Mutineers Tell Me All About Their New Single, Give it A Listen Here!

Manchester has always contributed the hottest bands to the British music scene and the Mutineers are no exception to the rule. Their debut album,  Friends, Lovers, Rivals flourished on the underground scene due to the loyalty and word of mouth of their fan base.  The four Mancunian lads started out in 2010 and can add names such as Pete Doherty, Bad Lieutenant and Wintersleep to those who they have supported on tour.

The exciting news arrived today that a new single 'Tell Me Why' is to be released on Monday 23rd September and I was treated to a sneak peek to the single. Here the Mutineer lads tell me all we need to know about their upcoming single.

Summarize the single in 3 words

Mutineers: Upbeat/vibey/ Fresh

The lyrics to 'Tell Me Why' are quite haunting, is there a story or inspiration behind it?

Mutineers: It's a bit more imagery led than a lot of lyrics from the 1st album and some of it touches upon an interest in Greek mythology. Other than that, we prefer people to take what they like from the lyrics and form their own ideas. It keeps a certain level of mystique intact.

Compared to other tracks, 'Tell Me Why' has more of an electric dance vibe to it, does this mean you're moving in a new direction with your music?

Mutineers: The new album songs have a different vibe in that they're a bit more rhythmic and seem to be a little bit bouncier to get up and play life. The important thing for this record is that we've kept the melody at the forefront, which was the thing that made the 1st album so good. We've had our own studio set up which in some ways helps us experiment much more with our sound without having to check the clock.

Who will be your support act for your upcoming mini-tour?

Mutineers: We'll be playing 5 shows and there will be different support acts in every city. We've had a hand who is supporting on most of the shows. It's great for us to mix it up a bit - we get to watch some ace bands as well as play our own show. You should all check out Bison & Wolf who are opening for us in Manchester and Harriet Jones who's doing the London leg.


Be sure to check out 'Tell Me Why' and join the lads on one of these tour dates.

Warrington Friars Court - 12th October

Manchester Sound Control - 17th October

London Rattlesnake - 18th October

Glasgow Pivo Pivo - 2nd November

Leeds Cockpit - 16th November

                                                     

When Covers Are Better Than The Original

I'm not always one that 'approves' as such of those who rip off other artists' materials and there is nothing more infuriating than when it does happen, but at the risk of upsetting many dedicated music fans, there are quite a few covers of classic song that (dare I say it) are better than the original. Maybe this is because sometimes it is easier to identify ways in which to improve a song from an outside perspective, or it's just been adapted to suit the tastes of a certain genre, deeming it more likeable to an individual's ears.

Below I have picked out a few of my favourite examples of where an artist has covered a classic, and in my opinion, have done a much better job of it.


Oasis: I am The Walrus by The Beatles

It is no secret that the Gallagher brothers admired The Beatles far more than they admire one another and this cover of the drug-fuelled 'I am The Walrus' is a fitting tribute to the four mopheads. Oasis released their live version of 'I am The Walrus' as a B side to their better known single 'Cigarettes and Alcohol' in 1994. Although I have always loved the original, there have been times when the imagery of 'yellow matter custard, dripping from a dead dog's eye' combined with the monotony of Lennon's voice has made me feel as though the Liverpudlian lads were pumping funky-brownies through my speakers. For me it is the slow, steady guitar rhythm that makes me feel uncomfortably freaked.
 However, Oasis did a fantastic job of adapting the track for us less hippy inclined rock 'n' rollers by including guitar solos alongside a heavier drum rhythm. This combined with Gallagher's vocals makes it ideal for those who would choose moshing over chasing dragons.

Nirvana: The Man Who Sold The World by David Bowie

Another iconic cover that was released in 1994 is courtesy of Nirvana covering Bowie's 'The Man Who Sold The World' which featured on their MTV Unplugged in New York album.  The melancholic riffs and reflective, sombre lyrics is everything that Kurt Cobain was. Watching the performance we can almost believe that Cobain was The Man Who Sold the World'.  Was Bowie bitter the cover was so successful that many thought that it was a Nirvana track? Not at all! 'It was a good straightforward rendition and sounded somehow very honest' he mused (although he did reportedly get a little peeved when fans told him that they liked that he had performed a Nirvana cover).

