Rock Sound Highlights - LaFaro Live Review and Guilfest Preview

The new issue of Rock Sound has hit newsagents and among the goodness therein is a LaFaro live review and a preview of the RS curated stage at Guilfest featuring both LaFaro and ASIWYFA...

Illness July Tour Poster

Zane Lowe Play For LaFaro

Zane Lowe spins Leningrad by LaFaro on tonight's show - listen again here, 52 minutes in.

LaFaro Playlist Numero Cuatro

Dave LaFaro's been at the Spotify again...

LaFaro Playlist Numero Cuatro Tracklisting:
Alice In Chains – Them Bones
Nirvana – Radio Friendly Unit Shifter
Stone Temple Pilots – Sex Type Thing
Soundgarden – Room A Thousand Years Wide
The Wildhearts – Suckerpunch
Foo Fighters – Weenie Beenie
Jawbox – Savory
At The Drive-In – One Armed Scissor
Senseless Things – Christine Keeler - Single Version
Sparklehorse – Happy Man (Memphis Version)

LaFaro Launch Show Live Footage from Bandwidth

Missed out on the Apr 28th LaFaro album launch show at the Menagerie? Watch Will McConnell's superb video footage at the always excellent Bandwidth Sessions site.

And So I Watch You From Afar Feature In Fuck You Brussels Magazine

ASIWYFA's recent visit to Brussels caught the attention of the influential arts/party blog Brussels Is Burning who have included an interview with Rory from the band in the first issue of their Fuck You Brussels magazine. Check page 25 of the digital edition.

ASIWYFA live from Amsterdam!

And So I Watch You From Afar crashed back to earth last week after a whirlwind 3 date spectacular across Europe with rock titans - Them Crooked Vultures.

Three shows sure to live long in their memories and here's why >>>

Click the links below to check out the tracks showcased to a 6000 strong crowd in the Heineken Music Hall, Amsterdam!

Set Guitars To Kill

S Is For Salamander

If It Aint Broke, Break It

D Is For Django The Bastard

Eat The City, Eat It Whole

Skibunny EP Tour Diary Part 1

Friday 11^th June – Skibunny arrive in INVERNESS, bright eyed and bushy tailed and ready for action. We already have fond memories of Highland good times, having previously DJ’d at Rockness and Belladrum festivals over the years. But this time it’s different, cause this time we’re playing LIVE! So first up it’s a showcase at Madhatters, part of the Go North event. We have time to catch Woodhands, a duo from Toronto whose equipment has been blown up with a dodgy converter and we are unfortunately deprived of all the synths and keytars they’ve brought along. We get the general idea however, and very much enjoy their synth/drum party vibe. Soon it’s 12.30am and time to play. The audience are in good spirits to say the least, and the show is super fun, and so we reward ourselves with a pint or two at the hotel bar with some old friends. My back is to the elevator, and therefore I do not see the doors open to reveal the sleepwalking naked man, who is… well… pleasuring himself! I am assured it was not a pretty sight. This story is told and retold throughout the weekend and has now become the stuff of legend.

Andy & Jon

Sat 12^th June – ROCKNESS! After a stomach lining brunch we head out to Rockness and make our way over to the Go North stage. Once again we are reminded what a beautiful location this is for a festival. I stand and watch the Loch for some time to see if I can catch a glimpse of the monster, perhaps all this loud music has scared it off… Later I’m introduced to Toki from the band Mothercoat from Tokyo, Japan, and I try to remember my Japanese lessons (pretty rusty I’m ashamed to say). We manage to catch a few bands on the Go North stage, including Miaoux Miaoux from Glasgow, (he’s playing with us in Edinburgh too) and then we’re on. Again the crowd are up for the craic and lots of friends have come along to lend their support, thanks guys! After the show and a quick podcast interview, Andy (drums) and Jon (bass) head off to meet friends while I make it back to Inverness to catch Mothercoat at Madhatters. The place is packed and they are totally brilliant. Glow sticks are flying around the place and the band and audience are jumping in unison. A fantastic way to end the night.

Mothercoat

Sun 13^th June – Back to Rockness for some more interviews, and then it’s time for Blondie. Everyone is super excited and it’s great to hear the hits. Then it’s time to go, and we start our 2-part journey to London, where we arrive on Mon 14^th June Chez Liana in time for a couple of pints at the local and a good nights sleep.

Blondie

Tues 15^th June – LONDON! Tonight’s show is at the Monarch in Camden. At this stage we are joined by soundman and good friend Finian. He works with Rolo Tomassi, Gallows and just last weekend was mixing Shy Child in Portugal! The gig goes really well, with a great deal of dancing going on down the front, so we are all very happy indeed.

