The Foreign Films – Lucky Streak
Out of Marjoros' songwriting skills and crunchy compressed vocals comes forth a mix of jangly 60's guitars, 80's new wave and soul bass riffs. It's a refreshingly infectious summery feeling that will hopefully take him as far as Japan.
The Van Doos – Is This The One
Where have all the guitars gone? Not very far apparently. British rock has taken a slump recently, there’s nothing new getting too far, but lets hope that changes. We’re due a new pop rock band soon. Actually what was the last great pop rock band? Arctic Monkeys I guess. The Van Doos are a London...
The Phantom Band
I have scouts around the world. I can kind of say that now, my reliable friend in Basel, Switzerland, gave me a shout out for The Phantom Band . Turned out to be a shout worth listening to.
Galapaghost – Neptune – Song for the Weekend
To us naive Brits (well me at least) Austin Texas is a magical land of tumbleweed, cowboy boots, and of course the not so magical country music. My rodeo view of Austin is gradually being skewered though, especially knowing one of my favourite bands, the folksters Shearwater, come from there. Along the same folky vain...
Everything Everything Keep the Sound Man Alive
Sound men at music venues have to listen to so much shit that alongside my sympathy for them I always wonder how aural torture affects their tastes. I’d say they either: Detune their standards until Jedward sound like Marvin Gaye reincarnate. Can pick a cherry from a turdy fog but are so useless at admin...
Sugar – New Dead Confederate Album out 24 August
One of my best friends called me whilst I was on a date to tell me Dead Confederate were playing a gig, that night in London. He knew I couldn’t go. He knew how much I love them. He also knew how pissed I would get for missing them on my doorstep. He laughed mockingly when...
Broadcasting a Great Escape to Germany
Basel, Switzerland – a town of culture, the pharmaceutical industry and permanent frowns. No one smiles in the birthplace of LSD. Basel was pretty, but my holiday was like a trip to a mental asylum. Clinical, regulated and dull. We needed to escape. To Germany. Freiberg, a beautiful town with great food and smiles, was worth the...
The Lights Aren’t Out
Cold and dark is all London is during winter, but the lights will never go out at holeytonal. Especially when an arty fan of James and the Jewellery Store from Copenhagen makes a music video of Lights Go Dim. Only Danes, as the inventors of Dogma 95, can get away with camcorder films – Festen is one...
I’m Sorry, Life In Film Know What To Do
Major labels should know sounds that sell – with rosters full of great artists or at least great assets. So why was I so surprised at a gig featuring two singers signed to Universal and Warner? Because the two unsigned acts also playing put the big boys to shame. I don’t care if artists are...
Adventurers Eat Vintage Skunks
Is anyone else becoming addicted to Born Survivor with Bear Grylls? He eats caterpillars and cuts the heads off skunks. Double hard. I’ll never be that adventurous, but I’m always up for New Adventures. Especially ones destined to fill arenas around the world. The four men of New Adventures began playing together at university, but...
Chewing 8-bit Lips
“Why don’t you post about female artists?” my friend asks. Well I have actually, when I rung about the glorious Bell. Gender, two genders or no gender – I don’t care so long as their music rings true. So, the fact that holeytonal features more male artists, or bands with male leads, is not the reason for posting...
Don’t Piss on My Toothbrush Esser
Part III? Deserved? Yes. I just saw Esser live for the first time. Fantastic. It was a Transgressive Records event, and no one was a patch on Ben Esser with his band (although Liam Finn came close). Also found out the new video for the super tune and new single Headlock was on YouTube, so...
