13th September 05 - Kill Surf City at the Sesh By Michelle Dee

Kill Surf City is generating a fresh wave on the Hull scene. Just a few months ago no-one had heard of this mixed (boy/girl) five-piece. I first saw them 17 August supporting the Applewhites at Ringside. That day I sat down pretty pissed off about things in general and life in particular, I happened to see a vaguely familiar face aside the stage. I recalled some weeks earlier, a conversation with a sharply dressed man, about a last ditch attempt to create a storm in the music scene.

I remember the avant-garde Dave well. I just can't equate Dave with avant-garde. Perhaps a name change is in order- at least an a la francais David would suffice to help perpetuate the cosmopolitan mystique. He approached me in tight as hell trousers, waistcoat and cravat, announcing he wanted to try one last time to put a band together and fashion something new.

Now a band of five, they stand before me playing inspiring multifaceted music. I remember hearing strains of Loveless in the expansive pieces along with Parvo and other off kilter, left of centre artists. Their music is more of an exploration of the possibilities within sound rather than a definitive article. Last night they rather surprisingly headlined the Sesh. But Kill Surf City more than justified being propelled to headline status with their mixture of shimmering sounds and shifting tempos.

The overall feel was dark; evocative of melancholy and pain, disjointed sections bleed in and around one another. Maybe too dark for some tastes. Certainly they are a welcome change from the current fare of hard and fast indie pop that is sweeping the country. With a vocal quality from a different era and styling to match this band demands your attention. Judging by the number of people listening avidly to their set last night they are already opening doorways to new places; to roam free in the hearts and young minds of spoon fed souls everywhere.

Expect to hear more a lot more from Kill Surf City as they continue to create hair-raising aural and visual spectacles with each outing. See one of the most talked of bands in the last few months, live on stage at Indeecent Wednesday the 21st September, Silhouette on Park Street, and venture into the unknown.

Music Reviews - Friday 29th July 05 - Park and Ride, The Landaus and The Truth at KU Bar Stockton By Michelle Dee
	At half past three on a balmy Friday afternoon I clambered into the back of a hire van to make the journey to Stockton. Once inside, I was greeted by Hull's flagship band The Landaus, who were playing on the same bill, and a few fans of both bands including the much-loved Haribo and original party monster Dean Shakespeare. Danny Landau appears to have found the best seat Read more...

Music Reviews - Sunday 31st July 06 - Benefit Gig at Staks Bar By Joe Hakim Photos By Roland Standaert
	It's an early start, three in the afternoon, but it's for a good cause. Sundays, and the weekend in general, tend to be meaningless when you're unemployed, yet you always feel obligated to spend as much time in bed and do as little as possible in between bouts of napping. A lot of this is due to the fact that there's fuck all on TV on a Sunday. There's hardly anything good on TV during Read more...

Music Reviews - Monday 25th July - Hayseed Dixie at The Cockpit, Leeds By Joe Malarky Whole lotta Dixie
	I discovered Hayseed Dixie whilst searching for a version of Duelling Banjos in my local record shop. I won't go into why I was searching for the main tune from Deliverance, that's my business and anyway it's not important. What does matter is that I was intrigued by the Tennessee quartet. I did a little research and found that their beliefs are simple. All good songs Read more...

Music Reviews - Saturday 18th June 05 - Yeti and White Rose Movement at Sweet n Sour at The Silhouette By JG Photos by Mo
	Tonight, Yeti's support came from London based White Rose Movement. As soon as the band dived into their first song, I really thought that I was going to love them. In fact, every one of the songs on their set started off sounding very promising; fantastic intros that grab your attention and prepare you for a song full of energy and catchy hooks. However, when the vocals Read more...

Music Reviews - Friday 29th July 05 - GST Cardinals at Ringside By Catherine Campbell
	As Hull's newest and most exciting band, GST Cardinals can really put on a show; their rock and roll sound with a splash of punk is real breathe of fresh air. A support act for the evening, GST Cardinals enchanted the crowd and certainly have a large following for such a new band. When these boys play, you can't help but listen. Read more...

Music Reviews - Wednesday 27th July 05 - Emma Rugg Oceans/Depart EP Launch at the Lamp By Michelle Dee Photos By Roland Standaert
	After the worldwide success of her 2003 album Isolated Impressions Emma has been back in the studio both at home in Hull and in New York and put together a particular set of tracks marking a change of direction in her music. Emma welcomes us all to the Lamp with a bright smile and breezy Hello and an acknowledgement to the artists Shep and Steve Reed who have Read more...

Music Reviews - Saturday 16th July 05 - Doing Hull a Favour - Silhouette Club By Joe Hakim
	So I'm walking down Beverley Road, and as I'm walking this car stops at the lights and a guy hangs it head out of the window and shouts across to me, "Ey, mate...yeah you!" I try to ignore him, but seeing as I'm the only person on the street, there's no doubt in my mind that he's talking to me. Shit... "I think yer've dropped summat, mate," he yells. Read more...

