Author: birminghamreview

Casiokids, Norwegian’s left-left-up-left of centre electro ensemble, come to the Hare & Hounds on Jan 19th, marking the beginning of their 2012 UK tour.

Back in blighty to promote their 3^rd album, the Scrabble challenging – ‘Aabenbaringen over aaskammen’ (out on Moshi Moshi Records – Jan 16^th), Casiokids play 9 dates from Glasgow to Tunbridge Wells. With Birmingham being the first, so check us out and our big selves.

Once described by NME as ‘the best thing to come out of Norway since black metal’, and ‘cartoon trance’ by Rolling Stone, Casiokids have been hard to pin down. No bad thing. Combining pop (ish, kind of) melodies with slick electronica, live instruments with analogue keyboards, and shadow theatre with puppetry (oh yes), the boys from Bergen have generated a fair amount of good copy. Although my favourite description is currently ‘space disco’.

And it’s not only broadcast and print who seems embroiled in Casiokids praise. Norway’s still ashamedly most recognised band, A-ha, gave them 1million Krone (just shy of ₤110,000) for being one of the most ‘promising exports’ in their country’s music industry. Strangely pragmatic, but its hard to argue with a suitcase of cash.

In fact, it’s been hard to find much criticism of Casiokids at all. ‘There’s no sense of challenge on this record’, was about the worst I could unearth, after Googling ‘I hate Casio Kids’. And even that was surrounded by a herd of back handed compliments.

But it’s not down to me, or search engine abuse, or even the post McNicholas cat litter tray liner, its down to you.

So let us know what you think. We’ll be posting some Casiokids tracks on our Facebook page until the gig (www.facebook.com/birminghamreview – link to you right), so have a look/listen and write to reply.

Casiokids play the Hare & Hounds on January 19^th, for more info and ticket links visit http://hareandhoundskingsheath.co.uk/2011/11/25/casio-kids/

For more info on Casiokids visit http://casiokids.com

Cesilia Oriana Trecaquista will be at the Hare & Hounds on Jan 19th, for the Birmingham Review

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**PROMOTER OFFER**

ThisIs Tmrw, promoters of this gig, have ‘a £5 list available to any1 who posts their names on the Facebook wall’. Exploit their generosity at http://www.facebook.com/pages/This-Is-Tmrw/182533748432925

 

Words by K Ann Sulaiman

JAN 6th; She Screams Murder

plus; Venom and Apathy, Signs of Fire, Kill Joy City & Conduit

The Birmingham Ballroom kicked off the New Year with local boys – She Screams Murder, headlining a 5 band show in The End room. The evening was small but tight, with a tiny smattering of fresh faces (and some parents) who came down for beer and Midlands metalcore.

The night opened with 90’s inspired alternative rock, before morphing into frenetic catchy metalcore – a style blending the crunchier riffs of thrash and groove metal with bits of hardcore. Conduit and Kill Joy City – who threw in a little extra with a bilingual track in Japanese and English – set this off, but it wasn’t until the appearance of She Screams Murder that the real show occurred.

She Screams Murder appeared at Brumstock 2011, and their set showed why they made that bill. Launching into a hard-edged mix of heavy grooves, front man David Woodhouse’s thoroughly harsh, throaty vocals anchored their sound to the ground. And despite indulging in a much darker side of metalcore, even managed a friendly burst of moshing and slam dancing before getting back onstage to sing.

Stomping and moving together, the band switched between extreme, chugged rhythms and occasional moments of lighter guitar notes. With a good presence and tight songwriting, they held the stage.

But perhaps a more telling sign of maturity was their mix of onstage confidence and banter. She Screams Murder know where they are in the Midlands music scene.

For more information of She Screams Murder visit http://www.myspace.com/ssmofficialukband

 

JAN 7th: Karma Suite

Plus; We Writers, Idle Playthings & Farisle

Saturday was a significant night for Birmingham Indie rockers Karma Suite. The first gig of the New Year, they’re headlining, it’s the drummer’s birthday (happy birthday Nick).

And their final show. They’re splitting up – front man Tom Swingler is ‘travelling for a bit’.

So whilst we chase some further info from Karma Suite HQ, we put this space on hold. For in a word – clarification. After all a New Year resolution is not to be taken lightly… side project anyone??

With any information on Karma Suite email ed@birminghamreview.net

New Year’s Resolutions; save money, actually save money, exercise more, talk less, support local bands. One of these is achievable.

Taking on the bravest weekend of the year to promote ANYTHING, the Birmingham Ballroom is giving its first Friday/Saturday to a veritable sausage fest of local musicianship. One Indie, one Metalcore. Or as a dance festival poster would sell it; 9 men, 4 guitars, 2 bands and 1 stage.

