January

g082008 / FREE

news wARD TEN

SUNDAY BESTTHREE KINGS AND JACK

DEAD MILESDIRECT TRAFFIC live listings

top fiveS

ABSORB a One man grimewave

a d v e r tj o n a t h o n p i c k u o p

JANUARY Happy new year and welcome to the first Manifesto of 2009. It’s starting to show a lot of promise in being a vintage year for music, from the Oasis and Take That gigs in June, to the progression of the Sunderland Music Forum and may-be even the national breakthrough of a few local acts. Let’s make sure we all put max effort in to make it a good one. Fight the power. -Jarvis

040810182225

15ROBBIE MCBRIDE

30GIVE ME THE HORN21THE TOWELS

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five minutes with....

BREAKING BANDS

Reviews

top fives

listings

disclaimer The articles in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the views of the editor or the Sunderland Music Forum.

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Contents

EDITORPhilip Jarvis

DESIGNCallum Brand callumbrand@gmail.com

LISTINGS and newsChris Wake

WORDSNina Cowey, Alice Cohen, Daniel Clifford, Stephen Gilbert, Greg Robson,

PHOTOGRAPHYNicholas Gray, Josh Cockroft, Ian West, Amy Brammall, George Whit-taker, www.xooo.co.uk

MANIFESTO MAGAZINEc/o 29 STOCKTON ROADSUNDERLAND SR2 7AQTEL / FAX 0870 922 0336EMAIL: manifestomagazine@ymail.comWWW. MYSPACE.COM/SUNDERLANDMUSICFORUMWWW.SUNDERLANDMUSIC.COM

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On Fri 16 Jan at 7:30pm the Sunderland Empire takes a step back in time with ‘The Motown Show’ - a slick and high-energy recreation of the 60’s and 70’s Motown era, and celebrates two of its finest vocal groups, The Four Tops and The Temptations, along with many other legendary art-ists’ from the great Tamla Motown stable. This show is 100% LIVE, and 100% MOTOWN, featuring a large quota of UK Hits of The Four Tops and The Temptations, - ‘Reach Out I’ll Be There’, ‘Walk Away Renee’, ‘I Cant Help Myself’, ‘Going Loco in Acapulco’, ‘My Girl’, ‘Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone’, and ‘Get Ready’, to name but a few. PLUS, hits from other famous Motown artists - ‘Smokey Robinson’, ‘Marvin Gaye’, ‘Stevie Wonder’, etc. This show is guaranteed to have you dancing in the aisles!!!! Admission is £16.00 - £18.00.For further info call 0844 847 2499, email sunderland.boxof-fice@livenation.co.uk or visit www.sunderlandempire.org.uk

The Motown Show

Great Balls Of…feel-good tunes – yeah I know that’s not quite the line so why don’t you head down to the Sunderland Empire on Thurs 15th Jan at 7:30pm to see a phenomenal performance by Darren Green as Jerry Lee Lewis, whose rendition of Great Balls Of Fire actually sets his piano ablaze! Also featuring performances by such legends as Elvis Presley (Richard Atkins), Buddy Holly (Dave Wickenden), Roy Orbison (Barry Steele), Eddie Cochran (Steve Halliday) and The Big Bopper (John-Simon Rawlings), and brilliantly backed by a band of stunning musicians, Rockin’ On Heaven’s Door just well…rocks! Admission: £16.00 - £17.50.For further info rock the phone line on 0844 847 2499, or email sunder-land.boxoffice@livenation.co.uk or visit www.sunderlandempire.org.uk

Rockin’ On Heavens Door

Catfood By Seven are two immature adults from the North East of England who both enjoy attending and promoting gigs of a wide variety. Their aim is to help restore the local scene to former glory by putting on so-called ‘DIY’ gigs of a high quality and working their fingers to the bone. This month CBS are hosting Quack Quack (Run of the Mill Records) + Pifco (Run of the Mill Records) + Bubble Project (Stop Look-ing Records) + Dressed In Wires (Distraction/Stop Looking Records) at the Manifesto Bar (Independent’s room 2). It all kicks off at 8pm and is £4 in.

catfood by seven

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Sing-A-Long-A Sound of Music

Anyone like the chocolate bar Kit Kat? Okay I admit that was a really poor link to advertise the Sunderland Empire’s hosting of the musical Caba-ret (one of the characters works at the Kit Kat club…okay I’ll drop it). Anyway, since its Broadway premiere in 1966 and the famous movie version it has won a gazillion stage and screen awards. If that’s not enough to tempt you then Samantha Barks, the hugely popular finalist from hit BBC se-ries “I’d Do Anything” stars as the legendary Sally Bowles and joins renowned dancer Wayne Sleep who reprises his role as the notorious Emcee. Performances are from Monday 26 Jan 09 - Saturday 31 Jan 09 (Mon – Sat 7.30pm, Wed & Sat Mats 2.30pm) Tickets are £6.25 - £28.50. For more info call 0844 847 2499, email sunderland.boxoffice@livenation.co.uk or visit www.sunderlandempire.org.uk.

Cabaret

The hills are alive with the sound of…a classic. On Mon 12 Jan at 7pm at the Sunderland Empire it’s your chance to sing along with Maria, hiss the Countess and boo the Nazis in this subtitled sing-a-long version of the classic Julie Andrews musical The Sound of Music. So cut up that chintz, pull on the lederhosen and join in the nation’s craziest communal karaoke. This screening of the film is shown in glorious technicolour, complete with subtitles so that the audience can sing along! Running time:3 hours 50 minutes (including 20 minute interval). Tickets are £14.50.For further info Tel: 0844 847 2499, Email: sunderland.boxoffice@livenation.co.uk or visit www.sunderlandempire.org.uk

mGoldenman - I Was A Robot

Our favourite lo-fi electro song about a robot by our new fave band. Their live shows are as good, if not better, than their amazing recorded output. Bishop Aukland has never been as cool as what these cats have made it. Look out for their contribution to ColdSample1, the new compilation by Sunderland’s Coldseat Recordings.

