Photos by Katja Ogrin
Review by Duncan Wilkins

Oxbow headlining was fitting in many ways, not least their completed checklist of Capsule specialities – Performance in a venue not notable for live shows? Check. (see their 2005 appearance at the Demon lapdancing club). Supersonic appearance? Check. Raucous debut show upstairs at the Jug of Ale, most probably with bleedin’ Mistress supporting? Check. Aided by two support bands with personnel boasting similarly impressive track records over the past ten years, this gig was perfect as an – apologies in advance – encapsulation of their strengths as promoters.

Read full review on Brum Live

Coming to Birmingham this Monday bass player of  FUGAZI, JOE LALLY will be playing at the Hare & Hounds. We’re over the moon as we’re enormous fans of FUGAZI and have fond memories of when we put them on at the Sanctuary way back in 2002. A definite high five moment when Jenny & I were backstage playing scrabble while the band sound checked with ‘Communication Breakdown’.
Support comes from the JUNEAU PROJECTS + CHAIRMAKER.
THIS IS A NOT TO BE MISSED SHOW – please feel free to help us spread the word!
Advanced tickets available from www.theticketsellers.co.uk
Swordfish/Polar Bear

PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE this show was due to take place at VIVID but has now been moved to the RAINBOW PUB on Digbeth High Street, just past the Custard Factory
doors are at 7.30pm and the show will be over by 10.30pm please make sure you arrive early.
Advanced Tickets from www.theticketsellers.co.uk Polar Bear/Swordfish

WEDNESDAY sees a welcome return to the mighty OXBOW, jazz infused, Birthday Party style noise, they produce a live show where you never know what might happen, an element which is as exciting as it is scary. Support for this show comes TRANSITIONAL featuring Dave Cochrane (Head Of David/Grey Machine) and LIGHT TRAP which boasts comprised of John (Haxan, ex Doom & Sore Throat), Doug (Una Corda) and Nic (ex Napalm Death & Scorn).

Oxbow Duo at Supersonic Festival 2007

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 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.

This 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.
Here 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!!!

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

Efterklang – Cutting Ice To Snow from Rumraket on Vimeo.
It is directed by Jeremiah Zagar and produced by Herzliya Films

Efterklang play in Birmingham on Thursday 29th of October at The Asylum in Hockley, support from Nancy Elizabeth.
Advanced tickets from www.thetisketsellers.co.uk Polar Bear in Kings Heath + Swordfish Birmingham city Centre

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

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 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.

Looking forward to the Starless & Bible Black show at the Hare and Hounds on 8th October 09, especially after reading these brilliant reviews!

Anglo-French folk rockers named from Dylan Thomas via a King Crimson LP.Can you have too much of a nice thing? The world is currently awash with pretty female-fronted folk rock, the kind of thing that once had Mike Mansfield presenting a Cue The Music TV special on Judie Tzuke and gravely cooing, “Ah , a voice of the purest crystal.” The second album from this Manchester based group starts a bit like that. But by track three, Hanging On The Vine, they reach more challenging terrain. Singer Helene Gautier channels Sandy Denny over Cortez The Killer-period Neil Young.
There’s also sci-fi synth from the impressively titled Raz Ullah, adding to a
musical mood like a haunted stroll across the moors. By the time they’ve reached Les Furies, Raz is percolating away in full-on Floyd mode, the bass is burbling fruitily and it’s clear the more mind-blown fringes suit them well.
Roy Wilkinson Mojo Magazine

Shape of the Shape is the second album from Mancunian collective Starless and Bible Black and this time they’ve kicked the banjos into touch, opting instead for the sound of the 70’s. The musicianship on this album is exquisite, and showcased perfectly by a warm, organic recording which derives from twilight sessions in the magical wilderness of Snowdonia. The music may have become more eclectic but everything on the album still rotates around the soulful vocal talent of Hélène Gautier who shimmers and smoulders throughout. The end result of this melding of talents is an album which is essentially timeless and which demands attention; this is a record to be savoured on those dark winter’s evenings ahead.
The Music Fix

Heavyweight in quality but fluid and expansive in execution, Shape Of The Shape is epically beautiful. Exquisite guitar-based arrangements are layered and unfolded with a natural, organic grace made almost spiritual with dreamy, synth elevations. Moody yet warm, these compositions are the type that need little help from production gloss, reverberating with a sheer, natural pulse that really can’t be faked. They somehow manage to be both nostalgic and freshly modern, a clever feat indeed.
Wears the Trousers Magazine

8.10.09
Starless & Bible Black
Health & Efficiency
Fox
Lewis Garland
Hare and Hounds, Birmingham
8pm
£6
https://www.theticketsellers.co.uk