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Words by Ed King

On Saturday 13^th May, Victories at Sea play at the Hare & Hounds (Kings Heath) – with support from Mutes, Matters + Sunshine Frisbee Laserbeam.

Doors open at 7pm, with tickets priced at £5 (adv) – as presented by This Is Tmrw. For direct gig info and online tickets sales, click here.

Last time Birmingham Review saw Victories at Sea was back at the Hare & Hounds in January 2016, three months after their debut album – Everything Forever – was unleashed on the world. And now it’s back to the familiar Kings Heath venue, this time with a new EP and some absurdly stonking support in tow.

But the masters of maritime (…nice) haven’t been floating around aimlessly (…ok) for the past year and half, with their five track A Place to Stay EP released on Static Caravan Records on 5^th May. And shiver me techno timbers (…the last nautical reference I’m going make) it’s dark twist of brooding electronica meets meaty indie rock; all the goodness you’d expect from a Victories at Sea endevour. Fair to say it’s had its airplay at Birmingham Review HQ – with everything from Swervedriver and Explosions in the Sky to The Cure thrown around for comparison.

It’s a beautifully produced record no matter what your reference point, with some signature/ethereal melodies to send you blissfully out across the waters (accidental metaphor). But with Helen Knott, whose words I trust sometimes more than my own, citing the ‘slick and controlled’ sound from Everything Forever as a frayed edge to the sharpness of a live performance, we shall see what comes off stage on Saturday. Only a fiver an’ all; oddly accessible considering the line up would round off Day One at a small festie.

And as for the supports… Two from the FOMA portfolio: Matters, Mutes – both of whom Birmingham Review last saw at a FOMA showcase in Blotto Studios in mid March; click here for Aatish Ramchurn’s photo led feature in THE GALLERY. Both bands would be worth a fiver each, but with Mutes’ ‘sprawling debut full length album’ waiting in the wings, No Desire – out 2^nd June, this is a good chance to see them polishing the final product.

Then there’s the perennial bridesmaid and winner of the Most Syllables Award, Sunshine Frisbee Laserbeam. Or as Jeopardy would call them, ‘things that make Cannon Hill Park more fun’. Always worth a stop, look and listen. And whilst we’re on garrulous popular culture references, here’s our Graham with a quick reminder…

‘Sirens’ – Victories at Sea (from the 2016 album Everything Forever)

Victories at Sea perform at the Hare & Hounds (Kings Heath) on Saturday 13^th May, with support from Mutes, Matters + Sunshine Frisbee Laserbeam – as presented by This Is Tmrw. For direct gig info and online tickets sales, click here.

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For more on Victories at Sea, visit www.victoriesatsea.co.uk

For more on Mutes, visit www.mutesuk.bandcamp.com

For more on Matters, visit www.soundcloud.com/mattersband

For more on Sunshine Frisbee Laserbeam, visit www.facebook.com/sunshinefrisbeelaserbeam

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For more from the Hare & Hounds (Kings Heath), including full event listing and online ticket sales, visit www.hareandhoundskingsheath.co.uk

For more from This Is Tmrw, visit www.thisistmrw.co.uk

Ed’s note… On Saturday 4^th March, local label FOMA threw a party – a showcase of the Harmless Untruths… from some of their roster and beyond.

Headlining were Hoopla Blue, the ‘ridiculously gifted’ Birmingham band who will be opening for The Flaming Lips in August alongside Amber Run. Hoopla Blue have been on the tip of Rob Hadley’s tongue for many months now (Birmingham Review’s Head of Photography) and this was a good opportunity to see them in a label setting.

Plus we got to revisit Mutes, who we haven’t seen with a professional focus since the All Years Leaving Festival in 2015. Grain Death (…i’m thinking Witness?) and Matters (part Them Wolves, part Mayors of Toronto) were relatively new to us, although the latter had popped on our radar after seeing them at the third YR Welcome festival.

So off we went, on the rum hunt for hidden delights and Harmless Untruths… from FOMA. Aatish Ramchurn was the lone scout we sent on reconnaissance to the back streets of Digbeth, tracking down for Blotto Studio and some people making noise. His brief: ‘Write it from a photographer’s point of view’. Luckily he made it in, out and even through such an oxymoron instruction.

Check out his words and pics for THE GALLERY below, or click on the relevant links for the Full Flick of Pics.

Words & pics by Aatish Ramchurn

Sometimes the best experiences can come from venturing into the unknown, and this gig was definitely one of those times. Taking place at Blotto Studio in Digbeth, FOMA held a showcase for the bands on their label, with Hoopla Blue and Mutes.

Until this day I had no idea that a rehearsal space like Blotto Studio even existed. Trying to find it on Google street view was initially a bit confusing, as it appeared to point at what looked like a shed or a garage with no signage. I figured, whatever. Turn up, park outside, go to the ‘shed’ and see what happens.

I ring the doorbell. A guy opens the door and for some reason I’m thinking, ‘do I need a password to come in?’. I say “I’m from Birmingham Review… as a photographer”. A woman’s voice from round the corner says, “…Birmingham Review? Yeah, let him in. He’s on the list”

The guy advises me that I should still keep my coat when I go into the main room, and he was so right about that. It was just as cold as it was outside and I doubt many in there had taken their jacket off.

The venue itself was a warehouse type of place with a small raised stage at front – nicely lit up with warm tone of red, taking away the cold sensation. The crowd themselves were mainly young, hip and liberal, bar the odd older person. A nice and welcoming bunch.

First band on were Matters. An instrumental trio of guitar, synth, drums, and programming, with each track lasting about six minutes or so. Their sound did seem to set an overall tone that matched the atmosphere of Blotto – dark, underground, and yet pleasing at the same time. I was having some difficulty getting a good photo of one the band members due to her face being largely obscured by her Moog set up and having the main speaker stood next to her. Probably a rare instance where it was just easier getting a shot of the drummer, as I was able to get shots from the side of the stage.

Not knowing much about the bands that were playing that night, I thought Matters were setting the tone for what was about to come. Then Grain Death come on with the standard four guys, guitars, bass, and drums set up. Now I’m realising this is going to be a night of very different acts. Grain Death brought their indie noise pop sound to the stage with a lot of confidence, even after an awkward soundcheck.

Mutes, the first of FOMA’s acts, played with a lot energy – their fast paced, punk infused electric sound with the antics of their frontman providing some great images to capture. At this point, I realised I’ve taken way too many images – a freedom and problem with having too much free reign when shooting at small venues. So with Hoopla Blue, I decide to impose the three song rule on myself.

Overall, FOMA’s Harmless Untruths of… showcase was a lot of fun – reminiscent of hanging out at a squat party where everyone is chilled. And whilst the night did go on until late (as a squat party can do) after Hoopla Blue played I called it a night.

Harmless Untruths of… Hoopla Blue @ Blotto Studio 04.03.17 / Aatish Ramchurn