tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44108626770116519022024-03-05T22:06:47.598-08:00We Are The Independent Creative MovementThe Independent Creative Movement: An Art and Music Collective.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14452510104185701726noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410862677011651902.post-52291761223210615252011-08-14T11:20:00.000-07:002011-08-14T13:27:52.641-07:00News And Suchlike... First Post Of A Few Tonight!First up, apologies for not posting for a while. We've been hard getting the first issue of Golf Sale ready for print - and ready it is!
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP3qalyqmHIQhDinnyLsQVw2A_2zh6WhGdWfTTUtoGrMrxSVjvOvpYlaxZ-4S2mOwK5rjIBvJ5Ea8SGge23Qkqe7Z6OF0XVDJ9yp0bZTD751iPhLf8XyCTnerJeKjIa4r2barP1QyfSuTL/s1600/102_2443.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP3qalyqmHIQhDinnyLsQVw2A_2zh6WhGdWfTTUtoGrMrxSVjvOvpYlaxZ-4S2mOwK5rjIBvJ5Ea8SGge23Qkqe7Z6OF0XVDJ9yp0bZTD751iPhLf8XyCTnerJeKjIa4r2barP1QyfSuTL/s320/102_2443.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640794039276185778" /></a>
<br />It should be available from Tuesday (16th August) - details about how and where to buy it from will be available very soon so keep checking the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Golf-Sale/114966138593859">GOLF SALE</a> page as well, of course, as the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/IndieCM">ICM</a> page on Facebook.
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<br />Just to get you all sweaty about reading issue 1 here's a little idea of what to expect: Dissociates, Carter USM, The Ladykillers, Panic Dance, Mug, The Black Atlantic, Julie Christmas, The Dauntless Elite, 14 Car Pile-Up and artist profiles on the lovely Hannah [SPAN] and Matt Harrower. It's a massive 50 pages and only 3 quid.
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<br />So, for anyone that doesn't know, there's some awesome stuff heading your way. First up is the Punk 4 the Homeless 'Cheap as Chips' festival in Anderby Creek, Skegness. A stunning line-up of nearly 50 bands over 3 days and all for 20 quid. Tis a bleedin' bargain and, as with all Punk 4 the Homeless events, all proceeds will be going to Casa Alianza to help them with their work with street kids in South America.
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<br />Full details can be found <a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=212380498776961">HERE</a>
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<br />The 27th finds the ICM (alongside our regular co-hosts Choke On This) back at Archway for an all-dayer for Punk 4 the Homeless. Featuring a fantastic line-up including Wonk Unit, Panic Dance, Ren Spits at Magpies, Perkie, Brocker and more it's set to be a rad day in North London for an awesome cause.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr9JNlMoYGfhRx8qjtIPbcLSk0C0VlFEL_N2Lhr0mJp1zVbCzSePgy27XZP2bwivvdI57N2ViSNGWHBnkGRBclkunTOrwm_8zteIpFukXPHJpQsYNgGfSL4STVM-iNUbQ2CIg0UvGBDCyC/s1600/archwayreading2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr9JNlMoYGfhRx8qjtIPbcLSk0C0VlFEL_N2Lhr0mJp1zVbCzSePgy27XZP2bwivvdI57N2ViSNGWHBnkGRBclkunTOrwm_8zteIpFukXPHJpQsYNgGfSL4STVM-iNUbQ2CIg0UvGBDCyC/s320/archwayreading2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640810395878624610" /></a>The Independent Creative Movement: An Art and Music Collective.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14452510104185701726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410862677011651902.post-76872584358254205822011-07-04T13:56:00.000-07:002011-07-04T16:52:22.269-07:00Usual Players - Volume 1: Street SkaIf you don't believe we called this one months ago then you're a mug, simple as that. We told you back last June to keep an eye on Watford's own Usual Players... and now, a year later, we're telling you that their debut album 'Volume 1: Street Ska' is probably one of the most important albums to come out of the scene for longer than anyone probably cares to admit.<br /><br />Taking this album at face value, it's 10 tracks of brass laden, North London Ska. A little punchier than original ska - maybe even more so than 2nd generation ska too but it's roots show through like a 'blondes' the week before payday. <br /><br />The cover, and disc itself, are designed to look like a record. To say it's been done well is doing it no justice whatsoever - it looks the business. And as the album starts there's the crackle of a needle on vinyl and straight into track one 'Soul of Rock and Roll (is Dead)'...<br /><br />The songs on Street Ska are honest, catchy and cover just about any aspect of modern life you'd care to think about - drugs, women, the state of the music scene and Facebook all get the Usual Players treatment. The playing is second to none, the lyrics are sharp and the production is top quality. <br /><br />Highlights for me would have to be the insanely catchy 'Fancy a Facebook' - boasting one of those choruses that just makes you want to sing along and dance until you're sweating the beer out, 'Bad Pills', 'Lie, Cheat & Steal' and the track that, were there any justice would be played through loudspeakers outside every bar in town on a Friday night, 'So Whatford' - but there's something on here for everyone. You can't help but be swept up in the vibe when this album's playing. You want to get suited, booted and grab a can of lager. This is music to dance to, to listen to in the motor on the way to the pub and for those messy nights with the lads. This is 'Volume 1: Street Ska' and it's about as good as it gets. <br /><br />The Usual Players on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/usualplayers">FACEBOOK</a><br /><br />To get a copy of the album itself, get your fucking shoes on and get down the shops! <br /><br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F14208462"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F14208462" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/usual-players/usual-players-fancy-a-facebook">Usual Players - Fancy a Facebook - One Thirty Four Records</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/usual-players">Usual Players</a></span> <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6s60h0FK_v2MFVf2ew-fKqhTY-nX0Pxl0WNIR0q_Gl85NTzaFSSq2UT_JAlh5E6YDnv34MluUErCjcg5IiKDQ3zozWYB34SnlmRPgFi8F6Ghi0LaARfuNCA4_g7lFAdwcLikcddmHLo0/s1600/224220_10150175180711813_172135086812_7277020_6939565_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6s60h0FK_v2MFVf2ew-fKqhTY-nX0Pxl0WNIR0q_Gl85NTzaFSSq2UT_JAlh5E6YDnv34MluUErCjcg5IiKDQ3zozWYB34SnlmRPgFi8F6Ghi0LaARfuNCA4_g7lFAdwcLikcddmHLo0/s320/224220_10150175180711813_172135086812_7277020_6939565_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625648946955926946" /></a>The Independent Creative Movement: An Art and Music Collective.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14452510104185701726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410862677011651902.post-23455927104624812582011-06-23T10:08:00.000-07:002011-06-23T11:56:16.023-07:00Silent Smiles - Quarter To Twelve EPTaste is subjective, and taste in music doubly so. One of my favourite things about hearing something new is playing it to my friends to gauge their reaction or to find out if they can hear the same things in a song that I can. The same influences, the same emotions. <br /><br />The list of bands I got back after playing people the new Silent Smiles EP was a mixed bag. Some were miles away from those I'd come up with on my own but, after a few more listens I could see where these people were coming from. <br /><br />Some of the bands listed included: The Cure, Editors, Undertones, Arctic Monkeys, Dirty Pretty Things and The Enemy... Which is a pretty impressive list of bands to be compared to in just 5 tracks. But don't get me wrong, this EP is no homage to those listed above - It's a well written, well played and well recorded EP that's far more of it's time than a lot of things I've heard recently. <br /><br />The opening track 'Quarter to Twelve' has that distinctive guitar sound that XFM cream themselves over... And rightly so. It's by no means the most uplifting track on the EP as it evokes images of late night clubs in London backstreets and nights better off forgotten. Like the best nights out it leaves you feeling slightly dirty but craving more. <br /><br />Track two 'Roulette' has a much more classic feel to it. The riff could sit as well in the Undertones back catalogue as it would any of the current Indie darlings doing the circuit. The backing vocals add to the timelessness of this track and the chorus has that fantastic quality of getting stuck in your head long after the songs over. <br /><br />The third track, 'Witches Coven', was the only track that didn't grab me immediately. Whilst musically the track is very clever, the change in vocal style didn't sit well with me on first listen. It was a grower though and whilst I wouldn't skip to this track, I wouldn't skip past it. <br /><br />'Peach Creek (As I Fall)', the fourth track on this EP is quite American sounding. Much bigger sounding than the earlier tracks in terms of production it's one of those songs you hear and are immediately transported to the last night of a festival. It's road trip music - the soundtrack to something vast and open... And a great counter to the claustrophobic grimy feeling of the first track. <br /><br />The final track is one I've heard many times before and, I have to admit, I love it. Kicking off with the drums, bass and vocals only it takes you straight to a time where you were more likely to be hanging out with your mates in a park than the pub - a feeling that's mirrored perfectly by the lyrics themselves. As the guitar comes in you're left with the taste of cheap fags, cheaper lager and a longing for another 5 tracks from these lads. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIq8rXNDTSiNRQ8aUwmQU7uRgfKTAPxXOmRqHVEhLBhAPekfpORGC2uvuAsYd6vE-aYvhp8fWS-zf749j2PJyV5R_DIjcAhjQMSfFc27epaTBGkw8g98iEG34A7254bdvtIvfEfFPy79we/s1600/226349_10150187422431567_280036691566_7541536_7024705_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIq8rXNDTSiNRQ8aUwmQU7uRgfKTAPxXOmRqHVEhLBhAPekfpORGC2uvuAsYd6vE-aYvhp8fWS-zf749j2PJyV5R_DIjcAhjQMSfFc27epaTBGkw8g98iEG34A7254bdvtIvfEfFPy79we/s320/226349_10150187422431567_280036691566_7541536_7024705_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621487171613801346" /></a><br /><br />Silent Smiles new EP 'Quarter to Twelve' is available<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?ut7ovxjw6h7nekh"> HERE</a>The Independent Creative Movement: An Art and Music Collective.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14452510104185701726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410862677011651902.post-18660625995061659812011-06-02T21:00:00.000-07:002011-06-02T21:16:38.124-07:00Guest Review - Eagle Spits talks about 'Nowhere Fast' - The Punk 4 the Homeless CompilationPunk 4 The Homeless compilation/ Nowhere Fast-on Stoneage Records. Free Download album.<br /><br />This comp has many bands from different countries. It has some beautiful artwork and pictures and info on each band. It has taken over a year to put together which is why some bands who are great supporters of Punk 4 The Homeless aren’t on the compilation, probably the most obvious being Born To Destruct whos Sick Scum and Apathy would have been one of this writers first choices to request for the album. However apart from the naff throw away notes written by Eagle Spits at the start of punk 4 the homeless, This album is brilliant and is a brilliant example of how people can work together to help others, even if they have differing world views. IT IS ALSO FREE.