Wedlock- what a success! We raised approx £300 (got some shrapnel to count!) for Japan Red Cross so a big thanks you to all the bands, DJs and stall holders but mainly a big thank you to everyone who made it down.
Here’s some pictures below from Katja Ogrin, plus a couple of videos that have been circulating…
Dream Dreams the Dreamer began proceedings with a 5-piece noise orchestra.
It was the Birmingham debut for Backwards; early Swans-esque filth.
Followed by Fickle Twin
and Bargepole
And on to the next event, the amazing Matmos will be performing a very special show at mac on Sunday 15th May, featuring J Lesser and with support from John Wiese -get your tickets here
This Saturday, celebrate the bank holiday weekend and get away from the Royal Wedding frenzy with Capsule. We’ll be hosting a party, acting as a fundraiser for Japan Red Cross, with bands and DJs as well as local record labels selling their wares.
Bargepole are a self destructive mix of Jesus Lizard, Hot Snakes and Charles Bukowski and features ex members of Beestung Lips and Knives. Backwards is a new, much anticipated project from ex members of Napalm Death, Beestung Lips and Una Corda, with double bass attack! Also playing are Dream Dreams the Dreamer, an epic noise orchestra of percussion, violin, guitars, vocals and more plus Fickle Twin…
Music-News have published a review of our gig with Seefeel at Hare & Hounds last month.
Seefeel certainly had something more than a legacy to live up to, as they took the Hare & Hounds back towards a dreamy beautification from a far gone shoegaze era.
It was a great gig with wonderful support from Brighton’s Dead Fader (whose almighty unleashing of bass seemed to startle more than a few gig goers) and shoegazers Epic 45.
ARBOURETUM
Arbouretum first began in late 2002 as a vehicle for singer/guitarist David Heumann’s songwriting. The sweeping, atmospheric textures of the first record soon gave way to a more visceral, elemental approach. Amplifiers were turned up, drums were hit harder, and songs crescendoed into spiraling, noise-soaked climaxes on the second full-length, Rites of Uncovering. Released on Thrill Jockey in early 2007, the record garnered much attention and critical acclaim. XLR8R called it “the best doom-folk record of all time” and Uncut referred to it as an instant “cult classic”.
Arboretum’s 4th Album,’The Gathering’ was inspired by Carl Jung’s ‘The Red Book’, with the central metaphor of the song ‘The White Bird’ referring directly to the work. The album’s theme is one of loosing one’s way and finding it again, detailed by ellaborate allegorical imagery. Heumann’s lyrics take you on an adventure through conflict, redemption and revelation.
The Examinerstated that, ‘The attention to detail in recording and in writing, in concert with the performance, result in the other-worldly experience of The Gathering.’
HEALTH AND EFFICIENCY
The Band say of themselves: ‘Twelve feet strong with a head for dizzying heights, Health & Efficiency were raised by wolves in a forest. Leaving the pack and relocating to their practice space in historic Deritend, they experiment with sounds and music, surrounded by priceless works of contemporary art.’
Their music traverses an encyclopaedia of influences; psych, folk, no wave noise and electronic perhaps being some of the more predominant. They utilise banjo, two basses, two guitars, synths, samplers and more effects and loop pedals than it’s reasonable for one band to need.
Uniquely tuned guitars howl, chiming harmonics sing, drones and loops are punctuated by distant chanting and crisp syncopated drumbeats. Sometimes loud, sometimes quiet, always Health & Efficiency.
TIGERNAUT
Tigernaut make instrumental rock music that combines delicate guitar melodies with serious riffs. Folk elements vie with math and jazz time signature changes and inviting soundscapes to make music that always drives forwards, but often hides pleasant surprises. Spending years practicing in garages and bedrooms (in their words, ‘gathering momentum like New Labour circa 1994’), unable to afford the latest musical technology advertised in Guitar Monthly, Tigernaut were forced to fall back on music carefully written to engage the listener. They now have two delay pedals between them, but the habit has stuck.
The first Capsule gig of the year got off with a theatrical start with avant jazz metallers Bilbao Syndrome, featuring vocals from Andrew Plummer of World Sanguine Report
Jeremiah Cymerman offered beautiful solo clarinet work, an intriguing and understated set
Headliners Kayo Dot finished their set with a fantastic percussive conclusion, tin cans and buckets galore!
The next show sees the return of the wonderful Woods, the Capsule team are buzzing in anticipation! Not just hella great musicians they run the prolific Woodsist label that has put out releases from, amongst others, Exceptor, Ducktails and Sun Araw. Check out all the Woods / Woodsist news here and buy tickets for the show here
The bad news is that the Blood Ceremony + Ghost show, scheduled for 30th April has been cancelled. Here is the statement from the Elastic Artists -
“We are extremely sorry to announce that we have been forced to cancel
Blood Ceremony in Birmingham and the rest of the band’s scheduled UK
dates. This is due to a conflict in schedule with Ghost who had been due to
tour as a package with Blood Ceremony. We have tried everything we
possibly could to keep the shows on but unfortunately it has not been
possible owing to the complex logistics involved. Blood Ceremony will
be returning to the UK in the Summer of 2011″
A real shame. If you already bought your tickets online, theticketsellers will contact you regarding a refund.
But keep the date in your diary as we’re planning a Capsule party of some great Brum bands – you can’t hold back the grannies!
The good news is that Emeralds will be coming to Birmingham on 22nd May with some fine local support from Iron Fist of the Sun and Mr Underwood. Should be a great show. Tickets are available here
Obviously, you don’t need to wait til then to see some excellent live music as the wonderful WOODS will be headlining the next Capsule show along with Spectrals and The Doozer. A night of lo-fi psych folk, I for one am most looking forward to
Thanks to those who came down to Hare and Hounds last night for the Kayo Dot show – a pretty impressive percussive close to the set i’m sure you’ll agree (tin cans and buckets galore!). Piccies to come soon.
The next Capsule show will be a psych folk freak out with three stellar bands who bridge psychedelia with more pop sensibilities.
Woods have been gathering momentum since 2006 with their spooky campfire folk and noisey interludes.
Spectrals’ equal love for 60s girl groups and distorted tape collages creates a fine blend of guitar pop
The Doozer was profiled in last month’s Wire, as a key player in the ‘Alternative Cambridge’ scene, full of feaky, underground experimentation. His vocal work has been likened to Syd Barrett and Thurston Moore is a fan!
…you’ll hopefully be getting ready for the first Capsule gig of the year.
16th February sees Kayo Dot + Bilbao Syndrome at Hare and Hounds, Birmingham. Doors at 8pm. Here’s a clip of Kayo Dot on their current tour, from only 2 days ago, a pretty good indicator of what’s to come.
Tickets can be purchased here or at Polar Bear and Swordfish.
Woods blew us away when they played for us as part of the Shred Yr Face tour in 2009. Stunningly crafted songs take on a whole new direction live, with unexpected tangents, twists and turns.
I’ve been hearing this Spectrals track pretty much on repeat on 6music, so looking forward to hearing it live. He makes blissed out, disjointed guitar pop – a perfect support for Woods.
Disjointed psych experimentation comes from The Doozer (Slitbreeze), who is gaining much comparison to Syd Barrett for his vocal style.
Tickets for this show are available here, or in person at Swordfish Records and Polar Bear.
Next month sees Kayo Dot making their Birmingham debut alongside avant metallers Bilbao Syndrome. It’s the first Capsule gig of the year – look forward to seeing you there!
Kayo Dot
Bilbao Syndrome
Tickets are available here, or in person at Swordfish Tickets and Polar Bear Records.