Saint and The Cynics

A lovely serving of souped up funk rock from the Newcastle sextet. Powerful, strong vocals and supa dupa musicianship. One of the best live acts we’ve witnessed in ages. Catch them at the Sunderland Music Forum gig on Jan 14th.

Sunday Best - Cogs

We knew Robbie McBride could write a decent tune, but this knocked us sideways when we first heard it. It’s a stripped down, acoustic track with a melancholy twist and puzzle some lyrics. Think Richard Ashcroft covering a John Lennon song and you won’t be far off the mark.

Absorb - Just Move

Another track from County Durham, this one’s dirty, with a crunchy, crunky bass and a beat that makes banging your head unavoidable. Expertly rhymed, impeccably produced (by Sequel) and destined to make Absorb a massive act in 2009. Check out his Blah EP now.

sGo to www.sunderlandmusic.com and listen to them and many more on our very own radio station.

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HERE’S WHAT WE’VE BEEN LISTENING TO AT MANIFESTO THIS

MONTH!!

The Manifesto QuizAnswer this collection of brain destroying nuggets correctly to be in with a chance of winning

a year’s subscription of Manifesto delivered to your door. Answers, along with your name and address, to manifestomagazine@ymail.com before close of play on Jan 31st.

1. In what year did The Futureheads release their News and Tributes album?

2. Complete the line-up of this classic band: Morrissey, Marr, Joyce, _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

3. Who had a top 10 hit in 1982 with the song You Should Hear How She Talks About You?

4. On which record label did The Stone Roses release their Second Coming album?

5. Name Kenickie’s drummer?

6. What is Iggy Pop’s real name?

7. According to the lyrics of Oasis’s recent single, Shock of the Lightening, what is love?

8. David Bowie’s Glass Spider tour stopped off at which Sunderland venue in June 1987? (clue: it wasn’t the Glass Spider)

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FIVE MINUTEs with...JarvisMANIFESTO EDITOR AND DJ

Matt RobinsonINFLUXFRONTMAN

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what you Listening to?I like to listen to Jazz when I’m cooking and I seem to have been cooking a lot recently, so Jimmy Smith’s Back at the Chicken Shack has been on quite a number of times. I’ve also been getting my regular fix of Bowie and Wu-Tang.

What you Watching?I love good American TV drama. Just finished the seventh and final season of The Shield on DVD, it’s damn good. I’ll not tell you the outcome but it’s explosive. I was given the Mad Men season 1 boxset for Christmas and I’m gonna work me way through that next.

what you readingI can’t seem to get away with fiction at the minute. I’ve tried numerous novels only to get bored and put them down halfway through. I seem to be drawn more towards biographies now - Julian Cope’s Repossessed/Head On is class, even if he comes over a bit twat-ish. Next on my list is Simon Napier’s White Powder, Black Vinyl.

Where you going to?After a quiet New Year’s Eve I’ll be hibernating for a couple of weeks, detoxing and preparing the February issue of Manifesto. Might have a jaunt to Manchester for the New Year sales too.

what you listening to? I listen to everything at different times of the month, it depends on the mood. I have always got time for Sigur Ros and Stevie Wonder. I’ve had The Kooks on too... That’s right.... I’m not scared of mainstream music

What you reading?On The Road by Jack Kerouac... It was recommended to me by my girlfriend and its brilliant, it just makes you want to cut your ties and get out there. This country is f**ked up at the minute too so it increases your urge to go for it! It’s a great read for daydreamers and people with big imaginations.

What you watching?I don’t really watch a lot of TV to be honest, if I want to watch anything I look on you-tube for it. I love QI, Stephen Fry is a genius, his series about him visiting every state in USA was brilliant, which ties in nicely with On The Road. If all else fails theres always the news or Dave.

where you going to?I am moving in with my girlfriend within the next few months so money will be amaz-ingly helpful, hence I probably wont be going out too much. I’m looking forward to relaxing after Christmas. I have completely lost interest with going out clubbing in Sunderland too, id rather get home and chill out after work or have a few quiet drinks with the band in the Ivy.

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Chris J. Allan NO, ROBOT NO! & DJ

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WHAT YOU Listening?I’ve been listening to a ton of Lou Reed’s solo stuff lately, he is such an amazing song writer you get something new out of it every time you listen through one of his records, admittedly some of the weirdest stories you could imagine but great all the same.

WHAT YOU READING?I finally got round to reading J. D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye, its so interestingly writ-ten, really hard to put down and really moving, a real American classic. I’ve also been re-reading the equally classic Preacher graphic novels, a personal favourite, its series of Supernatural Westerns, definitely not a kids comic but worth checking out.

WHAT YOU WATCHING?I got the DVD of the classic Vic Reeves’ Big Night Out, its so funny and has caused me to start spouting phrases like “What’s on the end of the stick?” or “You wouldn’t let it lie!” and singing in a club singer styled fashion. I’ve found doing this pretty funny, not sure if anyone else has mind...

WHERE YOU GOING TO?I’ll be going to a few Squares gigs in the upcoming weeks, they’ve got a few lined up here and there on the road to the release of their ace sounding debut album, and I’m not even saying that just because I’m trying to DJ at the launch party. . .

WHAT YOU LISTENING TO?I’m loving Nico’s voice at the minute, it‘s amazingly haunting. I can’t get enough of The Velvet Underground and Nico album. I’ve also just discovered Grauzone, a German electro/post-punk band. Their sole album came out in 1981 but is sounds like it’s from 2081, it’s way, way ahead of its time.

wHAT YOU WATCHING?I’m always surfing around Youtube, looking for weird stuff. That’s where I discovered Grauzone. Donnie Darko is probably one of my favourite films. It nails the 80s so well and it’s also got time travel in it, so that’s a double whammy for me.

