Simon ParkinALEC EMPIREWaterfront, TuesdayOne time member of Atari Teenage Riot and pioneer of all things musically experimental, Alec Empire blends many genres including industrial, electro, rock, techno and EBM.Simon Parkin
ALEC EMPIRE
Waterfront, Tuesday
One time member of Atari Teenage Riot and pioneer of all things musically experimental, Alec Empire blends many genres including industrial, electro, rock, techno and EBM.
Empire will be performing songs from his entire career, including Atari Teenage Riot material. 'This has been a real challenge for me,' he said. 'I am in a position where younger audiences keep discovering my early work. Which is great of course! In the current political climate people seem to demand more from a song than boring entertainment. But this also meant looking back at singles from years ago to then re-invent those songs and breathe fresh life into them.
'Usually bands deliver the sort of set-list which could be compared to 'Best of' albums. I didn't want to do that. We will play classics like ATR's Revolution Action, but they have to sound as fresh as they did when they were first released. We put the music in the context of today. And trust me...this will be intense. Technology has moved on so much...It is exciting to push the boundaries further!'
t Further listening: www.myspace.com/alecempire
THE KING BLUES
Waterfront, W
ednesday
Right from the get-go The King Blues' music has defied convention. Unafraid to mix up dub bass lines, doo-wop a cappella songs, ska rhythms, Lonnie Donegan-styled skiffle, British folk and gritty poetry, theirs is a stripped-down sound, where ukuleles, acoustic guitars and melodicas feature heavily.
It is punk music as it was intended - engaging, forward-thinking, all-encompassing aggressive urban blues.
The band began life in 2004 when Itch and Jamie Jazz began performing at squat parties and punk shows. Guitarist Fruitbag joined soon after.
Expanded to a six-piece live, their guerrilla tactics, support from Radio 1's and heavy road work - including tours with kindred spirits such as Anti Flag and Gogol Bordello, saw them breakthrough.
Last year's second album, Save The World, Get The Girl, built on their debut's slogan-strewn howl of discontent with a much more personalised take on social ills.
t Further listening: www.myspace.com/thekingblues
MACCABEES
Waterfront, Thursday
Following the successes of their debut album, Colour It In, and sold out tours, The Maccabees have returned to form with their eagerly awaited second album, Wall Of Arms.
Where Colour It In was an art-pop special, full of colourful and wistful melodies, Wall Of Arms treads darker paths where problems and break-ups aren't always solved by a bittersweet love-ditty.
The Maccabees' intriguing shift in style is typified by the dark and stormy track No Kind Words, which was given away as a free download. The video featured Matthew Horne of Gavin and Stacey fame in an Alas Smith and Jones style 'head-to-head' against a backdrop of 70s video-game graphics.
There is still plenty of melancholy melody and romantic observational humour, qualities which made the band so enduring the first time round. Live highlights are bound to include Can You Give It, which starts with see-sawing bass, wonky guitar and Adam And The Ants style drums, complete with a Stand And Deliver chorus line, until singer Orlando Weeks' unmistakable vocals kick in and lead the band on a pirate-esque sing-a-long.
t Further listening: www.myspace.com/themaccabees
DEADMAU5
UEA, Thursday
No dance producer has sold more digital singles than Canadian Joel Zimmerman, an unassuming guy who performs under the stage name Deadmau5.
In the DJ-led world of ever evolving electronic genres, sounds and trends, it takes something to stand out from the crowd. However the breakout electro-techno-house production will appearing for his headlining set in his larger-than-life mau5head, complete with strobe-light eyes.
It's not just about gimmicks though. His sound transcends various genres of music, flirting with techno and minimal whilst hinting at tech house, trance and electro, and a glance at the names supporting his unique sound proves testament to this fact. Sasha, John Digweed, Carl Cox, Eric Prydz, Erick Morillo, Laurent Garnier - the list goes on and on.
Ironically, Zimmerman says he was never much of a clubber, but rather a fan of experimental electronic artists like Squarepusher and Aphex Twin. Even though he's reached superstar status in clubland, the 28-year-old producer can't quite figure out how he got so successful. 'I can't explain it, actually,' he says. 'It's like, 'I've been doing it for 10 years. Why now?''
t Further listening: www.deadmau5.com
SOUNDS IN THE CITY
May 1
Wombatwombat: feat. Piney Gir & The Age of Reason + more (indie) - Arts Centre
Kapok (acoustic/pop) - B2
Planks (soul) - King Edward VII
Stonewood (rock) - Brickmakers
Raymon Goose Trio (blues) - Cider Shed
Killer Tomatoes (punk) - Blueberry
Four Play (rock/blues) - Reindeer
World's Apart (rock/blues) - Walnut Tree Shades
Virgin + The Computers (punk/blues) - Marquee
Magic Bus (rock) - The Nelson
May 2
Love Music/Hate Racism: feat. Mustard City Rockers (roots/punk) - Marquee
Pure Passion (rock) - Brickmakers
Rules of Romance (pop-punk) - B2
To The Last (rock) - King Edward VII
Soul Agent (soul) - Blueberry
Hollow (metal) - Boundary
Daffy & The Alien (rock) - The Stanley
May 3
Alesha Dixon (pop/soul) - UEA
Graham Coxon (indie) - Arts Centre
Kate Rusby (folk) - Theatre Royal
Keno Kings/Firewire (rock/charity - from 3pm) - King Edward VII
Nibler (roots/blues) - Cider Shed
Alley Jaggers (rock/pop) - The Stanley
Lee Vasey Big Band (12pm) - Brickmakers
Pete 'Kiwi' Keegan (skiffle) - Unthank Arms
May 4
Youngblood Brass Band (jazz) - Arts Centre
The Cutting Room (punk/poetry) - Marquee
May 5
Marissa Nadler (country/folk) - Arts Centre
Awakened By Silence (metal) - B2
16th Minute (rock) - Brickmakers
Beyond Duplication (rock/blues) - Blueberry
Gareth, Jane + guests (jazz/blues) - Take 5
Freespirit (acoustic/folk) - Queen Charlotte
May 6
Doves (rock/indie) - UEA
Karen Casey (folk) - Arts Centre
Romtom (grunge) - B2
May 7
Mike Swai Band (punk/poet) - Arts Centre
Noise From Naarwich 2 (local) - Brickmakers
Basset (pop-punk) - B2
Dave Thomas Band (blues) - Walnut Tree Shades
The Citizens (indie) - Wild Man
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