Fin & Tanya

Wed 16^th June – NOTTINGHAM! Last time we played Nottingham was on the Har Mar Superstar tour, such a great night, so we are excited to come back. Plus it’s Wednesday, or “Big Wednesday” which means ditching the car early and getting the jeagerbombs in. Spanky Van Dykes is a pretty new venue, with awesome TOTP style lights behind the stage, we love it. The show is a little quiet (don’t they KNOW it’s Big Wednesday??!!) but those in attendance are won over, they buy merchandise and we give them free badges. Then promoter Jeremy takes us all to the Bodega Social Club, where Big Wednesday is happening big style! We just miss Fin’s pals Pulled Apart By Horses, but we do get to meet James from Rolo Tomassi who seems like a top bloke indeed. Many Jaegerbombs later, it’s time for me to call it a night, leaving the boys to continue the Big Wednesday fun, and the next day I hear stories of parties in student Halls of Residence.

Spanky Van Dykes

Thurs 17^th June – We awake to news that our show in BRISTOL was double booked, and therefore we are forced to cancel the trip. Major bummer… We settle instead for a couple of nights at home and the chance to do a bit of laundry and eat some fruit. Bristol, we’ll reschedule as soon as is possible!

Sat 19^th June – LEEDS! The one way system in Leeds is very frustrating indeed, and with a Sat-Nav that has no signal and an iPhone map app that just tells lies, it takes us some time to find the venue. But we do eventually, and arrive at Carpe Diem ready to rock. We’re know we’re in the right place when we see the bartender is wearing a Lafaro tshirt (up the STA hoods!) The kitchen has closed though, so we wander off to find food, and decide to treat ourselves to amazing burgers at Nation of Shopkeepers, which looks like a pretty sweet venue too. Back to Carpe Diem and while we get set up, the DJ is playing our remix of Forward Russia’s “Thirteen”. Yay! By the end of our set we have definitely won over some new fans and we look forward to coming back to Leeds again soon.

table 5

So that’s half time I guess. Part 2 follows soon!

Thurs 24th June - BATHGATE, Harleys - FREE

Fri 25th June - GLASGOW, Capitol, £5 on the door
Sat 26th June - EDINBURGH, Electric Circus

Sun 27th June - FIFE, The Greenside, Leslie
- FREE

Fri 2nd July - ABERDEEN, Polar Bear Club @ Tunnels - £3/2

Footage: ASIWYFA Supporting Them Crooked Vultures In Amsterdam

Rory ASIWYFA Talks Sonisphere

Here's Rory from And So I Watch You From Afar in preparation for the band's Sunday slot at the Bohemia stage of Sonisphere 2010
For more check out the official Sonisphere Festival guide free with the new issue of Rock Sound.

LaFaro Instore Set @ HMV Belfast

Thanks to Carrie Davenport for photos of LaFaro's lunchtime instore performance at HMV Belfast (Donegall Arcade) earlier today as part of the build-up for Glasgowbury 2010.

LaFaro Playlist Numero Tres

This time Dave LaFaro has a go.

LaFaro Playlist Numero Tres Tracklisting:
Rocket From The Crypt – Middle
Adebisi Shank – Snakehips
These Arms Are Snakes – Child Chicken Play
Helmet – Unsung
Pixies – Planet Of Sound
Beastie Boys – So What'Cha Want
The Jesus Lizard – Thumbscrews
The Ghost Of A Thousand – Split The Atom
Barkmarket – How Are You ?
Breach – Valid

LaFaro Playlist Numero Dos

C'mon and get this heavy metal goodness in your ears!

LaFaro Playlist Numero Dos Tracklisting:
Kylesa – Scapegoat
Converge – Wishing Well
Trashtalk – Eyes & Nines
Machine Head – Battery
Slayer – War Ensemble
Anthrax – Madhouse
Testament – The Persecuted Won't Forget
Mastodon – Colony Of Birchmen
Meshuggah – Bleed
Sepultura – Against
Entombed – Wreckage
Ministry – Jesus Built My Hotrod
Prong – Another Wordly Device
Slipknot – Psychosocial

From Illness - Save the Freebutt!!!!

Howdy STA blog readers, Spencer from Illness here, just wanted to take a moment of your time to inform you of a live music crisis going on in Brighton at the mo. Over the last year or two a few great music venues like Pressure Point and The Barfly have closed in our hometown, and we've just found out that another, The Engine Rooms, is closed and the seemingly-invulnerable Freebutt is under threat of closure due to noise complaints (well, one noise complaint).

