All the best from the Shadders team for 2012... happy new year!

News and views will follow.... during 2012.

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September 2011Review: City of Glass

Actually hailing from over the seas in Vancouver, Canada City of Glass are a mere duo of friends, Michael Champion (top surname) and David Phu. The class themselves as 'Melodic pop rock' or 'indie pop rock from Vancouver' which is pretty apt as you wouldn't wanna call it post hardcore emo or anything! There's elements of pop, synth, indie and even dance with influences like Foals. The first track from their ep 'Sticks and stones' has that snappy and immediate indie dance pop feel of Friendly Fires, Post War Years, Foals etc. It's a great tune as to be fair all four tracks on the Ep which bizarrely recorded in Berlin, 'Tourist' is darker, plenty of synths but wonderfully crafty pop music. 'Little shadows' is brighter and a lovely slice of indie pop music, whereas 'Control' which brings up the rear is as atmospheric as it comes, slow burning with a hints of darkness seeking out the light, if that makes any sense at all, suffice to say it's quality!

An album is promised for early 2012, can't come soon enough… Canada isn't actually well known as a hot bed of music but City of Glass could change all that. Until 2012 then..

The Diving Bell is available via Un-Famous Records

Websitewww.cityofglassmusic.com

September 2011 Review: Janice Graham Band

Now and then you come across a band that makes you go 'Wooh' and Janice Graham Band are one such band. Firstly who the hell is Janice and then it's who the hell do this load sound like… Well lets head straight to the big question who do Janice Graham Band sound like? Err loads of people and nobody… they have a shed load of influences thrown together into a big alcoholic musical mixing bowl and vomited out onto record. There's massive bits of ska, reggae, indie pop, rock, hip hop, guitars, dub well you name in it's probably in there somewhere. Some will say it's a bit too much, too messy, you know too much going on but they just about to put there own stamp on it without losing all control! Then it hits you, this single 'Murder' and indie hip hoppy b side 'Assassiner' are the labours of four young white kids out of Manchester, an average age of 21 and coming out with something different, fair play to them and signed by 'Acid Jazz' too, phew.

Murder is available via Acid Jazz on September 12^th.

JULY 2011 REVIEW:  Melt Festival 2011 (Germany)

Guest Reviewer: Our long haired correspondent aka Max Maulwurf.

So we arrived in the fantastic setting of Ferropolis for this years Melt. First act for us were Swans, with only a few hundred people at the Main stage, we caught the last few songs, best described as a tuneless noise of arrhythmic drums and distorted guitars, I liked them a lot! The Koletzkis; Gemini stage. The open sided tent is packed as they took to the stage. Inoffensive mid tempo danceable pop, two different singers but still quite samey. Well received by the crowd but we depart for the main stage for The Naked And Famous. They up the tempo with an enjoyable set of electro-guitar pop. The highlight is the set closing hit which naturally leaves the crowd wanting more. Back to the Gemini tent for FM Belfast who starts with a cover of "You got the Love" the answer being an emphatic yes, Melt has the love! Total command of the audience with instructions to crouch on the floor and jump back up enthusiastically acted upon. The most bizarre cover of RATM "Killing in the name of" plus Snap's "the Power" GunsnRoses "Welcome to the jungle", even "my grandma and your grandma sitting by the fire" featured in a Stars on 45esque medley. Despite the covers and a bearded, spectacle wearing, bald, fat bloke sharing vocal duties somehow, they pull it off and then some. Oh to be in a Berlin techno collective! It's only when we venture outside for The Drums that we realise how hot the tent was. Bloc Party spring to mind as we're very much back in indie guitar territory. Although somehow the Cure-esque echoing sounds aren't just working after the sugar-rush immediacy of FM Belfast. Now for something completely different, into the Intro (music mag) tent for Noah and the Whale. In a stroke of genius they have an intro tape of a brass band covering Bohemian Rhapsody, the crowd providing the vocals.  The main part of the set is well received folky pop, with the crowd being treated to the two hits at the end. Ever noticed how the intro to "Five years" sounds like Brimful of Asha? Or how they just keep sounding like Graceland era Paul Simon? Of course these are both good things and if you need 45 minutes of indie tinged with folk and country look no further. A quick dash to the Gemini tent finds Cut Copy pumping out their last two pounding techno tunes thence to the main stage for Robyn a big name in europopland. One of her choruses contains the line "this is hardcore", erm no sorry love, its pop, hope that's cleared that up. I'm noticing a pattern that every act today has finished with their hit, even I recognise Robyns'. By now our thoughts have turned to food (it's about 2am) but we're back at the main stage for one of the big name DJ sets, Paul Kalkbrenner, pleasant techno beats have our toes tapping, but a combination of old-age, a cool breeze and sleep deprivation force us to call it an early night as the sky is just getting lighter!

