| * Abuse - There's more to Reading than just
a festival, Sid Abuse lives here and he is the man. In the spirit of
alternative media, Abuse fanzine was THE read of the early 90s, complete
with advice to keep an eye on Radiohead (during the "they are not
worthy" years), an Elastica article that Melody Maker just HAD to
have and all manner of controversy and fab live music. Sid runs Abuse
mail order/record label and promotes music for the love of it. * Alternative
TV. Mark Perry left his job in a bank and gave D.I.Y.
culture a shot in the arm with the first punk fanzine (Sniffin Glue) a
band (ATV) and has stood the test of time. As I'm typing this they are
out playing in Europe and I'm told that a book/film is in the offing too...
* Asian Dub Foundation - brilliant live
shows, amazing recordings, they share the joy by helping and speaking out for others - ADF
are a perfect example of all that is inspiring about music's power. www.asiandubfoundation.com
* The Basement (club) - Toby L and Gordon Raphael's monthly
shindig next to Highbury and Islington station, Punk City usually sells out, so check out
the website for the next one, and get there early. www.rockfeedback.com
* Corporation:Blend - with self belief, of Shawshank proportions, in their songs, --(C:B)--
are an attitude explosion in a spunk factory. Anthems, bonkers gigs, flyers, internet,
stardust and word of mouth have already won them ardent fans. A new angle, (exposure)
beckons in 003, watch out! * Rocklands Star article * www.corporationblend.com
* Drowned In Sound. Highly essential bookmark for new and alternative music fans.
Interactive too. Mailing lists, tours, clubs - you name it. Drowned In Sound's
profile rises as the influence of The Friend (network) on the
establishment media's new music increases. www.drownedinsound.com
* The Eighties Matchbox B Line Disaster - from the stage they can blast you off a dance
floor! They mean it maaan. They walk it like they talk it. Their album Horse Of
The Dog lit/fucked up rock in 002 (oh and their videos are amazing). they
continue their rise in 003 - * 80s Matchbox fire up Rocklands 01-002 report * www.eightiesmatchbox.com *
* The Fairies Band - Not all 21c punx are human and there's definitely a lot of
magic involved. Raucous, rocking and fast tracking to the stars - if you see they are
playing, do yourself a favour and go see Tinky, Sparkle, Tinsel and Twinkle,
live. * Rocklands
Star article *
* The Friend (network) - bands, media, individuals and organisations that are about passion
not fashion. Over the turn of the century, there were still loads of music fans prepared
to stick their neck out and not go along with the next best things laid down by the
ministry of music information that is the establishment music press. From then on, their
influence and profile has only increased with that of the music they supported and
promoted. click
here for links etc
* Gold Blade can will an audience to fall in love with them during the time it takes to play a
set. I've seen them do it more than once. Oh and where would we be without Brother
John. When it comes to belief, the man is messiah. Punk runs through his veins
from fanzine, to label, to band to journalism. He did the first Manic Street
Preachers interview for Sounds magazine and the new art riot just wouldn't have
been the same without John Robb (or Simon Price). www.goldblade.com
* The House Of Rock. Nutters, mates, music fanatics, members of various bands etc
and a link to a lot of what is going on in this vibe... Punk city page.
* King Adora - despite being a band that most of the establishment refuse to check out, let
alone support, King Adora have had chart success and even at the end of
002, were playing a mostly sold out tour with no publicity. They are a vanguard of 21c
punx and return in Spring 003 for more live dates. www.kingadora.com * "Your're
dressing room smells of cum!" (Nov-002 live
report) *
* London Callin (club) - Barnet's part of the House Of Rock
posse and Punk City legend, like loads of his mates. Here is a monthly hang-out at the
equally legendary 12 Bar Club in Tin Pan Alley, Soho.
It's done for music above money, old skool. Punks from every decade/corner of the world
come to this intimate nut house to be entertained, to misbehave/have fun, to dance and
drink, to meet people, to rock and to roll. Dress up or down, come by yourself, bring a
gang, anything goes cos it's free of trendy-trite mentality. Even sells Bucketful of
Brains zine! In 002, gigs by Virgin Suicides, Corporation:Blend, The Fairies Band and
loads more proved it an essential 21c punx hang-out. When The Duvals played
their last gig here, Charlie Harper of UK Subs even
joined them on vocals for a bit when guitarist, Howie had to leave the
stage to go and look for his guitar. (eh? anything goes, this is the real deal). Aside
from live bands, Barnet DJs a punky reggae party and with the 12 bar's
stage, no gig is gonna be "normal". The last band I saw there, Fuck All
Else To Do would have made Iggy Pop blush. Come and play, the
spirit of The Clash, turned into a club... for the next club, flyer,
info, contact etc contact Barnet londoncallin@hotmail.com
* Manic Street Preachers - kings of the new art riot, self contradictory, music obsessives
that speak out with word and song. They are often "uncool" but their songs ARE
part of the turn of the century's soundtrack and the things they draw attention to DO end
up in the news. Dismiss 'em and weep.