The Freebutt is an awesome venue and Illness played some of their first ever gigs there, thanks to the almighty Andy Rossiter, music promoter and venue manager extraordinaire. Andy took over the venue along with some other Brighton musical institutions like Alex from OIB Records, and they have done a really good job of putting on luscious new and established music pretty much every single night.

So, no matter where you live, if you want to, could you show some solidarity with our music scene could you head over to the Save The Freebutt campaign site for more info, and sign the petition to save the Freebutt

THANKS!

Spencer from Illness

Cahir FWW Guests On Party Fodder Podcast

Hey Everyone

The June edition of the Party Fodder podcast is now available or if you are an I-tunes spaz then you are more than encouraged to subscribe to it!

This month the Party Fodder Podcast takes a dive into the library of cuss and irreverence with an hilarious interview with Fighting With Wire's Cahir O'Doherty. We also stop by The Stiff Kitten to thread the language barrier with Iceland's finest FM Belfast, as well as brand new tracks from John Shelly and The Creatures, Robyn G Shiels, Clown Parlour and David Holmes. Wrap your ears round this lot then go in peace to love and serve your scene!

Tracklisting
Clown Parlour - Stanley Kubrik
Key Of Atlas - Pure Black Spectrum
The Verona's - Head Rush
***Cahir O'Doherty Interview***
Fighting With Wire - All or Nothing
John Shelly and The Creatures - Killer
Robyn G Sheils - When we were Brothers
***FM Belfast Interview***
FM Belfast - Alaska in Winter
Paul Shevlin - You Wont Last the Night
Cutaways - Lover's are Lunatics
David Holmes - Living Room (Kevin Sheilds Remix)

Thanks

Phily

Smalltown America Podcast June 2010 - Illness

Emilio & Spencer Illness play some of their favourite tracks and talk about their forthcoming tour with Shield Your Eyes and their 'Gifts From God EP' out on July 5th.

Tracklisting:

Illness - Old Song

Shield Your Eyes - Oranges

Soccer 96 - Super Warrior

Perch - Lilo

Dan Amos - See What I Can Do
P for Persia - Cliche

Subscribe to the podcast feed for automatic updates from all our artists.

Download now or listen on posterous

Smalltown America Podcast June 2010 - Illness 2.m4a (13171 KB)

Skibunny Join ATL's Chattering Classes

Tanya Skibunny grilled by Rigsy in BBC Across The Line's Chattering Classes blog conversations series.

LaFaro Playlist Numero Uno

In the first of an occasional series, Herb LaFaro presents an appropriately shred-friendly Spotify playlist including classics from such staples as Stone Temple Pilots, Cancer Bats and QOTSA. Enjoy.

STA Interview on Beat Generation

"Everybody needs HUGS at some point"

ATL - Chattering Classes #16 - Skibunny

Tanya Skibunny – yes, first name Tanya second name Skibunny, fact! Well not quite but it would be fun wouldn’t it? Anyhow the busy lady took a few moments to escape the pre tour chaos to talk to ATL's Rigsy on a cyber chat about life, hugs and the plan for the future!

Check out the full exchange here on the ATL blog!

Skibunny EP Tour Starts Friday!

Illness' first blogging experience...

Hello STA blog readers,

I wanted to let you know that the documentary I made about the Brighton band, P for Persia (mentioned on this blog on 1st June) has moved to a slightly new virtual location where it can be enjoyed at a higher pixellation and consistent screen resolution. WATCH IT HERE. I know that some of you will be desperate to access such a fine viewing opportunity, and we like to listen to our fans.

It also looks like our UK tour with Shield Your Eyes and Nope is finally in place, albeit a few changes to the schedule. Dates confirmed so far are now as follows:

7th July: Mitchells - GLASGOW

8th July: Henry's Cellar Bar - EDINBURGH

9th July: Dog and Partridge - BOLTON

12th July: The Red House - SHEFFIELD

13th July: Windmill Hill Golf Club - BLETCHLEY, MILTON KEYNES

14th July: The Port Mahon - OXFORD

15th July: The Hydrant - BRIGHTON

16th July: Brudenell - LEEDS
17th July: 1 in 12 Club - BRADFORD

So please come to see us play in a city near you...trust me, you want to check out Shield Your Eyes live!

Emilio from Illness

Fighting With Wire Belfast Show This Saturday!

Trousers... Kit drum... Beard...

These are just some of the many things that will be on show THIS SATURDAY... along with Fighting With Wire!

The FWW wagon cranks slowly back into gear and makes one final trip over to the 'states at the end of this month to finish the finishing of Album 2, but before then we've snuck in a show in BELFAST - THIS SATURDAY!

Its costs you 5 of the best and is sure to be an utter treat!

WHO'S IN... this one could get messy!

