Down and out in Philadelphia

More often than not female fronted punk bands get lumped together with the no wave and/or garage crowds, depending on whether they wear American Apparel or customised leather jackets. But Philadelphia’s Slutever prove there’s something notably independent stirring over the other side of the ocean. Alongside Atlanta band The Coathangers, the duo swing between the yelp of Riot Grrrl and the growl of first wave bands like The Runaways; pushing fun in front of political motivations, but standing guard of their convictions nevertheless.

Following support slots with Best Coast, Cults, Jeff the Brotherhood and Slow Animal, Slutever are going on their first national tour this summer. Dates here. Their second EP Pretend To Be Nice came out on on Bantic Media via Drexel University last month, and can be heard below.

Interview: The Thermals

This interview was originally published in Issue 17, May 1st. Words by Tiffany Daniels, illustrations by Jhinuk Sarkar.

Few of the active bands I love predate DrunkenWerewolf – fewer still have consistently impressed me.

The Thermals go against the grain. A copy of their debut album More Parts per Million sits on my shelves. Its battered case stands testament to the countless times it’s been stacked in a moving box, shoved last minute into a rucksack and carelessly left within the vicinity of my stereo. The CD itself remains unharmed because it’s spent most of its life inside said stereo. With the exception of Fuckin’ A, which has persistently been stolen from me, the same can be said of all of their albums.

The release of Personal Life last summer brought home the fact that I’d yet to see them live. I came very close to it in Liverpool in 2007, but surpassed the chance in order to see Jeff Lewis and Giant Drag support The Cribs in Manchester the night before. In retrospect that was a stupid move, as I’ve had – and maximised on – the option to see both since. Yet it wasn’t until last month’s performance at Bristol’s Fleece that I witnessed Hutch Harris et al grace my plain sight – and the dexterity and atmosphere meant the gig felt all too short. I could have stood there for another hour.

I also could have interviewed the band face to face, had I a phone with a working internet connection. I don’t, and so was left in a state of extreme irritation when I returned home to find they had been waiting for me backstage. All was resolved when – thank God – it emerged they’re the kind of band to answer their emails.

With no further ado; in the following interview Hutch Harris talks to DrunkenWerewolf about continuing his DIY aspirations, standing true to the band’s convictions, and what it’s like to come out of Portland.

Oax go the distance

Remember Bishop Allen – that rough and rowdy troubadour band that swamped the internet back in 2008, released an EP every month but failed to make the impression they’d always threatened? We interviewed them, and then they disappeared from our radar.

But thank goodness Giorgio Angelini – the desperate, growling bassist – is back under the guise of Oax.

Following the departure of his band mate Cully Symington to Okkervil River (you’ve probably heard of them), Angelini returned to University. He also set up a home studio to record his debut EP This Distance, a ruckus affair that waves goodbye to everything before it with one swift slap. Full review and props due for appearance in Issue 18.

Until that’s released, if you live in Houston, Austin or Dallas you can see Oax on stage at one of the following venues.

06.01.11 – Austin, TX @ Antone’s w/ Peter, Bjorn and John
06.02.11 – Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater w/ Peter, Bjorn and John
06.23.11 – Dallas, TX @ Club Dada w/ the Rosebuds
06.24.11 – Austin, TX @ the Parish w/ the Rosebuds
06.25.11 – Houston, TX @ Fitzgerald’s w/ the Rosebuds

…If you’re part of the rest of the world, you’ll have to make do with his infectious lead song Crashing.

Hero & Leander are neat (people)

When I started to write this post on Hero & Leander, I immediately compared the outfit to once-upon-a-time wonder kids NeatPeople. And bless my eager ears – it only is the Colchester band, under a different name.

Front man Gary Cansell is joined by Emily Sills on vocals to pitch pop harmonies akin to Architecture in Helsinki, with a bookworm twee aesthetic that jolts the dots off Camera Obscura. Think Pull Tiger Tail had they released their debut in a timely fashion, or Zoey Van Goey if they put down their folk barometer. Named after a Greek myth, unsurprisingly the band cover love, loss and tragedy, albeit in a lighthearted fashion.

Having already gained notoriety on their local Reading and Essex circuit, Hero & Leander are soon to go national following their London debut at The Enterprise in London on June 17th. They’ll release their debut EP later on in the summer.

Listen to and download their song “Una” below!

…and because more people should have listened to them at the time:

Kyla la Grange’s back!

