week (return special!): A Billion Ernies
The return of the Artist Of The Week feature is here! and to kick us off this week (as we end it)..A Billion Ernies!
A Billion Ernies make modern day racious ska punk straight out of California. Their style of ska punk has everything you want: the punk rock ethic, the brass instruments, the punk riffs and the gritty attitude. If ever there was a band that hadn’t needed to be heard, it should be A Billion Ernies. The band, who have been together almost 10 years, state that although there have been twists and turns – they wouldn’t have it any other way.
Taking inspiration from the likes of Refused, RX Bandits and even The Dillinger Escape Plan, the band have since released 3 albums, as well as EPs and last year a split with Informat – which contained 5 new phenomenal tracks. The opening track Hopeless, probably the heaviest out of the 5 showcases the bands more hardcore side whilst Eight Long Years (a reference to how long the band have been together) fuses their hardcore side with their ska side creating an epic monster of a track.
For those who say punk is dead, A Billion Ernies are a band who will turn round and give a big “fuck you!” to you right in your face before turning back around laughing. Sure, the days of Sex Pistols and Ramones have been long gone now, but it’s now 2011 and as long as there are still bands such as A Billion Ernies putting in the work…who really needs another Johnny Rotten?
For fans of: Refused, Capdown and RX Bandits
For more on the band and to download their music for free (although donations are welcome!), head this way!
Featured Artist: Marmozets + Free EP!
As always it’s been a while since I featured a new and upcoming artist or band here and it gets harder to find new talent as time goes by, however the featured artist this time round is Leeds based band Marmozets!
The alternative rock band’s latest (free!) offering, a two track EP, is reminiscent to alt rock icons Paramore’s darker work, such as Decode. However with a slightly heavier sound and with their songs full of melodies mixed in with powerful female vocals, it’s clear that Marmozets have found their own unique sound.
Their two track EP can be downloaded at the link below and it’d be stupid to pass up an opportunity like this! (Did I mention it’s free? Did I mention the band are awesome!)
For fans of: Kids In Glass Houses, Paramore.
Marmozets Official MySpace
Marmozets on Twitter
Link to download the free(!) 2 track EP! LINK IS NOW DEAD.
Vote for Social Consent in “Top Of The Ox”
Former artist of the week, Social Consent, are taking part in Top Of The Ox and need YOUR HELP!! The band need all the votes they can get and this could lead to a recording deal, studio time and a music video. It takes less than 30 seconds to vote and then all you have to do is confirm your vote when you receive an e-mail.
Artist Of The Week: run,WALK!
If listening to something heavy and crazy is your thing, then this band are for you.
run,WALK! are a two piece band combining only drums and a bass guitar but luckily, it’s not “drum n’ bass” as we know it. Hailing from Winchester the band describe themselves on Twitter as “loud.” It’s a subtle way of putting their sound, but it’s the perfect way. In March, the band released their debut mini-album “I Hope This All Works So I Can Stop Standing On Even Amounts Of Manholes In The Street” on Holy Road and while the album name is a bit of a mouthful, it’s the music that matters. Thrashing about on the record like a scizophrenic having a fit, they deliver exactly what you would expect (and what you already know) – loud music. Very loud.
The band are up and coming and are currently touring around the UK, so if you’re able to catch them in your area..then do so! The band also earned themselves the support slot for Rolo Tomassi’s recent Underworld show in London.
WARNING: Stay well away if you’re not a fan of LOUD LOUD music.
Official run, WALK! Twitter
Official run, WALK! MySpace
Download the band’s self titled EP for FREE HERE!
Download I Hope This All Works Out So I Can Stop Standing On Even Amourts Of Manholes In The Street on iTunes for £4.49 here!
Artist Of The Week: Mouthwash
The name might sound odd to you, but the music sure isn’t. Hailing from London, Mouthwash mix ska and punk together to create the perfect and raw sound that they possess.
Since forming 15 years ago, Mouthwash have caught the attention for well known punk acts both in the UK and the USA, including Rancid and more recently The King Blues whom they supported during their April and May tour which included a date at London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire.
Although only having released two albums, 1000 Dreams and True Stories, in 2001 and 2008 respectively, the band have toured extensively all over the country and in Europe and gotten strong reviews. Despite a few line up changes due to various other commitments including professional football and even wrestling, the band are still going strong and still touring. In early November the band will play London’s Camden Barfly. The show is sure to be awesome and at £10 a ticket, it’s a bargain!
Buy tickets for the band’s Barfly show here!
Tickets can also be bought here!
Official Mouthwash Twitter
Official Mouthwash MySpace
TWO EXCITING UPCOMING EP RELEASES!