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Wolfgang Lotz (Indonesia)- Digital Colinization</span><br /><br />From Jakarta comes this scorching d’beat with rage against the machine collision. Brilliant almost talky vocals with shouty bits. Speedy political punk-sorted<br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Break The Cycle (USA)- Nobody</span><br /><br />Punky “house of the rising sun” type thingygoing on, which turns into a touch of Grave Robber/Misfits horror punk, shouts a bit, changes again, remains splendid. All to get the listener to maintain aPositive Mental Attitude-good therapy.<br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Duel (UK)- Camden Town</span><br /><br />Beautifully sung/shouted female vocals with a solid mid paced punk rock band. Song about homeless folk and rich kids. Excellent chice for a punk 4 the homeless comp<br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Sharkbite (Indonesia)- Build Our Strength</span><br /> <br />Classic,nasty, shouty punk/hardcore, I think its political but then whats not, so safe bet. Full in your face, you better back down because its not<br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">OIZ II MEN (UK)- I’m Fattest<br /></span> <br />How can a band which is so together sound so untogether. A band so tight sound so loose? That’s the oxymoronic brilliance of Oiz ii Men. I am biased, I love this band, but then I love em cuz they are damn good. Expected Oi? Tut tut, judging a book by its cover-shame on you.<br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Culprits (UK)- Another Pretender</span><br /> <br />Full on punk 4 the punks punk rock, yeeesss-boy, girl vocal duel, raging hard, don’t look away it will smack you in the head.<br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">About The Drunker (Indonesia) - Shit Song</span><br /> <br />This is a bloody racket.I love it. Its punk rock.Sounds like a hyperactive octopus in my pan cupboard.<br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Maximum Thrash (Indonesia)- That’s the way I choose and I’m gonna stay</span><br /><br />Powerviolence, in your face, take no prisoners, Indonesian bands are masters of this style and Maximum Thrash are the daddy.<br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Tapa Nada (Indonesia)- Senyum Untuk Senyum</span><br /><br />Very long some combining fast indonesian bits, talky bits,bad religion type bits, weird enough not to be considered punk if folk like myself and fungalpunk weren’t around, I reckon its great. Love the traditional Indonesian music bits. Beware it is a tad bizarre.<br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Wages Of Fear (USA)- Strings and Webs</span><br /><br />Bizarre edgy vocals and music, think DRI on ketamine. Sometimes you have to adjust to anothers angles. Love it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">White Trash Debutantes (USA) - Hey Nick</span><br /><br />One of the finest, more unusual bands I have come across since p4th began. In this song they share a lament for a deceased friend by celebrating his life. Wonderful, sensitive few minutes.<br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Lowlife Uk (UK) - Down In The City</span><br /><br />Top notch slab of old skool punk/oi-get in the pit<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">SPOG (UK) - Tosser</span><br /><br />A couple of minutes of sarcasm played quiuety and intellectually. Bizare to think that these guys got the tag, anarcho punk-crass it aint<br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">100 Philistine Foreskins (UK) - Zekes Old Bones</span><br /><br />Broad Scottish vocals with oddball tribal drumming and angular guitars, chuck in a few bits of spoken word nicked from a minor prophet and you get an amazing extremely non generic punk rock anthem, I think.<br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Struggle Victim (Indonesia) - I Try</span><br /><br />Forceful, driving punk rock with almost lad back vocals-this unusual cocktail works, I will have another <br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Femau (Indonesia)- Politic Is Shit</span><br /><br />Punk/hardcore with death metal vocals. Who would have thought…? Agree with the sentiments, the music agrees with me. One of my favourites on this comp.<br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Freedom Faction (UK) - Scream And Shout</span><br /><br />Snotty, pissed off female vocals fronting an extremely tight mid paced punk rock band. Few do this type of thing better than Freedom Faction. This is a great song.<br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Step On The Rise (Indonesia)- Meraih Mimpi</span><br /><br />This is a good song of its genre. Thnk Bad Religion and you wont go far wrong<br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Realitas (INDONESIA)- Injak</span><br /><br />Twangy guitar bit at the beginning,then thrashy bit, returning to twangy bit. Take as prescribed by your doctor. It will make you feel better. Punk rock as we know and love it.<br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Peter 118 (UK) - Hebrews/Perfect King</span><br /><br />No he hasn’t got his leather rock star trousers too tight, the intro is sampled. Sweet bubble gum pop punk. Extremely catchy, feel good factor 118. Splendid, I am dancing at this very moment.<br /><br /> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV_79eCmy_yNfH8Fnsnj3Zprj-sqA6zrNx48OsHEsbLWdu5_9_k_iwsnRXFovjKeUPpfpEbSPCZBrloCSXvdpSZhj26TQKxhHItyur0xzjn82MH3MWbLvKObUjoZqqVIRBRBzL52BfN9oZ/s1600/254920_2099364646394_1313743785_2476382_2262981_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV_79eCmy_yNfH8Fnsnj3Zprj-sqA6zrNx48OsHEsbLWdu5_9_k_iwsnRXFovjKeUPpfpEbSPCZBrloCSXvdpSZhj26TQKxhHItyur0xzjn82MH3MWbLvKObUjoZqqVIRBRBzL52BfN9oZ/s320/254920_2099364646394_1313743785_2476382_2262981_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613839358007619810" /></a><br /><br />Nowhere Fast is available for free <a href="http://www.stoneagerecords.co.cc/2011/04/sar040various-artists-nowhere-fast-1.html">HERE</a>The Independent Creative Movement: An Art and Music Collective.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14452510104185701726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410862677011651902.post-91171410214049440502011-05-18T05:29:00.000-07:002011-05-18T05:42:02.415-07:00Mug - Self-Titled EPWhilst we're downloading stuff... How's about 4 tracks of Punky goodness (yeah I wasn't sure either but run with it) for gratis courtesy of those fella's in <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/M%C3%BCg/146582272040975">Mug</a>? <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinF9xDm8-jxHuLC54r-XVXs40ksaqHyFduNO20b8tmgucy3_JNP5cSeNNM9x74b2P1waL1CjxD5FOJ9uS8vOdNOBIkDchnV5VNr2XS6DV6FkRGdoYexpzpSe6ijgP8-0nsoAbpiW7tZrZQ/s1600/2406710421-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinF9xDm8-jxHuLC54r-XVXs40ksaqHyFduNO20b8tmgucy3_JNP5cSeNNM9x74b2P1waL1CjxD5FOJ9uS8vOdNOBIkDchnV5VNr2XS6DV6FkRGdoYexpzpSe6ijgP8-0nsoAbpiW7tZrZQ/s320/2406710421-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608035060532395202" /></a><br />Track 1 'Deadbeat' starts off with some talking. I've no idea what about, a rapper or something. It's slightly off-kilter to say the least. Once that's over with the guitar comes in and we're off. This track has that amazing 90's Skate Punk feel to it. The 90's really were the glory days for American Punk and Mug here seem to embrace that so fully it's like being back at Reading in 1997 watching the Warped Tour. Good times indeed. Love this track, it's catchy and one listen gives you that feeling that whilst you've heard it before, you want to hear it again. <br /><br />Track 2 'Can't Keep Control' and that drum sound makes me think of The Dead Kennedys. It's short lived though as once it gets going this song is much more reminiscent of Bad Religion. I actually prefer this to the first one. It's the sort of tune I'd have played loud enough to kill passers-by when I was younger and more prone to that sort of behaviour. It also has one of those 'easy to shout along to' lines that happens to also be the name of the song and everyone likes those. <br /><br />Track 3 'Amnesia' - and with a name like that the temptation to do a not being able to remember it joke is almost too much. I won't though... This song has a really sleazy rock and roll feel to it whilst still very much keeping one foot (or maybe even an entire leg) in it's 90's influences.<br /><br />The closer (or track 4 for those of you that enjoy continuity) is a live cover of Youth Brigade's 'We're In!' - and hats off to whoever recorded this, it sounds great. The guitars are nice and crisp, the drums aren't too heavy and the vocals sit just right and aren't lost the way a live track can often do. It's a blinding cover as well in case you wondered.<br /><br />It'd be all too easy to dismiss Mug as simply a sum of the bands that have clearly inspired them but to do so would be doing them, and yourself, a huge injustice. There's much more here than a few cobbled together homages to NOFX or 'Smash' era Offspring (You remember... before they were shit?) these songs are polished, well-rounded and instantly likable. The way Punk songs used to be. They ooze fun and sunshine and a beer in the afternoon whilst watching people fall off skateboards. And that's never a bad way to spend a day. <br /><br />Go grab a copy of this EP from the bands own <a href="http://mugrocks.bandcamp.com/album/ep">bandcamp</a> page and experience something you thought you'd lost all over again - maybe even better this around.The Independent Creative Movement: An Art and Music Collective.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14452510104185701726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410862677011651902.post-69323692556920629502011-05-18T04:15:00.000-07:002011-05-18T05:29:03.759-07:00Bangers - Small PleasuresThere's a brand spanking new album from Cornish Punk royalty, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/bangersbangers">Bangers</a>. They've rather kindly stuck the thing up for download on their <a href="http://bangersbangers.bandcamp.com/album/small-pleasures">bandcamp</a> page either for free or a donation should you feel like giving them something for producing yet another corker of an album.<br /><br />If you get the chance to see Bangers live then I thoroughly recommend you do. I was lucky enough to catch them playing at the Cavern in Exeter and they tore the roof off the place - lovely guys too.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_fRFXyk73zzQbytuY9BePtje4hs1879lpLHZFZN-48xqHyZvF2FpT1RASz7flGuiBw6QOwR7mb213jU6prYgIRYu4CdjJh3VZJHYjTqAlyYJY6H-n01AgJy3IP_8zCCs6J20JbKqnoEU/s1600/2312151492-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_fRFXyk73zzQbytuY9BePtje4hs1879lpLHZFZN-48xqHyZvF2FpT1RASz7flGuiBw6QOwR7mb213jU6prYgIRYu4CdjJh3VZJHYjTqAlyYJY6H-n01AgJy3IP_8zCCs6J20JbKqnoEU/s320/2312151492-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608016458041892322" /></a><br />This new release really is throwing the gauntlet down to any would be pretenders to their throne at the top of the Punk circuit. Although it's not quite as in your face as Dude Trips was it's a great album that certainly owes more than a nod to those Punks the other side of the pond. <br /><br />Oh and 'Geeks and Paedophiles' is quite possibly the best song title I've heard for a long time...The Independent Creative Movement: An Art and Music Collective.