WHAT YOU READING?Just finished Rip It Up and Start Again by Simon Reynolds. It fills you in on the whole story of post-punk and all the splintered genres that arose in the late 70s and early 80s. Our Fathers’ Gods by Viktor Rydberg is a book I return to all the time. It’s packed with stories from Norse mythology.

WHERE YOU GOING TO?I’d love to be going to Manchester on a mad shopping spree but my limited funds just won’t allow it, so I’m gonna hibernate and plan my tour for later in the year.

BILLY BLOODAXEELECTRO WIZARD

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Breaking Bands

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breaking bandsthree kings and a jack

www.myspace.com/3kings1jack

dead milesDead Miles are a young indie rock band based in the North East of England. They were formed in 2007. Darryl Todd (vocals), Gary Holmes (guitar) and Michael Richardson (drums) made up three quarters of the now defunct band ‘The New Truth’. After bringing in Alex James on bass, then recruiting John Aspinall on guitar, Dead Miles were born.Their influences cover a wide range of music from, 90’s Indie to Early Rock and Roll, Pop Music to straight up Rock! They have previously been likened to bands such as Stereophonics, Ocean Colour Scene, Razorlight and The Fratellis.Dead Miles have been gigging regularly throughout 2008, quickly becoming once of the North East’s premier live bands steadily gaining an ever increasing fan base. They plan to continue this success throughout 2009.

www.myspace.com/deadmiles

This section is dedicated to giving new bands the chance to tell us all about themselves in their own words.

Three Kings & A Jack are a South Shields-based alternative rock group that have been shuffling their way around the bars and clubs of the North East since the summer of 2007.The band first started playing together when they met at school, before they left for college where they decided to give the ‘being a real band’ idea a try. Soon after, they were playing live showcasing arrays of covers along with their own original songs.3K1J consists of Milburn (Guitar/Vocals), Dan (Lead Guitar), Phil (Bass) and Jack (Drums). The combined influences of the group are somewhat eclectic, with inspiration ranging from classic rock to rap to blues, so no doubt you’ll find something within their melodies to suit your tastes.Over the past months, several songs have been written amongst members and developed as a band both in practice and whilst playing live, a technique that they still believe is an effective method today;

each member brings their own element to the grouped effort. At present, the band have a six song demo entitled ‘Joker Demos’ which includes songs that were recorded dur-ing their time at college and also in Milburn’s bedroom using make-shift recording techniques. They hope to get into the studio soon to record updated versions of these songs along with the many others that they have conceived since.Three Kings & A Jack can currently be seen playing around the North East and, with an album’s worth of songs to be re-corded, will hopefully be dealing you in for a long while yet.

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Breaking Bands

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breaking bandsDirect Traffic are a four piece band that formed on the foundations of a college project. Originally all four members were guitarists, but due to students in their group dropping out, Dan took up bass and Sean took over the drums, leaving Josh and Mark playing guitar. With a short set of covers, they started to do gigs outside of college, but due to a lack of confidence, and no real singer, the band decided to stop gigging and began working on original tracks. As the band progressed Josh took over singing duties from Mark, and in June 08, the band were able to record two rough demos, ‘Off the Rails’ and ‘Running Lights’, thanks to the ‘Sunderland Music Collective’. Following a short break over the summer, the band continued working on original material, and they now have a selection of new songs, which they hope to record in the early New Year, as part of their first EP.

Direct traffic

www.myspace.com/directtraffic

BlackMassk are a 5-piece band from Ashbrooke, Sunderland. We formed in November 2008 over cups of sugary tea and slices of the finest Tiramisu. Our influences include Guy Debord and the Situationist movement, occult literature, red wine, massive amounts of music, from Grauzone to LCD Soundsystem, David Bowie to The Chipmunks’ Christmas album, the films of Jean-Luc Goddard and the free-thinking spirit of Michael Foot. Bonded by our shared bitterness and love of misery, we intend to bring to the people of Sunderland and the wider world something new and fresh for their ears and mind in 2009.

BlackMassk

The bands main musical influences range from genres such as Indie, ska, punk and soul, with bands like ‘The Clash’, ‘Larrikin Love’ and ‘Bloc Party’. They also draw influence from local bands and the local music scene. The band have so far played with ‘Sunday Best’, ‘Anglo Form’ and ‘Paper Street’, and recently played at Independent on the 7th Dec, as part of the Feedback event, organised by The Bunker.

The Music Collective, based at the Shiney Row Campus of City of Sunderland College is an initiative which provides full-time students of the College with free rehearsal facilities, studio time and advice from industry professionals.

This year’s collective comprises of eight local bands (although those still wishing to join are more than welcome) all at different stages of devel-opment; the only stipulation is that each group must perform original compositions. Each group has access to qualified staff, a rehearsal room equipped with a full PA, guitar and bass amps; drum kits and keyboards. When the musicians and staff feel that their songs are ready, they then move into the studio to record a CD. After Christmas the collective will invite guest speakers from across the industry to give talks ranging from making a living in the music business to gig promotion and merchandising. These sessions are free and open to any full-time students, regardless of whether they actually play an instrument or not, and will hopefully cumulate in the formation of an independent record label. Although the College plans to support the label, it will be entirely student run and will release and promote material recorded by members of the Collective.

The College’s Shiney Row Centre runs full-time music courses from Level 1 (Introductory Diplomas) to Level 4 (Foundation Degrees)

For more info on the Collective, call 0191 511 6060

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ADVERTthe central

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The Music Collective, based at the Shiney Row Campus of City of Sunderland College is an initiative which provides full-time students of the College with free rehearsal facilities, studio time and advice from industry professionals.

