Live Review: Palma Violets @ Bristol O2 Academy

Having previously been tipped as the band that Rock & Roll was absolutely crying out for, it would be understandable if Palma Violets felt a great deal of pressure every time they went on stage to perform. However, within around two and a half seconds of the London indie-rockers frenzied set, it is evident that this couldn’t be further from the truth.

Image Credit: pr.wikipedia.org

The scene had already been set for a wild night by a vibrant and exciting support sets from psychedelic rockers ‘Childhood’ and Welsh newbie’s ‘Telegram.’ However, when the dynamic duo of Alexander ‘Chilli’ Jesson and Sam Fryer swagger onto the stage, its apparent things are about to step up a notch. Launching straight into ‘Rattlesnake Highway,’ a no holds-barred belter of a record that is low on lyrical depth but high on energy, it is plain to see that this is a band that craves attention. They were made to be in the spotlight.

Jesson and Fryers clatter around the stage and leave mayhem in their wake. The chemistry between the two frontmen has not been seen since the days when Doherty and Barat caused havoc as The Libertines. With their spiky aggressive vocals and gritty guitar lines, Libertines comparisons are inevitable. However, as is clear from their debut album ‘180,’ Palma Violet’s influences are far more diverse and varied. Fans of the Ramones will purr at the vibrancy and angst of ‘Johnny Bagga’ Dohnuts,’ whilst ‘Tom The Drum’ carries echoes of The Clash and sends the audience into a sweaty orgy of delirium.

There are, of course, some limitations to the brand of narrow garage-indie rock that Jesson & co. exude in such large quantities. The second half of the band’s set is a mixture of obscure covers and underwhelming new tracks ‘Gout! Gang! Go!’ and ‘Scandal’ that merge together somewhat and consequently fail to impress. Perhaps this lack of depth will come back to haunt the band when they release further material. For now, however, it appears to be the least of their concerns, as they round of their set with a traditional rousing rendition of ‘Invasion of the Tribbles’ by little-known Canadian punk band The Hot Nasties, prompting a mass stage invasion from groupies and support bands alike.

Palma Violets are confident, unpredictable and above all they just don’t give a damn what anyone else thinks. Whisper it quietly, but they could just be about to hit the big time.

By James Beeson

Keep up to date with Exeposé Music on Facebook and Twitter

Preview: Battle of the Bands Final 2013

It’s that time of year again when the best of Campus Bands come together to fight it out in the final of Battle of the Bands. This year has seen the finest of Exeter’s music scene battle it out in Timepiece but now the talent has been whittled down to four finalists: Sanskara, To The Woods, Exit Wounds and Drugstore Beetles. We asked them to write a little bit about themselves so you can get to know who will be fighting to become crowned Exeter Campus Bands’ 2013 winners.

 

Photo credit to Emily Cobb

Sanskara

Formed in 2011 by members of various previous bands in the Exeter scene over the years, Sanskara started out of a desire to discover a sound that encompassed the wide-ranging influences and styles of each member, all of whom hail from different, diverse corners of the world from Hong Kong to Swansea! This culminated in a mixture of atmospheric post-rock, prog and post-hardcore juxtaposed with intricate melodies and fast-paced, technical and heavy rhythms making them solid contenders on the Exeter music scene with gigs, including an appearance at Cavern on the 26th March being lined up. The band’s showmanship and vast gigging experience culminated in an appearance in last year’s final and this year they’re back, looking to go one better and finish on top.

For fans of: Explosions in the Sky, Muse, Incubus and Funeral For A Friend.

www.facebook.com/sanskaramusic

 

To The Woods

Photo credit to John Bailey

To the Woods are a five piece acoustic indie soft rock band. We cannot wait for the Battle of the Bands final as we feel that we stand out from the other groups in the final because we are of a very different genre. We have BIG things planned for the final and are going to bring everything we’ve got to be in with a chance of winning. We are going back to the practice rooms to rework things and generally make songs more epic. But perhaps most importantly, we are planning to just have fun on that stage…you definitely don’t want to miss it.

www.facebook.com/tothewoodsmusic

Exit Wounds 

Photo credit to Emily Cobb

Formed by members of Lunar and fellow finalists Sanskara , among other bands, and out of a mutual love of heavy music and ruined venues, Exit Wounds are Exeter’s newest hardcore punk onslaught. Since the band’s first practice in November 2012, the band has only played two shows, both in this competition. Nonetheless, the audience response has been unprecedented. Never before has an Exeter University band generated such destruction. Expect raw aggression, huge mosh pits, grooving riffs and brutal beatdowns. You’ll find yourself entirely out of your comfort zone in absolutely the best way possible.

