Copying Women in Rom Coms Could Put you in Prison

Annie was newly engaged and she would tell everyone she met about her paramour and the fact that the were meant to be together.
Dizzy with love she was driving along when she heard a small child on the radio, talking about his recently bereft father and his struggle to find love. The father unwillingly answered the phone and spoke to the host. He described "the magic" that he felt when he first touched his wife. Annie's eyes opened, she wasn't wrapped up in her own fairytale anymore, but looking for a new chapter. Unable to sleep with his voice ringing over and over in her head, she decided they were meant to be together.
The next day she went on her computer hungry for the radio man. She began typing his name into the search over and over until she found a match. After finding her prey she hired a private detective to follow him and report back to her with photos. She was ravenous and sent a letter to this mystery man proposing a meet up. Unbeknown to her the man was unphased by her letter and he shrugged off her advances. Insomnia became her best friend, her mind dancing with the idea of her newest soulmate. The next week the child was on the radio again, describing the scene of his father kissing another woman. Annie knew she had to take it to the next level. She pretended that she was writing a story about radio callers, phoned round her contacts whilst nonchalantly mentioning the story. She obtained the number and called it anonymously, to ensure that she had found the right one, then hung up. Hearing the familiar voice of the child on answer phone, she got in her car in search of her one true love. Spotting his house, she crept round the side watching the father and the son playing gaily on the beach.....
No that wasn't an extract from a stalker's diary that was just a little synopsis of the film 'Sleepless in Seattle'. The film isn't an intense thriller but a delightful romantic comedy, unless it was accompanied by a different score. This is just one film which encourages women to act inches from bunny boiler and what's more its celebrated, with a happy ever after.
At some point or another you probably will have heard the phrase, "women are crazy" either during a conversation with a group of men talking about women, a disgruntled boyfriend or even another woman talking about another female's behaviour.
Who can blame this misogynist opinion to every strong independent women out there on film, there are five desperate unhinged messes.
Obviously Glenn Close gave us a bad name in her scary but brilliant portrayal as Alex Forrest in fatal attraction, where the term "bunny boiler" was coined. Thanks a lot Glenn, now all men think a females capable of this. It's in a film, a woman playing this character, therefore it must be true. There are some films that applaud a desperate but less knifey-stabby bunny boiler, and even almost justify it by making them grab their man in the end - in one form or another.
Tom Hanks even refers to Fatal Attraction in Sleepless in Seattle, "that film scared the shit out of me, that fim scared the shit out of every man in America", I think Tom it was globally and watch out there's one on your tail. You know one that sent you a letter, flew across the country to meet you and probably broke in to your house and licked your pillow.
Apart from Sleepless, there are some others that fall into the category. 'Only You', a film where the main character Faith, played by Marisa Tomei finds the name 'Damon Bradley' spelt on a ouija board when she's a child, then years later in a crystal ball convincing her that he is the one. Fast forward fifteen years, she's found a fiancé without this name, and because of this always holds back a little bit. Returning home she hears Damon Bradley leaving a message on her answer machine, he's a friend of the fiancé and is about to board a plane to Italy, off she goes. Romantic? No scary. She travels across Italy looking for Damon, before running into Robert Downey Jr's character in Rome, who claims to be Mr Bradley. Causing her to jump into his arms and his bed, no questions asked. The film then turns into a sort of I am Spartacus moment, where everyone claims to be Damon. Each time she believes this without question, come on Faith, check the wallet. Anyway Jr isn't put off by her crusade and in the end she gets him. Sorry fiancé you're dumped, probably by postcard.
There are some other travellers, Cameron Diaz's character Christina Walters in The Sweetest Thing, travels cross country, with some penis in the eye and mouldy maggot infested turkey related adventures. Meeting Peter on a night out she hates him, she can't stand him, then all of a sudden this vixen, who can't be tamed, wants to be on a leash. Knowing that he's going to a wedding she travels cross country to the wedding, fancy dress montage included. Makes it to the church and conveniently finds doubting bride, who calls off the wedding. The wedding with Peter as the groom and not the guest. Despite all this Christina and her man end up together, shock.
Then there are those who go a little boiler and then realise that after all this time and effort he's really not for them. Jennifer Anniston's character Kate Mosley in Picture Perfect, makes up a boyfriend sends herself flowers and scripts arguments with him in pursuit of her boss. The man she has hired as fake boyfriend, who through lack of backbone/brain goes along with Kate's marionette theatre plan. He somehow finds this endearing and falls in love with her. 
Then there's Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, who after being dumped by her sweetheart because he's off to College to study Law, swaps her fashion major for a Law degree from Harvard "What like it's hard?".