Music Reviews - Tuesday 5th July - Dirty Dreamers, The Saved and Substitute at the Sesh By Michelle Dee
	Over the last few months the Sesh live music night at the Linnet and Lark has been regularly pulling in 150+ people every Tuesday night. Bands from Hull and further afield choose the Princes Avenue pub as the place to be seen. In the last twelve months the Sesh has grown steadily in popularity so that on any Tuesday you are guaranteed quality entertainment amongst a knowledgeable crowd of musicians Read more...

Music Reviews - Tuesday 19th July - Killer of Saints at Fibbers, York By Tom Law
	I love going to Fibbers. I still have awesome memories of the last time we made the trip to York to see 36 CrazyFists ... quite possibly the best gig I have ever been to. So I couldn't have been looking forward to this anymore unless I was dragging the Pope along for a night out. Killer of Saints made their way onto the caged stage Read more...

Music Reviews - Thursday 14th July - Jelly at The Welly By Michelle Dee inspired by Chris Morphine
	Tonight the club is full of 50cents lovers who have just bought the new Razorlight album, says Chris, the beautiful Morphines guitarist. By throwing on a string of beads and a brightly coloured scarf, they declare to all who will listen I am Indie, really! They have duly paid their £4.00 or £2.00 with NUS cards. According to the flyer you get this reduced entry if you are a member too, Read more...

Music Reviews - Hollywood and Mantra at Ringside By Emily
	As I arrived at the Ringside, I noticed that the venue seemed quiet and fairly empty. However, the turnout was good considering that the gig was promoted solely through the bands websites and by word of mouth. As Mantra dragged through a tight set of Pantera style metal; consisting of heavy riffs and memorable choruses, their confidence and stage presence grew Read more...

Music Reviews - Saturday 4th June 05 - SideWinder, Mr Mojo, The Vultures, The Cardinals at the New Adelphi By Julia Grant
	Unfortunately I arrived late to find that I'd missed the first band of the night, The Cardinals. I was told that it had been their debut gig. No doubt I'll get another chance to catch them somewhere soon. Having already seen The Vultures play once before, I thought I knew more or less what to expect. It turns out that I can't have paid that much attention to them on that first occasion. Read more...

Music Reviews - Tuesday 12th July 05 - The Paddingtons Single Release at Ringside and Signing at HMV By Joe Hakim Photos by Darren Rogers
	I'm not quite ready for the sun when I step into it, and if I'm being honest about it I still haven't recovered from the weekend. I spent it in Bridlington, trying to devise ways to sneak into the Kings of Leon gig. At the last minute I rolled up to the door with a friend who employed some kind of Jedi mind-trick. It was a brain bending trick, and needless to say, I got fuckin' smashed in celebration. Read more...

Music Reviews - Friday 24th June 05 - Fifty-Nine Violets, the Applewhites, The Vels and Kohiba at The Music Man By Michelle Dee Photos by Darren Rogers
	Down the back streets of the city almost opposite an open concrete waste-ground lies a new music venue with a pioneering culture. For the last six to eight weeks The Music Man has been pulling in live music lovers for it's No Holds Bar Friday nights of fun. Proprietor, Fegs says that he wants a place with a chilled out atmosphere where people can come and party, have a great time Read more...

Music Reviews - Wednesday 6th July 05 - Farewell to the Raywells? By Joe Hakim Photo Gallery By Michelle Dee

Ah, wet Wednesday, if it's not a cliché already, then it should be. It's The Raywells' reunion gig at The Piper, so I decide to go. The fact that I'm getting in for nowt, has absolutely nothing to do with it, honest. I'm one skint motherfucker, so I have to walk to Newland Avenue from the town centre. It's a bit of a fuckin' hike, especially when it's pissing it down. The shit British summer Read more...

Music Reviews - Tuesday 5th July 05 - REM at Hull KC Stadium By Steve Rudd photos by Matt Rudd & SMC
	The quality of weather couldn't really have been any worse for what is essentially deemed as being the height of summer, but the relentless rain failed to dumb down most people's spirits. Unfortunately, myself and (some of) my family arrived late at the venue. One of my brothers, Martyn (who has long been the biggest REM fan in the family, and who is almost Read more...

Music Reviews - REM / The Zutons / Idlewild - KC Stadium, Hull, 05/07/05 by Nicholas Boldock photos by Matt Rudd & SMC
	As is the way with these things, it's chucking it down when Idlewild arrive on stage. Presumably the rain doesn't bother them - they are from Scotland after all, and therefore no strangers to Biblically-proportioned downpours. Which is just as well, as the heavens have well and truly opened. It's a shame that so many people Read more...