Echo and the Bunnymen: People Are Strange by The Doors

The Doors originally released the lonely ballad of 'People Are Strange' in 1967 which managed to reach the top ten charts. Although the jaunty chord progression deems it worthy of being a blues anthem for all the lone wolves out there, it doesn't half tug on the heart strings. There is very little that differs in the cover by Echo and the Bunnymen, which was released as the soundtrack for the 1987 cult classic film 'Lostboys', except for a bigger emphasis on the guitar riffs which strips away the 'wild west' imagery which the Doors created in the original.

Rewind The Film: New Video Released by the Manic Street Preachers

21 years ago the Manic Street Preachers were desperate to escape the lonely isolation of their small Welsh town, Blackwood. They took us far away as they possibly could in order to make a name for themselves, even taking us as far as the bright city lights of Tokyo in 'Motorcycle Emptiness', losing themselves in the crowd.  Now more accepting of their Welsh heritage, The Manics are now looking back with contemplative nostalgia at their small town roots, swapping the bright lights of Tokyo for the dim bulbs of a Bingo hall.

 Richard Hawley lends his vocals to the acoustic track of Rewind The Film  as the video follows the everyday life of a senior citizen in the small Welsh valley. The video features no traces of the famous ego of the Manics but instead artistically portrays the alienation and urban decay of working class life. Wire, Moore and Bradfield demonstrate to us just how far they have matured as a band via the melancholy use of acoustic guitar and the brooding vocals by Hawley. However I am glad to say that Bradfield has not lost any of the  passion in his voice as he joins in the chorus.

Rewind The Film contains all the ingredients that made the Manic Street Preachers stand the test of time as a band; thoughtful, brooding lyrics with political undertones combined with talented guitar work, but yet it ushers us gently into a new era of the Manics which will come with their new album release later on this year.

On a sidenote, I purchased tickets to see the Manic St. Preachers perform their new album at the O2 Shepherds Bush empire in September. Excited is not a big enough word!

Exclusive Interview with Doncaster's hottest band, The Kavaliers

Rawness, originality and a whole lot of kicking attitude are the three things that determines what gets played on my iPod these days. Therefore when I came across The Kavaliers I was instantly taken with the energy which blasted through my speakers. It was the guitar solo by Matthew Brewin in the intro to 'Clouds' which made me sit up and pay attention to this band from Doncaster and as soon as the Richard Ashcroft-esque vocals (courtesy of Tom Statham)  kicked in, I was an instant fan. 

The lovely lads from Doncaster (Tom Statham, Jordan Booth, Liam Ambrose and Matthew Brewin) were even kind enough to grant me an interview so I could find out what they're all about. 

First things first, how long have The Kavaliers been on the Doncaster music circuit? 

About 5 years* but the current line up is relatively fresh with the new bass player present for 18 months and the new guitar player for about 7 months. 

How influential has your hometown been on the music you've produced?

Quite, one of our songs 'Shotgun Town' is about Doncaster. One of the only good things about the town is you can get a couple of tunes out about it. 

You have listed Oasis and The Stone Roses as your main influences. These two bands put Manchester on the map in regards to music and did much to challenge the London Music Scene. As you guys are based in Doncaster, do you reckon there's still a north/south divide in today's music? 

No, not really. The people we've met appreciate good music regardless of north/south divide

You've played The Polish Festival Doncaster, how important are festivals to the British music scene? 

Very, they give the bands the opportunity to reach a wider audience and network with similar artists in places they're not necessarily from. 

You've shared a stage with Pete Doherty, is he a fan of The Kavaliers?

I don't think he'll remember much of that night haha! 

Will you ever take a jaunt down to London to play a live set for your Southern based fans? 

Absolutely, if a gig offer comes in we'll be straight down! 

Finally, are there any plans for a future album release? 

We plan to record an ep of material in the coming months but if you can't wait pop down to a show. 

If you would you like to know more about The Kavaliers, head over to their Facebook page or follow them on Twitter

*ooops, I'm a bit late to this party

The Clash's 'London Calling': overused advertising slogan or definition of an era?

