Happy New Year, and Capsule have tons of gigs planned for the forthcoming months:
16th Feb – Kayo Dot + Bilbao Syndrome @ Hare & Hounds: Heavy, experimental music from the Hydra Head label; this is Kayo Dot’s first appearance in Birmingham and they’re bringing extreme metal/jazz outfit Bilbao Syndrome along with them.
14th March- Woods + Mr Underwood @ Hare & Hounds: We at Capsule fell in love with Woods when they played with Espers back in 2009; trippy psych and lo-fi rock frame noise freak outs. Support comes from peddler of curiosities Mr Underwood AKA Glatze.
22nd March – Seefeel + Dead Fader + Epic45 @ Hare & Hounds: The influential electronic indie band have reformed and have a new LP. Also on the bill are noise dubstep outfit Dead Fader, whom some of you may have caught at Supersonic and the Midlands’ own Epic45.
23rd March – Arbouretum + Hush Arbors + Health & Efficiency@ Hare & Hounds: Heavy psychedelic folk in the form of Thrill Jockey’s Arbouretum. Support comes from the gorgeous country psych of Hush Arbors as well as Health & Efficiency.
3rd April – Earth + Sabbath Assembly @ Hare & Hounds: Firm Capsule favourites Earth, the godfathers of doom, are back in Brum with the majestic apocalyptic folk of Sabbath Assembly
30th April – Blood Ceremony + Ghost @ Hare & Hounds: 70s occult rock, massive riffage and flute solos, Blood Ceremony are a must see live act, support comes from Sweden’s Ghost.
Unfortunately the scheduled Secret Chiefs 3 gig will no longer be going ahead due to personal reasons within the band. We hope to get them back soon.
Tickets for all the above gigs can be bought from theticketsellers or in person at Swordfish Records and Polar Bear Records.
We know it’s only November, but, whatever, we’re done for the year (well, for gigs anyway). Thanks to all who came along to our final gig of the year last night. Torche, Part Chimp and Stinky Wizzleteat was a badass way to end the year.
We’ve had some really great gigs this year, Supersonic Festival was a phenomenal success and Home of Metal is coming together VERY nicely (watch this space for exciting announcements next year). Huge thanks to all who’ve played for us, volunteered and of course attended the shows – see you again next year!
Here’s just some of the shows from 2010
Eyehategod at The Asylum in April
Silver Apples at Hare & Hounds in August
Cluster at Town Hall in February
Baroness at Hare & Hounds in January
Phosphorescent at Hare & Hounds in June
Atsuhiro Ito at VIVID in March
Modified Toy Orchestra at Town Hall in September
And of course there was Supersonic Festival in October – check out the collective memory for photos, videos and reviews
See you all next year for, amongst others, Kayo Dot, Blood Ceremony and Arbouretum – get tickets for these shows here
As one could expect, Black Breath created the most mayhem out of all the acts that performed during the course of Capitol Hill Block Party. Black Breath’s lead singer, Nate McAdams was constantly throwing himself off the stage and into the waiting arms of his metal minions…
Nate McAdams is a master of song introduction. Let me give you two examples:
1) “This song goes out to all you twisted whore fucks out there…” The band then launches into an unforgiving version of “Heavy Breathing.”
2) “This song is about my favorite snack, it’s called ‘Eat the Witch.’”
Southern Lord knew what they were doing when they signed this powerhouse. The Vera stage was the most packed I’d seen it during the whole weekend for this set. Even little kids sitting on their father’s shoulders were requesting their favorite cuts, and these dudes truly slayed.
They opened their set with a powerful version of “Black Sin (Spit On The Cross)” and exploded onto the stage; N.T. McAdams was in great voice throughout the concert, guitarist Zack Muljat stalked the audience like a young Jello Biaffra, lead guitarist Eric Wallace dressed the songs with tasty licks and the rhythm section of Jamie Byrum and Elijah Nelson delivered the thundering foundation for the rest of the band.
If you like coming to Capsule shows, and frankly I know I do, make sure that you attend the final gigs of the year.
The latest Southern Lord signing Black Breath will be performing at Hare & Hounds on 24th November, with support from Grimpen Mire. Then the following day (yes, it’ll be a fine week) the mighty Torche will be playing along with Part Chimp and Stinky Wizzleteat.
Don’t forget the first lady of avant-folk Josephine Foster, and Victor Herrero are playing at the Hare and Hounds this Wednesday (29/september/2010). They’re doing their interpretation of Federico Garcia Lorca’s “Las Canciones Populares Espanolas”, a collection of popular Spanish folk songs that had been banned during General Franco’s dictatorship in the 1940’s.