This year’s collective comprises of eight local bands (although those still wishing to join are more than welcome) all at different stages of devel-opment; the only stipulation is that each group must perform original compositions. Each group has access to qualified staff, a rehearsal room equipped with a full PA, guitar and bass amps; drum kits and keyboards. When the musicians and staff feel that their songs are ready, they then move into the studio to record a CD. After Christmas the collective will invite guest speakers from across the industry to give talks ranging from making a living in the music business to gig promotion and merchandising. These sessions are free and open to any full-time students, regardless of whether they actually play an instrument or not, and will hopefully cumulate in the formation of an independent record label. Although the College plans to support the label, it will be entirely student run and will release and promote material recorded by members of the Collective.

The College’s Shiney Row Centre runs full-time music courses from Level 1 (Introductory Diplomas) to Level 4 (Foundation Degrees)

For more info on the Collective, call 0191 511 6060

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RESIDENTSON THEWARD

2008 was a great year for Ward 10, both in Independent’s Room 2 and the last three parties, where they moved into the big room. Apart from being included twice in DJ Magazine’s recommended clubs section (April and December), over the course of the year they were joined by the likes of Manuel Ter (Germany), James Priestly (Secretsundaze) and Burnski. Technique resident Dave Martin was their last guest in Room 2, and Jamie Jones played to a packed Room 1, christening their new space perfectly. With the addition of new member Ross Fellows, Ward 10’s 7th birthday party saw one of their favou-rite DJs, Bugged Out and Back to Basics resident James Holroyd play Sunderland for the third time. Closing the year in style was Marcus Worgull.The Ward 10 boys have big plans for the new year, with firm favourites returning to their night and some new, exciting guests taking to the decks. First up though is the residents party on Friday, January 30th, with Gary Ogden, Kieron and Ross Fellows - the faces behind Ward 10’s massive success - play-ing all night long. It will most definitely go with a bang.

Ward 10’s Residents Party takes place at Independent, Holmeside, Friday January 30th, 10pm - late.

Marcus Worgull

Burnski

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The man behind the spellbound EP and one of our favourite mixes so far this year joins us at Ward10.Maclub and experienced, for the first time, how a good DJ can take the crowd on a journey into different worlds of music. Worgull’s enthusiams for black music was born - and so was the decision to become a DJ himself.For quite some time, his sound has been heavily influenced by broken beats. Eventually, Worgull has changed his focuses to intelligent, soulful but danceable house - at the edge of being techno. Influenced by the majestic house of the “Prescription” label or classical Detroit-Techno, he developed his own style. Besides running a record store, landing national and international gigs, remix assignments and of course raising his son Ole, Worgull produces new tracks which will be released soon on Innervisions.Expect deep house, Detroit techno and upfront tracks and re-edits courtesy of Marcus and best mates Dixon and Henrik Shwartz.We’re in for a treat.

BRArobbie mcbride1. Describe the sound of Sunday Best in 3 words. British. Mod. Rock.

2. What single piece of music has had the most influence on you?The first record by Stereophonics, ‘Word Gets Around’ - For the storytelling, the tales of small town characters and the day to day just mirrored where i was.

10 Questions with . . . Sunday Best’s Robbie McBride

3.Apart from music, what else are you influenced by?Everything I see, hear, or do ends up in the lyrics in some way, shape or form. Other than that a line from a book or a script can set thoughts in motion.

4. Pick 5 acts for your fantasy festival line upIn no particular order... Joy Division, The Smiths, The Kinks, Interpol & The La’s

5. What to you is the point of making music?I make music ‘cos I love the connection it invites, whether a song is about mundane life or the meanings of it, someone will find a truth in there they relate to. Nothing else can do that.

6. Who or what is winding you up at the minute?There are so many things at the minute, but that would take up the page, so i’ll leave it at the fact i am without a cup of Tea.

7. Who would you like to see playing you in the movie of your life story?A young version of Jack Nicholson would top the list, other than that i’d get Jean Claude Van Damme.

8. Has anyone in the band got any strange habits or hobbies?Well, Gibs our bassist loves doodling on the back of his set list. All his work has elements of Skulls, Elephants, and the Female genitals juxtaposed with Male genitals.

9. Where do you envisage the band being in two years time?Signed & touring our first album, I’d try and take a local band with us as well cos every band needs support. Oh aye, and a model girlfriend for mesel.

10. . If you could pick anyone, dead or alive, to form a supergroup, what would your line-up be? Easy, it’d consist of; Vocals - Steve Marriott, Lead Guitar - Johnny Marr, Bass - Alex James, Drums - Keith Moon, Piano - Paul Weller, and Ricky Wilson strapped to a bomb for Keith Moon to set off at the end of the set.

10 Questions With...

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absorbABSORB, 24, was born in Wakefield, Yorkshire and moved up to the North-East aged three. Having started out as a songwriter, he started listening to the likes of The Artful Dodger, So Solid Crew, Craig David, and The Streets, and was an avid listener of The Dream Team on Radio 1 at a time when UK Garage music was emerging as a more recognised genre. He began experimenting with different vo-cal styles as a singer and later as a rapper. Although “Now Is The Time”, his first solo release in 2004, was primarily an angry hip-hop record, it contained lots of positive messages which ABSORB felt hadn’t been fully explored. It wasn’t until 2005 when grime had really caught his ear that the rapper saw something worth pursuing, and quickly became interested in the up and coming grime sound. The bass, combined with the fast, intelligent lyrics found in this style of music made him think more about his writing which ultimately led to his next CD, 2007’s “That Was Then, This Is Now”, inspired by the likes of Boy Better Know, Lethal Bizzle, Big Narstie and Dizzee Rascal as well as electro and dubstep sounds.After joining the band Soul Technique later that year, ABSORB was introduced to producer Sequel by the singer of the band, and since November 2007 the pair have been working together, experi-menting with different styles and sounds, all of which resulted in “The BLAH EP”. The EP combines a mix of grime and electro with dubstep and rock guitar influences, with their mutual appreciation for bass coming through strongly. Sequel’s background as a traditional songwriter has given the material more classically recognisable elements such as a traditional verse / chorus structure, whilst at the same time the heavy bass found on some tracks places the material firmly in the grime / electro / dub categories.Successes from their debut EP have so far included the track “Nasty” being awarded Future Music Magazine’s Demo Of The Month for their December issue, and also the track “Just Move” receiving Radio 1 airplay courtesy of Huw Stephens. Much more is planned for 2009, with the pair continuing to release new material from their debut album as well as performing their tracks live at events which help promote the scene. Check out absorbonline.com for more information, as well as myspace.com/iamsequel – free tracks are available from both websites.

take it all in.

