Tomorrow will see the launch of an exciting new commission between VIVID and Capsule:

MR. UNDERWOOD
SONIC GRAFFITI 2011

Walking the streets near to VIVID and Supersonic Festival, the ubiquitous signs of
neglect passing you by, your attention is captured by a symbol you’ve seen somewhere
else before…

Set into a decaying wall there is a headphone socket. You unplug from your own music
and plug yourself into the city. The sounds you hear are of and from this place, dark
and decayed. As you listen you examine the surface before you more closely. You’ve never
paused here in this way before. What beauty you have missed.

A special “Crash EP” featuring four compositions by Mr.Underwood will be
contained within the installations. Each piece is based on a field recording taken
close to the site in which you find it. The EP will be available for download but you
are encouraged to listen to the pieces in situ, as the chance sounds that surround
you at the time of listening are considered part of the compositions. The pieces
will require you to interact with them in a variety of ways to trigger or manipulate
the sound. Go explore! Headphones are available from VIVID during exhibition
opening hours for a small deposit.

Join Mr. Underwood for a special tour, leaving from VIVID on Friday 23
September, 6pm. Meet at VIVID reception at 6pm. Bring your own headphones.

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

Thanks to all who came to see Mono on Tuesday at The Asylum – an all consuming perfomance brilliantly opened by the high priestess of folk doom Rose Kemp.

Last Saturday saw the stellar line up of Autechre, Russell Haswell & Rob Hall. Autechre played their usual trick of playing in complete darkness, hence the lack of photographic evidence here but it was great to see so many people braving the cold and raving to the early hours.

Before that Atsuhiro Ito created a phenomenal audio visual spectacle in VIVID, and it was particularly great to see such a great turn out for such a niche show – who says Birmingham’s  shit? Great local support came from Nicholas Bullen and Windscale.

Thanks to Mark Hoy for the above photographs
Next Capsule show? Well it’s only Eyehategod isn’t it? Tickets are selling FAST for this so get them while you can from theticketsellers or our friends at Swordfish Records & Polar Bear

We got some beautiful flowers and fancy bottles of bubbly from Warm Circuit Records

Here are photos from our final birthday event which took place at Vivid, much merriment was had by all and the 6pm start certainly left a few folks a wee bit tipsy by the end. All the acts were local inhabitants, all were superb and just goes to show that Birmingham should be very proud of the wealth of talent that exists on our very doorstep. Special mention to Brian Duffy of the Modified Toy Orchestra, who despite extreme back pain and a haze of very strong pain killers played an absolutely storming set. It was an exhausting month and we should all be grateful that we will be 10 but once – a massive word of thanks to so many people that were involved in making these celebrations so much fun.

Stinky Wizzleteat opened proceedings with a fair bit of skipping

Una Corda were on top form and had even grown comedy moustaches for the occasion

Health & Efficiency used all manner of instruments

With tremendous drumming

Modified Toy Orchestra were on fine form with their new members

Barbie was looking stunning in her new party outfit

drum n bass duo PCM had everyone dancing like maniacs

Thanks to all of you that braved our first night of snow

Capsule Grannies not getting any younger

10 years of shows charted for all to see - we've done a fair few gigs!

Wouldn’t it be lovely if we all just talked a bit more? I feel so distant from you. What the devil are you up to? If you’re doing something super awesome, got some plans under your creative sleeves, putting on interesting gigs, exhibitions and the like then tell people about it at this little talky talky chit chat in association with Created In Birmingham.

Featured folks include ATTA Girl, Scott Johnson aka Film Ficciones, Stephen Earl Rogers, James Yarker of Stans Cafe, local historian Ben Waddington, illustrator extraordinaire Ben Javens to name but a few.

In the interval, pindec will be playing her Cake Orchestra: a cake-music interface for people without much musical ability but with an interest in cakes (i.e. pindec). The Cake Orchestra is composed of several sets of cakes, each with an instrument noise pre-assigned. Moving the cakes around on the playing surface triggers the instruments. Guaranteed to be more edible than a real orchestra.
This is a FREE EVENT
6.30 – 9.00pm at VIVID, Heath Mill Lane, Digbeth
There are still a few places left you must RSVP admin[at]capsule.org.uk with KMKY in the subject

A fairly large spread was put on of cakes & cucumber sandwiches

some very experienced cake decorators

special mention to @moif for producing these skull biscuits

Another special mention to the walnut & coffee cake a new favourite

This was a fine afternoon which included much cake eating, watching films and recipe swapping, kids and a special first time public appearance for Frank (the Pup) -  shout out to Richard for his Walnut cake, Moif & Josey for the skull biccys, Sara for her marble cake, Loz from Pram for his just out of the oven warm cake, Pip for the apple cake nom nom loads more folks to mention.

Pete Prescription by Katja Ogrin

Tweak Bird by Katja Ogrin

10 years of Capsule

Lightning Bolt by Katja Ogrin

Lightnng Bolt by Katja Ogrin

Lightning Bolt by Katja Ogrin

Lightning Bolt by Pete Ashton

Lightning Bolt by Lee Basford

Lightning Bolt by Lee Basford

“Looking forward to another wet cold night in darkest Digbeth can only mean another Capsule show, this numbering three out of ten for their tenth birthday celebrations this month. Boasting a return to Birmingham for perennial favourites and sonic demolition artists Lightning Bolt the lineup was bolstered by two support acts spanning widely varying styles, yet with a shared love of volume.

