Thursday 5 May 2011
Handmade with love...
Feldberg are exciting, happy and perfect for when the sun is shining.
The last show on the Feldberg UK calendar (for now) was the Lexington, London last Thursday.
Terry Lane from Buzzin Music Blog went along, click here for the full review...
Feldberg @ Lomography Recap
Feldberg Love Lomography Gallery so much so they made their second stop here last week during their mini UK tour! Food, wine and Royal Festivities aided by a little Icelandic pop ambiance - sad you missed it? click here for a recap!
Long Live Lomography.....
Thursday 28 April 2011
Feldberg are 'Track Of The Day'!
Wednesday 27 April 2011
Thursday 21 April 2011
Balcony TV Presents....Feldberg!
Feldberg dropped by Balcony TV Towers during their Dublin tour yesterday. A quick pit stop which featured a live track and a bit of old fashioned craic!
Click here to watch again!
Wednesday 20 April 2011
Feldberg Live on the Pat Kenny Show!
Einar and Rósa touched down in sunny Ireland just before 6pm yesterday evening. They had steaks in Belfast, sleeps in Sandy Row, awoke for breakfast this morning on the Pat Kenny Show! and rounded it all up with a few acoustic numbers in Dublins Tower Records.
Live in all its glory The Pat Kenny Show is available to listen again by clicking here.
The band are back in Belfast now before day two on their promo tour begins, next stop Derry City <<<
Friday 15 April 2011
More Than Conquerors: Tour Update
Thursday 14 April 2011
LaFaro - Midnight Show - Tomorrow - That rhymes, right?
Tomorrow night when the clock strikes 12...Lafaro will take to the stage in Auntie Annies, well the 3 of LaFaro that can squeeze onto the tiny stage and the one who can't will hang with the ruff-uns down the front.
No blood please but there will be sweat, possibly tears if Cahir O'Doherty has the strength to make it and most definitely 100% "dirty stinking LaFaro" - Zane Lowe 2010
Get down early or miss out - simple really
Tuesday 12 April 2011
Feldberg Set For Derry on 22nd April
"Quirky, eccentric and surreal sounds fine unless you are descriping your doctor."
The April Edition of Alternative Ulster Magazine comes jam packed with all things worth going out for, all things worth staying in for and of course hot tips across the international alternative culture spectrum.
<<<<< Have a little look who features this month....its only bleedin' Feldberg!!
More Than Conquerors: On the road again!
Monday 11 April 2011
Feldberg release day!
Friday 8 April 2011
More Than Conquerors are back on the RADAR
Wednesday 6 April 2011
LaFaro give top5 performance @ SXSW
This Will Destroy You@ Malverde
The Joy Formidable@ Brush Square Park
Helmet @ Dirty Dog
Orbit @ Lustre Pearl
Lafaro @ BD Riley's
Wednesday 30 March 2011
LaFaro down piss alley!
"Chugga chugga without all of the drama and theatrics"
Monday 21 March 2011
Skibunny share some DJ set news...
A few DJ dates for your diaries from SKIBUNNY…
FRI 18th MARCH - EDINBURGH - WOLF PARTY @ The Store, Guthrie Street. LINK
THURS 24th & 31st MARCH - EDINBURGH - SICK NOTE @ Cabaret Voltaire, Blair Street. LINK
SUN 27th MARCH - EDINBURGH - COALITION @ Sneaky Pete’s, The Cowgate
FRI 1st APRIL - BELFAST - UPSIDE DOWN AFTERSHOW w/ALAN MCGEE @ The Menagerie, University Ave. LINK
"The Belfast date follows the screening of the AMAZING documentary UPSIDE DOWN: The Creation Records Story, at the Belfast Film Festival. You can buy tickets for the film screening HERE. The film was made by our very good friends DOCUMENT PRODUCTIONS, and in fact Tanya was the production accountant on the film (day job, yo!) and we are really happy to be DJing once again alongside the legend that is Alan McGee."
