Three down seven to go…

Pete Prescription by Katja Ogrin

Pete Prescription by Katja Ogrin

Tweak Bird by Katja Ogrin

Tweak Bird by Katja Ogrin

10 years of Capsule

10 years of Capsule

Lightning Bolt by Katja Ogrin

Lightning Bolt by Katja Ogrin

Lightnng Bolt by Katja Ogrin

Lightnng Bolt by Katja Ogrin

Lightning Bolt by Katja Ogrin

Lightning Bolt by Katja Ogrin

Lightning Bolt by Pete Ashton

Lightning Bolt by Pete Ashton

Lightning Bolt by Lee Basford

Lightning Bolt by Lee Basford

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

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Ear plugs at the ready…

lbTomorrow Lightning Bolt perform as part of our 10th birthday celebrations, an intimate gig at VIVID – this is sure to be a special one! Taking us back to when we first put them on in what is now the Theatre Space at the Custard Factory back in 2004, that show was unforgettable and we’re sure that this one will be too. Support comes from Tweak Bird + Pete Prescription.
The show has completely SOLD OUT!

sunn-1574_300dpi
The birthday celebrations continue on Thursday with a double doom whammy featuring the mighty SUNN O))) + OM, this takes place at The Asylum in Hockley, there are still tickets available online and there will be a limited number on the door. Ear plugs are adviced 🙂

Ten years on from Sunn 0)))’s first recorded output, The Grimmrobe Demos, the group’s patented style of supersonic slurry has transmuted and transmogrified into a new oozing beast, which despite having the same genetic makeup, has modified its DNA and absorbed any unsuspecting musical modalities it’s found useful. Monoliths & Dimensions, their seventh studio album, sees an amalgamation of the plate tectonics of drone metal with the inner and outer worlds explored in the free jazz of the 1970s, while also exhibiting a bent towards modern minimalism and classical music of the 20th century and earlier.” (from Tiny Mix Tapes)

Friday PRAM perform accompanied by visuals by Film Ficciones at VIVID, incorporating the techniques of early cinema, Filmficciones dark collages are stalked by a live performance by Pram, creating an eerie musical nightmare – think creepy Victoriana, tropical analogue and tumbledown funk. With support from LIGHT TRAP, featuring Nic Bullen (Ex Napalm Death/Scorn), Johnny Doom (ex Sore Throat/Doom) + Dougie of Una Corda fame. They combine blackened and primitive noise rock with progressive and experimental elements.
Tickets are available from www.theticketsellers.co.uk Swordfish + Polar Bear
Doors are at 8.00pm

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Capsule 10th Birthday

neu_2
Birmingham gets a lot of unfair stick. People say the city centre looks like a giant shopping centre and moan about how it’s overrun by motorways, mega-clubs and football stadiums. It’s “more canals than Venice” claim is [almost] a national joke. Even Mike Skinner got a bit mockney to avoid admitting he was a Brummie.

10 Years of Capsule definitely won’t be adopting any faux accents anytime soon. They are Birmingham’s best experimental music producers, creating the likes of The Supersonic Festival and”The Home of Metal”. They’re making sure sure that the midlands doesn’t go ignored when it comes to innovative sounds.

READ MORE

Please note Lightning Bolt show has sold out – all other shows still have limited tickets
Wednesday 2nd Dec at Town Hall with TUNNG + SIX ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE + LIGHTNING DUST + BELA EMERSON
https://tickets.thsh.co.uk/
or phone – 0121 780 3333

For tickets to Monotonix/Sunn 0)))/OM/Pram/Beak/Closing Party –http://www.theticketsellers.co.uk

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Brumcast Capsule 10 special Pt. 1


Little Chris aka Brumcast has put together a podcast show dedicated to celebrating Capsules 10th birthday, it features some of the artists performing over the next few weeks as part of our birthday season. It’s certainly getting us excited about what’s on the horizon.

