Amplified! Vol.1 - The Nightjars

photo by Anne-Laure Franchette

A new feature arrives at Amplify This! to pay homage for all new bands around the globe. If you have the Amplified tag stamped on your backside then you are definitely going places.

To guide us on this snowy March Sunday is The Nightjars, a four-piece shining the light for Manchester. Now correct me if I am wrong but whenever I think of bands from Manchester, I have the image of drunken, arrogant, northern swagger that comes with bands like Oasis, The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays but I suppose you can't make those assumptions to all bands. Of course, you can never forget the likes of Joy Division, Doves and Elbow which proves Manchester have managed to keep their footprint firmly on the music map.

The Nightjars are another band who are ready to join that list and on paper they look very promising. With influences from Velvet Underground and Pixies they are sure to cause a bit of a frenzy. After listening to some tracks off their album 'Towards Light' I have yet to feel dissatisfied. Alot of angst. Alot of drums. And a whole lot of bass. Perfect!

They deliver punchy, scratchy guitar rock in the form of 'Stay Focused,' 'Bass Drum' and 'Set Them Up' that gives a raw, young image for a band that are still on the fickle music ladder but the songs that stood out for me are the more melodic, grown up gems like 'You Set Me Reeling' and 'Second Guess.' Both with dreamy guitar and luscious vocals from lead singer Ollie that provide a heartbreaking mix for all us loved up couples that huddle together in pub corners and share whiskey tainted kisses while trying to pay attention to the band providing the soundtrack.

Label buddies with Joan As Policewoman, The Nightjars are sure in good hands on Reveal Records and hold promising reviews in NME, BBC Online and Fake DIY. These Mancunian guys are definitely doing something right so make sure you jump on the bandwagon before they reach the stadium they are aiming for.

Keep an eye on The Nightjars at their site and myspace for news and dates

Until then, caress your ears with these darlings

The Nightjars - Bass Drum

The Nightjars - Second Guess

Let's Get Up

photo by Liam Henry

When you first hear Leeds based band Dinosaur Pile-Up you can't help but get excited. Like when your Mum used to give you a whole fifty pence piece and you would run as fast as your legs could take you to the corner shop and scream to the little old lady for every sherbert flying saucer under her roof. OK, well that's how excited I got. Without mentioning names, there are some really awful new music floating around at the moment but DP prove how much worthwhile talent is getting ignored. Frontman and multi-instrumentalist Matt Bigland is proving he is the full package both musically and lyrically with a voice to smack you back into T-Rex's giant jaws.

I was lucky enough to catch them on a short visit to Leeds in a tiny, half empty underground clubnight and they completely confirmed everything I have just said. Energetic, powerful and leaving the crowd wanting so much more...and that was only their first show. Someone pass the flying saucers please!

The lovely people at Fake DIY put DP in their Class Of 2008...and rightly so! Check out the interview with Mr Bigland. Class Of 2008 DP Interview

All you need at Dinosaur Pile-Up Myspace for demos, dates and downloads.
MP3: What Howard Said

Finally, here are some photos from the Leeds show at Trash 22/03/2008

The Stills - Water Rats, London 21/04/07

Yet more photos that have been dug out from the depths of my hard drive. And more of The Stills. I can never really fault their shows so I won't bore you with how fantastic and brilliant they were...yet again! Just enjoy the photos.

More at Amplify This!
All things The Stills

Voxtrotting In Hoxton

November 6th 2007 saw Voxtrot pass through London town. A rare appearance from these Texan elfins and what a night! A rammed Hoxton Bar and Grill in the scenester East End was the perfect setting. I was so excited that these guys had finally managed to get over to the UK to play some dates and it was totally worth the wait. Although, if Voxtrot are reading - please get your butts back over here pronto! Here are some shots from the show courtesy of Amplify This!

Check out Voxtrot's Myspace for dates and an exclusive Ova Looven remix of Firecracker

Scientists With Brains

A school crammed with adolescent girls must be a tough environment for teachers...especially male teachers. All the oestrogen floating in the air with innocent whispers of platform shoes, spotty boys and tampons in the same sentence can't be a pretty sight. I always wondered why teachers would put themselves through it. In particular my science teacher. He was a slight man, with a bearded face and hair that was always dull with grease. He conformed to the stereotype by wearing trousers that were constantly fighting a losing battle with his ankles and blazers with the leather padded elbows. He didn't really do himself any justice and we girls never really left him alone. He would always walk around school singing to himself and we would waste an hour's lesson asking him to sing Spice Girls songs - which he happily agreed to. There were moments when we considered him only as our amusement but I like to think that we all developed respect and a caring affection for the old man.