* Mansun - the rock band so brilliant that they are a joke in some quarters. A cultish
obsession with deep roots and an international following. It's a pop fan thing... visit * The Manshun
* Mika Bomb - beyond riot grrrl, beyond glamour and beyond rock n roll sex bitch power are
the already legendary Mika Bomb. No wonder they ended 002 playing on The
D4 and Snuff tours. No wonder fans followed them from Europe
back to the UK. Peel your eyes and don't miss them. www.mikabomb.com
* Miss Black America - there was panic at the end of 002. Had MBA
split? Fuck? How? Why? All is well and they head out on their second Drowned In
Sound tour at the start of 003. They were a match to the fuse of the 21st century
punx and are one of the most essential rock bands. See them play. www.missblackamerica.net *
* Mo Solid Gold/These Animal Men some of the wildest performances ever courtesy of both bands. If
you didn't see K do his thing, then, sorry.. Unbelievably dropped for
only selling about 50,000 albums with no exposure (ahem!), Mo Solid Gold are
a great loss to UK music. During the USA-only-year of 001, it was a reporter from Rolling
Stone that stated they were the best thing at Reading Festival when the NME
reporter admitted in their review that they couldn't be bothered to watch them. These
Animal Men (from whom Mo Solid Gold sprang) were (along with S*M*A*S*H)
the leaders of the new art riot that has spawned the 21c punx scene and a wild, wild rock
n roll story. Picture of Julian/Hooligan at ex-tribute site: http://www.listen.to/thenwonw
* The New Art Riot Comes Of Age (Rocklands article - the inter connectedness of the
21c punx began just after Madchester had united LaLaLand through dancing...) some mad
Welsh punks called Manic Street Preachers...
* R*E*P*E*A*T - A long standing MSP inspired zine
packed with music, bands, fans, reviews, rants, views, politics, news, contacts etc that
has also become a label (responsible for introducing the world to Miss Black
America) and a live promoter that is the centre of alternative East Anglia. A
national institution and responsible for 002's excellent "Fuck The
Jubilee" 7" (featuring Neo and the Virgin
Suicides) www.repeatfanzine.co.uk
* Rockfeedback - the establishment flirted briefly with UK
bands that were beautiful and rocked, but Toby L had already interviewed King
Adora before any of 'em. The site just keeps growing and inspiring just like the
number of bands Toby L beats mainstream media to. After a few polite
handshakes backstage at Reading last year, it was Toby that The
Strokes crowded round to chew the fat with and Gordon Raphael,
producer of their LP, Is This It, writes for Rockfeedback and
organises The Basement Club with Toby too. Like Drowned
In Sound, this is one of LaLaLand's most necessary music sites.
* S*M*A*S*H - fuck it, any band that says the words "Shame
On This Government" on Top Of The Pops are alright by me and the video for "I
Want To Kill Somebody" should be added to the headless Margaret Thatcher
statue and Winston Churchill's green mohican as images of 21st century punk life. They
were an explosion that lit up the 90s. Fans burned music papers at their gigs, blood on
stage, , people hurled crates of beer at them, journalists were screamed at (Sid
Abuse remains a star). A public suicide of a last gig, they burned themselves out in a
hail of glasses and abuse at The Forum. Their manager left half way through their set.
They will always be real surreal man. Respect via S*M*A*SH from R*E*P*E*A*T
and from *T*R*A*S*H club.
* Stay Beautiful (club) - this is where the glam-not-glum brigade go to party like 1999 was last
century. Simon Price and Suicide Ally are the lord and
lady of Punk City party people. Great music, excellent atmosphere, wonderful people, guest
DJs, the works. Monthly Planet Water vibe at The Islington Bar on Caledonian Road. check
the site for the next one, and go...
www.staybeautifulclub.co.uk More London Punk City at "Oh Too Oh"
page of LaLaLand.
* The Virgin Suicides are ferocious live.
musically bitter, fucked off and hated at home in Cambridge. And that's putting it all
mildly. I hope to see a lot more of them in 003 and so should you. http://www.thevirginsuicides.co.uk
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