Fresh from catapulting Kings Heath into the cosmos courtesy of Chrome Hoof a mere two days beforehand, Capsule returned to terra firma to give us a much earthier proposition this time round. On an oppressive, balmy Saturday evening the Hare & Hounds played host to the intriguing lineup of Tweak Bird and Wolves in the Throne Room, both of them playing their sophomore gigs for the Capsule ladies. A curious lineup on paper, with the stripped down stoner of Tweak Bird up against WITTR’s heady, trance-inducing spin on black metal, but in practise it worked splendidly.
Tweak Bird took to the stage at the almost ungodly hour of half past seven in front of a crowd who were appreciative of their efforts from the get go, certainly none of the stereotypical BM arms-crossed, brow-furrowed ‘grimmness’. After their blow-away slot supporting Lightning Bolt at the tail-end of last year it was satisfying to discover that nothing had changed from what struck me so much at that particular show, and most importantly there was a sense of familiarity with the material that I didn’t have last time round.
Blessed by a full-throttle, take-no-prisoners sound mix, the sheer volume forced people to take notice, never mind the fact that it was impossible to peel your eyes away from the absolutely powerhouse drumming from Ashton Bird, coming across like a hyperactive cousin of Keith Moon and Wizard-era Mark Greening.

Read full review on Brum Live
Review – Duncan Wilkins
Photos – Katja Ogrin

The rapturous applause that greeted the eight-strong collective as they snaked their way from dressing room to stage was deafening, and by the time the jittery keyboard intro to ‘Crystalline’ had shifted into the glam-math stomp of its main riff, not a single eyeball was diverted anywhere other than the otherworldly, shimmering spectacle onstage. Within their number they boasted the talents of a violinist and bassoonist amongst others, giving the band a really vibrant and authentic sound, with doses of electro, old English prog and mathrock jostling for attention within just the first sixty seconds alone.

With the band uniformly clad in matching silver robes (‘Sunn 1999’ perhaps?) and shrouded in heaving dry ice they looked like the resident house band from George Clinton’s mothership, having been lost through time and space for years, honing their skills – but turning them just a little bit insane. Vocalist Lola Olafisoye manages to be sultry, scary, endearing and terrifying all at the same time; her futuristic shades, figure-hugging catsuit and finger extensions giving the appearance of a particularly hard end-of-level boss in some Japanese sci-fi video game.

Read full review by Duncan Wilkins on Brum Live
photos by Katja Ogrin

Next up  ACID MOTHERS TEMPLE this Wednesday at the Hare & Hounds
Tickets for this show can be purchased from www.theticketsellers.co.uk
Polar Bear on York Rd in Kings Heath + Swordfish in Birmingham city centre

Next up was Tweak Bird from LA, we’d been recommended to check this band out by our friends from Belmont bookings and what a great recommendation it was, this duo are similar to Big Business but with high pitched vocals, very rhythmic and pretty hypnotic in terms of how their set builds, we loved them and fingers crossed they will be joining us for Supersonic.
Popped in very briefly on our way home to see our buddy Drop The Lime, he was just starting to warm up the party and get the crowd going but we were pretty worn out but this point so headed home after a short while, afterall we had fitted in about 8 bands in one night.
The following  day we started with a couple of meetings with various European agents and then a catch up with Gordon from Relapse Records , exchanged some contacts and ideas for Home Of Metal, as Gordon used to be the US press person for Earache back in the day.

Late afternoon we sheltered from the 80+ degree heat by going to a screening of SWEETHEARTS OF THE PRISON RODEO, a documentary as part of SXSW Film, which follows the journey of female prisoners in Oklahoma state penitentiary who compete in a gladiatorial type rodeo. The film had us gasping in horror, shedding tears and also laughing a truely heart wrenching hour and half.
That evening was the Southern Lord showcase, which we attended after going for dinner at Moonshine Bar & Grill with some of the Bristol music group, we consumed a couple of rather potent Patron based margaritas which set us up for another evening of shows.
We took Bristol based sound artists Duncan Speakman along with us and also met up with Brian Hickam from The University of Toledo Libraries who is also working towards creating a Heavy Metal archive, was great to have the chance to talk with him about potential links for our Home Of Metal project and building opportunities for the project to become trans atlantic . Brian was sporting one of our Home Of Metal t-shirts!Southern Lord showcase was a great chance for us to catch with old friends Pelican, we compared pup photos and made sure they weren’t going to get themselves embroiled in any bar room brawls after their heroic involvement in our SXSW showcase with Oxbow in 2007. We arrived just in time to catch Black Cobra, again another duo who make a tremendous racket, heavy as hell! Followed by a solo acoustic set by Wino of Saint Vitus & The Obsessed, Spirit Caravan fame, which was a little over shadowed by the din of people chatting but was still pretty moving.
The highlight however was Wolves In The Throne Room, who we’ve had play in Birmingham just recently, they played a ferocious set, and despite the show being in a white tent in what is normally a car park, they still managed to create quite an atmospheric performance with big candles on the side of the stage and loads of dry ice.
Also managed to pop over the road to Red 7 to catch a few songs by Kylesa before hitting the road for bed.
And still more to come…

We have just confirmed a slew of aural delights for your listening & viewing pleasure over the coming months. The very talented artist/illustrator (best known for his designs for Static Caravan recordings) Ben Javens has created some quite extraordinary posters for us. Its well worth checking out his blog and shop to sample more of his work.

First off on Friday 30th of Jan – WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM, an eco Black Metal band of the darkest and most ferocious kind, support comes in the form of the mighty Welsh trio TAINT and ex Doom/Police Bastard and featuring Brummie of the Year, Johnny Dooms band HAXAN – this will take place on Friday 30th of Jan at The Dragon Bar, located on Digbeth High Street. (+ a plug for House Of Gods 16th Birthday at the Rainbow Warehouse which takes place on the same night with the dark lords PCM live from 10pm – 6am)

Then in Capsule style we have a special event for Friday the 13th of Feb with a headline show by Birmingham’s PRAM, visuals by Filmficciones, support from Jagjaguwar (home to Bon Iver + Black Mountain) latest signing WOMEN, this is on  Friday 13th of Feb at the Hare & Hounds.

Later that month, a very rare live collaboration between drummer extraordinaire CHRIS CORSANO and the legendary jazz Sax player PAUL DUNMALL, with support from THEO aka Sam Knight, the solo guitar/drums act which blew audiences away when he performed last year for Capsule.
Advance tickets for these shows are available from www.theticketsellers.co.uk, and we’ve introduced an e-ticket which means a minimal booking fee for you. Tickets are also available from Swordfish in Birmingham city centre and Polar Bear on York Road in Kings Heath.

Tickets are also on sale for American folk band VETIVER and in time to celebrate their 10th anniversary MONO from Japan will be performing in Birmingham in March.

Our first gig of the year will be on Friday 30th of Jan at the Dragon Bar, Bar Fly – Digbeth High Street
with WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM an eco Black Metal band of the darkest and most ferocious kind, with elements of Godspeed You Black Emperor!

“Our relationship with the natural world is a healing force in our lives. If you listen to Black Metal, but you don’t know what phase the moon is in, or what wild flowers are blooming then you have failed. The music is about wild forests, unfettered rivers, nature: furious and vengeful.”

Support from the mighty Welsh trio TAINT and ex Doom/Police Bastard and featuring Brummie of the Year  HAXAN.
Tickets on sale from – https://www.theticketsellers.co.uk/buy_tickets/events/?id=10005902
Please note that if yu buy an e-ticket you will only be charged a minimal booking fee and will be able to collect your tickets on the door.