Sunday 13 March 2011
SXSWi Notes - Guy Kawasaki
Do not enchant the CxO
• The people who you need to speak with and impress are at a lower level in organisations you want to work with
• Don't waste time trying to enchant the boss
• At a lower organisational level these are the guys that actually do the work
Great enchanters know who to speak and pitch
• Customise your introduction -
• Sell your dream 'there's an app for that'
• 10 slides | 20 minutes | 30pt font size
Provide Value
• Information, insights and assistance when using social media tools - we do not care about what you have for lunch.
• Great Engagement: BE FAST to MANY and OFTEN
• You have no idea about who is going to make your service tip it might be LonelyBoy15 - everyone has value in the social media sphere
• There is a misconception that once you've done everything you can kick back and relax and spark up twitter - it need to be constant.
Enchant Up
• Drop everything else when your boss asks you to do something - if you think this is not optimal - it's because you don't know your bosses reality.
• Prototype fast - when you're asked to do something, don't wait until it's perfect - show your boss what you're working on. Am I on the right page here? Higher probability that you will deliver the right thing.
• Deliver Bad news early - never surprise your boss bad news and always deliver it with solutions
Enchant Down - Provide a MAP for your colleagues
• Mastery - you will understand these new things/you're going to improve your skill set here
• Autonomy - we are not going to micro-manage you)
• Purpose - working autonomously for a higher purpose.
Empower Action in Your Colleagues
• I trust you
• I think you're smart
• Do what it takes to get the job done
Suck It Up
• Never ask someone to do something you would not do.
Wednesday 9 March 2011
Monday 7 March 2011
LaFaro on Limeblog
Sunday 6 March 2011
Cargo Collective March 2011
STA recommend -
Bearsuit - The Phantom Forest
Fortuna Pop! LP / CD
Bearsuit return with an off-the-wall pop masterpiece and a fierce new sound incorporating dirty synths, urgent guitars and infectious beats. Produced by Gareth Parton (The Go! Team, Breeders, Foals).
Alright The Captain - Snib
Field Records CD
Alright The Captain take a shared love for bands like Hella, Holy Fuck and Primus come out bursting out with a chaotic and frantic sound.
The Rock Of Travolta - Fine Lines
Big Red Sky CD
Oxford Post-Rock originators The Rock Of Travolta return with the blistering and beautifully-crafted, ‘Fine Lines’; a perfect equilibrium of power and fragility, motion and melody
Thursday 3 March 2011
Austin... Let us introduce LaFaro.
17 Mar *Hole In The Wall Club* 2538 Guadalupe St 18:00 - 18:30
18 Mar *Full Irish Breakfast* BD Reilys 16:00 - 16:20
19 Mar *SXSW Official* 512 Rooftop 22:00 to 22:40
Tuesday 1 March 2011
Andrew chats all things STA with Rocksound.
Top Ten Stupid Things Said In Studio STA 2010
1. "Who is Steve Albini?" - Niall Axis Of
3. "Who is Henry Rollins?" - Enda General Fiasco
4. "February 29th will come round quick lads" - Owen General Fiasco
5. "This Is A Big Tune I Limavady Sir!" - Shaggy Furlo (speaking about one of his own songs)
6. "Is There Anything More Sugary Than Sugar?" - Emilio Illness
7. "I Never Go Out of Tune" - Johnny And So I Watch You From Afar
8. "I'd Shag Cher!" - Carl Event Horses
9. "Plan B's A Wanker, I'm Affable As Fuck!" - Wileman
10. "If You Cant Trust Your Limo Driver Who Can You Trust?"- Chris STA
Extra Bonus from 2011
11."Here I Am Skinning Up on A Sleater Kinney Vinyl - How Indie Am I?" -
Charlie Desert Hearts
Monday 28 February 2011
Feldberg Take New Single To Dizzying Heights
Friday 18 February 2011
And So It's Farewell...