Sam FWW Team

"DIRTY GREAT RIFFS FROM SWAGGERING IRISH AXE PESTS"

Grab a copy of this weeks Kerrang! where a very cold and wet looking LaFaro feature on their introducing section >>>

ASIWYFA Launch New Northern Irish Music Intiative

Northern Ireland’s musical grass roots is due a boost with the establishment of a new programme called FFWD. Set up to provide a range of seminars and masterclasses for artists and music businesses, it launched last Thursday with a FFWD Mentoring Clinic at the Oh Yeah Music Centre, Belfast.

The first session saw music industry bods Andrew Ferris and Charlene Hegarty (Smalltown America Records), Fran Cotton (legal and business affairs specialist), Rocky O’Reilly (Start Together studios/Oppenheimer/Malibu Shark Attack!), Mark Gordon (Score Draw Music/Skibunny) and Linley Hamilton (leading NI session musician, composer, performer) all offering advice and guidance.

Ross Graham, FFWD Programme manager, says, “Northern Ireland continues to produce world class creative musical talent and is now developing a strong entrepreneurial base and a growing infrastructure for the sector. This programme is designed to help local artists to add business skills to their creative skills, enhance the expertise of music entrepreneurs and help promote the N.I. music sector to key music and media industry players.”

STA's summer festival season gets kick started by Skibunny!

In preparation for the release of their debut 'Walk Don't Walk' EP the band will be touring the UK starting next weekend - full dates below....

Fri 11th June - INVERNESS, Go North @ Mad Hatters (onstage 12.30am)
Sat 12th June - INVERNESS, ROCKNESS FESTIVAL Go North Stage, 10pm

Tues 15th June - LONDON, The Monarch
Wed 16th June - NOTTINGHAM, Spanky Van Dykes (live and DJ set)
Thurs 17th June - BRISTOL, Mothers Ruin
Fri 18th June - MANCHESTER, Sub 61
Sat 19th June - LEEDS, Carpe Diem
Thurs 24th June - BATHGATE, Harleys
Fri 25th June - GLASGOW, Capitol
Sat 26th June - EDINBURGH, Electric Circus
Sun 27th June - FIFE, The Greenside, Leslie
Fri 2nd July - ABERDEEN, Polar Bear Club @ Tunnels

Pre-order Walk Don't Walk Now >>> Click here!

Cargo Collective June 2010

Fighting With Wire Discuss Glasgowbury Headline Slot

FWW mouthpiece Cahir discusses the band's prestigious headline slot at this summer's Glasgowbury with Matt at the Nostromo blog.

June 2010 Newsletter

So it's June already, and we're almost halfway through 2010. This year has already brought us a fine number of musical delights, and we hope some STA releases have featured in your personal list. On with the news...

[0] MPFree: LaFaro Go 8-bit

We hope you all enjoyed the Skibunny track we gave you last month. This month's giveaway is an exclusive remix of LaFaro's 'Tuppenny Nudger', wherein the track is skillfully twisted into some decidedly 8-bit shapes by Irish beatmeister The Vinny Club.

Please click here to download the track. We love it, and we hope you do too!

[1] ASIWYFA Supporting Them Crooked Vultures

Some very, very, VERY exciting news - And So I Watch You From Afar have been asked to support the Grohl/Homme/Jones rock monster that is Them Crooked Vultures at three European shows in June! Whilst this is obviously great news for the band, Team STA is a little sad none of us will be there to see the venues melt due to the sheer power of Rock on display.

Here is a list of all the band's summer live engagements as they currently stand:

June 3 - VIENNA - Arena Vienna (supporting Them Crooked Vultures) - AT
June 7 - ESCH-SU-ALZETTE - Rockhal (supporting Them Crooked Vultures) - LUX
June 10 - AMSTERDAM - Heineken Music Hall (supporting Them Crooked Vultures) - NE

July 3 - BANBRIDGE - Take It To The Bridge Festival - IRL

July 16 - CHELTENHAM - 2000 Trees Festival - GB

July 16 - GUILDFORD - Guilfest - GB

July 17 - SALACGRIVA - Positivus Festival - LV

July 30 - BEELEN - Krach am Back Festival - DE

August 19 - HASSELT - Pukklepop Festival - BE

While you're here, take a look at this piece about the band rocking the last ever Hideaway House show. We especially like the Black Flag tee, guys.

The Kerrang! Awards have just launched their voting round again, best newcomers anyone...?

[2] Skibunny EP Pre-Order & Tour Dates

As announced last month, Skibunny have now joined the happy STA family. Their first release for the label, the four-track Walk Don't Walk EP, will be available from June 7th 2010 on download and CD. The digital version will be available at iTunes, 7digital and all good online retailers, whilst the CD will be available exclusively via the STA online store. Click here to preorder it.

