DECIDE YOUR OWN FUTURE OR IT'LL BE DECIDED FOR YOU!

‘Alo friends and comrades,

More than 390,000 people aged 18-25 have registered to vote since the snap General Election was announced. It’s not currently 18-25 year old’s that will decide the outcome in this election. In the 2015 General Election, just 43% of under 25’s turned out to vote, compared with 78% over 65’s. There’s still 2.4 million young people who are yet to register to vote and trends show that this age group could tip the balance in the election if a significant number register and turnout to vote on June 8th. It’s everyone’s future at stake and everyone should turnout to decide it.

In an ITV interview recently, May stated she DID NOT think that 16-17 year old’s should have the right to vote. The real reason for this is because young people show a tendency towards a more progressive form of politics, something that they want to repress as much as possible. This is so frustrating for young people, a sentiment that was expressed beautifully during the EU referendum, with young people demonstrating rightfully that they were restricted when it came to influencing the course of their own futures. It’s more important now than ever to engage with politics and help shape the future to benefit not just tomorrow’s generation but to benefit everyone.

You only have until midnight on Monday (22/05) to register. It’s quick and easily and will only take about two minutes of your sweet, sweet time:
https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

This election has been portrayed as a personality vote. Everyone should be urged to leave how they perceive, or how they are told to perceive individuals at the door. This election is a choice between fair and unfair. Truth and lies. The security and prosperity of some and the security and prosperity of all. Our schools, our mighty/brilliant NHS, our police force, our fire service, all of our public services, all things that make this country great are currently at risk and are being demoralised and privatised at a growing rate. We all get sick, we all need good quality schools, we should all as a society come together to help to sick and vulnerable. We are all sick to death with war after war after war. We all have friends and family that travelled here from a different countries to help contribute our country, make a life, escape treacherous conditions or to follow their dreams; currently being made to feel frightened and unwelcome. Friends and family who have lived here for decades; refused to be given a guarantee that our society will protect their rights to make a life for themselves here.

And for the muso's of Blighty, you would have noticed a sharp decrease in the number of music venues over the years. We've lost many amazing venues, from The Cockpit in Leeds to The 12 Bar Club in London. Venues where some of the greatest musicians from all over the globe honed their craft. Unfortunately, these opportunities are now few and far between for the musicians of the future.

The Labour manifesto has stated: 
"Music venues play a vital role in supporting the music industry’s infrastructure and ensuring a healthy music industry continues in Britain. Labour will review extending the
£1,000 pub relief business rates scheme to small music venues. And we will introduce an ‘agent of change’ principle in planning law, to ensure that new housing developments can coexist with existing music venues."

This is an exciting proposition for the grassroots music industry. For more insight in to the state of music venues across the U.K., we recommend that you check out Music Venue Trust, who are a great source of information and do an amazing job of ensuring the future of music venues across the country.

Make sure you secure your right to be at the ballot box on June 8th and do the right thing!

Also, here’s a good resource for those who are unacquainted with policy (thanks to Ellie from Wolf Alice for bringing this to our attention):
http://anotherangryvoice.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/how-many-of-jeremy-corbyns-policies-do.html

God bless the NHS xXx

'Who R Ya?'... the party continues!

Comrades have been rejoicing in anticipation of the release of ‘Who R Ya?’ It’s been a busy week that seems like a blur. It all kicked off with the single launch party at the Alleycat on gentrified Denmark Street on Tuesday. Anyone who knows us, knows our views on the sicken process of slowly forcing residents from cities out, in place of luxury properties, fancy restaurants and shopping centers etc. Thus, there couldn't have been a more fitting place for us to play than Denmark Street; a road in the heart of London's West-End, filled with studios, venues and shops selling instruments for the most well-known musicians to those kick-starting their way to stardom. The street has seen the likes of Hendrix, The Stones and The Sex Pistols record and play, so replacing it with a five star hotel (as our inside sources have told us), is outrageous.

Funnily enough, the demo for our anthem against the establishment led process, called ‘Gentrification’, which we recorded down at Universal a few months back, has been made Radio X’s ‘This Feeling Track of the Week’ and was played by Phil Clifton last Wednesday. It’s also been championed by the Music Venue Trust, who are currently arranging a big event at The Roundhouse in Camden next month. Find out more and support their cause here (they’re doing some great work in supporting music venues across the country):

http://musicvenuetrust.com/

So, back to Tuesday night… the Alleycat was absolutely rammo and as we popped our heads 'round the door to catch support act The Pearl Harts. The Pearl Harts are great… two girls. One guitar. One drummer. They make a lot of noise and have some killer songs under their sleeves. They got the crowd moshing early doors. As we saw people pile their way from the street to the venue after an interval, we soon hit the stage. It was a mad affair and at times the band and crowd blended and crowd members ending up on stage and band members in the crowd. To be honest, it’s all a bit of a blur now but the new single went down particularly well. We threw in a couple of new tunes too… ‘Queen’s English’, a pop at the monarchy and aristocrats and ‘Famous for Nothing’, which does exactly what it says on the tin. The party went on ‘til God knows when and it was a great night all 'round.