The band's second record will be released on May 2011 on the totally rad Richter Collective label (IRL). Anyone who has heard some of their new songs previewed in recent live shows will bear witness to the excellence that everyone can expect from the new album.
Big thanks to Rory, Chris, Johnny and Tony ASIWYFA for the thrill of being part of their amazing musical world. And massive props to everyone who helped get their music out into there on day one - in particular, Brian Magill and Jeff Robinson whose dedication, affection and tireless efforts for the lads has played such a huge role in their success.
Also to everyone else at Rocksound, Radio 1, Alan Cullivan at Bareknuckle Management, Craig Gogay at Cargo (UK), Ralph/Stefan at Cargo (Germany), Bart Wisemans at Suburban, John Brogan at Destiny PR, Toby at Toolbox - we love you!
We look forward to the next chapter of ASIWYFA! Bring it on! We'll be down the front.
WOOOOO!
Wednesday 12 January 2011
The Last Ever 4 or 5 Magicians Rock Concert, Friday April 1st @ Brixton Windmill
Following the announcment that 4 or 5 Magicians were to disappear, many people contacted me requesting I organise one final show for the band, and after some umming and ahhing I have decided to do just this, on my birthday Friday April 1st, at our most played and most loved venue, The Windmill in Brixton.
The 2009 album tour lineup of myself, Sam Clarke, Ivan Berry and Alex Wilkinson will play the bulk of the set which will feature every track from our album 'Empty, Derivative Pop Songs'. There will also be a special short section of golden oldies performed by the first proper lineup of the band, that of Myself, Matt Hayward, Jon Wood and Alex Lovell. Other past members will also be in attendance and making cameo appearances!
Doors will be at 7pm, three excellent support bands will be announced in due course starting at 7:30pm. 4 or 5 Magicians will hit the stage at 10pm. DJs will follow into the early hours and we will all stay and dance a lot because it is my birthday.
Entry will be £5 in advance (ticket link to follow shortly), and we will also be selling copies of our 9/10 rated album 'Empty, Derivative Pop Songs' for the knock down price of £5 as well as some other stuff we have left including the last few copies of the Forever On The Edge and Nice Little Earner singles, the CD-R demo 'Wakey Wakey Everyone' and our last few T-Shirts. So remember to bring your pocket money!
The show will act as a fundraiser for the recording costs of my new project. It is currently unnamed and unmanned, but I have ten new songs almost ready to record properly which I am very excited about.
Thanks to everyone for your support over the past five years, let's make this last show the best one ever!
Dan x
Tuesday 4 January 2011
Illness Play OIB Sea Monsters Fest & Compilation
The series of shows are the live counterpart to OIB's new compilation SEA MONSTERS, containing 18 tracks representing the cream of Brighton in 2011: you’ll hear the cool surf-rock of The Squadron Leaders and the Sticks; the slick pop perfection of Pope Joan and Nullifier; the enveloping folk-noir of Sons of Noel and Adrian and Birdengine; the 8-bit brutality of Drum Eyes and Soccer96; and the harsh garage rock of Illness and Cold Pumas. The comp is free when you buy the 5 night pass too!
Here's the breakdown of the nights:
Wednesday 26th January
SALTER CANE – 10:15pm
CROWNS ON THE RATS ORCHESTRA – 9:15pm
THE SQUADRON LEADERS – 8:30pm
Thursday 27th January
DRUM EYES – 10:15pm
COLD PUMAS – 9:30pm
THE STICKS – 8:50pm
SPEAK GALACTIC – 8:20pm
Friday 28th January
POPE JOAN – 10:15pm
Falling somewhere between the kinetic playfulness of Les Savy Fav, quirky pop of early-era XTC and the sonic spectrum of TV on the Radio, Pope Joan are a band that demand serious attention and have quickly established themselves as part of the new wave of exciting and experimental UK art-pop.
NULLIFIER – 9:40pm
Recent signings to OIB Records, Nullifier deliver perfectly formed infectious hyper-pop tunes on the subject of space, waves, girls, and the Armageddon associated with all of the above… ‘Most Evil’ – out Spring 2011.