LISTEN HERE

1. Beestung Lips – Reverse Alchemy (2:14)
2. Pram – Mother of Pearl (3:16)
3. Una Corda – Three (6:54)
4. Lightning Dust – Dreamer (3:46)
5. Modified Toy Orchestra – A Grand Occasion (2:07)
6. Tweak Bird – Whorses (2:29)
7. Einstellung – Tot (4:01)
8. PCM – Davros Dominion (5:05)
9. Six Organs Of Admittance – Shelter From The Ash (3:24)
10. Om – On The Mountain At Dawn (21:18)


Opening Party
Tuesday 1st December 2009
Capsule are 10! launch party
Monotonix + Beestung Lips
Esquilax + Cum Dogs

@ VIVID. Heath Mill Lane . Birmingham
LIMITED CAPACITY
Doors 8.00pm
Advanced Tickets: www.theticketsellers.co.uk

The launch party of Capsule’s 10-year retrospective exhibition features a number of special guests Israel’s garage rockers Monotonix, who certainly know how to start a party, rock you senseless and leave you wanting so much more will be headlining the opening show. In celebration of some of the ground breaking local music Capsule have championed Esquilax will be performing a special one off live performance, alongside Cum Dogs, a new project from Modified Toy Orchestra’s Brian Duffy. Infamous locals Beestung Lips will also be joining the proceedings.
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Wednesday 2nd December 2009
Capsule are 10!
Tunng + Six Organs Of Admittance
Lightning Dust + Bela Emerson

@ Town Hall Birmingham
Doors 7.00pm
Advanced Tickets ONLY from https://tickets.thsh.co.uk/
or phone – 0121 780 3333

An extraordinary night of entertainment at the spectacular Town Hall Birmingham. Special guests include old friends Tunng who combine a perfect mixture of skewed electronica and pastoral English Folk music. Six Organs of Admittance, psych-folk-pop, hippie jams updated for the kids of today. Lightning Dust, the side project of Amber Webber and Joshua Wells, both members of Canadian band Black Mountain. Complimented by the bewitching Bela Emerson, an innovative and prolific performer of electric cello, electronics, tenor viol and musical saw.
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Tuesday 8th December 2009
Capsule are 10!
Lightning Bolt + Tweak Bird +Pete Prescription
@ Vivid . Heath Mill Lane . Birmingham
SOLD OUT
Doors 8.00pm

The mighty Lightning Bolt will be performing an intimate gig in Vivid art gallery as part of Capsule’s 10th birthday celebrations. This strictly limited capacity show re-lives the first time Lightning Bolt played for Capsule back in 2004 in what is now the theatre space of the Custard Factory. Nothing less than a thrill to witness, Tweak Birds heavy, progressive psychedelia has earned them a reputation as an exciting new live act.  The man behind the world’s only and best Happy Hardcore covers band, Pete_Prescription completes the line up, expect Krautrock, melody, Noise or something else entirely.
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Thursday 10th December
Sunn 0))) + Om
The Asylum, Hockley, Birmingham B19 3LS
Advanced Tickets: www.theticketsellers.co.uk
Polar Bear/Swordfish

Capsule’s favourite cult doom outfit Sunn 0))) will be performing their ‘Monoliths and Dimensions’ album, illusory, beautiful and not entirely linear Sunn 0))) have become one of the most important experimental acts in the world. Om provide support to create what should be a show rich in darkness and intensity.
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Friday 11th December
Pram with Visuals by Film Ficciones + Light Trap
@ Vivid . Heath Mill Lane . Birmingham
LIMITED CAPACITY
Doors 8.00pm
Advanced Tickets: www.theticketsellers.co.uk
Polar Bear / Swordfish

Members of Haxan, Una Corda and sound artist Nicholas Bullen collaborate to create a progressive, experimental adventure in sound, Light Trap. Following this will be an eerie Victoriana inspired Pram performance alongside Film Ficciones in the warehouse space of Vivid.
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Sunday 13th December
Capsule and 7 Inch Cinema present:
Afternoon Tea – a light buffet with a healthy serving of films
Vivid, 140 Heath Mill Lane, Birmingham B9 4AR FREE EVENT
2pm – 6pm