For fans of: Gallows, Every Time I Die, Trash Talk, The Chariot.

www.facebook.com/exitwoundsmusic

 

Drugstore Beetles

A lysergic atom bomb awaiting detonation in the face of boring pop chart complacency, DrugsToRe BeETles are the self-declared,

Photo credit to Emily Cobb

avant-garde, arty-rock indie supergroup hipster outfit combining experimental noise rock with everything else they’ve ever heard and liked. Defying boundaries, labels and even the distinctions between ‘karaoke’ and ‘live-performance’ thanks to hundreds of pounds worth of elaborate musical equipment including a sampler and of course a keytar. A hyperbolic dichotomy of self-deprecating arrogance surly with an innumerable back catalogue of exotic influences alluding to ‘in yer face’ bands such as XTC, Wire, Psychic TV, The Adicts and of course Justin Bieber. Dazzling neo-symphonic synths, spindly electro-etherealism punctuated by a mismatch of souped-up energetic house beats courtesy of electronic drums, and an orgy of syrupy sound effects through innovative sampling methods, and not to mention a Spanish harmonica player named Alejandro…This are music like you are ever heard it before…

www.facebook.com/Drugstore-Beetles

 

 

 

The final takes place at Timepiece on Monday 25th March at 8pm.

 

Daisy Meager, Music Editor

 

Vote Fest arrives in Exeter

Bruce Springsteen. Rage Against the Machine. Manic Street Preachers. The Clash. The Specials. Amongst hundreds of other, they have all written songs about the ‘P word’. But is politics really that much of a touchy subject when it comes to music? The team behind Vote Fest definitely don’t think so.

The turnout for the SABB elections at this university is good. It’s good, but it’s not great. By putting on a series of live music events, with a bill made up entirely of student bands and DJs, Vote Fest is aiming to get more students into the poll booths. Third years Amelia Ebdon and Georgina Treacy are behind the project and have taken on the task of organising everything themselves. This is for students, by students and aiming to improve the time we spend here in Exeter.

The first event is Vote Fest Unplugged and will be held in conjunction with the launch of Elections Week at the Forum on the 1st February. This will be followed by a louder and livelier line up at the Lemmy on the 5th February. Candidates will have climbed down from their rocks, reduced their decibels and unblocked the pathways to be on hand for a chat and a good grilling. Students will also have the opportunity to vote at both events.

Be sure not to miss out on these two great music events (see below for the line-up) as well as making sure your voice is heard this year by voting for who you want to represent you.

We’ll be checking back with Vote Fest but in the meantime you can keep up to date with everything that is going on at facebook.com/VoteFest and follow them on Twitter @VoteFest.

Amelia Ebdon

SBTRKT at o2 Academy Bristol, 3rd October 2012

Photo credits to SBTRKT

Masked dance-crossover crusader SBTRKT poises to grace o2 Academy Bristol with his presence alongside new Garage-heads on the block Disclosure tomorrow.

With the release of last year’s self-titled album, Aaron Jerome proved himself an unbeatable ambassador for the UK’s then (and now) genre-fusion-mad dance music scene. Already having remixed artists as far removed as Goldie, Radiohead and Modeselektor, as well as collaborated with now R&B golden girl Jessie Ware, SBTRKT came onto the scene proper having already earned his crossover stripes. What resulted was a diverse, rich set of tracks spanning dubstep, UK funky, 2-Step, R&B and house – each with a resplendent sheen and palatable dynamics befitting the dance floor as well as the bedroom.

Just as much is his live show geared for o2, which includes live drums from SBTRKT himself and vocals from frequent collaborator Sampha, whose smoky strains run as slick as a preset, resounding synth-like over the lavish bed of arrangements. Their melodic patterns, set to rouse the mixed crowd, are just as indebted to pop music as underground dance, and the resulting atmosphere will be one of harmonious indulgence.

Support from Disclosure will see their fresh take on turn-of-the-millenium UK Garage get feet skipping as rapidly as those shuffling hi-hats.

Callum McLean