HIND EAR – 8:50pm
Hind Ear are an experimental technicolour rhythm band who utalise guitars, electronics, voices and drums to fuse hearts to feet and headphones to dancefloors. Like Black Dice on a diet of Chicago House and Fleetwood Mac.
ILLNESS – 8:15pm
Illness are an electric guitar and drums two-piece who create fast, catchy, and abrasive noise-rock. Their sound is equally raw, fast, abrasive and very heavy. Think Lightning Bolt meets Pavement!
Saturday 29th January
MARY HAMPTON – 10:00pm
JANE BARTHOLOMEW – 9:15pm
CURLY HAIR – 8:30pm
Sun 30th January
STUART WARWICK – 10:00pm
US BABY BEAR BONES – 9:15pm
BIRDENGINE – 8:30pm
CD OUT 31st JANAURY 2011 exclusively from Resident Music / Rounder Records / Edgeworld in BRIGHTON
CD / Download OUT 4th April 2011 internationally
Rock Sound Highlights - ASIWYFA 2011 Preview, LaFaro Rank Among Best Newcomers, FWW Live Review
Saturday 1 January 2011
Happy New (Tenth!) Year for STA - It's Art Fucking Rock Okay?
Monday 27 December 2010
ASIWYFA Secret Show Coverage on Live4Ever
Friday 24 December 2010
LaFaro Officially Better Than Gorillaz
40. Solar Bears – She Was Coloured In (Planet Mu)
39. Not Squares – Yeah OK (Richter Collective)
38. Surfer Blood – Astro Coast (Kanine)
37. Field Music – Field Music (Measure) (Memphis Industries)
36. Yeasayer – Odd Blood (Mute)
35. Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Before Today (4AD)
34. No Age – Everything In Between (Sub Pop)
33. Mimas – Lifejackets (Big Scary Monsters)
32. Wavves – King Of The Beach (Bella Union)
31. Neon Indian – Psychic Chasms (Static Tongues)
30. Grinderman – Grinderman 2 (Mute)
29. Sleigh Bells – Treats (Columbia)
28. Deftones – Diamond Eyes (Reprise)
27. Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can (Virgin)
26. Four Tet – There Is Love In You (Domino)
25. The Cast Of Cheers – Chariot (Self-released)
24. The Continuous Battle of Order – PTTRN SKRS (Richter Collective)
23. Joanna Newsom – Have One On Me (City Slang)
22. Flying Lotus – Cosmogramma (Warp)
21. Pantha du Prince – Black Noise (Rough Trade)
20. Baths – Cerulean (Anticon.)
19. Vampire Weekend – Contra (XL)
18. The Gaslight Anthem – American Slang (SideOneDummy)
17. Liars – Sisterworld (Mute)
16. Two Door Cinema Club – Tourist History (Kitsuné)
15. Foals – Total Life Forever (Transgressive)
14. Gorillaz – Plastic Beach (EMI)
13. LaFaro – LaFaro (Smalltown America)
After waiting so many years for a full-length from one of the country’s best live acts, could it possibly fulfil expectations? Emphatically, yes. Fittingly self-titled, from the opening, stop-start blast of bona fide classic ‘Tuppenny Nudger’ to the nonchalant closing lope of ‘Party Hardy Marty!’, every sweaty, sinewy, sleazy second IS LaFaro, perfectly distilled onto one shiny disc. Not since The Jesus Lizard in their prime has rock been this primal, urgent and utterly essential. Lee Gorman
12. Gold Panda – Lucky Shiner (Notown)
11. Best Coast – Crazy For You (Wichita)
10. Villagers – Becoming A Jackal (Domino)
9. Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest (4AD)
8. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs (Mercury)
7. LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening (DFA)
6. The National – High Violet (4AD)
5. Caribou – Swim (City Slang)
4. Janelle Monae – The ArchAndroid (Atlantic/Bad Boy)
3. Adebisi Shank – This Is The Second Album Of A Band Called Adebisi Shank (Richter Collective)
2. Beach House – Teen Dream (Bella Union)
1. Kanye West – My Beatiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (Roc-A-Fella)
Wednesday 15 December 2010
ASIWYFA: 3 Belfast Shows In 1 Day - Fri 17th Dec
Illness Tipped on 6Music Introducing
Find out who Illness will be thanking for their support when 6Music Introducing returns in January.
