Scene Report: Bristol January 2009 w/ Diss Miss Interview
By: Sian Norris
Happy New Year readers! A bit late I know but I suppose late is better than never. And late this report is, it has been months since I wrote about the Bristolian life, but seeing as my New Year's Resolution is to get back on the review train let us hope this year will see many more missives from the South West.
[NEON NEON]
Not to dwell on things past but the end of last year saw a flurry of talent hitting the Avon shores - Neon Neon wowed at Trinity with Har Mar and Yo Majesty, (Neon Neon were my band of 2008. Perfection in vocals, perfection in instruments, perfection in all, not one bad song on the totally divine album) and Roots Manuva rocked the Anson Rooms with his gig in October - although people STILL left after Witness - unbelievable! It's enough to bring tears to the eyes. An artist who has consistently made fantastic and meaningful records and people still walk out after he plays the "hit". He played a track from Brand New Second Hand which apparently is ten years old now, making me feel, frankly, old.
Pre Nup wowed the Fleece and various private functions towards the end of the year, a super group of Sexy Bitch and Countryside, they covered a range of tracks in their inimitable style, from 'Temptation' to 'Heart of Glass', 'Umbrella' to 'Jumping Jack Flash'. They were joined at my friend's wedding by Gaptooth on the decks, who has left our fair city to pursue a career in London. Look out for her there folks, a fantastic electro pop keyboard guitar one woman band singer with a fantastic voice and political lyrics. She shall be missed.
[HINKLEY VELTONES]
I popped along to the Nick Cave tribute Night at the Folk House (no, he's not dead) which featured the first ever performance of Jiva and the Wanderers, as well as featuring performances from North Sea Navigator, The Sky is Blue, Daisy Chapman and the ever superb Hinkley Veltones. The Hinkley Veltones played some of their own songs for a very happy (despite the Nick Cave theme) audience. This is a band packed with energy, life and incredible tunes who have been making big waves over Bristol. I am definitely planning on seeing them again as soon as possible.
The year ended with a visit from Bass Clef and Shackleton to the Croft. It was great to see Shackleton play after such a long time, one of the shining lights of the dubstep scene. Offering up rich basslines with a twist, this veteran of the young scene is always a treat to see, a performer full of vibrancy and energy who brings everything into his tunes. Just lovely.
And Bass Clef was the treat he always is! Rarely for the Croft (haha) I noticed no glitches in the sound or technical difficulties! Instead the trombone soared over the complex bass rhythms, the Theremin, whistle, cowbell and flag all in perfect harmony! We tucked into a jolly nice roast dinner the next day along with Nza Da Baron who came down for the occasion.
And then it was Christmas!
And then it was New Year! We stayed in and had a Twin Peaks party so not much to report on the big night, although people I have spoken to all enjoyed the night put on at the Trinity.
[DISS MISS]
December saw the last Girl Wonder at Cosies, the long running collaboration of DissMiss and Queen Bee, presenting female hip hop and urban talent, spinning the decks and playing live. I caught up with DissMiss a while back to find out her reasons for championing women in hip hop, something she'll be continuing with the return of the Dutty Girl nights and sessions...
"I just love to play music I love," laughs DissMiss, when we got together for a drink and a chat to find out about her work and Dutty Girl. "All the female djs I know, myself included, play music they love. Women love to dance and for me it's all about getting girls up on the dance floor. I like to play a load of big tunes to get the crowd going, and play the wild card record to show what I'm about. I want the crowd to be happy."
I was interested to see what DissMiss's inspiration was for starting Dutty Girl - the all female collective of hip hop and urban music artists that she set up in Bristol.
[DISS MISS]
"For me, Dutty Girl is more an ethos than a crew. It was about a coming together of women in hip hop, supporting women and putting women up there. Women djs are often still seen as a novelty so I wanted Dutty Girl to break this down, make a difference and make the most of so much female talent."
It is clearly important to DissMiss to help women break into the very male dominated world of hip hop and urban music, and through Dutty Girl and the night Girl Wonder which she ran with Queen Bee, she has brought together artists as diverse as Kash Honey, Dazee, Sarah B, Laydee Bird, Klair and more.
"I really believe that women have to work a lot harder in the arena but it pays off. For me, music comes first and being a woman DJ second, but years of seeing how women were under represented in the industry depressed me. I'm not bothered about sexist hip hop lyrics as much because I love hip hop, but women need to come through in the industry itself and fight back. If women weren't on the bottom rung then we could balance the sexism out and the music industry would be a nicer place to be. "
[DISS MISS]
I was curious to see if DissMiss felt there were many differences between the way men and women dj.
