Amplified

photo via Myspace

Church

After my recent vacation, more goodies were awaiting when I got home. First up the kind people from new label SoHiTek Records informed me of Church, a three piece from Portland, Oregon. The childhood friends and brothers have built up a solid following in their hometown with their unique and energising live performances. Their second release, Gold, shows just what they are capable of. An acoustic dreaminess similar to Air and a vast diversity of sounds that very few bands can capture make Church that much more unique then anyone else out there. Let's thank the Vicar that these boys are breaking the mould.

MP3: Happiness

Myspace / Site

Amplified

photo by Mike Berlucchi

I have a long list to get through for this post. So many bands, labels and randoms have been sitting in my inbox and my priorities seem to be concentrating on cider and blueberry pies. Shame! So here are a delightful handful of bands that are turning on the turntables.

Mason Proper

I am a huge fan of RCRDLBL and alot of new music comes from them and yet again they got it right. Mason Proper are a five piece from Michigan and are the soundtrack to the subconscious mind. The free falling riffs and orchestral build ups seem to be the perfect partner for my abstract thoughts. Mason Proper HQ are based at Dovecote Records (home to the likes of Ed Harcourt and Bad Veins) and they are releasing their second full length Olly Oxen Free on 23rd September. For now you can download a sneak preview in the form of Lock and Key. Trust me, you will not be disappointed.

MP3: Lock and Key

Myspace / Website

photo via myspace

Return To Sender

There is something rather comforting when you hear loud, well formed songs from guys that are yonuger than your everyday bands. Return To Sender began their musical journey at the tender age of 16 and have continued through those awkward teenage years and appear to be the tight rock band that all those industry folk want to corrupt. They seem to have taken things in their own hands and are signed to Five One Inc label in California and have just released their new album The Grand Exposure. Every song stands on it's own with confidence and the sound of how a rock band should be. Like an early day Biffy Clyro, they hold passionate lyrics, fuzzy guitar that magically lead into quiet, dreamy riffs and a vocalist that sounds like he will implode if he doesn't get his message across. For such a young group of guys, they deserve everything any rock band wish for.

MP3 via Myspace: The Grand Exposure

Amplified

This Town Needs Guns

Hailing from Oxford, United Kingdom a brand new band has delighted me with a refreshing new sound. Good timing because I was getting a little bored with my current playlist and found I was skipping tracks more frequently. Signed to Big Scary Monsters, this four piece bring us unconventional, dizzying riffs and complex beats that when put together makes a stunning combination assisted by Stuart Smith's cherub like vocals that has to be heard before you make your own assumptions. If that doesn't impress you then just take a look at their impressive CD artwork. Looks like they hold the full package.

MP3 Download: Baboon

Myspace / Website

Tilly and the Wall at Richards on Richards, Vancouver 04 07 08

Tilly and the Wall

Sequined dresses, tap dancing and neon lights were the combination for Independence Day celebrations on Friday night at Richards on Richards. The Omaha five piece took to the stage with as much glitz and glamour as a half naked, burlesque dancer in a giant champagne glass and provided a rainbow of colour to shine upon the crowd. I wasn’t too familiar with Tilly and the Wall shows so was open minded and quite impressed to see a lack of drummer and Jamie providing beats through her Fred Astaire tap dancing skills.

Tattoo covered vocalist Kianna hit us with angsty chants during single ‘Pot Kettle Black’ in a monochrome dress and neon stripped tights while stomping in her delicate diamante mary-janes. Guitarist Derek shuffled and hopped around the stage during ‘Cacophony’ while Neely rung out the tambourines and maracas like a Latino lovely which made me feel like I was a cowgirl riding in the desert during a Mexican shootout.

The predominately male, tight t-shirted crowd proved to be firm Tilly followers as they sung along to every word and gyrated their hips at the foot of the stage. I shyly stood at the back trying to decide what to make of it all. Although, thoroughly enjoying it from the start, boredom gradually crept over me as every song began to sound the same as the last. After what felt like an incredibly long show, Tilly and the Wall bid us farewell to rapturous applause and thanked us for being the best crowd ever (don’t all bands say that?) I left unimpressed but continued to stomp my feet down Richards singing Pot Kettle Black. Clearly they are as infectious as their tap shoes.

Tilly and the Wall Myspace / Photos

MP3: Pot Kettle Black

Support came from The Clips Myspace / Photos

The Stanley Park Singing Exhibition

photo via Myspace

After much unpacking and settling in to my new apartment, I have finally found the time to update Amplify This in the new location of Vancouver. A beautiful city that I am happy to call my new home for a little while. Still trying to discover the hot spots in town and find out where the cool kids hang, I have been resorting to local magazines and free papers for all the news that I need to know.

The main event in Vancouver that jumped out at me and one that I am most excited about is The Stanley Park Singing Exhibition presented by The New Pornographers. Being held on the 31st August and 1st September at Malkin Bowl with the stunning backdrop of Stanley Park, this two day concert will see the likes of Neko Case, Destroyer, Deerhoof and The New Pornographers themselves take to the stage and provide a summer weekend to remember. Make sure you get tickets for both days because you will need to make your friends jealous when you return to school after summer.

Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster and you can find more info at Myspace

The Futureheads @ Electric Ballroom

Last week saw yet another intimate show in London town. With the release of third album 'This Is Not The World,' The Futureheads played a one-off show at Electric Ballroom to inform us they are well and truly back. Performing tracks from their new album while squeezing in the classics, they put on a rapturous show to bouncing fans who had tears of joy falling down their cheek. Clearly not content with simply providing the music, The Futurehead boys added to the show with comical banter between songs. Filling us in with storys of mates being dumped by girls and life in Sunderland, they seemed just as at ease being the comedien as they were being the musician. With recent difficulties put aside, The Futureheads proved they have returned and louder then ever.

The Futureheads Site / Myspace
More Live photos at Amplify This Flickr

Support came from Australian teenyboppers Operator Please who showed us where the party's at.


Also, new kids from Goatee Beach, Thomas Tantrum ripped up their indie/pop tunes to kick start our night

Amplified!

Gramercy Arms

I think I have just found the band to soundtrack my summer! With former members of Guided By Voices, Joan As Policewoman and Luna it was enevitable that this was going to be a fairly awesome band. With everything you need from hand-claps, bah-bah-bah chants and up-beat strums it's hard not to put the Gramercy Arms on repeat.

Gramercy Arms Website / Myspace

photo by Dr Gonzo

The Cherry Cobb Cartel

With influences from At The Drive-In to Edith Piaf, this foursome from Yorkshire offer a stomping blend of chugging beats and guitars that pretty much break the pitch of any ear. Maybe the fact they are playing BBC Raw Talent Session on the 27th July will persuade you to have a further listen.

MP3: Download 'Schziophrenic' from The CCC Myspace