And having spent much of last year adding to the stockpiled column inches of those whose 15 minutes are as subjective as a taxi driver’s estimation, the Birmingham Review is keeping good on at least one New Year’s promise. I mean really, exercise more?

Here’s a quick heads up to who, what and when:

She Screams Murder

She Screams Murder are a five piece Metalcore band from Brummigem, formerly known as the slightly more pleasant Serenity Lies Within. The police may be asking about the name change lads. As fresh as a new born baby – formed in early 2010, and just as loud, SSM already have a self released EP under their belt, and are planning another one quick smart.

Already picking up some local attention, and I’m cringing at the cliché I’m about to put down, 2012 could be a good year for them. Which they may well deserve (we’ll clarify this in the review) if for nothing else than their sterling work for charity at Brumstock 2010. A one day mini fest that saw bands including; Point Blank Fury, Tread The Blood, My Great Affliction & Leather Pig raise money for the Birmingham Children’s Hospital. Right…

 

Karma Suite

With a worryingly depressed looking publicity shot, Karma Suite are a four piece Indie band from Birmingham. Although front man, Tom Swingler – who’s surname I want to steal by Deed Poll, sounds like he might be from a bit higher up the atlas (again, we’ll try and clarify this).

Drawing on a healthy mix of genres; Rock, Jazz & Folk, Karma Suite have been knocking about since 2009, but ‘making some noise in a series of energetic live shows throughout 2010’. They’ve ‘even put in a few festival appearances’, but the Birmingham Review couldn’t pin down what these were (…to clarify).

Stating ‘intricate percussive elements, melodic bass lines, thought provoking lyrics and a very British guitar sound’, as the reason for their ‘sound that is both familiar and refreshing at the same time’, Karma Suite seem to be solid. Or perhaps just prone to overzealous descriptions. We’ll see, as the list of clarifications grows ever longer.

She Screams Murder play the Birmingham Ballroom on Jan 6^th. For more info on the band visit http://www.myspace.com/ssmofficialukband

Karma Suite play the Birmingham Ballroom on Jan 7^th. For more info on the band visit http://www.myspace.com/karmasuitemusic

For tickets and info to both gigs, and further venue listings, visit http://www.birmingham-ballroom.com

Words & pictures by Cesilia Oriana Trecaquista

On an unusually mild Christmas Eve night, I set off to my local – the Hare & Hounds, with a certain amount of trepidation. I was going to watch and review Misty’s Big Adventure, a band with a huge cult following ‘round these parts, but one I had little knowledge of. In fear of expulsion from the B13/14 postcode; I wanted to like them.

The crowd were in predictably high festive spirits (or predictably high on festive spirits – Ed) and nicely warmed up by support acts Chinese Burn Society and Kate Goes. So when it was time for Misty’s to play, they needed no excuse to get their dance on – as unusual as it was. None, however, more so than from the strange blue-faced man dressed in an adult sized one-sie, with several protruding blue stuffed hands. Confused, I turned to the crowd for comfort. Those in the know told me he’s Erotic Volvo, Misty’s accompanying dancer.

The set began with the most upbeat song I’ve ever heard about depression, and although Erotic Volvo (E.V as he shall be known from here on in) was a somewhat distracting element, the rest of the band seemed so used to him that he became totally unacknowledged. Even as he got into the most ‘expressive’ of his ‘interpretive dance’. Had I watched the performance alone, I’ve been convinced he was a figment of my Christmas imagination.

Although I’m not normally a fan of ‘gimmicky’ or comedic bands, the song ‘Atonement’ stopped me in my tracks, with its beautiful melody and 3 part vocal harmony. Misty’s Big Adventure clearly has some impressive musicianship at work.

Affectionately referred to as ‘The Dumbettes’ by deadpan lead singer Grandmaster Gareth, brass players-sisters Hannah and Lucy Baines, along with keyboard player Lucy Bassett, downed tools to sing 60’s classic ‘Eygyptian Shumba’, with impressive harmonies. The audience loved it, but a personal highlight was the political/satirical role play between Nick Clegg – proclaiming, “I want a mince pie”, with David Cameron responding, “you can’t have one”. With E.V. adding vocals and an interlude of psychotic laughing. All very festive.

So after breaking my Misty’s Big Adventure cherry, I understand why they have the reputation they do. One that’s earned them support slots with The Zutons and The Magic Numbers.  And after a pub’s worth of Merry Christmas’ (a lot of familiar faces), and an irresistible  shimmy with E.V., I left the Hare & Hounds feeling totally uplifted – no longer watching over my shoulder for the band’s longstanding fan base. A deservedly dedicated group, and one I’m now sincerely a part of.

For more on Misty’s Big Adventure visit http://mistysbigadventure.com/