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14452510104185701726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410862677011651902.post-64079490712311560002011-05-18T04:11:00.000-07:002011-05-18T04:12:51.931-07:00Guest Review: Alex Oiz talks about UNDERDOG MORSELS - VOL 1 - RANDOM CHAOS REFRESHES ROUTINEIt's hard for me to be totally unbiased about a compilation that I was not only really looking forward to receiving and listening to, but also featuring 4 bands that I really dig. Well here goes, Underdog Morsels vol.1: Random Chaos Refreshes Routine: AFS warm up the speakers with their 'Protest Song', a true Underdog punk rock chant that brings a warm smile to your heart. Very much reminiscent of one of my favourite of their songs, and not poppy like some (which for me is a big fat plus). Basically a nice solid dirty UK punk anthem that you can pocket and bring with you wherever life takes you. Check these guys out where ever you can, they won't disappoint. <br /><br />Next up are the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/Despondents">Desponsdents</a>, getting you out of your chair for 'Got Nothing To Lose'. Again, not their best song, but not bad by a long shot. Reminds me of old rock'n'roll trash-garage that used to knock about something like 10-15 years ago, so not exactly my cup of tea, but I would by no means throw it out of the cd-player in disgust. A nice punchy song with a lot of thought and good ol' rock'n'roll in it that I appreciate with my ears. <br /><br />What can I say about <a href="http://www.citizenkeyne.com/">Citizen Keyne</a> that hasn't been said? Probably very little. In my eyes they are one of UK's great modern punk bands, taking you back to simpler days without a lot of the pretentious shite that sometimes follows. 'Punk Not Fashion' is a message that I can't repeat enough, and a song I can listen to plenty - if there was any doubt, this song really seals the deal of this being an Underdog compilation. I'm no Shakespeare, so if you don't know Citizen Keyne then you're probably reading these words by accident or you were stuck in suspended animation for the last 7 years. Go, find, see and listen to them!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.myspace.com/xharoldshitmanx">xHarold Shitmanx</a> have been on my top play list for over a year. I own a t-shirt. For a band that I've never seen live (because they're based up in Scotland) this means that I like them, quite a bit. The previous recording of this song 'False Hardcore Creates Rapist's was better, but there's little difference, it's still a blinding song. This is everything that I look for in grind (or power violence as the yanks call it). It's incredibly fast, slightly daft, and satisfies all 5 senses at once, leaving you needing to unload your bowels shortly after. The split with Wheelchair x4 (another of my favourites and who they're touring with in summer '11) is a must for anyone that vaguely enjoys this track.<br /><br />Basically, as you might have guessed, this short comp not only lives up to it's name, but delivers 110% of the goods in a mere 4 songs, allowing you to escape from your shells to go out into the world and figure out the rest... 4 solid bands, 4 solid tracks, 1 solid comp and one happy me.<br /><br />- This review is courtesy of Alex (of <a href="http://www.myspace.com/oiziimen">Oiz II Men</a> fame) and Underdog Morsels Volume one is available <a href="http://www.fungalpunknature.co.uk/FUNGALPUNK/Merch/Merch1.html">HERE</a>The Independent Creative Movement: An Art and Music Collective.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14452510104185701726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410862677011651902.post-13926312340808178932011-05-05T17:37:00.000-07:002011-05-05T19:50:06.838-07:00News and Upcoming GigsFirstly, we're still waiting for the review of the ICM/Choke On This: Punk 4 the Homeless all-dayer to come in - for a change it's not me writing it. In the meantime here's a look at some other stuff...<br /><br />First up, the NME (groan) are actually doing something worthwhile and are currently on the hunt for Britain's best small venue - 'small' being less than 500 capacity. Venues such as The Horns (St Albans) and Esquires (Bedford) are amongst the contenders. Go vote for your favourite small venue <a href="http://www.nme.com/smallvenues">HERE</a> <br /><br />Here's a round-up of what the ICM has in store for you over the next couple of months you lucky, lucky people!<br /><br />May see's the ICM doing something a little different... A night of pure, unadulterated ROCK! Oh yes, we'll be sporting tight jeans and growing our hair long for this one. May 21st at the Flag. Details <a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=157371407661161">HERE</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJVXo_u0-fLGRFEhENjOLJMLHRMV76v1HgBGi1HitW86DavKyY-Lk6g5KR6UtcSVD94xQiqaKqdHxi3CeCtJYq7W3H2VT0FXlcgJ_2lirblT5npd0eIawrJq2qYgA05BO-j9fVIrzab_v/s1600/CLASSIC+ROCK%25281%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 227px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJVXo_u0-fLGRFEhENjOLJMLHRMV76v1HgBGi1HitW86DavKyY-Lk6g5KR6UtcSVD94xQiqaKqdHxi3CeCtJYq7W3H2VT0FXlcgJ_2lirblT5npd0eIawrJq2qYgA05BO-j9fVIrzab_v/s320/CLASSIC+ROCK%25281%2529.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603424344818078338" /></a><br />June is set to be a sweet month with the mighty Tyrannosaurus Alan coming to play the ICM for the first time. And they're bringing Claypigeon with them! Oh yes, for all those of you that didn't brave the cold last time they visited Watford now is your chance to see what you missed... And, if that wasn't quite enough for you, they'll be joined by My Third Leg and Panic Dance! <br /><br />Details for that show are <a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=165823990133862">HERE</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWE7nPVdp42OMuYbiC76Mql7mQZSuIK_Pa3yBPbE8YgaUe84mU0w6A6EQFTpYNblxSV8gMOMyyVahxLbv37Y9kmP6wgLZuAlT7ILNRuq6kKFtYmSiLuGq_-M7qssYA48M64_wqPCxmwQ5C/s1600/181984_194393423918628_100000439167510_603700_2081659_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWE7nPVdp42OMuYbiC76Mql7mQZSuIK_Pa3yBPbE8YgaUe84mU0w6A6EQFTpYNblxSV8gMOMyyVahxLbv37Y9kmP6wgLZuAlT7ILNRuq6kKFtYmSiLuGq_-M7qssYA48M64_wqPCxmwQ5C/s320/181984_194393423918628_100000439167510_603700_2081659_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603425313187111186" /></a><br />Next up, the ICM are finally getting into Hitchin to put a night on at Club 85. We've been looking for a good opportunity to take our show onto that particular road and now we have one: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=198026280240382">The ICM/Rubix Tube Productions at Club 85 for Great Ormond Street Hospital</a>. And are we taking a sick line-up with us? Of course we are... <br /><br />A Major Motion Picture, Attention Thieves, Saving Sebastian, Relentless In Love, Shadow Factory, Skycolouredperfect and Echo Rain will be playing in what is destined to be an awesome night - and all for a great cause. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1ZtZHVu9GWyjff_g64NZbFYXQMzEfePKNyjcDuOwgZ5xxErfkBPENJN-V8Q1pSwshZqTuwyw-FHxTLDpCwl5pW8-l6fsUWCmg81Xt-vdrlNPo6LvjOi4YhfRr2j6NF0Sk6qjJorENTjJ/s1600/110716+flyer2%25283%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 227px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1ZtZHVu9GWyjff_g64NZbFYXQMzEfePKNyjcDuOwgZ5xxErfkBPENJN-V8Q1pSwshZqTuwyw-FHxTLDpCwl5pW8-l6fsUWCmg81Xt-vdrlNPo6LvjOi4YhfRr2j6NF0Sk6qjJorENTjJ/s320/110716+flyer2%25283%2529.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603423421483072482" /></a><br /><br />July 30th we are back at the Flag with more great bands! This time we are proud to present The Casket Hecklers, Public Disgrace and Death Radio! We're waiting for confirmation from our 4th band at the moment but we promise this is going to be a messy night. Details for that show are <a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=202435566466139">HERE </a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinOjzvUdqYMIqUMQUUvjd0ZiszLnm4pt6RTa3czYI5dOL-ZFuDauyPqxkQXQFbbOMsVXv0u3qm7wH1WetGN_dMp1VwZgsRtLi2pL21awzPCfz3q3MnBKXZpIOOt1XEv8NLGAwygPtHYb8R/s1600/100731+flyer+%25282%2529+-+Copy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 227px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinOjzvUdqYMIqUMQUUvjd0ZiszLnm4pt6RTa3czYI5dOL-ZFuDauyPqxkQXQFbbOMsVXv0u3qm7wH1WetGN_dMp1VwZgsRtLi2pL21awzPCfz3q3MnBKXZpIOOt1XEv8NLGAwygPtHYb8R/s320/100731+flyer+%25282%2529+-+Copy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603426408375621698" /></a><br /><br />In other news, look out for releases from <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Revenge-of-the-Psychotronic-Man/6024469521?sk=wall">Revenge of the Psychotronic Man</a> and <a href="http://www.mikescott.me.uk/">Mike Scott</a> (Phinius Gage) over the next few days. <br /><br />We've got a shit load more news for you but this post is epic so I'll wrap it up here and get back to you with the rest soon.The Independent Creative Movement: An Art and Music Collective.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14452510104185701726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410862677011651902.post-45070985874075984872011-04-26T15:57:00.000-07:002011-04-26T17:23:51.032-07:00Descendents At Shepherds BushIt's been a long time since a Punk Rock show caused this much controversy or split the opinion of quite so many people... It's been longer since I actually walked out of a gig before the end. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.descendentsonline.com/">The Descendents </a>are pioneers of Pop Punk - nobody is disputing that. Nobody is saying they aren't a great band with an incredible back catalog and nobody wanted to leave Shepherds Bush last night with anything but a smile on their faces. Unfortunately though, smiling was the very last thing most wanted to do as the first of 2 dates in the UK for around 15 years turned into what can only fairly be described as a farce. <br /><br />The support bands first. <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Teenage-Bottlerocket/110365323028">Teenage Bottlerocket </a>were enjoyable enough. I actually enjoyed their set - it was the first time I'd really taken the time to listen to them. The crowd were into them and they played well. <br /><br />Afterwards came <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dead-To-Me/176196740742">Dead To Me </a>and with them a set of horribly bland Pop Punk tunes that seemed to melt into one long dirge. It was a shame, I'd heard good things. <br /><br />So, the lights go out and out come The Descendents. The band start playing and already something is not right. It sounds terrible. The support acts had far better sound - this was unusual to say the least. Then Milo starts to sing...<br /><br />Anyone who was there knows what happened next. The story of the smashed microphone almost blinding his bandmate will go down in history as one of the most surreal moments at any gig ever. For those of you that weren't there let me just fill you in. <br /><br />The Descendents had just played 2 other dates - Groezrock in Belgium and Monster Bash in Berlin. Apparently these days lead singer Milo's voice can only take a couple of shows in a short space of time as he suffered a complete vocal blow-out leaving him hoarse and barely audible. Realising he wasn't going to be able to sing at the London gig he threw his mic down in a temper and it pretty much exploded on impact - shards of which hit guitarist Stephen Egerton in the face which started to bleed. The band rushed off-stage and stayed there for a while leaving the crowd bewildered. <br /><br />When the band returned things went from bad to worse. Milo's attempts at singing sounded more like Death Metal than Pop Punk and they bumbled their way through a few more songs before he gave up entirely. This then led to a series of other people singing including the front man from the support band, a roadie and, in one of the strangest sights of the night, Eric Melivin from NOFX. <br /><br />I'd love to be able to give a proper review of the rest of the night, I really would. But the truth is, I can't... I wasn't in the room. I was so disappointed by the state of this gig that I went outside to lament with others who felt the same way. And there were a lot of others that felt the same way... As I stood there swarms of people either came outside to smoke and complain (justifiably so) or to simply go home.