Since then I had considered all scientists to slot into that image. Even if they are three men exclaiming to screaming girls 'We Are Scientists!'
I'm partial to the geeky, bookish type but I would never have thought that kind of thing would sell. But when you are witty, dry humoured and can sing like an angel then you are doing something right - it's all starting to sound like my science teacher, isn't it?

Well, these Scientists have well and truly returned. As a twosome may I add since the departure of drummer Michael but that's not stopping them from making noise. Matured like a class A French cheese, they seem to be taking things more seriously and proving they are far from the one hit wonder some people originally thought. They ripped up the London scene with furious intensity and toured continuously across the globe like erm…scientists on crack (excuse the pun!). After a well deserved time out, the New York poppets have enlightened us to a brand new single and a delicious taster of what’s to come on the always difficult sophomore album. After Hours has an unassuming repetitiveness that is juxtaposed with heartfelt lyrics as Keith cries out in desperation ‘say that you’ll stay!’

And our reply to you Keith, is we’re not going anywhere.

WAS are back on the destructive road for a UK and European tour and begin with a handful of free in store appearances. Get there early!

Check WAS myspace for further details

3 Mar 08 – 18.00

Instore Performance - HMV Glasgow Glasgow, Scotland

4 Mar 08 – 16.30

Instore Performance - Jumbo Records, Leeds Leeds, Midlands

5 Mar 08 – 17.00

Instore Performance - Rapture Entertainment Ltd, Witney Witney, South

6 Mar 08 – 17.30

Instore Performance - Fopp, Cambridge Cambridge, Midlands

7 Mar 08 – 18.00

Instore Performance - Banquet Records, Kingston Kingston, London and South East

24 Mar 08 - Cologne Gloria

25 Mar 08 - Hamburg Ubel & Gefahrlich

26 Mar 08 - Dresden Beatpol

27 Mar 08 - Fribourg Fri-son

29 Mar 08 - Munich Elserhalle

30 Mar 08 - Mousonturm Frankfurt

1 Apr 08 - Rotterdam Rotown

02 Apr 08 - Groningen Vera

03 Apr 08 - Utrecht Tivoli De Helling

07 Apr 08 - Dublin Ambassador Dublin

08 Apr 08 - Galway Roisin Dubh Galway

09 Apr 08 - Belfast Mandela Hall

10 Apr 08 - Derry Nerve Centre

12 Apr 08 - Glasgow Barrowlands Scotland

13 Apr 08 - Aberdeen Music Hall Scotland

14 Apr 08 - Newcastle Northumbria University

15 Apr 08 - Manchester University

17 Apr 08 - Sheffield Octagon

18 Apr 08 - Birmingham Academy

19 Apr 08 - Nottingham Rock City

20 Apr 08 - Norwich U.E.A

22 Apr 08 - Southampton Guildhall

23 Apr 08 - Bristol Academy

24 Apr 08 - London Shepherds Bush Empire

25 Apr 08 - London Shepherds Bush Empire

The Stills @ Richards on Richards Vancouver, BC

Yet more photos from The Stills West Coast shows back in 27th April 2006. To promote the new release of Without Feathers. A truly beautiful show.


For more pictures go to Ampify This Flickr page
The Stills webpage and myspace

Land of Talk @ Water Rats

How must a band feel to play on a Monday night? It's the start of the week, the weekend has just flashed past in a whiskey fuelled blur and the red blood vessels in your eyes are becoming more obvious during the meeting about accounts and reconcilliations. Unfortunately, it's always the really great bands that get the shitty nights for their gigs. Especially when it's a debut headline show but I think that's to our advantage. The Water Rats Theatre in Kings Cross is empty and I honestly can't contain my excitement. Reason being that before I left work I got an email from The Cloud Room mailing list telling me they are in town tonight and performing at none other than.......WATER RATS. The Cloud Room......supporting Land of Talk. Is this possible!!

So, standing by the side of the stage I await The Cloud Room. After seeing them some years back, it will be good to hear their new material, which does not fail to impress. The energy they send through an empty room is immense. With the cross armed crowd standing at a distance, lead singer J didn't seem to worry. Sweaty with veins about to burst every song had the same enthusiasm. They kept Hey Now Now until the end which made the crowd light up with a 'wait a minute, i know this song' arrogance and then it was all over. A short 30 minute set and they strolled backstage...leaving us wanting more.

Now, I love Canadian bands-fact! And I love it even more when they play London. Land Of Talk's mini album has been on my turntable for quite some time and I was becoming quite giddy at the thought of seeing them in the current intimate surroundings. The lighting is low and slightly romantic. The pixie that is Elizabeth is partly hidden by her own shadows as she closes her eyes and sighs down the microphone...easy boys! The focus is on her. Maybe because girls in bands is still a new, exciting thing. Especially someone like Elizabeth who can't help but make you want to look at her.

For more pictures go to Ampify This Flickr page
Land Of Talk myspace
The Cloud Room myspace