"Women tend to be less narrow minded about music," she muses. "We're a bit more humble by nature, and I guess we tend to fight over the decks less! Men are really supportive though."
The major reasons behind Dutty Girl though were definitely to form connections between women in hip hop, an ambition that DissMiss is determined in.
"Dutty Girl is all about giving a support network, and because that support network is there, you are encouraged to try more. We can share music, and become immersed in the music. If I can get one young girl to feel able to stand up and do what she wants to do, then I've done my job."
The Dutty Sessions will be running on the last Saturday of the month at Cosies, the next one being 28th Feb.
And so here we are in 2009, a year that began with a trip across the river to the Louisiana to see Countryside play. Supported with gusto by the ever effervescent and loud The Get Outs, the night got off to a great start. The Get Outs always play like they are having the time of their lives, playing the loud rock that they love with no pretensions, just sheer enjoyment. It's so refreshing to see a band that are so committed to their sound and playing with a genuine pleasure, without drowning it out by trying to sound like a band that they aren't.
We were all full of anticipation to see the new Countryside line up, after the departure of JP The Sauce, their former drummer. The magic remains however for one of the best bands performing in Bristol today. Fresh from supporting Athlete, the band were on top form. Their sound is so unique, from the sweet whispery falsetto of Stephen's vocals over the tinkling keyboards, the harmonising of Carvery and his tone perfect guitar playing, mixed in with fantastic drums and bass create an overpowering sound that soars and sweeps over the audience. The songs fill up with hints of Mercury Rev clashing with Flaming Lips, perfect slices of pop cutting against complex melodies, and lyrics that call up lazing in the summer, longing for the summer and all the good bar b qs and picnics you've ever had. (Memories of the barbeques in the Countryside house! Smoke clashing with the rain as we sheltered under the precarious planks of wood whilst eating charred burgers and sausages.)
It was a great night and everyone had come out in support, from Geoff dancing at the front to Rob Sexy Bitch and some friendly faces from I Am The Atom Bomb, as well as JP The Sauce. It looks like Countryside have loads of gigs in the near future so if you haven't seen them yet, then go!
[GHETTOZOID]
Great Bristol news this month came from the lovely Ghettozoid of Octopussy and former interviewee of the column, who has had her tunes featured on the Mary Anne Hobbes show. She's calling it booty step, citing Missy as a big influence, making music with pumping dancing bass lines that put a smile on faces. She has been working on a host of tunes lately, so watch this space!
January finished with a trip to Start the Bus, which is about to celebrate its first birthday! Craziness, it feels like it has been part of our lives for much longer...
[CHEW MAGNA]
The first band up on the stage was a fantastic electro duo called Chew Magna who may just be my favourite new Bristol band (so many to love!). For those not in the know, Chew Magna is a small village outside the city. There's a lake with lots of ducks. The synths were absolutely divine, pitched just perfectly against the vocals which were deep, soothing and like a smooth hot coffee, with enough edge to stop it being too usual. I thought that the vocals were oddly just like the Master Chaynjis, and then I realised that was because the singer is indeed Sam from the Master Chaynjis. Reminiscent at times of Hercules and Love Affair but with a striking originality that really prevents too much comparison to what's out there, I was utterly spellbound. It was proper eighties inspired get up on your feet and dance music. Not that Start the Bus was dancing - Bristol is still struggling to come out of its "too cool to dance" rule. I am looking forward to seeing more of these two, Sam's melodious voice proving so versatile, moving from the folk and blues elements of the Master Chaynjis to be the perfect accompaniment to some dirty electro.
B.A.D (Boys and Dance) took to the stage next with a new dance that included backwards rolls, before the electro styles of Heloise and the Savoir Faire, with their lovely New Yorker singer in a red sequins cat suit and a mouse necklace. I didn't stay for the band I'm afraid, as it had been a long week and I was on my way to Paris the next day!
[DELTA SPIRIT]
And it was in Paris that I saw Delta Spirit, who played some lovely blues rock with a motown bass, although with the later songs the style changed to a hoe down country and western style. They were great musicians though with a real style. Apparently they just turned down supporting Morrissey in the USA and seem to be having a great tour this side of the pond. We had some extortionately priced beers with My Tiger My Timing before heading back to the hotel and then back to England.
Next month I am looking forward to seeing The Kick Inside, hopefully catching Emmy the Great, The NME Tour with my old chums the Friendly Fires, alongside White Lies, Florence and the Machine and Glasvegas, Sexy Bitch with Das Pop and finishing off with the Uppity Bump in London Town. We'll even get you an exclusive with Black Lips...See you then!