The band are on tour over the next few months, here are the dates currently confirmed:

June 11 - INVERNESS, Go North (MadHatters, 12.30am)
June 12 - INVERNESS, ROCKNESS FESTIVAL
June 15 - LONDON, The Monarch
Jube 16 - NOTTINGHAM, Spanky Van Dykes (live and DJ set)
June 17 - BRISTOL, Mothers Ruin
June 18 - MANCHESTER, Sub 61
June 19 - LEEDS, Carpe Diem
June 24 - BATHGATE, Harleys
June 25 - GLASGOW, Capitol
June 26- EDINBURGH, Electric Circus
June 27 - FIFE, The Greenside, Leslie
July 2 - ABERDEEN, Polar Bear Club @ Tunnels

[3] Illness EP Pre-Order & Tour Dates

We will be releasing the Gifts From God EP from Brighton two-piece Illness on July 5th 2010. As with the Skibunny release mentioned above, it will be available digitally everywhere and as a limited edition CD exclusively on the STA Store - click here to pre-order. The physical edition features a bonus video that will not be available elsewhere.

The band have the following dates coming up:

May 29 - LONDON, Barfly

May 30 - BRIGHTON, Cowley Club (with LaFaro)

June 10 - LONDON, The Stag's Head

July 8 - EDINBURGH, Henry's Cellar Bar (with Shield Your Eyes)

July 9 - BOLTON, Dog & Partridge (with Shield Your Eyes)

July 16 - BRIGHTON, The Hydrant (with Shield Your Eyes)

July 17 - LONDON, The Constitution (with Shield Your Eyes)

The guys still have a number of dates to fill on their July tour with Shield Your Eyes. If you're interested in booking them please check out their myspace.

Emilio Illness is also a budding film-maker, and he's setting out on a project to make short films about the bands that Illness share stages and shows with. The first installment is online now - click here to view via Vimeo and takes a look at fellow Brightonites P Is For Persia. The band members discuss their live shows, recordings and future plans before tearing through a full live performance of their song 'Mount Muffin Top'. Take a look!

[4] New LaFaro Single Is...

Last month we asked for your help in choosing the next single to be taken from LaFaro's debut album, and the winner was... 'The Ballad of Burnt Dave'! The single will be released digitally on June 28th 2010. There will be another exclusive t-shirt design to go along with this, we'll tweet this design and do a special mailout to alert you when the pre-order goes live on this one.

The band are coming to the end of their album tour, but there are still a number of dates lined up over the next week:

June 1 - CARDIFF, Barfly

June 2 - LONDON, Underworld (supporting RX Bandits)

June 3 - OXFORD, The Jericho

June 4 - MANCHESTER, The Retro Bar

[5] Alan MX's Green Tea EP Out Now

The latest release from Alan MX is now available. Green Tea comes as a six track digital EP and a double CD set available exclusively from the STA online store. The physical release contains the six-track EP as well as a bonus six-track remix CD. It's handmade, limited to 50 copies and looks like this.

We don't expect these to last very long, so we advise you to pick one up sooner rather than later!

[6] 4 or 5 Magicians - New Lineup, New Shows

All change in camp 4 or 5! For all the details check out frontman and band linchpin Dan Ormsby waxing lyrical on the changes to the 4 or 5 touring lineup over at the STA blog. The new lineup have their first shows in June and July, dates as follows:

June 4 - BRIGHTON, Pavilion Tavern

July 9 - LONDON, The Macbeth

Expect new songs!

That's all from us for now. Thanks for reading, listening and believing.

Team STA

Vote ASIWYFA For Kerrang Awards

Hey all!

We could really do with your help over the next little while! Basically you can vote for us in the Kerrang Awards 2010 and well, we'd love to win something!!! Hooray!!!

SO all you need to do is click here and vote for ASIWYFA in every category you can!

Let us know when you have voted so we can say thanks and we might find something nice to send to a few of you, or put you in a competition for something nice, I don't know, we'll do something as an extra thank you though!

Cheers for taking the time out of your busy bank holiday!

ASIWYFA Team

LaFaro Confirmed for Guilfest 2010!

The summer festival season gets off to a smashin' start for LaFaro as they have just been confirmed for The Rocksound Rock Cave at this years Guilfest

For more information on tickets/line-up please click here

Fighting With Wire to headline Glasgowbury

Fresh from the confirmation that Fighting With Wire will take to the stage to headline this years Glasgowbury Festival, Cahir takes a few moments to talk to NI's resident photographer Matthew Patton >>>> Click here to read the full interview

To purchase your tickets for this years Glasgowbury Festival Click Here

(purchasing in advance is advisable due to last years sellout!!)