Two of the former “Artist Of The Week” artists have got upcoming EPs which will be released very shortly or in the near future!
Hardcore group Final Round… FIGHT! will be releasing their new EP entitled “Ergonomics” in the near future and have uploaded two tracks from Ergonomics on to their MySpace. If “If The Idea Is To Stay Alive, I’m Driving” and “We Only Accept Cash and Pain” are anything to go by, Ergonomics is going to be awesome! FR…F! have definitely improved since The Party Bag EP. (which is still up for a free download HERE! if you haven’t downloaded it already!)
If that wasn’t enough, another new song entitled “Bleak Mondays” was played on Express FM and can be heard on the playback here! The song starts at 113 minutes and 13 seconds in.
Also releasing an EP shortly is Aleister X! The second EP from the party man himself was due to be released this June, however it looks like the date has been pushed back slightly, but here’s hoping that The Git will be released very shortly! New tracks which include “? Is The ?” and “Club Show Party” can be heard on Aleister’x MySpace page HERE!! as well as tracks from Aleister’s first EP “Bangers & Beans” which can still be ordered on iTunes!
To hear the new tracks visit the links below!
Official Final Round… FIGHT! MySpace
Official Aleister X MySpace
And to hear “Bleak Mondays” by Final Round… FIGHT! visit here! and remember that Bleak Mondays starts at 113 minutes and 13 seconds in!
Artist of the Week: Wolf Law
Introducing you to this weeks artist of the week, Bedford based Wolf Law have been together since early 2006 and have been playing regular live shows since. With their immense enthusiasm, they have continued to impress audiences including radio stations such as Radio Caroline. As well as receiving air play on Radio Caroline, the band will be going in to BBC Radio Cambridge studios in July to play a live set as well as take part in an interview and will shortly be featured on the biggest European Radio Rock show soon!
Not only are the band garnering quite a bit of radio attention, they are playing live on the main stage at the Cambridge Rock Festival in August, alongside original members of classic rock heroes Whitesnake and Saxon.
The band’s only current release is their four track EP, Swingin’ The Bottle, released in 2008 and unfortunately haven’t been able to afford to release anything else major as of yet! However, a track entitled “Crucified” is currently being mastered and will hopefully appear on their MySpace page soon!
With their gritty punk rock attitude and sky high enthusiasm, as well as impressing people and critics far and wide, Wolf Law are definitely another band to look out for in the future!
For fans of: early Biffy Clyro, Ramones, The Wildhearts
Check out… Stars of The Search Party
After Kerrang! magazine and Rock Sound have described Stars of The Search Party as “Infectious enthusiasm” and saying that they are a tight band, respectively, it’s not hard to see why the band are on the up!
Having been working intensively since 2008, empowered with their unique sound and their energertic live performances, the band aren’t showing any signs of stopping it. Having constantly toured the UK over the past 2 years, they’ve been able to build up an impressive fanbase.
The band have many different sounds, all wrapped up in a big ball and squashed down in to an infectious sound. Power metal guitars, but with an aggressive punk-rock outlook that is similar to that of Underoath or Proceed.
In April 2010, the band released their latest EP, ‘Lost in The Dust Pt II’, through the band’s management label, Busker’s Hat. Having shared stages with many UK bands who have previously undertaken the same route as Stars Of The Search Party, including Kids In Glass Houses, You Me At Six and A among many others, the band are definitely one to watch in the future as it’s clear that good things come to those who wait!
Artist Of The Week: Black Circles
For those who are not familiar with the power-trio of Black Circles, then you need to pull up your socks and head on over to their MySpace and check them out!
Drawing inspiration from bands such as Biffy Clyro and Queens Of The Stone Age, the London three piece have the upbeat and heavy sound that is reminiscent of QOTSA’s Song For The Deaf, add in the pop melodies of earlier Biffy and you’re about half way to what Black Circles sound like.
The band are both ambitious and demanding of themselves as songwriters and musicians, thus proving that they’re not afraid to take big risks!
Dan, Mayumi & Simon have all cut their teeth on the touring highway in previous bands (Mayumi most notably so, playing alongside Steve Helier and Richard Fearless from Death In Vegas) before fate brought them together, as the Black Circles we know now, in the heart of London.
Having recently released their first single, the upbeat and energetic “Little Girl”, the band are already taking their first steps towards making a name for themselves. Already an established and fearsome live act, the band are keen to show off their spirit, dedication and songwriting to whoever is willing to tune in.
The future is bright for Black Circles, showing everyone that 2010 is just the beginning!
For fans of: Silversun, Biffy Clyro, Queens Of The Stone Age.