Although The Clash's 'London Calling' is forever being overused as an advertising slogans, keen to get tourists into London (which is the opposite to what the song is actually preaching) I have to argue that it is on the list of songs that defined an era, an era that was full of uncertainty and collective depression. This song will forever go down in Punk history as it contains everything a punk song should have; raw energy, crackling vocals, a message of impending doom and the dismissal of society as 'phoney' (phoney Beatlemania has bitten the dust).

The ominous beat of the drums in the intro tells us that this song is a warning; a prophecy of nuclear disaster accompanied by the wailing warning sirens. Joe Strummer's husky, masculine vocals then suddenly explode into his tale of dystopia as he tells us that the positive ideology of the 1960s has gone for good.  London Calling is THE anthem of the 1970s, summing up the fear of nuclear technology and the decay of society. In fact, it would have been the ideal soundtrack to the government issued 'protect and survive' instruction videos as they are both acceptance of the grim situation. Strummer is preparing us for battle, telling us that the dream is over and we have to 'come out of the cupboard' to face the apocalypse. He isn't scared of London drowning and he lives by the river. 

The ice age is coming, the sun's zooming in....

Following the second chorus, Strummer caws like a bird of prey circling the city. Such a raw expression of anger and frustration that was felt by many in a time of mass strikes and unemployment before he assures us that we cannot tell anything new as he was there too. London Calling is still today a punk classic which gets pulses racing and as far of prophecies of doom go, this is my favourite.

David Bowie Is... You!

Today my senses were treated to an exotic feast of decadent  rock and roll at the David Bowie Is... exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum. The exhibition catered for the fast-paced, multi-tasking world of rock and roll that we live in, as at every turn music and visuals in the shape of video footage, Bowie's costume and personal items asked us 'David Bowie is....(what exactly?)

The vast array of costumes and original lyric sheets (seen on the right here) made me personally conclude that David Bowie is every man and every woman. The fact that an exhibition was curated for a man who is actually still alive made me realize why we are so hypnotized by his various alter-egos.  As I sat and watched Ziggy performing Rock 'n' Roll Suicide on a 20ft screen, I had my own epiphany, Bowie isn't a mythological superstar, he is simply everything David Jones had growing inside of him. Ziggy, Aladdin Sane, The Thin White Duke, Major Tom are all the people that we have inside of ourselves, they are our wildest desires, our curiosities, our lusts and passions. We all have these creative fires burning inside of ourselves which we sometimes have to repress due to the demands of our society. But David Bowie released every side he had and by exposing himself fully, he gave everyone else the courage to release their true selves, which was highly significant in the 60s/70s as homosexuality was still a highly controversial issue.

So David Bowie is the Sound and Vision that we all have inside ourselves, Bowie is the key to unlocking who we really are and want to be.

.....and then 3 come along at once!

They say all good things come in threes and today certainly has followed that rule for me, so in no particular order here's what has made my day;

1] With the current fashion of nostalgia in the music world box sets are being released everywhere we look. However I was very excited to find out that The Clash are releasing a box set in the shape of a boombox (well, at least that's new!) which will feature the remastered versions of their first five albums and tapes from Mick Jones. In addition to this the box set will also include a DVD of  previously unseen footage.
Another jump on the remastering albums bandwagon for easy money? Perhaps!
Will I be caving into this blatant act of consumer exploitation? Shamefully yes!

2] I wrote an article a while back on the Manchester indie band Bauer with a review on their album 'Sleeping Giant'. As most of you know I always route for the physical release of albums and after pestering Bauer for a while, they announced on Twitter today that the physical copy of 'Sleeping Giant' will be out Monday, available from Townsend Records online.

3] One of my close friends (the fashion guru Becky Ferris)  is completely smitten with 'The Great Gatsby' and has been waxing lyrical about all things Gatsby for weeks now. So on her recommendation I gave the soundtrack a listen to. But while she so enamored with Lana Del Rey, she forgot to tell me that Jack White features also! 'Love is Blindness' is what Jack White does best, sexy moodiness which bursts at the seams with epic guitar lines. A track I could certainly listen to for hours on end.

I'm so content with all the above that I almost forgot I have a 3 hour exam tomorrow.....