Frank Turner tomorrow night - Mandela Hall, Belfast

Frank Turner has been a long term friend of STA and has had to put up with everything we have thrown at him, including a one month stint with Fighting With Wire during the March 2004 Million Dead UK tour! Ahh those where the days!

I was lucky enough to be in town last time the Frank Turner show rolled in. I can honestly say it was one of the most inspiring, honest and heartfelt shows I have ever been lucky enough to see.

This time Turner vs STA comes packaged with one Mr Jonny Black. He flies home from his only day off on the UK LaFaro tour to take stage in support of Frank in Belfast's Mandela Hall tomorrow night.

This show is going to be brilliant so if you haven't already make that necessary purchase and team STA will see you down the front for beers et craic!

For tickets, click here

4 Or 5 Magicians: New Line-up Announced

All change in the 4 or 5 Magicians ranks. It was a pretty mutual feeling between the entire band at the end of last year that the current era of 4 or 5 Magicians was coming to an end. Even though we had just (finally!) released our debut album, I'd been playing some of the songs since October 2005, and I needed a fresh start. Sam and Alex also decided they needed to focus on other commitments in life and said goodbye. Ivan wanted to stay on, and I was more than happy to have him, but alas now, he too has been forced to back out after a full year of active service due to a crazy work schedule involving working behind the scenes on T4, Something For The Weekend, and various popular music videos, reviewing girls netball matches for a local radio station, opening supermarkets in Port Talbot - that kind of thing. He may even be in Hollyoaks, seriously. So this all added up to a big lack of rehearsal and recording time and the distinct possibility he'd be forced to cancel shows left right and centre in the future. So he decided that it would be best for both parties if he retired gracefully. I'm sorry to see the guy go, and he is sorry to be leaving. A shame indeed.

However, we have a ready made replacement to plug into someone elses bass amp in the form of Brighton indie legend Ben Gregory whose rockkk band Everyone To The Anderson have been consistently one of the very best bands in Brighton since I moved there over six years ago. He also plays girly acoustic guitar in Curly Hair and apparently I am joining them on the drums, so look out for me doing that with them. Hopefully both bands will make it to the big time!

Also we have finally found a new guitarist after what seems like months and months. Actually it has been almost six months. Ridiculous. Anyway, he is Aslam Ghauri, a stalwart of the Kingston scene, and after our first rehearsal the other day, this kid has some dance moves! Looking forward to grooving with him on stage in the near future.

And we've already introduced you to James Thomas on drums, who is sounding excellent in rehearsals, and after two shows is already being talked about among loyal fans as "the best drummer yet!", which is saying something as we have had some pretty badass drummers in the past.

"Yet" is not a concept I'm thinking of right now though - this lineup looks set to stay in place for a long time. Which is a good thing.

Only problem is we will need a few shows to get properly rocking, so if you come see us in the next couple of months and it isn't quite there yet, then don't despair, as I can tell this is gonna work, and work very well, even after just one rehearsal.

I can't wait to get the new songs out there on the world. I think that they could well be very, very good. I currently have nine pretty much finished in my head, two of which we will be playing at our grand unveiling on June 4th in Brighton, and by the time our London debut comes around on July 9th, we will hopefully have, ahem, four or five ready. We will be demoing these songs over the coming couple of months as and when they become ready, and the aim is to record the album by late summer, and get it out there to everyone at the beginning of next year. Will be a couple of UK wide tours before then hopefully!

Think that's all for now. Quite excited to see how it all pans out!

Dan xx

Skibunny Confirmed for Rockness!

Skibunny DJ'd at Rockness in 2008, at Rob Da Bank's 'Nestival' stage, this will be the bands first time playing live...be sure to catch them! Here are the vitals

Sat 12th June
ROCKNESS
Go North Stage
Time TBC
http://www.rockness.co.uk/

LaFaro Album Launch - KKKK

Check out this weeks Kerrang! - they sent one of the team along to check out the LaFaro album launch show >>>>

Rocksound TV - Band of the week is ?

Why its LaFaro of course - nice little mid week suprise eh?

Rocksound we salute you, one and all

Click here and then >>> scroll scroll scroll

Cutaways Play London, Liverpool Next Week

Friends of STA Cutaways will be deploying their two boys, one girl, two synths, one guitar, a drum kit and bags full of hooks and melodies on London and Liverpool next week. Since self-releasing their jagged and boisterous pop gem of a debut album ‘Earth and Earthly Things’ last summer they have taken their vibrant live show all across Ireland, playing with the likes of Wild Beasts and Emmy the Great while also touring the UK and Canada. They come armed with new 2nd album material next week:

Club Fandango @ The Buffalo Bar (18/5-Onstage @10.30)
The Good Ship, Kilburn (19/5)
The Metropolitan @ Liverpool Sound City w/ Cashier No. 9, Kowalski, Axis Of (20/5)
Eurocultured Festival, Manchester (30/5)

LaFaro - Debut Album On Sale Today!