We openly admit to being festival wimps, our hotel in the touristy town of Lutherstadt Wittenburg (about 15 miles from Ferropolis) have very sociably arranged for a special late breakfast serving from 10-12 just for festival people. The breakfast room is full at 11.30 with wristband wearing, tired but smiling people. Everyone entering whispers "Morgen", the staff seems to know exactly how many gallons of coffee and orange juice everyone needs. We're on-site bright and early, ahem, 9pm for Beady Eye, you know the script, 3/4 of Oasis, sound like ... Oasis. It's hard work for them, there's maybe 500 people near the front that know the songs, the other 2500 (in an area for 15000) are waiting to be invited. It never really happens, polite applause but not much more, half an hour in we walk down to the front. We choose to stand 6feet from the barrier with the same amount of clear space all around us. Hmm, need to work on the marketing! As it gets darker it seems to help make more sense of the soundscape. I'm glad I've seen them, but, I enjoyed No-way-sis more in Donny! Over to the perpetually busy Gemini tent for MEN from New York, another Scissor Sisters, in this case, this is a good thing. Outside to the main stage for a farewell performance to Germany by The Streets. Mike Skinner has been described as every Guardian reader's favourite druggie scally, but, that's because there's a real poetry to his observations of modern inner city life. The arena is packed in anticipation and Skinner and co' don't disappoint. They try yesterday's get the crowd to crouch down before bouncing up again trick, no mean feat at this scale. However, the beauty of festivals is the sense of participation, Mr Gallagher would do well to note that standing back looking cool is not inviting people to the party. Mike (we're on first name terms) even encourages the formation of circle pits and then even choreographs where they should be! I'd forgotten just how many hits The Streets have had, and as this was a farewell party they pretty much get a good airing, so a masterclass in playing a festival. Whilst the changeover takes place, a quick recce of Console in the Gemini tent reveals them to be reminiscent of Stereolab, note to self, keep an eye out for tour dates. We booked Melt on the strength of being really good last year and trusting the bookers to find a gem or two for us. So we were delighted to see the website updated with tonight's headliners (in our eyes) Editors. I forget how good these are, then I see them and remember just how much I like them. So no surprise when the same happened again. This band's performance paid for the tickets, flights, train fares, hotel and bar tab! Frankly anyone after Editors was going to be an also ran, so Digitalism had the unenviable task of trying to follow them. A slightly more techno version of the Chemical Brothers, a very noble effort to see us through to the sunrise...

A festival without rain, isn't a festival, so some complete idiots say. To these people I say, sit in your garden, and I'll run a cold hose pipe on you for hours and hours and hours. So today Cold War Kids are playing in a downpour at 7pm to more people than Oas-ish yesterday. Sometimes it pays to get wet. Into the Intro tent for The Fotos a German indie band entertaining those trying to dry out. They start out sounding nu-gaze but drift towards more radio-friendly territory, a couple of times The Boo Radleys spring to mind. In my mind they particularly shine as the tempo or distortion pedals increase. The last four songs are particularly strong, with a definite Bloc Party and Hard-Fi feel to them. Back outside for White Lies, where it's raining even more than before plus it's turned pretty cold. However there's a decent turn out of people, most of whom are dancing (possibly to prevent frostbite)! They're essentially a poppier version of Depeche Mode, which makes them pretty popular with the Melt devotees. When we went to see The Fotos two friends said they needed to get in a good position for Pulp, I said I didn't think that was necessary. With just 10 minutes to go before they start there's scarcely 250 people in front of the windswept, rain-lashed stage. Perhaps the organisers have over-estimated the sentimentality of German audiences? However, many of those that are waiting are dancing like lunatics to Suede, Elastica, The Stone Roses and The Inspiral Carpets. As the hits keep playing, more and more people pour in. A net curtain has been put across the stage front and the band have a laser beam writing questions on it, this goes down particularly well as the messages are in both English and German. To my surprise as we're getting ever nearer to showtime, a familiar cry goes out ... "Yooooorrrrkkkssshhaaaaaa!" "Yoooorrrkkshaaa!" Is the reply, followed by several more chants all honing the Brits who've started this into prime position and the party starts! Note to self, when needing to get through a German festival crowd, just chant Yorkshire, honestly it works! In this light and on this evening, if anyone asks, "I'm from Sheffield! Just supporting the local lads!" (A girl from Finnland thinks this is unspeakably cool). Given the freezing rain still pouring down I'd hoped for a no-holds barred greatest hits mass karaoke, Mr Cocker is a shrewd judge of these things and clearly agreed with my thoughts! He's still fit enough to be climbing onto speaker stacks, sprawling all over the monitors and doing kicks that bring a tear to my eye. There's a silent moment from Jarvis and a few techies are rushing round, he carries on with an apology "I've just been slightly electrocuted, never mind, the show must go on, if my time has come what a place to end it all". Dear Mr Gallagher ... This is Hardcore! Mr Cocker would have gladly died for us; we love him for this, whereas you're just a spoilt brat. Jarvis is such a god, that the rain even stops, "to help us party!" All parties must come to an end and as I glance at my watch an hour and a half has flown by, the final song which will close the festival for many is Common People and so there's one final burst of energy before everyone trudges tired but happy away from the site. Now when do next years tickets go on sale?