Almost since day one, 7 Inch Cinema have been crouching in a corner at Capsule gigs with a video projector gaffa-taped to a stool showing films of hairy men shouting and small dogs in space. To celebrate the grannies’ remarkable and unexpected longevity they shall be gathering up some filmic highlights from the last decade and showing them at Vivid, alongside the customary mix of light snacks and word-searches.
FEEL FREE TO BRING CAKE TO SHARE
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Wednesday 16th December
Beak> (Geoff Barrow – PORTISHEAD)
Einstellung + Thought Forms

Vivid, 140 Heath Mill Lane, Birmingham B9 4AR
Advanced Tickets: www.theticketsellers.co.uk
Polar Bear/Swordfish

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 . Einstellung 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.
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Thursday 17th December
Capsule & Created In Birmingham present:
Knowing Me Knowing You
FREE EVENT with complimentary wine from Barefoot Wines
6.30pm – 9.00pm
Wouldn’t it be lovely if we all just talked a bit more? 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. Or if you’re just interested in meeting some like minded folks feel free to come along.
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Saturday 19th December
Capsule 10th Birthday Closing Party
Modified Toy Orchestra
PCM + Calvados Beam Trio
Una Corda + Stinky Wizzleteat

Plus a selection of special guests DJs
Vivid, 140 Heath Mill Lane, Birmingham B9 4AR
Advanced Tickets: www.theticketsellers.co.uk

The closing party to Capsule’s 10th birthday celebrations will see a gathering of some of Birmingham’s most mind blowing experimental live acts – paying tribute to the ten years of exciting, genre pushing music that Capsule have produced and provided a stage for. Modified Toy Orchestra are a collection of abandoned and reconstructed Childrens electronic toys, conducted by a selection of musicians to create electronic music in a league of its own. PCM, the dark lords of drum n bass have long been key figures in the Midlands underground dance scene and firm Capsule favourites.
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Capsule archive – what have you got?

flyers_10
So folks as you know by now Capsule will be celebrating our 10th birthday in December and as part of a month long celebration we’re moving into Vivid, an art space in Digbeth. Not only will we be hosting a series of live shows with the likes of Lightning Bolt, Monotonix and Beak> alongside some of our favourite Brummies – we’re also producing an exhibition which delves deep into our archive. This will feature 10 years worth of flyers, photos and related ephemera.

WE NEED YOU!

Which comes onto our call out – if you have any photos from past shows or video footage, sound recordings, related stories, memories, reviews, blog posts  please get in touch – all contributions will be included in our exhibition.
Get in touch directly – info[at]capsule.org.uk

or if you have a comment/story or memory of fav show to add you can leave something in the comments on this blog post.

matt_officeMatt Snowden aka one half of Esquilax and the brains behind the Dream Dreams The Dreamer Orkestra popped by last week with a box full of treasures which included loads of old Capsule flyers and photos he’d taken at past gigs. It sure brought back a load of good memories for us.
flyers_matt
matt_oxesThis photo was taken at an Oxes show in 2001 at the Jug Of Ale – it was a rather sweaty & raucous night to say the least.
lightning_mattHere is one of Lightning Bolt from 2004 when they played in what is now the theatre space at the Custard Factory – again this was one of those unforgettable shows.

Summed up perfectly by Kris from Ideal Skate shop
Sat at home on a Monday night 6 years ago I got a call recommending that I come to the Custard Factory to see this band that I had not heard of and an hour later I was in the most amazing sonic maelstrom. This was the first time I saw Lightning Bolt.
It was the best chance i ever took…..
Thank you Capsule.
I owe you…xxx”

Dig deep and hunt out those old photos or just send us a comment – all contributions gratefully received – there may even be prizes!!!

