Week Commencing: 20/9/04
By: Toby L, Sabuhi Mir
Yes,
Four years. Four years of rockfeedback.
September 15th 2000, we launched. Flung into cyberspace, we didn't really know what we were doing, but knew what we wanted to do. Myself and several conspirators plotted to fend music-journalism from the inequities of the weekly ramshackle round-up of 'critique' that originated from the den of the old age, (still-)waning publications whose agendas seemed clouded and cynical.
We, along with fellow, underground website-launches around the period, were the new breed. Sure, back then, we could barely string a sentence together (a mere triviality), but the love was there, pubescent snot streaming down our faces as we self-righteously encouraged and big'ged-up bands and talent that few would have had anything to do with: all whilst still too young to legally buy a beer. Yeah, man.
But 2001 was the turning-point; not just for us, but everything. A band called The Strokes changed the music climate, from an Ibiza dance anthem-strewn deluge of pap, to a garage-laden garden of ferocious indie-punk serenity. We got caught in the whirlwind, and began documenting this phenomenon... Before long, some were even so kind as to comment that we helped reflect such Richter Scale rumbles long before many of those that we'd purposefully distanced ourselves from.
And, now? It continues. New band after new band after new band, with the quality yet to dwindle. It's a Domino effect that's seen all manner of acts from Keane, to The Darkness, to Franz Ferdinand (all covered initially by rockfeedback in their formative stages, before the millions-sales beckoned) triumph and shape things. Scamps such as Bloc Party, The Departure, The Magic Numbers and The Subways are continuing the trend, while 'cult' acts in the vein of Interpol and Devendra Banhart are seeing their appeal heighten drastically in a rapid space.
Resultantly, we're set to savour /celebrate such a musical uprising of recent times, and - indeed - our fourth anniversary, with an introductory, soon-to-be-aired television-series (details to follow), and a very special rockfeedback/Queens Of Noize night at the Barfly in Camden, info already posted elsewhere on the site. As if that wasn't enough, just you wait for Thursday 28th October, where very special guests shall be gracing the stage of our Two Year's Old Basement Club event. Sterling.
Thanks to you all for staying with us; and here's to our fifth year of operation.
The regular editorial tit-bits:
The rockfeedback playlist; AKA, what we're presently 'digging': Bloc Party - unmixed, unmastered recordings from their debut-LP, due out in 2005 (you haven't heard nuffin' yet, trust us); prog-pop weirdo-kids Mystery Jets and their scintillating track 'Agnes' (charming, like The Libs on acid); plus Interpol - their 'Antics' LP is overpowering in its aching majesty, and we somehow can't seem to lodge it from our stereo.
UK Chart-action, this week: Green Day score a strikingly high new single-entry with 'American Idiot', entering at three; Razorlight are 18 with 'Vice'; and a run of acts from 34 to 37 runs, respectively, 22-20s (this week's Basement Club headliners, no less) with '22 Days', Thirteen Senses and 'Into The Fire', Interpol (that name again; sorry) purveying 'Slow Hands', and Beastie Boys brandishing their 'Triple Trouble'; and last but not least, The Detroit Cobras' ad-soundtracking 'Cha Cha Twist' is 59. Albums: Embrace shock the world by going straight in at number-one with 'Out Of Nothing'; Paul Weller's lazy covers-LP is #2; GLC get a worthy top-five with 'Greatest Hits'; Ian Brown's 'Solarized' springs for 7; The Thrills opt for nine with 'Let's Bottle Bohemia'; and Ed Harcourt is 57 with the sublime 'Strangers'.
Gigs this week, London: Well, no need reminding you that our sold-out Basement is this Thurs, with 22-20s and Agent Blue (22nd; £5:00) at the Highbury Buffalo Bar; Alfie are the same night at Cargo (Thurs 23rd; £9:00); D12 are at the Brixton Academy (Mon 20th; £17:50); fun-time punk no-brainers Good Charlotte grace the Islington Academy (Friday 24th; sold out); The Magic Numbers appear at the Barfly @ Monarch (Weds 22nd; £5:00); Mira Calix = The Spitz (Sat 25th; £8:00); Dead 60s try out the Metro on Tues 21st (£7:00); The Fall are at the Islington Academy (Sun 26th; £14:00); The Brakes (a super-group comprising The Tenderfoot, ESP and BSP) are at the Camden Barfly on Friday (24th; £6:00); TV On The Radio give it some at the Highbury Garage (Tues 21st; sold out); and - last but not least - if you can't manage any of those aforementioned Thursday gigs, check out the Rocklands Rocks night at the Metro (Thurs 23rd; £5:00), featuring new live talent such as Corporation:Blend, Special Needs, Antihero, and Nebraska, plus DJ's and a film-screening of Digital Sneakers' 'Rocklands - Live In New Cross' movie (featuring Art Brut, Bloc Party, et al).
The Issue: A couple of weeks ago, we asked you Reading/Leeds or V - which two-sites festival did it for you this summer in August?
The answer? The Carling Weekend. Most common reasons cited - along the lines of: 'Leeds is just much less safe - I could piss against the fence without feeling guilty that a toddler had seen me do it' (Stephen Hendry, Leeds, UK); 'The line-up was more considered... V in Chelmsford was a top weekend, but Reading has much more atmosphere - it feels like something's about to go off at any minute' (Dylan Wilson, Aylesbury, UK; and - alarmingly - 'Reading has better, and more, drugs.' (Anon) Fancy that.
Speak soon, minions.