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SMF Monthly update------------------------------------------------------------Features

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Words - Daniel Clifford

I’ve gone over what the Sunderland Music Forum (SMF) is in Manifesto before, an article in The Crack

and now monthly in the Echo. If you still don’t know, check out the MySpace (listed at the bottom).

Wednesday 10th December saw the last SMF meeting of its first year – and I was surprised when I

arrived 10 minutes early (I’m punctual) to find that the meeting was already taking place. Well, not the

main meeting but I’ll get to that...

There were two main points on the agenda for the meeting – the first was rather frivolous but enjoy-

able: looking back at the forum’s first year and giving ourselves a nice pat on the back. We reminisced

about the 3 Sunderland Live events at Seaburn’s Cliffe Park, the Spearhead gig at The White Room

and a few of the other bits and bobs the forum had been involved with.

We then went on to take a look at the constitution that had been drawn up – this is what the pre-

meeting meeting had been about. As it happens there was nothing malevolent about this invite-only

gathering, but excluding members from debates does not help group-unity.

So the constitution was adopted and attendees were invited to become members, which almost

everyone did. After that, elections for the committee were held and officer positions filled. All hail Chair

Hewey! Hopefully, this will mean the SMF can get on with being a forum for the good of everyone

from now on.The next meeting takes place at 6pm on Wednesday 14th January at Sunderland City Library, Fawcett

Street – all are welcome. The meeting will be followed at 7:30pm by an informal networking opportu-

nity and gig at The White Room on Holmeside with live sets from Absorb, Dead Miles, Saint and the

Cynics and Your New Escape Plan.

Saint and the Cynics

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AbsorbThe Blah EP

Hailing from County Durham, Absorb has delivered up a stunning collection of hip-hop with this 4 track EP. Opening track Blah is a tirade against full of shit MCs, played out over a dirty beat and riffy, rock guitars. Nasty is a dupstep-heavy track that has a go at former lovers who won’t leave you alone and, with the nastiest bassline this reviewer’s heard in an age, is probably he stand out number. The follow-ing tracks, Just Move and Swings and Roundabouts, maintain the high standard, with deep, dubby basslines, grimey beats and some excellent rhyming. All in all, along with producer Sequel, Absorb has created a masterful piece of UK hip-hop to keep going the lineage from the likes of Rodney P, Roots Manuva and Dizzee Rascal.AC

The Anglo Form2 Track Demo

Having heard great things about this band without ever actually hearing their songs, I was excited to the point of climax when this landed on my desk. So was the tension and build up worth it? The Anglo Form have created some deeply dark and disturbing music on the two tracks on this CD. First track Silos sound like a lost outtake from Joy Division’s bleak masterpiece Closer. Its lilting, staggering guitar riff lends it an eerie quality that’s backed by an almost dubstep type drum machine beat. Andrew Holder’s creepy vocals simmer over the top, his lyrics foreboding, making your skin crawl. Archiketure, the second track, is less shade/more light, an electro track with nasty synth bleeps and a drum track that will make you wanna chop off your ears (in a good way) and dance around uncontrollably like a possessed nun. I’m gonna have to give this a massive thumbs up. Supreme!AC

The Refreshers Slam The Door

According to the sleeve notes, this CD was produced and recorded at Digital Garden studio - wher-ever that is - and it sounds absolutely spiffing. All four tracks are cemented together by a tight, tight rhythm section that bounces and shuffles with relentless amiability. The vocals are strong and powerful and carry the descriptive and concise lyrics, which paint vivid images, in a perfect manner. Probably the best of the four tracks is Slam The Door, the title track. It’s a riff heavy, punky, blitzkrieg of a song. The Refreshers have just signed to PMP Music, so keep an eye out for them in record shops and online music stores soon.SG

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March of the Dogs3 Track Demo

Teesside’s March of the Dogs play real heavy rock with added elements of blues, metal and punk. Two of the songs, Dark Days and Ignorance is Bliss, are traditional four to the floor rock songs, complete with chugging riffs and rhythms and complicated guitar solos. You can tell that the four guys in March of the Dogs are really accomplished musicians. The other song, Superficial is the more punk influenced of the three tracks. It’s ballsy and less complicated than the other two songs and really just makes you want to bang your head. These lads have got plenty of gigs coming up in the next few months so keep an eye out for them if you like your rock on the mean side.SG

Blackmassk2 Track Demo

Post-punk, electro clash, dark wave are all names with which you could label Blackmassk, none of them however would do justice to the Sunderland five-piece. Ultimately, they make music that grabs your soul with its icy fingers and won’t let go. First track, Damage, is an exercise in despair, its beats pound-ing and pounding, building up to a crescendo that never comes, before flailing back down to its loose rhythm, like one of John Coltrane’s messed up masterpieces. Second track, Wishing Away, is cleaner and clearer, coming at under 3 minutes long. It’s synth riffs feel like needles digging into your ears. If Blackmassk ever get it together to play live, they’ll surely put on one hell of a show.AC

The Grins Howl EP

According to their press pack, The Grins are four-piece-teenage-garage-rock-band from Sulgrave in Washington. They’re made up of John H on lead guitar and vocals, John Z on Bass, Wilky on drums and Lee on Hammond organ. On the evidence of their music I’d deduce that they regularly consume mammoth quantities of Love, The New York Dolls, Allen Ginsberg’s poetry and Amphetamine Sulphate. All four tracks on the Howl EP - Railroad, Every Time She Goes By, Tornado and Cremation Blues -come in at under two minutes thirty seconds, have whip-like guitar riffs, and the most reverby, 1960sy drum sound that I’ve ever heard and that includes everything produced in the 1960s. The Grins are fantastic, just my cup of tea. You should have a taste yourself, you’ll love them.AC