Vote STA in the Digital Socket Awards
The full list of categories is below. Voting is now open...
1. Best Design (Website, Artwork, Posters)
2. Best Independent Label
3. Best Video
4. Best Music Photography
5. Best Radio Show
6. Best Pop
7. Best Folk
8. Best Rock and Alternative
9. Best Electronic & Hip Hop
10. Best Indie
11. Best EP
12. Best Newcomer
13. Best Album
14. Song of the Year
Skibunny Christmas Shows
And so we look forward to Christmas once again - a couple of events for your festive diaries:
Sat 18th Dec: EDINBURGH, DJ set, Wolf Party @ The Store (formerly GRV)
Thurs 23rd Dec: EDINBURGH, Annual Christmas Songwriters Club @ Leith Dockers Club, all proceeds go to charity, all performers playing original christmas songs!
News coming soon of new single, UK tour and Canadian/US dates!
Happy Christmas everyone! xxx
Sunday 12 December 2010
Friday 10 December 2010
ASIWYFA Tour Screenprint Poster For Sale
Thursday 9 December 2010
Hear Exclusive Fickle Public Song On New Glasgow Podcart
Monday 6 December 2010
Rock Sound Highlights - FWW Live, LaFaro #41 Album Of 2010
Thanks to Darren and the RS team for all their support in 2010.
December 2010 Newsletter
Meet Reykjavik pop-rock duo Feldberg, the newest addition to Iceland’s enviable canon of internationally acclaimed acts and the latest additions to the Smalltown America family. Consisting of singer Rósa Birgitta Ísfeld and multi-instrumentalist Einar Tönsberg, Feldberg first came together in 2008. Einar had recently returned to Iceland from London and was looking for a vocalist to record ‘Running Around’, a song he had written for an advert for an Icelandic shopping mall. “It was a lovely accident”, explains Einar. “I needed a vocal, somebody to do a female vocal. I called up my friends and they all said ‘You have to call Rosa.’ She was at my studio ten minutes later and she hasn’t left.” Rósa adds: “It was really comfortable from the very beginning, like it was destiny. I felt like I should stay once I was there. It’s kind of like a relationship without the romance.”
Feldberg will be thawing our frosty, winter hearts with their gorgeous melodies from December 13th on debut single 'I'm Not Thinking Of You' available on iTunes, before then you can watch the video for the single right now on Vimeo. The debut album is out early next year - it's a delight - you'll love it!
[1] MPFree - Fickle Public
Free Download - Fickle Public - 'Adam Hocing'
At last! Issued in response to popular demand, we present previously-unreleased and dusted-down recordings by Elgin/Glasgow screamo/math outfit Fickle Public for the second album that never was. Fans of the four-piece - fondly remembered for their fusion of Dischord song structure and smart pop hooks - have been patiently awaiting these songs, cheekily bundled together as 'Greatest Hits', which are finally being made available as a digital release on December 13th accompanied by an artwork booklet designed by Christopher Rainbow from photography by Tim Smith.
1. Adam Hocing
2. Non Stop Hot
3. San Diego Hair (Fickle Public Know The Score Version)
4. Revel Revel
5. Winning
Fickle Public were Alan Ferguson (vocals/guitar), Jim Butterly (guitar), James Cameron (bass), Lewis Gale (drums)
In Their Own Words: We recorded these songs back in 2005/2006 with the expectation that they would end up being part of our follow-up album to ‘Bucko’. Unfortunately, we never got as far as making the album and the band ended up splitting up toward the end of 2006. Winning and Revel Revel came from the original session in 2005. Non Stop Hot, Adam Hocing and San Diego Hair were recorded later for a split EP with Distophia – again this never materialised. However, here we are five years later and the tracks are finally going to see the light of day. I’m sure if the band had stayed together then these tracks would sound markedly different. We’re just glad that people can finally have the chance to hear what our second album may have sounded like.