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdXkqOt_UKPj1VAGNscIEGLZIUjIhjCldGVy6jfHRHeG99F2-DYImUsSLsx7wsvEor4PYYmfbGhYbbDHlaJfZZKWJSq626Vbf1T0gNJKaUcCZ4kYj_e_6gpZLn1-kufnzub_SFm5qy8t3/s1600/230346_10150171389498937_726133936_6796498_7428452_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdXkqOt_UKPj1VAGNscIEGLZIUjIhjCldGVy6jfHRHeG99F2-DYImUsSLsx7wsvEor4PYYmfbGhYbbDHlaJfZZKWJSq626Vbf1T0gNJKaUcCZ4kYj_e_6gpZLn1-kufnzub_SFm5qy8t3/s320/230346_10150171389498937_726133936_6796498_7428452_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600048257141449250" /></a><br />So, today is the day after and I've spent a considerable amount of time both expressing my own and reading other people's opinions on this gig and I have seen both positive and negative comments towards the band. My own feelings are that Milo couldn't possibly have been surprised to find he couldn't sing. He must know his own voice and if he didn't feel he could perform then he just shouldn't have. (To all of those people that argued about the cost of cancelling or rescheduling - all I have to say to them is they cancelled the second date so bear that in mind) Everyone I have spoken to has expressed that they would rather have had the gig rescheduled until such a time as Milo could handle it than to witness the shambles that was last night. <br /><br />I've read people saying that it was unfair of the crowd to boo the band - to those people I just want to say that the 20 quid bit of paper everyone had to get into that show was what gave them the right to make any sound they wanted to. People paid to see The Descendents, not glorified Descendent karaoke. <br /><br />The thing that really upset everyone though was that at no point during the show did anyone apologise. Everybody at that gig had paid to see a show and they deserved to see one. I spoke to people who had travelled from all over the country and beyond all to see a band that hardly ever comes over here - why not take the time to explain the situation and simply apologise? We get that these things happen, we get that occasionally things go wrong... But there has to come a time where bodging together a gig out of the bits and pieces of a band you have left is just not good enough for the first visit in 15 odd years. <br /><br />Do I still love The Descendents? Of course I do. They wrote some of the finest Pop Punk tunes ever written! But the fact remains that for many this was a piss-poor excuse of a gig and I hope the band go some way to restore the faith of all of those people that made a huge effort and paid a lot of money to see them.<br /><br />I'd just like to quickly add that I nicked this photo off a mate who was there. Cheers Paul! And thanks to everyone else I got chatting to outside - you made a shit gig a lot more fun to be at.The Independent Creative Movement: An Art and Music Collective.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14452510104185701726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410862677011651902.post-75836248169964884692011-04-12T13:30:00.001-07:002011-04-12T14:45:49.401-07:00ICM/Choke On This Presents: A Major Motion Picture plus support for Punk 4 the HomelessSo, April the 9th found us back at the LHT Urban Bar in Whitechapel for another Punk 4 the Homeless show. We do like the Urban Bar, for one it's a nice, intimate little venue and relatively easy to get to... Oh and it's painted up with tiger stripes - if there's anything in the world cooler than a venue painted to look like a giant tiger with windows then I don't know (or care) what it is.<br /><br />First up were ICM regulars <a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000149280807">Saving Sebastian</a>. A good set. They played well and it's always nice to see them. I won't say too much about them as we get them playing ICM a lot so let's move on to a band that broke their ICM cherry...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglx946rR0GDwTLY-5poWb0KbQhDzK5dpFCUWmVt2x4cIX-iRCKAA9YBTyO6chmLEFPW9FEwWSdg_ejoC2LbLdV-jENeX5nyeS8YIYZJwGSE0ThtikjLHXyWbj_M_vrMJeeqahRM7q9S-N3/s1600/IMGP0052.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglx946rR0GDwTLY-5poWb0KbQhDzK5dpFCUWmVt2x4cIX-iRCKAA9YBTyO6chmLEFPW9FEwWSdg_ejoC2LbLdV-jENeX5nyeS8YIYZJwGSE0ThtikjLHXyWbj_M_vrMJeeqahRM7q9S-N3/s320/IMGP0052.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594814356903444242" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/publicdisgrace">Public Disgrace</a> are a 3 piece punk band from Cheshunt, I think, (if I was paying attention) and are well worth checking out live. Fast, fun and entertaining - every song was well crafted and punchy. I'd heard a track from them already (as they were kind enough to donate one to Punk 4 Japan) but it really did them no justice as they pulled out all the stops to keep everyone's attention. It may not have been a big crowd but all eyes (and ears) were on them as they flit between Ska, Punk and Thrash effortlessly. Great set and definitely one to watch. Expect to see them on an ICM bill again soon.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrdPvpm2c3YrWrAXdggnXhK9wNE_uVYpB8dyysm76LouwjcZwli9VXOhDcnO59eezQ_pXb8Bd4CnbY7oIypjb61ku2MrEQkZOnI4HrvDWTZYVzHgfvcOiasedC2i4y_88KfuWoop-Na8fc/s1600/IMGP0072.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrdPvpm2c3YrWrAXdggnXhK9wNE_uVYpB8dyysm76LouwjcZwli9VXOhDcnO59eezQ_pXb8Bd4CnbY7oIypjb61ku2MrEQkZOnI4HrvDWTZYVzHgfvcOiasedC2i4y_88KfuWoop-Na8fc/s320/IMGP0072.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594815713620619330" /></a><br />Last band of the night was a band I've loved for a while, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/AMMPonline">A Major Motion Picture</a>. This charity show was a stop on AMMP's tour and unfortunately lead singer Adam was showing signs of being on the road as he was a little hoarse at times but they still played an absolute blinder. Old tracks, brand new tracks and, most importantly, my favourite AMMP tune, 'You Ain't Got Nothing On Magic Fingers, Yo', left everyone chipper and wanting more. Am I biased? Probably, I love them. Does it matter? Nope, tis me writing it. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0xMsa9yitc08Lz88VjAAjzYk63MXPBEHPkW60Hma8KQDUrPp67XS0YxNFbHlqwtbrqFSC5mYCcslUWxe86deQEeCRQg8-uxlpqUppDwdihiFNZ4gP8RQil2eBVpNZGSYuYydvPv3LiVQ/s1600/IMGP0085.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0xMsa9yitc08Lz88VjAAjzYk63MXPBEHPkW60Hma8KQDUrPp67XS0YxNFbHlqwtbrqFSC5mYCcslUWxe86deQEeCRQg8-uxlpqUppDwdihiFNZ4gP8RQil2eBVpNZGSYuYydvPv3LiVQ/s320/IMGP0085.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594813477570808898" /></a><br />It may not have boasted the biggest crowd at a London show that night but the bands were great and everyone had a good time. I was lucky enough to meet some lovely people and had a good time - all for a great cause... Oh, and did I mention the venue is painted up like a tiger?The Independent Creative Movement: An Art and Music Collective.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14452510104185701726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410862677011651902.post-78972181045951825312011-04-08T20:31:00.000-07:002011-04-08T21:36:49.161-07:00Punk 4 Japan Vol 3 and Fuck The NMEFirst up, for those of you that missed the announcement, the 3rd volume of Punk 4 Japan is up and available to download.<br /><br />Featuring another 40 bands this volume completes the trilogy in a way that's really only rivaled by Star Wars or something else that was good and there happened to be three of them (yes, I know there were 6 Star Wars flicks but I have chosen to ignore parts 1 through 3 because they were toilet) and featuring such bands as: Shag Nasty, Billy No Mates, Wonk Unit, Oiz II Men, Viki Vortex and the Cumshots, The Milksnatchers, UK Vomit, Ducking Punches, Richie Blitz and Truebeat this is a gem of a compilation. <br /><br />3 quid, same as the others and available <a href="http://www.punk4japan.com">HERE</a> <br /><br />You can read what our pal Woodstock over at Studs and Punks had to say about all 3 parts of Punk 4 Japan <a href="http://www.studsandpunks.co.uk/reviewscd2010_10.php?show=cd&nid=100&alf=V">HERE</a> <a href="http://www.studsandpunks.co.uk/reviewscd2010_10.php?show=cd&nid=101">HERE</a> and <a href="http://www.studsandpunks.co.uk/reviewscd2010_10.php?show=cd&nid=110">HERE</a><br /><br />Before the next bit - here's a disclaimer: The ICM blog contains the opinions of Dan and he started The ICM, runs The ICM and books all the bands that appear on The ICM's gigs so it's fairly safe to say that when he say's 'fuck the NME' - he's speaking on behalf of The ICM and not copping out behind a pathetic disclaimer. With that said... <br /><br />In other news, the NME recently made a few enemies thanks to a guy named Rick Martin posting a blog about why he doesn't think Record Store Day is important. More than that, he goes on to insult everybody that works in independent record stores and claims buying singles is a waste of money. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMudebC5Es02u5FsRRmVyyN98Eybejl8BMWBp5kzuZQ5h5p16zn18ZRRWxFnAsZQPCkfXSbqG3vC-pHRwav3i8I6oOXRpJAI5XVvMcm13a9pbI3wRg9yMIr7nDDCtzrs7cp-uEmljuF2F/s1600/NME+logo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 142px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMudebC5Es02u5FsRRmVyyN98Eybejl8BMWBp5kzuZQ5h5p16zn18ZRRWxFnAsZQPCkfXSbqG3vC-pHRwav3i8I6oOXRpJAI5XVvMcm13a9pbI3wRg9yMIr7nDDCtzrs7cp-uEmljuF2F/s320/NME+logo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593434567862583458" /></a><br /><br />You can read the article and join the debate <a href="http://www.nme.com/blog/index.php?blog=146&title=why_i_don_t_care_about_record_store_day&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1">HERE</a><br /><br /> <br />In case you were unclear on my position on this matter - the writer of this article is a tool. He's a journalist for the NME that has publicly dismissed the need for physical copies of music - the same music the magazine he is employed by is supposed to be endorsing however the artist chooses to bring it out. Smart move, eh? <br /><br />Interestingly the article goes way off topic from berating Record Store Day (or 'a fucking genius way to get hold of limited edition vinyl by acknowledging and celebrating independent record stores day' - as I like to think of it) to a meandering dirge about the death of CD's and records in favour of MP3's. As far as articles go, it's a piece of shit. <br /><br />Where it gets worse is that the 'writer' of this meandering toss then insults the very staff of these awesome establishments - quite clearly basing his opinions on High Fidelity and using a Yellow Pages advert to back up his claim - the bellend.<br /><br />He also tells the readers that he threw out his CD's - presumably in some act of defiance against a dying medium... But kept the ones he actually paid for. So, here's a little heads up, if you're thinking of sending a single to the NME for review - don't. It will most likely fall into the evil clutches of an ignorant little prick who will then simply toss it into the bin because even free stuff isn't appreciated by these soulless wankers anymore. No wonder really that nobody reads the NME anymore to be honest. Bring back Melody Maker now!<br /><br />In fact, my proposal is simple: If you buy the NME - stop. Save the money you spend on that rag and go to your nearest independent record shop and buy a single. Instant win. That is all.The Independent Creative Movement: An Art and Music Collective.