------------------------------------------------------------Reviews

Words - Alice Cohen & Steve Gilbert

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------------------------------------------------------------Reviews

LIVE Djangelarbra, Your New Escape Plan, The Towels @ The Manifesto Bar (Independant), 05/12/08by Steve Gilbert

It’s one of the coldest nights of the year. The band who were supposed to be on firston the bill, Dar-lington’s mini pop-punksters All That’s Left, haven’t even made it to the gig; they’re still trapped at home,

please send any live reviews to info@sunderlandmusic.com

Your New Escape Plan

The Towels

Third and last up, at nearly half eleven, are The Towels, a punky four piece in the mould of Green Day or The Clash in their early days. While not the most competent of musicians, The Towels made up for it with an unnaturally high level of enthusiasm and a great sense of humour which led them to never take themselves too seriously. I’m not sure whether their cover version of the theme tune to The Fresh Prince of Belle Aire was either an utter shambles or intentionally 100% comedy gold. Overall the night was saved from being a complete catastrophe by Djanglearbra’s exquisite music, Your New Escape Plan’s raw energy and The Towels’ enthusiasm and hilarious deadpan comedy.

Next up are Your New Escape Plan, a five piece (minus a member) from in and around Sunderland who, earlier this year, were runners up in Too Far North‘s Battle of the Bands at The Porterfield. Their sound is well balanced - raw and extreme in places and polished and serene in others, using the word Emo to describe them however, is unavoidable. They’re definitely Emo. YNEP’s vocalist had a load of stage presence and cha-risma. He bounded around throughout their set and, a number of times, nearly wiped out a few members of the audience. Your New Escape Plan are a great live act. Their only problem, I believe, is that their set is too long, they should maybe think about shortening their set by one or two songs so as to leave the crowd wanting more.

Djangelarbrasnowed in. As the result of the cold weather, there’s a pretty lousy turnout, but that doesn’t deter Djanglearbra taking to the improvised stage to warm us up a little. Sounding like Stereolab with Bootsy Collins on bass or The Police with Nico on vocals (I can’t quite make up my mind) the four lads and a lass were a marvel. Comprised of members from as far a field as Hull and Scotland, but based in Newcastle, Djanglearbra’s girl-boy vocal interchanges, hooky choruses, bouncy beats and funky basslines merged together to form an astounding body of music.

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Phill’s Top 5 Boozers

1. Substance2. Heppie’s3. Welcome Tavern4. Redhouse WMC5. The King’s Arms

Martin’s Top 5 Jacksons

1. Randy2. La Toya3. Tito4. Jermaine5. Action

Hannah’s top 5 Lanky Birds

1. Flamingo2. Emu3. Kiwi4. Uma Thurman5. Suzy Scissor Kick

Anth’s Top 5 Top Mods

1. Sting2. Garry the Mod3. Phil Daniels4. Liam Gallacher5. Pearhead

Dean’s Top 5 Stones

1. Jagger2. Richards3. Hail4. Kidney5. Tiger’s Eye

Hayley and Louise’s Top 5 PJ and Duncan Tracks

1. Stuck On U2. Perfect3. One Look4. Better Watch Out5. Our Radio Rocks

TOP FIVES ------------------------------------------------------------Top Fives

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Peter and Martin’s Top 5 Places to Work The Door

1. Substance (good craic)2. Chillino’s (free scran)3. Gala Bingo (sexy nanas)4. Roker Hotel (loads of aggro)5. The Jacobian (ambience)

Rebecca’s Top 5 Local Live Acts

1. Blackmassk2. B>E>A>K>3. Billy Bloodaxe4. Bubble Project5. Dave the Rave

Gaz’s Top 5 Choc Bars

1. Mars Bar2. Star Bar3. Milky Way4. Texan5. Jarv’s Chilli Choc

The Anglo Form’s Top 5 Forms

1. Housing Benefit2. Jobsearch3. Passport Application4. 8B Castleview Comp5. Plato’s Theory of Form

Chris’s Top 5 Wombles

1. Great Uncle Bulgaria2. Orinoco3. Tobermory4. Tomsk5. Chris Henry

Emily’s Top 5 Foot in Mouth Moments

1. Craig’s Fringe2. Dean’s Mullet3. The Guinea Pig Remark4. Meg White5. Pauline’s Wig

------------------------------------------------------------Top Fives

24

sun8pm-1am

mon8pm-1am

wed8:30pm-1am

thur8pm-1am

11 Derwent St, Park Lane, Sunderland, SR1 3NT

1 Tunstal l Road, Sunderland, SR1 3NQ

sun

mon

tue

wed

thur

l ive music12th jan - the chaps + support 19th jan - milburn presents. .

20% student discount al l day every day

make it happen hew present the best in indie and punk with dj’s laura and lyn

dj’s (playing everything from aphex twin to zeppelin),guest dj’s and bands

from at the drive in to zz top (downstairs)

start the weekend with 60’s classics and psychedelic

the very best mod classics and more (upstairs)

from 60’s to modern indie with dj’s lyndon and shellie

from 60’s to modern indie with dj’s lyndon and shellie

acoustic showcase

with dj’s, guest dj’s and bands

with dj phil coolman, plus local bands

james brown hosts the weekly quiz

the best of techno, tech-house, prog-houseand minimal with dj’s leila, amy, kris and liam

indie, new wave, punk, northern soul, 60’s and 70’s classics and old-skool rave with dj’s ju-lea and jarvis

indie, new wave, punk, northern soul, 60’sand 70’s classics and old-skool rave withdj’s ju-lea and jarvis

fr i8pm-3am

sat9pm-3am

seven sunderland | bar substance

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interested?