Today is a proud day in STA towers - we on this the 10th May 2010 release our 70th title on Smalltown America Records!

We couldn't be happier to mark this milestone with the self titled rawk behemoth from our favourite rock 'n' roll wrecking crew LaFaro >>>

KKKK - "...a thing of rampant power and joy. With a devotion to dirty groves and clobbering, belligerent riffs that boast more bite than Pac-Man on a dot gobbling binge..."

8|10 RockSound - "...rocks with a ferocious, frenetic spirit few bands could rival, and the lyrics are ace throughout."

Irish News - "...a short sharp shock of heavy, abrasive grunge rock carved from big dumb riffs, savage caveman drumming and the rantings of an evil old pervert."

Available now from all your local record stores as part of the May Cargo Collective.

Buy Online Now from >>>> Smalltown America

Cargo Collective May 2010

LaFaro's S/T debut is included in this month's Cargo Collective which means that anyone in the locality of a good indie store should trek along there and pick it up at a bargain price as well as investigating the other 11 excellent titles this month

Ice, Sea, Dead People To Support Future Of The Left

New Fighting With Wire Interview

Cahir weighs in on the new Ash single, LaFaro and recording in the US on the Randomville blog.

Smalltown America - May 2010 - Newsletter

So, the volcano meant that I couldn't fly to Manchester today and now it's chucking it down in Derry. Typical Britain, huh? Nevermind, here's the latest, guaranteed 100% volcanic dust/water-proof, release and live news from STA Towers.

[0] MPFree: Skibunny

We're pleased to announce that Skibunny have joined the STA family! Already prolific remixers (including a number of mixes for STA artists), the Belfast/Edinburgh-sourced duo are gearing up for the release of their debut album later in the year. We're delighted to present you with a free MP3 of 'Baby Get Into It', which is taken from aforementioned album. 

The band are showcasing at the XFM/City Showcase night on May 8th @ The Borderline, London. We have two tickets to give away for the show - first two people to email Ash get em!

[1] LaFaro - 'LaFaro' - 10/05/2010

It's here! Fresh off their dates with And So I Watch You From Afar and their three night, sold out album launch in Belfast, LaFaro's self-titled debut album is released on CD/DD on May 10th. You can pre-order it now from our super-whizzy new store, all pre-orders are despatched with an exclusive bonus CDR. AlanLaFaro put on some lipstick kisses on the last batch - that's how much he loves his pre-orderers! If you've got the album already please tell us what you think of it on Twitter @STA_Records or @LaFaro.

We're also selling an exclusive t-shirt, to coincide with the release of 'Tuppenny Nudger', the first single from the album. The shirt is strictly limited to just 50 units, and features a design sketched byLaFaro's Jonny Black. You can order the shirt right now from from this mailout's exclusive, secret link

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We're also looking for some help in choosing the next LaFaro single. Maybe you can help and take our survey?

The band are on tour for the rest of this month:
6 May  - Strange Brew @ Roisin Dubh - Galway, Galway, IE     
7 May  - Electric Avenue - Waterford, Waterford, IE     
9 May  - Cyprus Avenue - Cork, Cork, IE     
11 May  - RTE 2FM *Radio Session* - Dublin, IE     
13 May  - Spirit Store - Dundalk, Louth, IE     
14 May  - Academy - Dublin , IE     
15 May  - INF - Warrenpoint, Northern I, GB     
17 May  - Moles - Bath, UK     
18 May  - Portland Arms - Cambridge, UK     
19 May  - Ink @ The Masque, Sound City Festival - Liverpool, GB 
20 May  - Captains Rest - Glasgow, Scotland, GB     
21 May  - Devitos - Arbroath, Scotland , GB     
22 May  - Hustlers - Dundee, Scotland, UK     
23 May - Bannerman’s - Edinburgh, Scotland, UK     
24 May - Duchess - York - South, GB     
25 May - The Well - Leeds, Midlands, GB     
26 May - The Flapper - Birmingham, Midlands, GB     
27 May - Unit - Southampton, Southwest, GB     
29 May - The Forum (All-Dayer) - Tunbridge Wells, GB     
30 May - Cowley Club - Brighton, South , GB     
31 May - Louisiana - Bristol, UK     

[2] Alan MX - 'Green Tea' 12 Track EP - 17/05/10

'Green Tea', the second single from Alan MX's interstellar debut album 'Warpsichord' will be released on May 17th. It is available in two packages - a six-track digital download EP, and a handmade 2 x CDR set containing the six track EP and a bonus remix EP. The physical release is limited to just fifty copies and can be pre-ordered right now for £5. There is a lot of love in this record, thank you to everyone that helped pull it together.