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14452510104185701726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410862677011651902.post-15459140237428194472011-03-28T17:00:00.000-07:002011-03-28T18:29:57.079-07:00Ska Wars!A long, long time ago (well, it was Friday night) in a Galaxy far, far away (that looked suspiciously like the Flag, Watford) a group of rebels thwarted an empire's worth of shit music by playing some amazing Ska Punk.<br /><br />We were gutted to lose My Third Leg at the last minute due to work commitments although we will be seeing them in June with Tyrannosaurus Alan though (details <a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=165823990133862">HERE</a>) so there's some good news. However, the line-up we ended up with was a corker! <br /><br />First up we had Chaz and Tom (of Royal Flush fame) doing an acoustic set. Well, the kind of acoustic that needs plugging in but it was sort of acoustic. The kids were digging it, the beer was flowing and it was a good start to the night. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm0JgQuoUmGiLPBOnf1lyU7fw08zoHx-tYHF5AKw1ZBzm2yWxyOg-rU3C32wjFwjgVcfyPEB2dTHJPwqf5PHyYlcHJpkDVCHguG3PaFVNRincnjczEsBR0SVvG4RSvSRyBvhQgjmzaT8Mj/s1600/IMGP0013.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm0JgQuoUmGiLPBOnf1lyU7fw08zoHx-tYHF5AKw1ZBzm2yWxyOg-rU3C32wjFwjgVcfyPEB2dTHJPwqf5PHyYlcHJpkDVCHguG3PaFVNRincnjczEsBR0SVvG4RSvSRyBvhQgjmzaT8Mj/s320/IMGP0013.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589293886356845634" /></a><br />Next up was <a href="www.myspace.com/truebeatuk">Truebeat</a> and what a set! Playing Punk and Ska with a dash of Reggae thrown in for good measure these guys came and took the roof off. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJICQ71ixS0ZZQ3iUpfYnQ1YMX1hXicPc7BoBR5Yofrz9RGKQsU0erK0AQErsnaBChb1zgsSDMJg-cGj5wRxzroDNjHlOx6fxe-Vdh_5Eow8M2rclYaKNipcR-5NkrtJelzub6D0Psq7uk/s1600/IMGP0039.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJICQ71ixS0ZZQ3iUpfYnQ1YMX1hXicPc7BoBR5Yofrz9RGKQsU0erK0AQErsnaBChb1zgsSDMJg-cGj5wRxzroDNjHlOx6fxe-Vdh_5Eow8M2rclYaKNipcR-5NkrtJelzub6D0Psq7uk/s320/IMGP0039.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589296194027019154" /></a><br /><center><br /><iframe width="400" height="290" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/AvHUTCDS5lo?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe></center><br />Up next were <a href="http://www.myspace.com/milksnatchers">The Milksnatchers</a>, they've been on the scene for a fair old time now and we were privileged enough to have them come and play for us. Great guys, great tunes and a Hammond organ too! Top stuff. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJ-GOYItMmsnpzg7Q5O16ciSrSBtFWJE0rtFfmNsVIeaX4v_yzxkBmAsS_T8gq9STYpRUnK4N73_c_NjvmY3_iYaz7Q_ITlP1uwE-TimU1mb5G0G5TY2cJ0P289lYH3HcFmvGPj3jBzMl/s1600/IMGP0138.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJ-GOYItMmsnpzg7Q5O16ciSrSBtFWJE0rtFfmNsVIeaX4v_yzxkBmAsS_T8gq9STYpRUnK4N73_c_NjvmY3_iYaz7Q_ITlP1uwE-TimU1mb5G0G5TY2cJ0P289lYH3HcFmvGPj3jBzMl/s320/IMGP0138.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589306047764095730" /></a><br />And we were also lucky enough to have Sal in the audience filming a bit too. Here's some footage she shot of the lads (and lady) in action. <br /><center><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="400" height="290" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0IxlnZ1h4hs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></center><br />We thoroughly recommend you check out Sal's channel on Facebook <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/punkrocksal">HERE </a><br />Last band of the night, Watford's own <a href="www.myspace.com/usualplayers">Usual Players</a> and it's hard to talk about them without being more biased than normal, for one thing they're a home town band and for another, me and Lewis (the front man) go way back. So, in order to keep this snappy and not too full of platitudes I'll just say that the lads did what they do best, they did it bloody well and we appreciate them doing it for us for a second time. Can't wait for the album!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8TNJoTJNV4z9Q6s1PMYrZjvcNc26u-keOuRs5C8sh3TkGM1ABOHw0NQikg2IrVceYI7nV_piXbOWrlxk8M2xoQBbjdMmmJZYferkuUYrebf3g3SNvOTVcMPP8XxezirEEF2mM_SA27qaQ/s1600/IMGP0245.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8TNJoTJNV4z9Q6s1PMYrZjvcNc26u-keOuRs5C8sh3TkGM1ABOHw0NQikg2IrVceYI7nV_piXbOWrlxk8M2xoQBbjdMmmJZYferkuUYrebf3g3SNvOTVcMPP8XxezirEEF2mM_SA27qaQ/s320/IMGP0245.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589306538624968498" /></a><br />And here's a video Sal did. Gawd love her. <br /><center><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="400" height="290" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ocIteyvmkEI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></center><br /><br />So, that was Ska Wars! A great night, fantastic atmosphere and a good turn out for 4 acts that deserved it. Here's to the next one! <br /><br />All the photos courtesy of Joho Photos - Find her <a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002128070612">HERE</a> - Cheers Jo!The Independent Creative Movement: An Art and Music Collective.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14452510104185701726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410862677011651902.post-29455904930318732832011-03-27T14:15:00.000-07:002011-03-28T02:38:43.013-07:00Road Trip to Whitmore Reunion.4pm and my phone rang. I didn't answer it, I was asleep. When I finally realised I should be answering it there's a message from Chaz. His dad had wandered off with the satnav. <br /><br />A while later, panic over and we were off (with the satnav) on a near 200 mile round-trip to Salisbury to see a band that last played back in 2005 - Whitmore. <br /><br />The car journey was fairly uninspiring and I won't bore you with details about what we talked about (women and music to be fair) but I will tell you that driving music was supplied by the awesome Truebeat album that Chaz picked up from them at Ska Wars! (There will be a post about that soon, too) the night before. <br /><br />We arrived in Salisbury a little earlier than expected despite the haggard weather and found the venue with relative ease. The venue looked suspiciously like a church so we did what anyone would do in the circumstances and went to find a suitable pub to mull this turn of events over until doors at 7.30.<br /><br />Our watering hole selected based on it being the only one with more than one person in, we got drinks in. A quick note here to anyone complaining often about London prices - those are not 'London prices' they are simply 'prices' as the cost of our beverages was as much, if not more, than they are in town. <br /><br />Pints drunk, ciggies smoked and more conversation about women and music (it's generally all we talk about) and it was off to the venue for the gig. Once we arrived we found out that we were correct in our original assumption and that it was, in actual fact, a converted church. A very strange venue indeed. Not unpleasant but certainly weird, <a href="http://www.salisburyartscentre.co.uk/home.aspx">Salisbury Arts Centre</a> is by far the least Punk Rock venue I've ever been to a Punk Rock show at - for starters there's the big, illuminated stone cross outside. And then there were the electric doors, a foyer and a selection of rather lovely looking snacks slightly taking away from the Punk Rock vibe. Amazing place though and an amazing set-up. Great sound system, theatre lights and a projector screen with the bands logo's on made this a very special gig indeed.<br /><br />So, first up was Salisbury's own <a href="http://www.myspace.com/dirtyskankinlovehornets">Dirty Skankin' Love Hornets</a> - pretty straightforward Ska Punk stuff. We missed a bit of their set thanks to having to get more ciggies but it seemed solid enough and a good start to the proceedings. <br /><br />Next band up was a real treat for me as I've been after seeing them for a while. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/thejunkpunk">The Junk</a> are balls out Ska-Core. The crowd were a little bit unsure of what to make of them and the casuals amongst the crowd seemed a little put off by the harder songs. I loved it though and made a point of buying their CD and having a chat with front man Jake afterwards. Expect them at an ICM show soon!<br /><br />After the carnage that was The Junk came the chilled out reggae and trad. Ska sounds of <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Captain-Accident-The-Disasters/188371622859">Captain Accident and the Disasters</a>. As the tempo dropped, so did our mood and so a trip to the bar and outside for a ciggie became the next on our agenda. It sounded alright but I'd have opened with them to be honest. The buzz created by The Junk was lost during their set - don't get me wrong though, the band were blinding and you couldn't fault their laid back tunes or how they played them... Just when they were playing them in relation to everything else. <br /><br />Finally, and the room went bezerk for the headliners. After a lengthy absence the guys launched straight into their uniquely flavoured Ska-tinged Pop-Punk as if they'd never been away. Energetic, although clearly a little older, and full of gratitude to those that were singing along with every word - the set was filled with every tune the hardcore Whitmore fans at the front were calling out for.<br /><br />Admittedly, I wasn't a huge fan of Whitmore first time around. Back in the days when they were getting played on P-Rock the Punk wasn't Punk enough for me and the Ska seemed a half-hearted effort but I was into it the second the started playing. Was every song a winner? No. Some songs left me not only dry but completely baffled. The tempo changed in the set so many times it was sometimes hard to stay completely with the band and not zone out for a look around the room at the crowd to gauge their reaction. <br /><br />The only real down point for me was the lead singer, Robb Blake's insistence at berating all the people that weren't at the show - despite it being sold out. I couldn't help but think he was maybe talking about someone specific and it seemed to put a slight downer on what was clearly an amazing re-union. <br /><br />Overall though, a top night. Well worth the drive (because Chaz drove) and we met some good people. It was nice to see a band sell out a 500 capacity show after so long away and even better to see they still had what made them popular in the first place. <br /><center><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="400" height="290" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kSCMTw0L3HA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></center>The Independent Creative Movement: An Art and Music Collective.