MEGA LEISURE LTDQUALITY MUSIC BARS

gold soundz

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January gigs in Sunderland, at 7pm & free unless other-wise stated.

02/01/2009 The Poorboys @ Smugglers Bar, Roker 9pmBig River @ Keelboat, Stockfold, Washington 9pm Broken Spoke @ Lord Clyde, Western Approach, S.Shields 8:30pm

03/01/2009 Hybrids @ Ox & Plough, Oxclose Village, Washington 9pmStormy Monday @ Lord Clyde, Western Approach, S.Shields 8:30pm

04/01/2009 Scratch The Surface@ Luma, Park Ln 8:00pm Big River@ Borough, Vine Pl 8:30pm Force @ Square, S.Shields 8:30pm

09/01/2009 GSD @ Smugglers Bar, Roker 9pmVendetta@ Keelboat, Stockfold, Fatfield, Washington 9pmThe Force@ The Ox & Plough, Oxclose Vil-lage, Washington 9:00pmAngels Of Harlem (u2 Tribute) @ Lord Clyde, Western Approach, S.Shields 8:30pmShanghai@ Lord Clyde, Western Approach, S.Shields 8:30pm

10/01/2009 The Rives @ Smugglers Bar, Roker 9pmNew Age Jam

@ Colliery Tavern, Hedworth Ln, Boldon Colliery 9pmBullet@ Lord Clyde, Western Approach, S.Shields 8:30pm

11/01/2009 Four Kinnels@ The Borough, Vine Pl, 9pmWang Dang Doodle@ Luma, Park Ln 9:00pm

14/01/09The Flytes@ Paddy Whacks, Green Ter 7:30pm

15/01/09Rockin’ On Heavens Door@ Empire Theatre, High St West 7:30pm £16-£17.50

16/01/2009 Sunday Best, Static From Stereo, Direct Traffic, Blunt Monkey, Sword Attack Kling Klan @ Manifesto Bar, 8pm, Indepen-dantThe Rives@ Keelboat, Stockfold, Fatfield, Washington 9pmSteve Daggett @ Maltings, 9 Claypath Ln, S.Shields 8:30pm How Sweet It Is (Motown legends)@ Empire, High St West 7:30pm £16/£18Dark Secret @ Lord Clyde, Western Approach, S.Shields 8:30pm

17/01/2009 Rayne @ Smugglers Bar, Roker 9pmTramp Juice @ Lord Clyde, Western Approach, S.Shields 8:30pm

18/01/2009 Longsands@ The Borough, Vine Pl 9pm

The Monologues@ Luma, Park Ln 8:00pm Big River @ Vane Arms, Vane St, Silksworth 9pm

23/01/2009 AKM @ Keelboat, Stockfold, Washington 9pmScratch The Surface@ Paddy Whacks, Green Ter 8:00pmKnee Jerk Reaction @ Lord Clyde, Western Approach, S.Shields 8:30pm Monologues @ Smugglers Bar, Roker 9pm

24/01/2009 Big River @ Lord Clyde, Western Approach, S.Shields 8:30pmStan @ Smugglers Bar, Roker 8:30pm

25/01/2009 The Rives@ The Borough, Vine Pl 9pmStereo Red@ Luma, Park Ln 8:00pmAngels Of Harlem (u2 Tribute) @ Lord Clyde, Western Approach, S.Shields 8:30pm

26/01/2009 Clear Blue Skies @ Washington Arts Centre, Biddick Ln, Washington 8:30pm

30/01/2009 AKM@ Smugglers Bar, Roker 9pmThe Strobes@ Paddy Whacks, Green Ter Raw Spirit@ Keelboat, Stockfold, Fatfield, Washington 9pmSomebody Elses Omelette @ Lord Clyde, Western Approach, S.Shields 8:30pm

31/01/2009 Judas Priest @ Lord Clyde, Western Approach, S.Shields 8:30pmThe Kicks @ Smugglers Bar, Roker 9pm

Live gigsListings

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------------------------------------------------------------Listings

Busker nightsMondaysBuskers Night@ The Isis, Silksworth Row 8:30pmBuskers Night@ Arts Centre, Fatfield, WashingtonAmp & Dek Karaoke@ Steels Club, Peacock St, 8pm Buskers Night@ Blue Bell, Fulwell Road, 9pmBuskers Night@ Greens, Low Row 8pmMusos Corner @ Smugglers Bar, Roker 9pm Indie & Rock Night with DJ Wayne G@ P.U.R.E, Olive St 9pmBuskers Night@ Golden Lion, S.Hylton Tom Le Moosh & Steves Open Mic @ Smugglers Bar, Roker 9pm Student Night with Steve yer Irish Busker@ Shamrock, North Bridge St 7:30pm

TuesdaysBuskers Night@ Jolly Steward, Fullwell Avenue, S.Shields 8pm Buskers Night@ BoAB Bar & Grill, Vine Pl 9pmBuskers Night@ 7even, Derwent StTerry Gorman @ Keelboat, Stockfold Fatfield Vil-lage Centre, Washington 9pm Buskers Night @ Borough, Vine Pl 9pm

WednesdaysBuskers Night@ P.U.R.E, Olive St 8pmPoulette Sur Ket@ 7even, Derwent St 8pmScott Keirs Electric Jam @ Smugglers Bar, Roker, 9pm

ThursdaysAcoustic Session @ TJ Doyles, Hanover Pl, Deptford 8:30pm Musician And Buskers Night Hosted By Paul Jackson @ Royal Marine, Sea Rd, Fullwell 8:30pmOpen Decks Night@ 7even, Derwent StBuskers Night@ Paddy Whacks, Green TerBand Night@ The Porterfield, Crowtree Rd Pete Dodds Open Mic @ Smugglers Bar, Roker 9pm Acoustic Night@ Luma, Park Ln The Crash Club@ Independent, Holmeside 10pm