[2] LaFaro - Ripping Up Europe
Our very own eight legged riff machine LaFaro are still on tour - supporting postHC heroes Helmet across Europe and loving every second of it. The LaFaro Van blew up earlier in the week and is still in a Berlin workshop, see them in rented accomodation in the following cities:
DEC 5 Glace Annecy w/ Helmet - Le Brise, FRANCE
DEC 6 La Laiterie w/ Helmet - Strasbourg, FRANCE
DEC 8 Roehre w/ Helmet - Stuttgart, GERMANY
DEC 9 Werkstatt w/ Helmet - Cologne, GERMANY
DEC 10 Elysee Montmarte w/ Helmet - Paris, FRANCE
DEC 11 Astro Lab w/ Helmet - Orleans, FRANCE
DEC 12 Le Grand Mix w/ Helmet - Tourcoing, FRANCE
DEC 14 Vooruit w/ Helmet - Ghent, BELGIUM
DEC 15 SCALA w/ Helmet & Fighting With Wire - LONDON
DEC 16 Club Academy w/ Helmet & Fighting With Wire - MANCHESTER
[2] ASIWYFA: European Tour, Xmas Shows and VERY Special Announcement
*Tune in to ASIWYFA's Twitter/Facebook at 21:00 GMT this evening to find out some very special Christmas news for ASI-uber-fans. REPEAT - 21:00 06/12/2010*
The first issue of our ASIWYFA vinyl disappeared in picoseconds, we've just put the last batch up on pre-order, these will ship w/c 13th December. The band are on overdrive right now so, if you're in the following cities you really should get along to:
DEC 9 De kreun - Courtrai, Belgium
DEC 10 Effenaar - Eindhoven, NETHERLANDS
DEC 11 Club Bitterzoet - Amsterdam, NETHERLANDS
DEC 12 Kleine Freiheit - Osnabrück, GERMANY
DEC 13 Comet - Berlin, GERMANY
DEC 14 Hafenklang - Hamburg, GERMANY
DEC 15 Tower - Bremen, GERMANY
DEC 23 The Hideout - Warrenpoint, IE, IRELAND
[3] FWW - Lil' Xmas Treats
With the second album wrapped up last week in Nashville - our intrepid explorers square up to label buddies LaFaro in London, Manchester and Glasgow - followed by some home grown riffology for Christmas.
DEC 15 Scala w/ HELMET - LONDON
DEC 16 Club Academy w/ HELMET - MANCHESTER
DEC 17 Cathouse w/ HELMET - GLASGOW
DEC 22 Stiff Kitten - BELFAST
DEC 23 Nerve Centre - Derry/City Of Culture 2013
[4] More Than Conquerors Get Busy...
Wired from a sell out support slot with Jimmy Eat World show in Belfast the lads have finished work on their second EP and are delighted to be sharing the stage with labelmates ASIWYFA in Warrenpoint 23rd December, that particular show is going to be messy people.
[5] CMCS & Illness Play Nice...
Label buddies join forces for an awesome Weather for Airstrikes Christmas Show in Brighton.
[5] Calling All Public Service Broadcastees
As Smalltown America Records marks it's 10th birthday next year we're looking for any bands that had a song on the Public Service Broadcast compilation series to provide a sentence or two of where they are and what they are doing for inclusion in a forthcoming project. For more details get in touch with ash@smalltownamerica.co.uk - if you know anyone that was in one of these bands and can give them a holla on our behalf - please do!
All that remains to say is thanks so much for all your support this year - we all really appreciate it, thanks as always for reading and we'll see you in 2011.
Team STA