…. Peaks and troughs in the set were all relative with the vocals, bass and drums coalescing into one thick, million decibel morass that assaulted the senses, although the sold-out crowd – gathered around the band as is Lightning Bolts wont – treated every song with rabid enthusiasm, and at multiple points audience members spilled into the band. Wildly and wilfully careering into such musical reference points as grindcore, mathrock, doom – even techno and drum n bass, Lightning Bolt may not seem like the ideal band to shake your ass to, but by the end of their set the mob had gone wild to such an extent the dancefloor looked like a nightmarish Hieronymus Bosch painting in neon crayons.” READ MORE
Review by Duncan Wilkins on BRUM LIVE

Some pretty amazing photos were taken last night from what was a deafeningly good show, the atmosphere was electric and folks went nuts!
Please send us your photos from last night to add to our archive. lisa[at]capsule.org.uk

Now a day of rest followed by another ear shattering show featuring the mighty Sunn 0))) + Om on Thursday at The Asylum. Tickets available from www.theticketsellers.co.uk + Polar Bear in Kings Heath

Friday we’re back at VIVID with PRAM accompanied by visuals by Film Ficciones + Light Trap doors 8pm

Tonight we kick off our 10th birthday celebrations with a riotous launch party at VIVID featuring special guests MONOTONIX, infamous locals BEESTUNG LIPS, ESQUILAX with a special one off live performance and Brian Duffy of Modified Toy Orchestras  latest project CUM DOGS.
The backdrop to this will be an exhibition of 10 years worth of Capsule flyers, photos and related ephemera. With complimentary drinks courtesy of  Barefoot Wines – there are still limited tickets available from www.theticketsellers.co.uk

FAQ
* If you’re driving best to park at the car park on Heath Mill Lane
* There is no cash point at VIVID
* Doors are at 8pm

This is an album that wears its influences on its sleeve from the off, but it matters not a jot as it combines them in such a creative an compelling manner that one is sucked in from the first note. Opening track ‘Backwell’ is so Krautrock it hurts, beginning with a propulsive, steady bass-line with an underlying organ part. When the NEU!-style drums kick in, it’s hard not to grin, and realise a treat is in store.
Muso’s Guide October 2009

Beak>, from Bristol, count Portishead’s Geoff Barrow among their number. Despite the maths sign in their name, the trio’s debut explores the unmathematical, analogue grooves of Krautrock, with driving motorik beats, hypnotic basslines, intense swells of organ and mantric vocals. Countless bands cite vintage German rock as an influence, but this lot actually sound out-there enough to justify comparison.
The Telegraph October 2009

Geoff Barrow and his new band-mates clearly have a mindset that refuses to co-opt the shit which we are all force-fed these days.Or perhaps Beak> is born out of a desire to cut loose after the torturous process of writing and recording the last Portishead album. Whatever the spur, there is a vibrancy to Beak> which smacks you in the ears immediately. Vibrancy is a commodity you will no doubt see referenced often in music reviews, but this is the real deal folks
Drowned in Sound

Beak>’s debut tour stops in Birmingham as part of the Capsule 10th Birthday celebrations

16.12.09
Beak>
Thought Forms
Einstellung
@ VIVID
Heath Mill Lane , Digbeth
Advance Tickets

We are delighted to confirm that Geoff Barrow of PORTISHEAD fame will be joining our birthday celebrations with his latest project BEAK>. They will be performing at Vivid, an art space located in deepest darkest Digbeth. Capsule will be taking over the venue for the month of December, with a jammed packed programme of live performances,  including special guests MONOTONIX, LIGHTNING BOLT, MODIFIED TOY ORCHESTRA to name but a few, workshops, an exhibition and of course plenty of cake!

Beak> Iron Acton – Recording Session from Mintonfilm on Vimeo.

BEAK> were formed in January 2009 by three Bristol musicians, Billy Fuller, Matt Williams and Geoff Barrow. Geoff Barrow is a musician and producer best known for forming and producing music group Portishead and part owner of the independent record label Invada Records . They will be joined by EINSTELLUNG who blend glorious monotonous Krautrock with melodic tones and heavy slabs of Sabbath riffage, whilst finding time to declare sonic warfare on those tinnitus victims who have passed the point of no return. Also on the bill for this very special night are THOUGHT FORMS who made a real splash at Supersonic Festival 2009. The band take influence from luminaries Sonic Youth, Slint and My Bloody Valentine, blending their structure with inspiration from modern experimental noise bands like Boris, Double Leopards and  Emeralds; It is this which gives rise to a more psychedelic sound.
This show has a very limited capacity so advanced tickets are advised- www.theticketsellers.co.uk

Capsule released a limited edition (1/500) double vinly entitled ‘‘Wings Of Desire’ by Einstellung with artwork by the very talented Lucy McLauchlan – you can purchase that HERE