FridaysRock Bands Night@ Paddy Whacks, Green Ter @ 7even, Derwent StRagnarRock @ Borough, Vine Pl 9pm

SundaysLive Band Night@ Masters, Low Row Acoustic Night@ The Porterfield, Crowtree Rd Acoustic Blues & Folk @ Smugglers Bar, Roker 9pmCome Together (DJs)@ The White Room, The Ivy House, Substance, Tunstall Rd 2:30pm

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------------------------------------------------------------Listings

Mondays

Street 5 Student Night@ White Room, Holmeside 9pmBeer Pong@ Brogans, Crowtree RdWonderland Student Night@ Union, The Point, Holmeside 10:30pm £3 or £2 with NUSBlastbeats, Metal Music Night@ Voodoo Room, P.U.R.E, Park Ln 8pmInsanity Rock Night@ The Quayside Exchange, High St East 8pm £3Student High School Disco@ New Privilege Nightclub, Crowtree Rd 10pm £3

Tuesdays

Sunderland Music Forum@ White Room, Holmeside 9pmClassic Plastic@ 7even, Derwent St 10pmHonky Tonk Gay Club Scene @ Liquid-Diva, Green Ter 10pmAnything and Everything with Kirky and Co@ Bar P.U.R.E, Olive St 8pmCrisco Disco Gay Night with Trixie and DJ Teapot@ Ttonic, Vine Pl 7:30pmCrisco Disco 2 with DJ Big Daddy Anth@ Glass Spider, Green Ter 12:00am

Wednesday

Audio?@7even, Derwent St, 9pm

Thursdays

Student Night@ New Privilege Nightclub, Crowtree Rd Decadence@ Union, The Point. Holmeside (first Thursday of the month)Sleaze@ Voodoo Room, Olive St 10:30pmIndie Classics@ Bar P.U.R.E, Olive St 8pm

Fridays

Jarvis & Ju-lea - at thethe manifesto bar@Independant, Holmeside, 9pmThe Local with Ward 10 DJs@ The White Room, Holmeside 9pmFriday Nights@ Union, The Point, Holmeside 10:30pm £4 (Ladies free before midnight)Chart and Party@ Liquid-Diva, Green Ter £5Sounds of Substance @Substance, Tunstall Rd, 9pmThe Love Inn@ Substance, Tunstall RdJarvis + Ju-lea

Saturdays

Divine Wind with DJ Emmie@The White Room,Holmeside 9pmSounds of Substance @Substance, Tunstall Rd, 9pmHysteria Indie Night@ Privilege, Crowtree Rd 10pm £5Soul Deep with DJ Adrian Dickinson@ 200 High St, 8pmMusic For Misfits@ Independent, Holmeside 10pm £3Hunger@ Point, Holmeside 10pm £5Liquid-Diva@ Green Ter £6 before midnight

Sundays

Fundamental Sunday Sessions@ The Voodoo Room, Olive St 8pmSundays Expect Xtra@ Privilege Nightclub, Crowtree Rd 10pm £2Liquid- The R ‘n’ B Hip Hop Show@ Liquid-Diva, Green Ter £3West One@ London Inn, Spout Ln, Wash-ington 9:30pm

club nights

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SEEFORMILES

thursdays, 8pm-1am

residenT dj shem + GUESTS

playing the best tunes

from retro classics

to cutting edge sounds of today

47 sunniside west, sunniside, sr1 1ba (0191) 5652050

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LETTERSmyspace comments

LETTERSLETTERS

>>>> >>>>>> >>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>

>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>> >>> >>>>>>

Leave a comment at www.myspace.com/sunderlandmusicforum

SEEFORMILES

thursdays, 8pm-1am

residenT dj shem + GUESTS

playing the best tunes

from retro classics

to cutting edge sounds of today

47 sunniside west, sunniside, sr1 1ba (0191) 5652050

30 manifesto

Have Yourself AMerry Little Mix-Tape!- Kelly HornWhat with this ‘credit crunch’ hindering the wish of spoiling our loved ones with extrava-gant gifts over the Christmas season, I opted for the handmade approach of knitting scarves and making mix tapes. Cheap at half the price yet effort is endearing, appar-ently! So while I sat on the floor of my bedroom, surrounded by mountains of CDs and facing my prehistoric CD tape player, I revelled in the fact that I was reminded of why I adored each hand-picked track I was taping for each individual giftee by re-listening to them. (Mix-CDs being a debased form as all one has to do is drag, click and burn and within 5 minutes, job done which is about as personal as getting a generic Christmas card from Gentoo.) Then I became rather nostalgic whilst penning each track name in microscopic handwriting on the dotted lines of the insert. Yearning for the days when I used to toddle off to Our Price on a Saturday morning to purchase an audio cassette album with my saved up pennies to listen on my fluorescent cassette player donated to me by a sibling while I read the lyrics printed on the sleeve. The quaint appeal of such music methodology has been crudely replaced by the medium of MP3s. Yes, I am the hypocrite; I own and use an iPod (a ‘retro’ Mini, might I add) but even as I click Shuffle and still skip through the cornucopia of tracks saved upon it, I miss the fact that with tapes you HAD to listen to the whole shebang before reaching the pinnacle release single because there was no Skip button and fast forwarding was so laborious. The full creative flow of an artist or band was offered to the listener on a ream of brown tape

Give Me The Horn!

and was either appreciated or mourned with a les-son learned. So can you really be called a fan of mu-sic if you just buy a lone track you favour on iTunes? The album artwork is rendered redundant and the tangible nature of owning either a tape or CD is totally lost as you can’t display an MP3 on your CD/tape rack that would either impress or disgust an onlooker; such situations that induce quality debate would be extinct! Ah, call me old-fashioned but I miss the clunk indicating that the side A has ended and the twist of the tape to access side B.

Give Me The Horn!

A D V E R Ti n d e p e n d a n t