JULY 2011 VIEWS / INTERVIEWS: Indie Tracks Festival  2011

Right first of all just to cover a bit of old ground Indie Tracks is our fav festival of all time, we've been twice and loved it both times. It's set on a steam railway and features a thousand bands you've never heard of in a railway shed, a tin church, on trains and also on a big stage too. To be honest it is like nothing you will go to the rest of the year and the friendliest bunch you'll ever met too.

This year it's on at The Midland Railway Centre in Derbyshire over the last weekend in July and we fired some questions over to the people behind it who can fill in the blanks...

Firstly to those who don't know what is Indietracks please explain?

Emma: Indietracks is a music festival started by a group of friends who wanted to give indiepop bands from around the world the chance to play to a wider audience, and to bring those bands to people who wouldn't normally get to see them. It takes place on a heritage railway site, so the festival is a platform in many ways! As well as watching the bands, making friends, and sampling local ales and food, you can also ride steam trains for free!

What's the website & what can we find on there? 

Marianthi: The website is www.indietracks.co.uk and on there you can find all the information about the festival you could possibly want, including who is playing, who has played in the past, details about our workshops, accommodation options, directions for how to get at the festival site, information about the Midland Railway and their work, as well as details of warm-up shows around the country involving bands that are playing at this year's festival.

How much is it this year to sample the delights of Indietracks and how can people book their tickets?

Emma: A weekend ticket (Friday to Sunday) costs £65, and a Saturday or Sunday ticket is £35. You can book online or over the phone, and details of how to book are here:

http://www.indietracks.co.uk/tickets.html

The obvious question… what gave you the idea of putting on an indie pop festival at a steam railway in the middle of Derbyshire?

Marianthi: The festival was the idea of Train Restorer and Popfan Extraordinaire Stuart Mackay. He was working at Midland Railway in Butterley at the time and thought it'd be wonderful if he could put on an indiepop gig in a setting he knew well but other popfans might find new and exciting. And we did! The first event was an evening-only 'do' in April 2007 and it sold out quickly and everyone had an amazing time and danced like mad on the platforms. And that evening we found out that Stuart was organising an indiepop festival on the same site for that very summer. The very first Indietracks festival.

What does Indietracks have to offer that other festivals don't?

Marianthi: It's a completely independent, small festival, funded by a charity (the Midland Railway), without corporate sponsorship, run by volunteers and the choice of bands is based entirely on personal taste and love and passion for our favourite kind of music. It's a place filled with people who understand indiepop and people who want to know more, it's for people who love music and steam trains and real ale and well, this festival covers all those bases with kindness and an easiness that is unique.

Do you think the likes of Indietracks, Bestival, Truck Festival etc are a reaction to the mega corporate festivals like V and Leeds?

Emma: They have certainly risen in popularity since the bigger events began to saturate the festival world. I think people like to see new bands and make their own discoveries rather than being spoon-fed the same bands every year. Indietracks has a DIY ethic, which makes people feel part of the whole thing rather than trapped by corporate sponsorship and overpriced merchandise. There are no VIP areas at Indietracks, so you'll find bands and fans alike wandering around together!

Have you ever been to V or Leeds? If so what did you think and how is Indietracks so much better? 

Emma: I went to Reading a couple of times in the early 1990s, which was fun back then but nowadays seems completely exhausting, expensive, and chaotic. I know some people find all that part of the 'festival experience', but that doesn't mean it has to be the only type of festival experience. For me it's all about great undiscovered music, making friends, being treated kindly and being able to sleep in a safe clean place without walking for miles! There's no pressure at Indietracks, people take what they want from it.