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14452510104185701726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410862677011651902.post-2265075957713516292011-03-24T13:55:00.000-07:002011-03-24T14:59:48.671-07:00Punk 4 the Homeless & EagleIn an age where a bands popularity is based on the quality of their haircuts and where writing more than one song with any sort of meaning puts a release into the stigma-heavy catagory of 'concept album', it's reassuring to know that somewhere, deep in Lincolnshire, there is a man with a plan to change the world through words and music. <br /><br />Eagle is the man behind the charity Punk 4 the Homeless, a charity that we have worked with on a number of occasions to help raise both money and awareness for Casa Alianza, an organisation that helps street kids in South America. Punk 4 the Homeless, as the name suggests, uses Punk music to promote a positive message for change. It's unsuprising to learn that Eagle himself is in a number of acts that capture both the sound and the sentiment of his charity's namesake. <br /><br />Check out Punk 4 the Homeless <a href="www.myspace.com/punk4thehomeless">HERE</a> and find out about the ICM/Choke On This Presents: Punk 4 the Homeless All-dayer <a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=104298559647382">HERE</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjJksq0Bk4hv5av01PAS6zMtrKNFL3Suel5I2J5Au4tt6Yu34v3SmM_wbiudV1xDOM4578VtdDxuZ5pZR9blQqev4vugR2zTdFSi6_ybqyalLpbfQ5gtSK33gHKfpOvfG-e4CZcWSwQHcc/s1600/punk4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 159px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjJksq0Bk4hv5av01PAS6zMtrKNFL3Suel5I2J5Au4tt6Yu34v3SmM_wbiudV1xDOM4578VtdDxuZ5pZR9blQqev4vugR2zTdFSi6_ybqyalLpbfQ5gtSK33gHKfpOvfG-e4CZcWSwQHcc/s320/punk4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587757201182765970" /></a><br />'Punk poetry' – to many may be an oxymoron. With Punk's image being that of the uneducated and the uncaring it's not difficult to understand why but the truth is far different. For whilst the abrasive nature of the music itself may not appeal to all, there is still a profound beauty in truth and amidst the hectic guitars by Eagle's band SPOG (Starting Point of Genocide), there is more truth about society than you're likely to find in a lifetime of listening to commercial radio. <br /><br />The same lyrical values can be found in Eagles less frantic, and altogether more mature sounding band, Creepy Cool And The Poor Geezers. With their country and blues influences this band have an altogether more relaxed approach to expressing their feelings towards the state of things but never once becoming twee, as many country sounding acts are prone to doing. <br /><br />It's the words of Eagle himself that run through the veins of these bands, his delivery forcing the listener to pay attention and rethink the way they see the world. And that's what 'Punk Poetry' is all about, expressing an emotive state through rythmic language so as to fully allow those listening to understand it. There are no metaphors here, no flowery language to confuse or to allow for interpretation – this is the truth as expressed by a man that knows it, has seen it and, most of all wants to change it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1JSkDkqZ7zZQgKvQXYxZKKXUt_iQOM_7Ortk0yznxIu4rtPh8El2Okcr1oTfYvRPTdcMAjxkhTFoaqF3JfXpDOVA6ULGUFvXX8i6VN0Y1PSfvnl7wjTiSJYFuvuwUwkmEJOFeJ2c6-NW/s1600/58808_150211931669666_100000425804360_348481_3481777_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 141px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1JSkDkqZ7zZQgKvQXYxZKKXUt_iQOM_7Ortk0yznxIu4rtPh8El2Okcr1oTfYvRPTdcMAjxkhTFoaqF3JfXpDOVA6ULGUFvXX8i6VN0Y1PSfvnl7wjTiSJYFuvuwUwkmEJOFeJ2c6-NW/s320/58808_150211931669666_100000425804360_348481_3481777_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587767389420873890" /></a><br />To see Eagle Spits, the name he performs his poetry under, is to do more than simply see a poet reciting his latest work - it's a chance to learn about those things people avoid for comforts sake. It's a chance to relive the spirited times of Punk Rock and to experience them for the first time should you not be old enough to recall them. Most of all though, it's a chance to hear how one man is trying, and with good cause and better intentions, to change the word through words and music.The Independent Creative Movement: An Art and Music Collective.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14452510104185701726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410862677011651902.post-49118300484734005572011-03-23T08:13:00.000-07:002011-03-23T09:53:13.607-07:00New Noise... And Skating With A Social ConscienceCouple of things for you today - first up, a quick break from the noise to mention the guys over at <a href="http://www.ironcolumnskates.com/">Iron Column Skateboards</a> who have a very different take on running a skate company - these guys are politically and socially aware, they know their shit and they make awesome stuff... available <a href="http://www.ironcolumnskates.bigcartel.com/">HERE</a><br /><br />In their own words: 'From a love of British Skateboarding, Art, Hardcore, and the DIY ethics that come with all of these, four guys have come together to create and run a non profit skateboard company, that gives something back to it's origins.' - What's not to like about these guys? They're like the ICM on wheels. <br /><br />Check out the guys site and buy yourself one of their awesome Black Flag inspired T's. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNy3e1vLd3PvD8KXiWeRGo1b9UnjXz5ZEgCx6axY3nfuHn-ltMHd-HyO63ncQg2g96gusKfmXAy2FDkg_kdhsx7iy9D_7ChszTCCHn3BI-ZI3bC0mqB9Qd5YNpZffj3jDcuTYIGH9EfXNN/s1600/164762_119114588157335_100001763847809_128828_5504458_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 282px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNy3e1vLd3PvD8KXiWeRGo1b9UnjXz5ZEgCx6axY3nfuHn-ltMHd-HyO63ncQg2g96gusKfmXAy2FDkg_kdhsx7iy9D_7ChszTCCHn3BI-ZI3bC0mqB9Qd5YNpZffj3jDcuTYIGH9EfXNN/s320/164762_119114588157335_100001763847809_128828_5504458_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587315991587189218" /></a><br />Next up, for those of you looking to take a break from Punk for a while, let me recommend Brighton based, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pink-Narcissus/79095593848?sk=app_2405167945">Pink Narcissus</a>. Crossing genres like there weren't any to start with and sounding like the bastard offspring of a three-way between Janes Addiction, The Velvet Underground and Gogol Bordello - but with some definite punk and cabaret elements thrown in for good measure, these guys ooze class in every track. This is the music they play in those clubs you've never quite been brave enough to venture inside.<br /><br />Check out the video for Disinfectant below:<br /><center><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="400" height="290" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/v7Kq6aaMuCY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></center>The Independent Creative Movement: An Art and Music Collective.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14452510104185701726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410862677011651902.post-88414552101616924292011-03-22T10:10:00.000-07:002011-03-22T10:40:43.796-07:00We Had A Birthday!So, March 19th saw the ICM passing the year mark - it's true, we've been putting on gigs and making CD's and generally poking around in the world of unsigned music for a year. And what a year it's been. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqx8EPDzwOQTWuE0KMC62pYjHF5saJONZJc5o0xYAwB3ttLy9l_sRaviuhUcU_y0w7RANnT6ADgIqvFIwziflgJJlbQFEHv2gp1S7smwiLucpygrBuJKD_jmFW_UkKrXEN-z7uMTLaWq1r/s1600/HB1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqx8EPDzwOQTWuE0KMC62pYjHF5saJONZJc5o0xYAwB3ttLy9l_sRaviuhUcU_y0w7RANnT6ADgIqvFIwziflgJJlbQFEHv2gp1S7smwiLucpygrBuJKD_jmFW_UkKrXEN-z7uMTLaWq1r/s320/HB1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586957295690912546" /></a><br />From our very first gig where we thought nobody would turn up to our 2nd appearance at the recently shut down Gaff, where next to nobody did, from the 2 stages of the first charity show to the Christmas Eve busk-off for the Peace Hospice, we've had a very busy twelve months. <br /><br />There are more people to thank for the last 12 months than I could remember and that you would want to take the time reading about but to everyone that's ever helped us out at a show, donated a track for a compilation, come and danced, played or got drunk at a gig or simply said something nice about us and helped the love for what we do - we are grateful. <br /><br />The ICM has always been one of those 'labour of love' type projects. We've never made a fortune but we'd like to think we've helped people know about some amazing bands they may never have heard before and that's really why we do this. We've met a lot of fantastic people, made some great friends and had some good times. Not bad for a years work, I think you'll agree. <br /><br />Come celebrate with us if you will on Friday night at The Flag, where it all began. We have 4 amazing Ska/Ska Punk bands on for your enjoyment and Two-Tone playing all night!<br /><br />News and stuff...<br /><br />Our mate Adem (of Panic Dance fame) has only gone and made himself a music video - and a very good one at that. Check out the video... erm, here actually as it's posted just under this writing.<br /><center><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="400" height="290" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/OyqH9jUYLxA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></center><br />And finally...<br /><br />The ICM are proud to make their second appearance on <a href="http://www.studsandpunks.co.uk">Studs and Punks</a> - once again in the review section and, once more for a charity compilation. This time the legend that is Woodstock has reviewed the first volume of the Punk 4 Japan 'donate to download' compilation. You can read the kind words about this volume <a href="http://www.studsandpunks.co.uk/reviewscd2010_10.php?show=cd&nid=100">HERE</a>. <br /><br />Thanks to everyone that's been downloading the compilation - Volume 3 is on it's way and we've raised £400 already to help those affected by the tsunami.<br /><br />So, thank you all again. And here's to the next 12 months!The Independent Creative Movement: An Art and Music Collective.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14452510104185701726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410862677011651902.post-25725437379839277282011-03-17T11:02:00.000-07:002011-03-17T11:40:26.928-07:00Punk 4 JapanOn Friday the 11th of March 2011, the 7th largest recorded earthquake in history, measuring 9 on the richter scale, hit the coast of Japan causing a tidal wave up to 7 metres high.<br /><br />This tragedy cost over 2000 people their lives, injured 2000 more and could result in the deaths of up to 10,000 people. It has caused half a million people to be without homes and the potential dangers caused by the damage made to nuclear reactors could well be catastrophic. <br /><br />The death toll and the full extent of the damage caused by this natural disaster are yet to be fully realised. By downloading the ICM Punk 4 Japan compilation you will be helping the Red Cross in their efforts to provide first aid and shelter for those affected.<br /><br />The ICM Presents: Punk 4 Japan volume 1:<br /><br />Disc One:<br />01 Surgery Without Research - We Pay The Price<br />02 The Jelly Fiends - (Don't) Let It Go<br />03 The Irrelevants - Braindead<br />04 The Warriors - SNAFU<br />05 Rash Decision - Economic Slaughter<br />06 The Masts - Anti-Terror Missions<br />07 Freedom Faction - Inside Outside<br />08 Crise Total - Patria Amada<br />09 Seamen - String Genie Seamen Liquor Face<br />10 Three Summers Strong - Lock And Key Acoustic<br />11 The Blowouts - C.O.L.D (Church of the Living Dead)<br />12 The Blissetts - Nothing To Lose (But Our Chains)<br />13 Camus and the Cat - To The Sea<br />14 Dirty Protest - Lives and Freedoms<br />15 Room 4 1 More - Prove Them Wrong<br />16 Saigon Kiss - Dregs<br />17 Bob Killed A Dinosaur - If You Want To<br />18 The Detuners - Suburban Stud (Live)<br />19 Flat Back Four - Hearts And Minds<br />20 SPOG - Poodle Boy<br /><br />Disc Two:<br />21 Grace and Favour - Mute<br />22 The Bionic Krugerrands - Suicide Rock 'n' Roll<br />23 Panic Dance - Party In Parliament<br />24 Viva la Revolution - Ambition<br />25 The Guzzards - Die Motherfucker!<br />26 Adam Rebelius - Girl's Night Out Oi! Boy Howdy<br />27 Dissociates - Left Of Centre<br />28 The Notalauts - Time To Rest<br />29 Born To Destruct - 24 Hours<br />30 My Third Leg - Going For A Drive<br />31 Down To A Science - Echoes<br />32 Peter 118 - Victory<br />33 Saving Sebastian - I Hate Bands That...