There’s no rest for the wicked, as it was down to Waterloo for ‘Big’ Bob Morris’ Mod Exhibition on Wednesday, with great photos from Bob’s Mod days, dancing and music. Met the legendary Gary Crowley, who’s been a massive champion of the band, having given us a big platform on BBC Radio London, so that was an honour.

The party then continued at The Amersham Arms in New Cross on Thursday. The night was called #Jam4Jez, a ‘Momentum’ organised event in support of Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour leadership campaign. There was a great, friendly vibe at the event. Dedicating ‘A Wise Man Said’ to Jezza and ‘Who R Ya?’ to Owen Smith seemed to go down well! Found out a few days later, our mate Jane had been 'purged' from the Labour Party, supposedly for sharing a photo of the 'Fuck the Tories/Love Sisteray' flag. Jane's honestly one of the most down-to-earth and active members of the Labour Party, going door-to-door, campaigning for the party; proving how utterly-ridiculous and undemocratic this exercise the NEC are undertaking is!

We’re keeping the activism going this Wednesday (21/09), as we are playing an event at The Water Rats in Kings Cross for ‘Musicians Against Homelessness’ in aid of ‘Crisis’. It’s a great cause, kick started by Creation Records founder Alan McGee, with all profits going towards supporting the homeless. On the bill are the outstanding Bang Bang Romeo; great friends of ours who are amazing live; as well as Burnz, Ben Denny Mo and This Feeling DJ’s spinning the top tunes around (as they always do!).

The next ‘Welcome to the Monkey House’ show is this Friday (23/09) and it’s also in support of ‘Musicians Against Homelessness’. Heading the bill are the stunning LOCK, who release their debut EP ‘Everlasting Road’ on the same night. Also on the bill are good mates MOSES and Lighthouse with yours truly on the decks. Again, it’s a great cause, so show your support!

'Who R Ya?' was released last Friday on 1-2-3-4 Records (16/09). The music video is one of the best things we've ever done... filmed and directed by the genius that is Albert Jagger. Check it out...

It's F*@KIN' Friday [playlist]

If you ain’t interested in what we’re listening to, well, you should be. 

Updated Spotify Friday playlist feat. The Wholls, BANG BANG ROMEO, Trampolene, Killing Joke, The Pearl Harts, Asylums, Public Enemy, The Barratts, Nirvana & more...

 

The Road to Reading ended in Leeds...

Well that was a bank holiday.

Began at Leeds Festival on Friday in the mud and an amazing night in the #JackRocks This Feeling stage. We played just before headliners Trampolene and although they played a storming set we thought Jack looked a bit off colour but it was only reading one of his enlightening tour diaries that we realised that he has more challenges up on that stage than most. So bigger round of applause for that and makes us feel even worse that ONE of us sneaked off to see... the The 1975 - Jack truly rocks!

Had a great time on Sunday at the ★ Hackney Wonderland Summer Bank Holiday Bash ★ we were a last minute addition to the line-up and headliners Little Barrie even later.
As it turns out it was a great day and thanks to organisers Hackney Wonderland for having us. Loads of real ale/beers at the London Fields Brewery, a bunch of great bands and a Caribbean Barbeque (the jerk chicken wrap was a hit amongst the non-vegans in the band) - what more do you need for a Bank Holiday?

Caught up briefly with The Wholls we were worried that they'd have burned themselves out playing Reading and Leeds festivals but turns out they were only buzzing on it and had been on BBC TV as one of they highlights the previous night. If you haven't seen them yet, do.

Also caught a bit of Bo Ningen, the Japanese four piece who seem to throw in every musical genre under the sun and then come out laughing at the other end. Taigen rules the stage and leave a packed venue mesmerised.

Sometimes your own gigs can surprise you and this one did because it felt like one of the best we had played. Why is it though that when we ask any audience "Who is Owen Smith 2016 ? No one seems to know. Anyway, we dedicate 'A Wise Man Said' to Jeremy Corbyn and two of the new songs 'Queens English' and 'Famous For Nothing' go particularly well.