When you were putting on the first Indietracks did you think you'd still be putting them on now or did you think it'll be a one off? How does the festival differ now to the first one?

Emma: There was no way of knowing how successful we'd be five years ago as the indiepop world is a very small one. Only a hundred or so people came along in 2007, but fortunately that was enough to encourage the railway to let us do it again. The festival's good reputation has helped spread the word since then, and each year the same people return but they also bring their friends, and five years on the indiepop world now seems like a much bigger place! Apart from growing in size and attracting more bands and people, the friendly fun atmosphere and idea behind it has always remained the same and hopefully always will.

What's been your favourite memories of Indietracks over the past few years?

Emma: It sounds pretty obvious, but getting to see so many bands I never expected to see, be they older bands who have influenced current pop bands, or those who have come from abroad. It's also a joy to see so many people getting along and making new friends. I've made a few of my own over the five years who will be friends for life! Of course I never get tired of riding steam trains either...

Any bands you'd really wanted to put on but missed out on and who are you most looking forward to seeing at this years festival?

Emma: There are certain bands we've asked every year but never managed to pin down (if they're reading, they know who they are!). We'd love to have Belle and Sebastian but they are busy people these days! This year I'm particularly looking forward to Edwyn Collins, who has been lovely and very supportive of us this year, The Hidden Cameras, Math and Physics Club, and Very Truly Yours.

Indietracks isn't just a one off summer pop festival, what do you do throughout the rest of the year?

Emma: Well we are all volunteers who do this in our spare time, so outside of Indietracks we do ordinary stuff like going to work, watching TV, that sort of thing! Obviously we all go to a lot of gigs too which means we can keep a mental list of which bands to book next year, and some of us also play in our own bands and promote other gigs too.

The Midland Railway Centre, where the festival is held, obviously means a lot to you, why is it important that you raise money for it and how can others help?

Emma: The Midland Railway, like all the other railways around the country, is preserved and restored entirely on funding and donations. It's part of our heritage and history and is important to keep things like this going for us and future generations to experience and appreciate. We're always completely overwhelmed by the passion and hard work that goes into the railway and the way the staff there work tirelessly and always with a smile, and it is a huge shame that things like this have to struggle financially when they should be celebrated and enjoyed! There are all sorts of ways people can help the railway, such as volunteering there (see http://www.midlandrailwaycentre.co.uk), making a simple donation (see http://www.charitygiving.co.uk/donate/donate_b.asp?charityid=2488), or even buying the Indietracks compilation! (http://makedoandmendrecords.bandcamp.com)

Do you think indie pop fans are a bit like trainspotters? Pasty men in anoraks with notepads and camera's! Is this why the festival on the railway works so well!!

Marianthi: Bah, they wish! A lot of people think that about indiepop fans because we tend to obsess over seven-inch records and badges and oversized cardigans. But the truth is they're all really attractive and sexy. A lot of us tend to like trains but there is nothing wrong about that. I guess it comes from a love for slowness and simplicity.

Did you know there has just been a music festival held at the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway? What is it they say about flattery? Do you think there should be more music and railway festivals?

Marianthi: We didn't know that but that's wonderful! There just aren't enough music festivals in railways. It's a fantastic way to promote heritage railways and all their amazing work as well as to see new smaller bands and fall in love in them. 

So our usual final question… in ten words write your own (if not rather short) press release!

Marianthi: Amazing pop, steam railway, gorgeous countryside, friendly people, why not?

MAR  2011 VIEWS: Alvarez Kings - Patience is strength EP (Of National Importance Records 11/04/11)

A couple of months ago we saw South Yorkshire's Alvarez Kings off spec across in their Sheffield heartland and loved them, they looked like proper stars and sounded simply stunning. Here up pops their five track EP 'Patience is strength' and it was eagerly awaited round these parts when we were promised a copy and it does not disappoint neither. When we saw them we heard the indie pop with a slight dancy edge but on record it's straight down the line 100% percent indie guitar pop, it makes no excuses for it and delivers the goods across the whole five tracks. In fact we gonna start off with the final EP track 'The Sequel' as it's a blinder; the infectious pop and the hundred mile an hour guitars would give West Yorkshire cousins The Pigeon Detectives a real run for their money. Grabbing the remote and going back to track one and namesake 'Patience is strength' we find it just as infectious and with a big chorus thrown in for good measure too, there's nothing not to like here at all. Then we have 'You, Me, Them, Us' with its compelling bassline and more edgy feel, get a load of the chorus with Simon's vocals and drums before those of the wall guitars join them, oh it's different but still with quite the poppy element left fully intact, no mean feet that. 'Dark eyed children' is a happy go lucky pop tune whilst 'Funeral Reunion' has a bit of a darker feel around it, well it'd have to with a title like that!