<br />34 Rebel City Radio - Rise Above<br />35 Embrace The City - Still Here<br />36 Stu McDonald - Secrets and Regrets<br />37 Times Like These - Tomorrows Fate<br />38 Tumbleweed - Hell Right Now<br />39 Public Disgrace – Stalling (Live)<br />40 Carsten May - Annoying<br />41 Subverse - Light Breaks Through<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNQ9d8sEzoz-HkfHd68FfcmT-9qyZDmTHlly5Mi5nFBT4Ah7xCIh4c_lVDRHv332LslTPXNjrMalD6pjuI_1d9WY5zV9mhiFUxZt97AvPRR54Zrit6dcazQEXuqaRMud_T7u5MD6kWjlS/s1600/PUNK4JAPAN_FRONT%25281%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 316px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNQ9d8sEzoz-HkfHd68FfcmT-9qyZDmTHlly5Mi5nFBT4Ah7xCIh4c_lVDRHv332LslTPXNjrMalD6pjuI_1d9WY5zV9mhiFUxZt97AvPRR54Zrit6dcazQEXuqaRMud_T7u5MD6kWjlS/s320/PUNK4JAPAN_FRONT%25281%2529.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585114684445659298" /></a><br />The ICM Presents: Punk 4 Japan – Volume 2.<br /><br />Disc One:<br />01 Usual Players - Bad Pills<br />02 Grindhouse - Smokers Cough<br />03 Mouth - Sticks And Stones<br />04 The Bad Channels - Bride Of the Atom<br />05 Steve White & the Protest Family ft Rukas - People Are Cunts (Live)<br />06 The Randy Jerkoffs - Saturday Night Heaver<br />07 The Few That Remain - We'll Sleep When We're Dead<br />08 The Septic Psycho's - Armchair Activist<br />09 King Tuts Revenge - Not Content<br />10 Screaming For Scarlet - Five Lights<br />11 American House Party - Goldfish Bowl<br />12 Gallows Hill - She's Always Home<br />13 2 Sick Monkeys – Why<br />14 The Jack Brews - Whiskey on the Wounds<br />15 Last One Standing - Our Neck of The Woods<br />16 Prognosis Negative – Monroe<br />17 Reptilehause – Breakdown<br />18 Darko - Chewbacca Defence<br />19 Me Three - Digging A Hole<br />20 Darwin and the Dinosaur – Lightbulb<br /><br />Disc 2.<br />21 Caught In A Crossfire - Carpe Diem<br />22 Loudmouth Eddi – Underclass<br />23 Leather Zoo - Fluer Du Lys<br />24 Crossfire – Moonlight<br />25 Mispelt - Foxtrot Oscar<br />26 Profilaxia – Eles<br />27 Dear Acetate - No Easy Target<br />28 W.O.R.M - Little Man<br />29 Dead Sails - Backstreet Cats<br />30 Ciminal X – 1984<br />31 Hooverhead - Barry Likes Big Girls<br />32 Senseless - Yours sincerely<br />33 Dress To Kill - The Power<br />34 Skurvi – Minesweeping<br />35 The Casket Hecklers - Fires Within<br />36 Stainless Steel Ride - Lie To Me Again<br />37 Crimewave - Selling Lies<br />38 The Violetcrazies – Psychotic<br />39 IC1s - Not Perfect<br />40 Wages Of Fear - Information Overload<br />41 Charred Hearts - Always Beside Me<br />42 The Kings Kids - The Lighthouse<br />43 Gripper - Lies<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMIrNSS7MSg7bUOTB8Z6NxSxYtBy4mP8zqFUjOa_zXh41plpecORunYwZ5AaPa_ir3htgv-UUOnWR4ARPU_8fyNOnbIVrvlRbTWSN0nzlzdDXc0Ua-cF4PlH8q7Td00N4a_T2cMdRZl7J/s1600/PUNK4JAPAN_FRONT_V2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 314px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMIrNSS7MSg7bUOTB8Z6NxSxYtBy4mP8zqFUjOa_zXh41plpecORunYwZ5AaPa_ir3htgv-UUOnWR4ARPU_8fyNOnbIVrvlRbTWSN0nzlzdDXc0Ua-cF4PlH8q7Td00N4a_T2cMdRZl7J/s320/PUNK4JAPAN_FRONT_V2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585115789673520242" /></a><br /><br />Go <a href="http://www.punk4japan.com">HERE</a> to buy it!The Independent Creative Movement: An Art and Music Collective.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14452510104185701726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410862677011651902.post-34015227225038369422011-03-13T13:05:00.000-07:002011-03-13T17:48:10.396-07:00Free Stuff and Funny StuffA few bits for you this evening in case you were all bored and that. <br /><br />First up, the good people at <a href="http://www.dirtnaprecs.com">Dirtnap Records</a> are giving away a free sampler to mark the occasion of their SXSW Showcase. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyUCpuYk2M5Eac5irLa6NC3i3v7TXwVceIwQOldkxFbGMGTt247jMPe6i0nCnFThElfSA0VVq3v0cQMo39OfXn0ra6LxuG653Q7Bi4zz-4LHcpAV_J0GqUqjo0gW7xUDWBXH5Cr7qHKVWP/s1600/1270063753-dirtnaplogo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyUCpuYk2M5Eac5irLa6NC3i3v7TXwVceIwQOldkxFbGMGTt247jMPe6i0nCnFThElfSA0VVq3v0cQMo39OfXn0ra6LxuG653Q7Bi4zz-4LHcpAV_J0GqUqjo0gW7xUDWBXH5Cr7qHKVWP/s320/1270063753-dirtnaplogo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583675600330746930" /></a><br />The sampler can be downloaded <a href="http://www.dirtnaprecs.com/SXSW_Sampler.zip">HERE</a> and the track listing looks suspiciously like this:<br /><br />1. High Tension Wires – Get Weird<br />2. Mean Jeans – Steve Don’t Party No More<br />3. White Wires – Be True To Your School (Til You Get Kicked Out)<br />4. Mind Spiders – Don’t Let Her Go<br />5. Bad Sports – Teenage Girls<br />6. Something Fierce – Afghani Sands<br />7. River City Tanlines – Black Knight<br />8. The Steve Adamyk Band – I’ll Take You Anywhere<br /><br />Non-music related goodness for your faces this post include the satirical doodlings of one Mr. Simon J Sky. <br /><br />Some of you may know him from Rash Decision. Some of you may know him from living down his road or stalking him or something. Some of you may know him as the writer/artist of 'Hipster Apocalypse' - a subtle blend of pictures of twats and those same twats meeting their demise in a series of comedic ways. <br /><br />You can see every installment of 'Hipster Apocalypse' <a href="http://simonjsky.tumblr.com/">HERE</a> <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3_EML8gEMgRo0QC2l8oJloINvr9KdnvWrfjw3iBDKj2GUTPRLKKqC6AfwinuLTztRCo1HGRqecdHdCxlJo8YbmOALh5NoRZnRVAQghh0_Y7IeVR9ICckRgWlmg7vebmjyx1L0djHBjAd/s1600/tumblr_lgdcmxy6HZ1qaqka2o1_1280.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 217px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3_EML8gEMgRo0QC2l8oJloINvr9KdnvWrfjw3iBDKj2GUTPRLKKqC6AfwinuLTztRCo1HGRqecdHdCxlJo8YbmOALh5NoRZnRVAQghh0_Y7IeVR9ICckRgWlmg7vebmjyx1L0djHBjAd/s320/tumblr_lgdcmxy6HZ1qaqka2o1_1280.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583730572741191906" /></a>The Independent Creative Movement: An Art and Music Collective.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14452510104185701726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410862677011651902.post-15931917996431497862011-03-11T14:09:00.000-08:002011-03-11T19:26:31.954-08:00Wonk Unit -Trolleys Thank You / Wonk Unit Saved My LifeWe had Wonk Unit come play an ICM/Choke On This show last year. It was a quiet gig and the first time I'd ever seen them live. <br /><br />About two songs in and suddenly they stopped playing in order for frontman Alex to read a poem. It was a strange poem about sticking a frozen fish up your arse for money. <br /><br />About two songs in I fell in love with Wonk Unit.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg42BxetYJD7w5I2BSclxK7C5uSve3C-0PTlrNr1DKZxNmO_FjNktgkuJtXfnyvzz2uHyAPnJSTxza5fH2gsS92d4GLeDZXtf3yCxzd213cl3pCvBekd4mqcNTc1_DjVCH0gZbT1OKdcszf/s1600/415667356_l_bigger.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 273px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg42BxetYJD7w5I2BSclxK7C5uSve3C-0PTlrNr1DKZxNmO_FjNktgkuJtXfnyvzz2uHyAPnJSTxza5fH2gsS92d4GLeDZXtf3yCxzd213cl3pCvBekd4mqcNTc1_DjVCH0gZbT1OKdcszf/s320/415667356_l_bigger.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582967601355083362" /></a><br />'Flying the Japanese Flag' quickly became the most played album in the history of my gaff. I was playing it two, three, twelve times a day but this entry isn't about that album - it's about the new one. The new one that arrived in the post a few days ago and is playing right now...<br /><br />'Trolleys Thank You' or 'Wonk Unit Saved My Life' or indeed both is 16 tracks of a very familiar Wonk Unit and a brand new one too. Whilst this album isn't as instantly satisfying as the last one it does still deliver in the way that only a Wonk Unit album can. <br /><br />As far as being a 'punk' band, Wonk Unit are very capable of sounding both classic and very new - with some songs even bordering on having a more indie sound at times. Overall there's far less aggression on this album than there was on the last, although, as a minor contradiction, there's a newly worked version of 'Los Angeles' that's far punchier than the original.<br /><br />This album doesn't have the immediate impact of the last one but the songs feel far more crafted. Like a band that's less angry with what took them to the point of writing and more focussed on the future... And if the future brings us more Wonk Unit then there's one big reason to be less angry already. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6aMuhiciD2rupqeyekAJVrbfeVwL6Z4vSsgMyiRRq4X5iZ-Iz-h7glxuPO2Be7vYT7Q-F7UmouOAYQcRaHTmzciMe7D3AtKXohGstLYanUSGS4TBJUQQxdyQbHr4bP3T_IpUq-Uogrl_9/s1600/180644_10150096191949626_13537624625_5864330_720549_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6aMuhiciD2rupqeyekAJVrbfeVwL6Z4vSsgMyiRRq4X5iZ-Iz-h7glxuPO2Be7vYT7Q-F7UmouOAYQcRaHTmzciMe7D3AtKXohGstLYanUSGS4TBJUQQxdyQbHr4bP3T_IpUq-Uogrl_9/s320/180644_10150096191949626_13537624625_5864330_720549_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583028216771152722" /></a>The Independent Creative Movement: An Art and Music Collective.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14452510104185701726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410862677011651902.post-50592199114481670992011-03-05T18:13:00.000-08:002011-03-05T18:29:08.220-08:00Video-A-Rama!There's a lot of amazing videos about at the moment. We thought we'd share some with you because, well, we're nice like that. <br /><br />First up, the amazing video for The Guzzards tune 'Greed'<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/AnIKPQzaQEg?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Here's our very good friends Room 4 1 More with 'It's About To End'<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/NtRZe5-ZwdQ?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Next is Aylesbury's answer to Guttermouth... It's UK Vomit with 'Zipper'<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/d4FkxMRXGBo?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />And if that wasn't enough UK Vomit for you, here's the video for 'Get Your Rat Out'<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kC8GxLngLbY?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />And finally, here's our mates The Guzzards with 'Die Motherfucker' with a special guest appearance from.. Me! <br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ctjNkDxNtlk?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>The Independent Creative Movement: An Art and Music Collective.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14452510104185701726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410862677011651902.post-38478365527868462542011-03-05T17:36:00.000-08:002011-03-05T17:57:50.258-08:00New Noise 2.We like Stick It Out. We like Stick It Out so much that we stuck it out (groan) on the ICM compilation. <br /><br />We like Stick It Out. So much so that when we found out that the man behind one of our favourite acoustic tracks of last year (Dear Wife, Dear Kids - available on the ICM compilation volume 1) was in a new band we thought to ourselves 'we'd better have a listen'...<br /><br />And listen we did. <br /><br />Ego's At The Door are a long way from the acoustic calm of say, Stick It Out, but we like them too. Messy post-hardcore tinged punk with more musical changes per song than an entire episode of Glee (see, we can do pop-culture references too) combined with some of the best song titles we've seen for a long time ('WHY HECK... IF I GOT A FREE HOUSE AND A NICE CAR I'D TELL STORIES FOR A LIVING TOO' to name one for you) and you have yourself a band to keep an eye on. <br /><br />You too can hear Ego's At The Door by going <a href="http://egosatthedoor.bandcamp.com/">HERE.