 

 

[3] ASIWYFA European Tour Continues...

"So I'm sitting in the venue in Warsaw home of tonights rock event it's been five weeks so far I believe and in a mere two we'll be back from our first ever European headline tour! Everyone is tired but in good spirits. 

We celebrated Johnny's Birthday in Oberhausen a couple of days back, which resulted in a day of inevitable hang-over on which we also had to injure a 15-hour drive to Poznan, glad that's over. So far it's been our best tour to date I think. 

The first ten days with LaFaro was predictably awesome, LaFarobeing awesome and all that. Then into Europe which has kind of hit us for six really, we had hoped it would be great but i dont think we thought it would as good as it has been. Almost every show has been rammed and the enthusiasm of the fans is incredible, to everyone making this happen we salute you. 

So anyways, we're home soon to get onto some writing before festival season, keep an eye online for the announcents, it's gonna be a good summer yes sir! Chris, Johnny and Tony send their love. See you on the other side guys." - Rory ASIWYFA

We've got the first round of summer festival confirmations that see the band heading out across the UK and mainland Europe:
2 May - Lodz Kaliska KRAKOW, PL
3 May - Pod Minoga POZNAN, GB
4 May - Exit Chmelnice Prague, cz
6 May - Mappa Club BUDAPEST, HU
9 May - Club Zukunft ZURICH, CH
10 May - Chelsea Vienna, AT
11 May - Magnolia MILAN, IT
12 May - Traffic ROME, IT
13 May - Locomotiv Bologna, IT
15 May - The Great Escape Festival, Brighton, UK

[4] 4 or 5 Magicians Present: Pavement Ist Rad! - 08/05/10

From the nostalgic individuals that brought you the 'There's Nothing Wrong With Covers' shows and the 'Our Band Could BBQ Your Life'weekender comes 'Pavement Ist Rad!', a tribute to the legends that are Stephen Malkmus, Mark Ibold, Scott Kannberg, Bob Nastanovich and Steve West. the beings otherwise known as Pavement - who are back in the country for a reunion and a final week of greatest hits shows in the UK.

"Their shows are £30, and feature just two bands on each night! The cheek! Ours is just £7 advance (tickets on sale soon!) and features 12 bands - what a bargain! There's a minimum tariff of three covers for each band, so you're guaranteed at least 36 Pavement songs you'll get in your afternoon / evening, as well as the very best of each band's own material!"

This is the current plan of action :

Popular Workshop
4 or 5 Magicians
Sir Yes Sir
Muscle Club
Kannberg 1664 (one-off supergroup, members of 4 or 5, Eelectricity And Lust, Johnny Foreigner and Internet Forever)
Monster Island
Men Called Him Mister
Ace Bushy Striptease
Amy Blue
Eelectricity And Lust
It's Fiction
No Plato

Doors @ 2:30pm
Bands 2:45pm to 11:30pm
Free BBQ @ 5:00pm
DJs until 2:00am
Advance Tickets Available Now

This is also your first chance to see 4 or 5's latest lineup and hear some of the new songs the band has been working on. Woowoo!

[5] Illness - Still Ill

We trust everyone liked the exclusive Illness track we gave away last month? The band's first EP is currently pencilled in for a July release - more details next month - but the band certainly aren't wasting time, as they've been out this week shooting a video for a track from their second EP. Woah. They're planning a bigger tour in July to coincide with the release, but for now they have a couple of shows coming up this month:

22 May - Preston Circus - Brighton, GB     
29 May - Camden Barfly - London, GB
30 May - Cowley Club - Brighton, GB

 

Thanks as always for reading,

Team STA

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Posted via email from Smalltown America Records

Photographs From The LaFaro Album Launch Show

Courtesy of AU & Carrie Davenport

Axis Of - 'Port Na Spanaigh' Single Launch 05/05/10

Good friends of STA, Belfast's Axis Of launch their single 'Port Na Spaniagh' on the 5th May in the Limelight Bar, Belfast

Having filled the Auntie Annie's venue to capacity for their previous single launch it's the hottest ticket in town this week. Support acts are Robyn G Shiels, Pocket Billiards and Visceral Attack. Entry is five english pounds and there is a free CD on entry  FREE CD.

Posted via email from Smalltown America Records

4 Or 5 Magicians Curate Pavement Ist Rad! All-Dayer