It's always nice to see a five track EP, bit old skool is that but when its this good you wish it was a full blown album, press that repeat button! Infectious stuff which could well help to propel them into the indie big leagues.

MAR 2011 VIEWS: Detroit Social Club / 12 Dirty Bullets / Soul Circus / Doyle and the Fourfathers @ Leeds Cockpit

Guest Reviewer: Our long haired correspondent aka Max Maulwurf.

Doyle and the Fourfathers (a friend's new favourite band) opened the show, very young (all 19 or 20), all dressed like geography teachers in brown cord suits. Excellent musicians, guitarist even managed despite a strapped-up broken little finger. For me they evoked memories of Divine Comedy, Pulp, My Life Story, with a few nods to the Kinks and even a hint of Bowie at times. Their key strengths are the band and the songs are effortlessly captivating. They can sing too, which is quite handy. Across the 30 minute set the songs seemed to cover a wider musical landscape than most bands, the musicianship, the arrangements ... the songcraft. These boys are not a five minute fad, I'd expect five decent albums from them.

Soul Circus, oh dear, I don't know why, but over the years I've seen a far too many pub rock bands that think they're playing Wembley, and I'm sure several of them have been called Soul Circus. I'll use the biggest insult of all now, they're tight! They've practised every move from a BonOasisQueenJovi live video. They tried too hard but failed to do the one thing their name suggests, music is a window to your soul, the curtains opened to reveal an empty room. Still, it gives ample time for the bar.

Next up 12 Dirty Bullets, think Artic Monkeys, Pigeon Detectives and you'll know exactly what you're getting. The vocal delivery on some songs is akin to Jamie T, a machine gun delivery rather than an attempt to mimic rappers. A contemporary sounding band but crucially with plenty of themselves in it. The crowd are loving it too, plenty of people singing along and still plenty shouting for an encore as the crew do yet another changeover.

It seems to have been a long night by the time Detroit Social Club take to the stage, the crowd has thinned out slightly, but there's still plenty of people in and plenty of enthusiastic support at the front. If Kasabian were Geordies and still played pub gigs ... Fortunately I love Kasabian and these guys clearly love a nice mix of guitars and beats. Game on son! It's a room of two halves, at the back, "yak yak yak blah blah blah", I hope that people that talk through gigs die of throat cancer! Either shut up or go to the bar. Fortunately the front half is singing along, arms in the air, although I've never quite worked out why people buy cans of lager simply to spray over themselves and everyone around them.

The band take a moment to reflect on the day's tragic events in Japan, explaining how friendly the people were when they played there. The next song "Sunshine People" was dedicated to them. The bond between band and fans was well and truly sealed as the stage filled with about 20 - 30 people, hugging the singer and dancing with the band. The rest of the set seemed to have a warm afterglow about it, with sweat and beer dripping from the ceiling. I'm hoping for some summer festival mayhem from DSC.

JAN 2011: VIEWS

Biffy Clyro

Yes we've finally joined the land of the living and got a copy of Biffy's brilliant 'Revolutions'. Even though it's been around for donkeys (since late 2009 in fact) we've only just managed, thanks to Mr Asda's fiver deal to get a copy. What an awesome album it is too, from the pop of 'Bubbles' to the X Factor cover 'Many of horrors' (yes we know, we know) there's not a dud on here.

You can see exactly why they've been nominated for best band awards in the NME and best British group at the Brit's too.

It's taken Biffy's a while to get here but it's been worth the wait!

Jan 2011: Views

Beady Eye

When Oasis split we feared for Liam, especially after he got involved with the clothing brand Pretty Green (which we love by the way, check out our sky blue monkey jacket - lovely!) as we thought he take his eye well and truly off the music but none of it.

Check out www.beadyeyemusic.com for the streaming of the new video for 'Four letter word' it's a good watch but the song is a blinder. Liam's vocal is as confident and brash as ever and the tune is a monster. Bags of pace, good melodies and shit loads of attitude - we love it! Can't wait to see what the album brings, just a couple of months to wait.

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From here you can link to some of our great features including:

Doncaster's finest The Beaus,

shadders Shoegaze special,

Manchester's great singer songwriter Lee Griffiths

and our tribute to the legends that are The Stone Roses.

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