</a> <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZDOi_iMmgKZeCxpLVL1a-ErnTzS4deVU9nWJDbYTPGiQ_INsutm2rOCO3VUFgoMFytD4OD3TkTv5Ek1r75Wz7gbIywXhyoDiYN7aCpAQOPPEz10cDEkLUgA9oV91jqi2qCWWsR-S8X4O/s1600/180376_141616625901137_141616265901173_270861_403761_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZDOi_iMmgKZeCxpLVL1a-ErnTzS4deVU9nWJDbYTPGiQ_INsutm2rOCO3VUFgoMFytD4OD3TkTv5Ek1r75Wz7gbIywXhyoDiYN7aCpAQOPPEz10cDEkLUgA9oV91jqi2qCWWsR-S8X4O/s320/180376_141616625901137_141616265901173_270861_403761_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580779674664555634" /></a>The Independent Creative Movement: An Art and Music Collective.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14452510104185701726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410862677011651902.post-82008836800769776432011-03-05T09:33:00.000-08:002011-03-05T11:18:04.717-08:00New Noise.Oh yes, it's that time of erm... the month again. Wait, that sounds a little bit like I'm on my period. Let me start over.<br /><br />Actually, do we really need an introduction? Not especially so let's crack on with the bands you might not have heard yet but bally well should have done. <br /><br />First up: <a href="http://www.myspace.com/americanhouseparty">American House Party.</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFOzhalfqtwHa45pQuy01vzHxmdFJ0KBQ64HaIWbTuQXFRKdi8JBgDIx6SRb92KZjLfVIHk-MGD8VdqljnCMwRDK1MveVG2PRovnBtZ-EaxfGzhkZkuX3SDoeP-8BkjzCB6VZmDdG65q7y/s1600/188293_194699740560559_146155808748286_604273_1846579_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFOzhalfqtwHa45pQuy01vzHxmdFJ0KBQ64HaIWbTuQXFRKdi8JBgDIx6SRb92KZjLfVIHk-MGD8VdqljnCMwRDK1MveVG2PRovnBtZ-EaxfGzhkZkuX3SDoeP-8BkjzCB6VZmDdG65q7y/s320/188293_194699740560559_146155808748286_604273_1846579_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580655368014986162" /></a><br />I wasn't entirely sure what to expect from a band with a name like this one but they asked to be stuck on the bill for the all-dayer (more of that to come) and on the bill they were stuck. <br /><br />When I listened to the tunes they have up on Myspace I ended up with the sort of smile on my face that I know I couldn't shift if I wanted to. Sounding a little like early Blink 182 and a lot like early Captain Everything this lot are fast, fun and exactly the sort of music you'd want to hear were you at an American house party so I guess that works. Which is annoying. <br /><br />Come catch them live at the ICM/Choke On This all-dayer for our favourite charity Punk 4 the Homeless on April 30th. For details (because we all like details) click <a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=104298559647382">THIS</a> <br /><br />Tweet This!<br /><br />Oh yes, you may have noticed the little Twitter box on the side of here. That's because the ICM are now on Twitter. As well as letting you know about all the ICM gigs and suchlike, we'll also be letting you know about the latest news from all the bands we know and love. Follow us - it might save your life*<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />*It won't. But follow us anyways.The Independent Creative Movement: An Art and Music Collective.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14452510104185701726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410862677011651902.post-59277738868254472942011-03-05T08:42:00.000-08:002011-03-05T09:32:37.020-08:00Catching Up... Part One.So, we've been pretty busy here at the ICM and, as usual, I have fallen well behind with this blog. <br /><br />So, here's me fixing that. <br /><br />First up - we had an amazing show back on the 19th Feb (yes, I know, it really has been that long since I posted) <a href="http://www.facebook.com/inrem.music">In Remission</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/Shadowfactoryuk">Shadow Factory</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/SoLastSeason">So Last Season</a> and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mouth/121838526665?ref=ts">Mouth</a> absolutely killed it and we were back on track with a good crowd. <br /><br />Here's a couple of snaps as taken by the ICM's new resident photographer, Jo. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeY9QvTxBMUnIcMUSqhMonwjY4i40YeQFlgsO33O51lD40zv2Au64wDqdZjqoikhJa0vSwDZbzG1JDo90Yy92k4xL8d59PK4nlNzUBdonTcCVDwujtF7Xf2Z9e0UfZBwWG7QbDMWMKiR4_/s1600/IMGP0104.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeY9QvTxBMUnIcMUSqhMonwjY4i40YeQFlgsO33O51lD40zv2Au64wDqdZjqoikhJa0vSwDZbzG1JDo90Yy92k4xL8d59PK4nlNzUBdonTcCVDwujtF7Xf2Z9e0UfZBwWG7QbDMWMKiR4_/s320/IMGP0104.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580639373615305602" /></a><br />Shadow Factory - hailing from Bedfordshire I met this lot by chance at a gig in Leyton Buzzard. Friendly guys and a fantastic band. Check out their song 'With Eyes Open' <a href="http://www.facebook.com/Shadowfactoryuk?v=app_178091127385">HERE</a> It's an epic tune.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu9tu3JOIX4OkLzE2HHv6H2_CnkYo53HEmI9Wh0d1Ll-6_BWJpgG4726nPhGlNJcUThKKeGZm8vLQyxLYIuuM3crZyLEd863bSXRIBDTV5WacarOI_iRbk6qA1WYs68YoAK0D4KOnvSTAw/s1600/IMGP0290.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu9tu3JOIX4OkLzE2HHv6H2_CnkYo53HEmI9Wh0d1Ll-6_BWJpgG4726nPhGlNJcUThKKeGZm8vLQyxLYIuuM3crZyLEd863bSXRIBDTV5WacarOI_iRbk6qA1WYs68YoAK0D4KOnvSTAw/s320/IMGP0290.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580643881161252226" /></a><br />In Remission, back with the ICM for the first time since the awesomeness that was the Halloween ZomBash. And were they on form? Oh yes. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0tKU5ON4gnD82ugHQNs_H_FDQU1GFVkbB-jK7upiVLIBS4uovn7KsJiQt87zfBWiRj0AR02zG_Lnj-EGacCQBmHakLQ62iqQfOHeelO76SnYSmRnZrQrjhsFye-wUIfM9bVq7pCIBKQR/s1600/IMGP0052.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0tKU5ON4gnD82ugHQNs_H_FDQU1GFVkbB-jK7upiVLIBS4uovn7KsJiQt87zfBWiRj0AR02zG_Lnj-EGacCQBmHakLQ62iqQfOHeelO76SnYSmRnZrQrjhsFye-wUIfM9bVq7pCIBKQR/s320/IMGP0052.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580648694132758322" /></a><br />Mouth are an angry band. Well, on stage they are at least. In real life these cats couldn't be sweeter if they tried. Musically they fit somewhere between the 80's and mid 90's but not in a way that dates them. They were the surprise of the night and I can't wait until the next time they make the journey all the way from Cornwall to play an ICM show again. <br /><br />Sadly, our photographer, as lovely as she is, managed to arrive after the first band had played and, as such, we're lacking in photos of So Last Season. Needless to say, the lads were awesome. Pop-punk at it's very finest and made such an impression that they got offered a slot on our own label Side Effect Records as a result. <br /><br />So, there's the first part of the catch up...The Independent Creative Movement: An Art and Music Collective.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14452510104185701726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410862677011651902.post-17785292812514409822011-02-16T17:18:00.000-08:002011-02-16T17:24:59.190-08:00The ICM Compilation Vol 1 - Studs and Punks Review.We are extremely proud to have had our compilation reviewed on Studs and Punks site. It's an amazing review and we're made up to be featured on such a great site. <br /><br />You can check out the review by clicking the site logo... And whilst you're there, be sure to check out the rest of the site.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.studsandpunks.co.uk/reviewscd2010_10.php?show=cd&nid=91" target="_blank"> <img src="http://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad114/theICM/Studs_logo.png"> </a>The Independent Creative Movement: An Art and Music Collective.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14452510104185701726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410862677011651902.post-76806789688691226562011-02-13T19:29:00.000-08:002011-02-14T04:28:16.289-08:00Punk Under The Amber Rooms - Feb 11th.The ICM broke new ground on Friday night... by getting a gig shut down! Yes, it's true, Punk Under the Amber Rooms had the plug pulled on it by the venue owners before it was done due to noise complaints. This is a first for us - it's always nice to do something new but having your last band of the night chucked off stage before they're done is shit. <br /><br />Here's a few words about the night regardless. <br /><br />The venue was small and the crowd few but the atmosphere was amazing and it felt more like a party than a gig. <br /><br />Saving Sebastian played a blinder, tight as I've ever seen them and they seemed to be enjoying their time on stage far more than they have in recent outings. Everything about their set just worked. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtDf3NnWQ6I2iDBC7TpBDHX9rcHp5lnqQIAj7a90veGzqUz64IEMw-FrQpqtKX9shqxq5sU_AIUOAGLzi8C7UphsP2H2P0L5sgBWU1IscncA1RPrN5fxoQ1F9WTOh_Bac_O8BcWgC7TGcP/s1600/IMGP0016.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtDf3NnWQ6I2iDBC7TpBDHX9rcHp5lnqQIAj7a90veGzqUz64IEMw-FrQpqtKX9shqxq5sU_AIUOAGLzi8C7UphsP2H2P0L5sgBWU1IscncA1RPrN5fxoQ1F9WTOh_Bac_O8BcWgC7TGcP/s320/IMGP0016.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573512079016709346" /></a><br />Room 4 1 More had recently experienced a minor set-back in the drumming department that looked a great deal like their drummer had done one. There was something funny about the Room 4 1 More banner over the empty drum kit - as if it was a situation vacant ad. Still, troopers that they are they played an entire set without one. And whilst it may not have made for particularly comfortable listening at times it was still a great performance from the other 3. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVMyzh4Lo0QnpFQVQy0oiKVuWQNN5_1Mq6stshCMTPKMzym4vO-uQCUqesA2z6OVfnHs6rG8dCp49mU38VghmHOTAhSFgHfOiCf1JzmzKO5kT_VMObOql2XUd_TlJEc_CX8Lt_kHH8VX8Y/s1600/IMGP0244.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVMyzh4Lo0QnpFQVQy0oiKVuWQNN5_1Mq6stshCMTPKMzym4vO-uQCUqesA2z6OVfnHs6rG8dCp49mU38VghmHOTAhSFgHfOiCf1JzmzKO5kT_VMObOql2XUd_TlJEc_CX8Lt_kHH8VX8Y/s320/IMGP0244.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573512563518118434" /></a><br />Royal Flush were next, and with them came the debut of their new lead guitarist. Thickening their ska meets pop-punk sound up gave some familiar songs a new mature feel and at times the lead guitar played the role of brass section perfectly. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8h2rsIJ-OgSDFu1ncqcioaT7N73j69AWN61U45ykdqeuYY0DMuy59gzS2XicNzJVk1ZXIycLZCXCCUEMkv0uUwOto7FpibMyxSvZ-0p4gvcfXdX04vcKGXuk9bbtVF6IKl6JL6JPL9Lr/s1600/IMGP0369.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8h2rsIJ-OgSDFu1ncqcioaT7N73j69AWN61U45ykdqeuYY0DMuy59gzS2XicNzJVk1ZXIycLZCXCCUEMkv0uUwOto7FpibMyxSvZ-0p4gvcfXdX04vcKGXuk9bbtVF6IKl6JL6JPL9Lr/s320/IMGP0369.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573513291819259602" /></a><br />Finally, The Guzzards, and the travesty that was them only getting to play 4 songs before the venue pulled the plug on us... But the 4 songs were frantic and if the night had been allowed to continue then I'm not sure everyone would have survived... What with the low ceiling, human pyramid and circle pit... Who'd have thunk so few people could cause so much chaos? <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTXMKKIyOI2ukM6Azodmb48TykbXAU-usxoKT2D_OqzHGanaQfXa2eryb0jHKp-aRZrnEucqpTvod32MgYfRIKVC0S99K1rO7QdGWc56JfgLXiIpmRBeS-eFnGm7IU7bdz94Zn1oQEumqh/s1600/IMGP0497.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTXMKKIyOI2ukM6Azodmb48TykbXAU-usxoKT2D_OqzHGanaQfXa2eryb0jHKp-aRZrnEucqpTvod32MgYfRIKVC0S99K1rO7QdGWc56JfgLXiIpmRBeS-eFnGm7IU7bdz94Zn1oQEumqh/s320/IMGP0497.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573513696388941234" /></a><br /><br />So, yeah... Great night. Shame about the shit ending.<br /><br />(All the photos were by Jo - cheers for that darlin'!)The Independent Creative Movement: An Art and Music Collective.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14452510104185701726noreply@blogger.com