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Geoff Barrow of PORTISHEAD new project Beak> play Capsule are 10!

ten_webposter_beakWe 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

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Capsule are 10!

grannies
Capsule will be 10 years old this December and we very rarely do things by halves, as is the case with this month long celebration which will include live performances from MONOTONIX, TUNNG, SIX ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE, LIGHTNING DUST, BELA EMERSON, LIGHTNING BOLT, TWEAK BIRD, ESQUILAX,  BEESTUNG LIPS,  CUM BEARS, PETE PRESCRIPTION, SUNN O))), OM, MODIFIED TOY ORCHESTRA, PCM + many more!!!

We’ll be starting with a big party to launch an exhibition which delves way back  into our archive, this will be held at Vivid on Tuesday 1st of Dec. With special guests MONOTONIX. These guys absolutely stole the show at this years Supersonic Festival with their acrobatic antics, so it was only right that we have them open proceedings.
Advanced Tickets

mm_10
Monotonix at Supersonic 09 Photo by Mark Rhodes

Following on Wednesday 2nd Capsule will bring to Town hall an extraordinary night of entertainment. Special guests include old friends TUNNG who combine a perfect mixture of skewed electronica and pastoral English Folk music. SIX ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE, psych-folk-pop, hippie jams updated for the kids of today. LIGHTNING DUST, the side project of Amber Webber and Joshua Wells, both members of Canadian band Black Mountain. Complimented by the bewitching BELA EMERSON, an innovative and prolific performer of electric cello, electronics, tenor viol and musical saw. This is a seated event and tickets can only be purchased directly from Town Hall.
Advanced Tickets – https://tickets.thsh.co.uk/ or phone – 0121 780 3333

Tuesday 8th we’re back at Vivid with the mighty LIGHTNING BOLT, they performed  one of our most memorable shows back in 2004 in what is now the theatre space at the Custard Factory. This will, we hope be as special, with a limited capacity of just 150 people so that we can re-live that  electrifying atmosphere once again. They will be joined by brother duo TWEAK BIRD and the world’s only and best Happy Hardcore covers band PETE PRESCRIPTION.
Advanced Tickets


Followed on Thursday 10th with a double headline show of SUNN O))) + OM at the Asylum in Hockley, the lineup on stage will be Anderson & O’Malley, Attila Csihar and Steve Moore (Stebmo). With special guests Om, their music is made by singer/bassist Al Cisneros (formerly of stoner-metal gods Sleep) and drummer Emil Amos and is as raw, loud, and heavy as that of bands with two or three guitarists among their ranks.
Advanced Tickets

sunn_10SUNN O))) at Supersonic 2009 by Mark Rhodes

Concluding on Saturday 19th of Dec with an almighty knees up featuring some of the most infamous of locals including MODIFIED TOY ORCHESTRA + PCM to name but a few.|

During our time at Vivid we will also be doing a film & cake afternoon with our friends 7 INCH CINEMA, a show and tell event in collaboration with CREATED IN BIRMINGHAM as well as a night of experimental noise produced by HEAT & LIGHT plus a few more surprises up our sleeve!
We’ll keep you posted with news as more stuff is confirmed.

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Oh What a night!!!

Oh what fun we had and really quite remarkable that even despite the terrible weather the show was a total sell out, with over 1200 people in attendance, all the bands were amazing especially the mighty Shellac – Bob, Steve and Todd how we love you so.

Some amazing photos of the bands by Pete Ashton




Photos of folks in fancy dress by Katja Ogrin


and the highlight of the night for us was when Sara (our latest Capsule Granny) was asked by Steve to have her photo taken with him, separated at birth!!!

* On a more solemn note – Capsule acknowledge that there were problems with the venue in terms of the bar and toilets, and although we have little control over these areas as they are run by the venue itself, we continue to urge them to improve on these matters. Despite this we hope that the event itself was of the highest quality, we appreciate your continued support.

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