All in all, exactly how a bank holiday should be. Oh, and we had such a good time that yes, we invited everyone there watching us to get in touch about FREE guest list for our single launch - rather rash according to our manager but unlike most politicians, we keep our promises so if you were there get in touch.

Bands... you have a voice; USE IT!

Why are there so many bands out there today who do not get involved with politics or think it’s ‘uncool’ to have a political voice? When you’re in a band you have a great platform to involve the youth of today with the political situation going on around them. Bands have big influence on impressionable youngsters and can use that influence to drive a great feeling that they have a chance to change the world, therefore you’d see a surge of youngsters running to the polls to make a difference.

What this referendum has showed us is that the youngsters that voted, voted remain. We are a generation that lived next door to Polish kids, went to school with Romanians, played footie with Bulgarians, ate in Greek restaurants. We have lived with, laughed with and fallen in love with people from all walks of life. And when we moved to the polls, we rejected fear. We rejected racism. We rejected Xenophobia!

Today, it’s more important than ever to install hope and desire in to youth culture. We have the power to change the world. If you have a voice, bloody well use it!

Here’s a great article from a few years ago, written by Billy Bragg. He talks about the importance of bands being actively engaged with politics:
http://sabotagetimes.com/…/billy-bragg-interviewed-bands-ne…

At this moment in time we are the most divided we have ever been in any of our lifetimes. The vote has split us pretty much down the middle, there was a campaign of hate against the unknown 'foreigner', England voted out, Scotland voted in, Northern Ireland voted in, London voted in, Boris will be forever in the life's debt of Farage, the old has distanced themselves from the young as out of touch and to have decided our future for us. We have to communicate and come together through music and make our voices heard...

Gentrification continued...

Camden Town… our spiritual home and what used to be our physical home; now laid waste to multi-million quid developments which are sure to house the wealthy and the minuscule percentage that fall in to that weirdly obscure-generalisation of ‘affordable homes’. An unfortunate legacy left-behind by floppy haired, charismatic but utter dangerous former-Mayor Boris Johnson. A situation, that due to time spent building new affordable homes, won’t be solved by the current mayor, Sadiq Khan, for at least another two years.

The famous Hawley Arms isn’t just our favourite joint in Camden Town but was the after shenanigans choice for Billy Bragg, Carl Barat and others last Saturday. It was also the late-great Amy Winehouse’s favourite pub in NW1. The Hawley is still the great venue it always was and our set there at Camden Rocks Festival last Saturday was our favourite show to date; an amazing atmosphere filled with crowd surfers galore… it’s a day we will never forget.

But while we were having our pre-gig cigarettes on the balcony, we were looking over a construction site, which used to be home to the Lock Market and Scar Studios. Scar was a special place to us. We’d spend hours upon hours there… 3, 4 sometimes 5 times a week. It’s where we feel in love with being in a band, learned our craft, wrote songs, learned our instruments, bonded as a band. It wasn’t the cleanest place in the world but it had great character, a great vibe and truly represented the spirit of what Camden is all about. Now what’s left? Years of a construction site, a new railway line, probably Shitfucks coffee… Slavemark?

As a young band with a platform we have an obligation to voice what we feel is right… but you have a voice to so don’t let our beautiful city be made in to a UK-version of Dubai; a place for only the rich and fortunate.

Anyways, to leave you on a brighter note… Camden Rocks Festival was out of this world. Much affection to all that bought tickets and came down to see us, it was an unreal experience! Onward and upwards to Isle of Wight Festival this Sunday (This Feeling/Jack Daniel’s stage, 5pm if you’re there)!!

Peace,

Dan xXx

Picture courtesy of The Zine

It's Gentrification!

Hello... Ciao... Hola... Salut

We've kept you waiting a while... we've been a tad busy over the past few months but we've recently seen an article that we've felt warranted a blog post. This could've been the inspiration for one of our more recently tunes but if you've seen us live over the past couple of months, you'd know we've had it in the bag for a little while.

We have a song where we mention that a monstrosity in Shoreditch, overlooking the station and it's actually called Avant-garde Tower - we couldn't resist name checking that one in the lyrics.

Basically the people building and buying these developments do not care about London, whether it's Shoreditch, Walthamstow, Berwick Street, Soho or Manor House.

The real crime is the number of units bought and left empty while local families struggle to afford/find somewhere to live ‪#‎gentrification 

Avant-Garde Tower is not the one specifically mentioned in the article by the way but as you can see below, it is a fine-looking piece of shit.

Peace xXx