Forget about a wave; DrunkenWerewolf favourite Kyla la Grange created a storm with her debut single “Walk Through Walls”. The Coco Sumner endorsed singer-songwriter also attracted the attention of various stalwart critics when she played her debut set at this year’s SXSW.

Now she’s back with “Been Better”, taken from her forthcoming debut album, produced by Brett Shaw. The single is due for release through Chess Club Records on July 11th. It can be streamed and downloaded for free below.

Kyla will also be main support for Wolf Gang on their forthcoming tour:

17 May – The Attic, University of Kent, Canterbury
18 May – supporting Wolf Gang @ Birmingham Rainbow
20 May – supporting Wolf Gang @ Leicester Sumo
28 May – How The Light Gets In festival @ Hay
1 June – supporting Wolf Gang @ Stoke Sugarmill
2 June – supporting Wolf Gang @ Newcastle Cluny
3 June- supporting Wolf Gang @ Dundee Beat Generator Live
4 June – supporting Wolf Gang @ Glasgow King Tuts
7 June – supporting Wolf Gang @ Leeds Cockpit
8 June – supporting Wolf Gang @ Hull Fruit
9 June – supporting Wolf Gang @ Sheffield Fusion
16 June – supporting Wolf Gang @ XOYO, London
8 July – Lounge on the Farm festival, Kent
12 July – Chess Club single launch party at the Lexington, London
22 July – Secret Garden Party festival, Cambridge
13 August – Firefly festival, Ludlow
14 August – Summer Sundae Weekender, Leicester
9 September – Bestival, Isle of Wight

Beth Jeans Houghton and Dodecahedron

Beth Jeans Houghton looks like a disheveled Katie Waissel in her new video for “Dodecahedron”. Thankfully musical stylings don’t reflect – the song’s as perfect as perfect can be, doused in tinsle town percussion and archaic vocals that echo like a Church choir. By all means it makes for an enchanting listen.

The song is the first track from her forthcoming as-yet-untitled debut album, due out this summer. It can be downloaded for free from here:

The Indelicates launch a computer game!

Since the release of their sophomore album Songs for Swinging Lovers, The Indelicates have been on top form when it comes to innovative marketing campaigns. They’ve played exclusive sets and released their songs through every-man label Corporate Records; and things are no different for David Koresh Superstar, which the duo have launched…with a computer game.

Complete the levels to gain access to a secret area of The Indelicates‘ site, which over the next few weeks will offer gifts and goodies galore.

Until I’ve worked out what’s wrong with the HTML coding, you’ll have to go here to play. But a click requires minimal effort, so it’s not that much of a problem, really.

The album is due for release on May 16th, and can be pre-ordered from here.

Is EMA the indie equivalent of Gaga?

Hot on the heels of her debut Past Life Martyred Saints, EMA has released the official video for “Milkman”.

The song’s currently my favourite track on the album – bristling with grunge, sweat and tribulation. Although it suits the material surrounding it, it’s by far the most coherent and because of that, the most accessible song on Past Life Martyred Saints, which in its entirety kicks the bucket of convention over to set a swarm of creativity on the listening world. See The Line of Best Fit for my full review.

All in all, EMA’s shaping up to be one of the most important finds of 2011!

You can download the song for free here:

Balkans release stripped back video

American band Balkans, who I previously compared to Violent Femmes, have released their video for new single “Troubled and Done”, debuted on The Line of Best Fit last weekend and now available to view below.

The song is taken from their self-titled album, which was released on Double Phantom Records last Monday. You can order a copy from here. The record asserts Balkans’ superiority, although the majority covers a more melancholy and atmospheric tension than the energetic rush of “Edita V”.

Interview: Team Me

Like anyone with a brain, I’m a sucker for unashamedly out of time, freelance dance moves. Most would say that description wraps up nicely with the word “bad”, but that could imply Dad dancing or worse, a gimmick of Adam Ant. What I’m talking about is when people let go – and not because it’s perceived to be cool to do so, or because they think it looks good – but because they’re really letting go. This could involve fake blood and/or face paint.

That’s why when Norway’s Team Me released their video for “Dear Sister”, it had me in stitches. Comprised of each band member doing whatever the hell they want to do, in front of a ballerina mirror, it’s near enough the best dance video this side of Fatboy Slim’s “Praise You”. And they’ve got the music to match.

Fitting then that I should interview Marius Hagen, founder of the band and all round good dancer, about the coming together of the band, studio essentials and supporting The Wombats on tour.