Foster’s voice is probably best described as sounding a bit like a 1930’s Kate Bush. You could also liken it to Bjork and Joanna Newsom, but it’s so eccentric, it’s really difficult to compare. Josephine describes The Victor Herrero Band as being like “a Andalusian jug band playing very energetic and animated music”, so the combination of Josephine and Victor creates a sound like very little else out there.
To give you some idea of what to expect, here’s Josephine and Victor performing ‘Los Contrabandistas De Ronda’::
Josephine Foster and the Victor Herrero Band play the Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath, Birmingham on Wednesday / 29 / September 2010. Advance tickets cost £10, and are available from here, or by popping into Polar Bear (York Road, Kings Heath) / Swordfish Records (Temple Street, Birmingham).
Thanks to all who came to this show at the magnificent Town Hall. It was a sell out show and both MTO and Micronormous were wonderful.
The Times review by Stephen Dalton:
With a rocket that can count up to ten in different languages, a toy guitar, a Speak and Spell and a creepy-looking Hula Barbie, no Orchestra comes anywhere close to being like Modified Toy Orchestra.
Read the full Brum live review here Pictures: Katja Ogrin, Words: Ross Cotton
Next Capsule show is 29th September at Hare and Hounds – avant folk artist Josephine Foster performing a special collection of traditional Spanish folk songs along with the Victor Herrero band, support from sound artist Swallows.Tickets can be purchased in Polar Bear, Swordfish and here
The first lady of avant-folk Josephine Foster and her partner Victor Herrero present their interpretation of the songs that make up Federico Garcia Lorca’s “Las Canciones Populares Espanolas”, a collection of popular Spanish folk songs that had been banned during General Franco’s dictatorship in the 1940’s. The songs survive today as part of the Spanish sub-conscious and their reinterpretation, on their album Anda Jaleo, is intended to highlight the persistence of popular music.
Foster’s voice sounds like it’s emerging from some dusty wartime vinyl, with an operatic tone probably best described as sounding a bit like a 1930’s Kate Bush. You could also liken it with Bjork and Joanna Newsom, but it’s so eccentric, it’s really difficult to compare.
Victor Herrero grew up in a monastery build by Franco just outside Madrid, which ties in nicely with the ‘popular music triumphing over an autocratic dictator’ theme to the album. He comes with he’s own live band, The Victor Herrero Band, who Josephine describes as being like “a Andalusian jug band playing very energetic and animated music”. The combination of Josephine and Victor creates a sound like very little else out there.
To give you some idea of what to expect, here’s Josephine and Victor performing ‘Los Contrabandistas De Ronda’::
Josephine Foster and the Victor Herrero Band play the Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath, Birmingham on Wednesday / 29 / September 2010. Advance tickets cost £10, and you can buy one by clicking on these words, or by popping into Polar Bear (York Road, Kings Heath) / Swordfish Records (Temple Street, Birmingham).
I’ve been looking forward to this for a lonnnng time and finally tonight Silver Apples will be performing at Hare & Hounds – combining those droning, pulsating rhythms with a psychedelic aesthetic.
Unfortunately, Pram have had to cancel their appearance tonight, however Matt Eaton of the band will be performing his solo work – Micronormous with live visuals.
Doors are at 8pm where a limited number of tickets are available. Or grab them in advance this arvo from here
after a hectic beginning of the year we took a little gig break through July, but we can’t stay quiet for long so here’s what’s coming up…
5th August: Silver Apples + Pram @ Hare and Hounds
We’re extremely excited to host the great grandaddy of electronica, Silver Apples created what are now widely regarded as the first rock-orientated albums to utilise electronic techniques. Get tickets
13th August: Tunng + Health & Efficiency @ mac
Twisted pop wonders perform at mac’s outdoor arena Get tickets
8th September: Modified Toy Orchestra @ Town Hall Birmingham
After international performances to critical and audience acclaim, MTO return to their hometown for this UK premiere of their new album Plastic Planet, performed using only modified toys. Get tickets
29th September: Josephine Foster and the Victor Herrero Band @ Hare and Hounds
One of the most enigmatic, luminious and enlightening American singers of her time Get tickets
11th October: Red Sparowes @ Hare and Hounds
Epic, instrumental songs that manage to pummel you into submission Get tickets
PLUS more Supersonic Festival announcements to come, watch this space as they say