 Elle wins this round though because she realises that she is making a huge mistake, (unlike some of the other leading ladies) and actually becomes a Lawyer and wears pink, how fun! 

The worst thing about these type of films is that more often than not there's a jilted fiancé or doting, but slightly straight laced boyfriend, who we don't see again. Or what's even more painful they know, just know that the girlfriend/fiancé doesn't love them anymore and they just say fair enough. We don't see the tears, the curling up in the shower, the break up beard or their inability to trust a woman fully ever again, just the happy ever after of their ex.
So thanks films and film makers for giving people an excuse to bad name our gender, and maybe showing the misogyny in films, just a little more subtly than others. And remember that youngsters are impressionable and where parents are worrying about sexual content in pop songs they should worry about rom coms, because in real life these advances get people arrested and given injunctions. So stop worrying about the songs and start worrying about the films, just look at how acceptable Facebook stalking is.

Cheers Glenn.

Why I can't be a film journalist

It's 2013 and news feeds and social networking sites will be full of vomit producing gush-a-thons about user's years and how this one should be amazing, because last year was totally shit.  This leads you to swallow that soap box inner monologue of "go to a third world country, then complain" (hashtag first world problems) #justsayin.  Then that would probably promote statuses about how hard they are working for said ticket to said third world country, and then they'd probably spur themselves on with a 'hey at least I'll get a tan ;) <3'.  And then you will stop looking at that user because it was getting obsessive, and the fact that you selected the place for them to travel on, the airline and the family to stay with was probably too much, never mind the driver at the airport.  Then the next day you might post up a status about your latte was made wrong , and the hypocritical nature will get too much, and you eat the vowels of your computer keyboard in shame, anyway I digress.

New year promotes new start, but I'm hanging onto my gripes of last year.  Starting my little life obsessed with music, recording the top 40 on a tape player, checking music charts on Ceefax, reading and memorising music magazines and staying up late to listen to John Peel, I decided I wanted to be a music journalist, it was written.  Growing up I went to more and more gigs and wrote reviews on the Internet and that spiralled and now I'm here.
My plan b was film journalism having always loved films and the fact that I relished giving my opinions, ergo write about films.  The thing that held me back was the graphic nature of films, knifes, bones protruding and gouging etc.  Nevertheless I was able to review a few films for my student newspaper, but this year it dawned on me that this dream will never be a reality.  Sporadically I used to exchange micro 140 character opinions with former BBC Radio 1 film critic James King and now I'm just going to have to live vicariously through him.  The audience seem to want more blood, guts and gore and whilst this happens my plan b becomes a plan z.  Several films this year I have seen were wasted on me, as I covered my eyes and ears and rolled up like a frightened armadillo.  Not even the lure of the delicious Tom Hardy in Lawless could keep me watching, throat slitting, neck breaking and disembowelling was just too much for me.  Since seeing this film I have been reminded by several people that it is an 18 who scolded me with a "What did you expect?".  Someone told me when I was younger 'See you next Tuesday' can sometimes affect the rating, so maybe I expected Tom Hardy naked, dropping the C-Bomb,whilst Shia LaBeouf, the maverick has sex with a co star for real in the film and makes it into a porn, and then there's a little bit of prohibition thrown in there somewhere.  Either way I was wrong and though a great story, with brilliant acting particularly Guy Pearce, costumes and hints of dry comedy it was all lost on me as the scene where Tom's character held his own sliced throat together took over and now haunts me.

Cabin in the woods another one, zombies, never zombies nothing worse, but the piece da resistance, Drive.  Though not released this year, this was the year I got round to seeing it.  Carey Mulligan and her adorable familiar face couldn't let me down could it? And I'd heard Ryan Gosling got his kit off, so I couldn't be that bad really?  Slow scene of a characters head being blown apart answered my questions for me. The film was too intense and switched off, two weeks later I gave it another go.  Giving my self advice before round two "breath it's just a film it's not real"...head stomped to pulp with some tasty sound effects, off Drive went.  A day later it was switched back on, cushion for safety, under the duvet for comfort, in comes Ryan hammer in hand, film was stopped and deleted off the tablet as he gestured to smack someone's teeth in with a hammer. Lesson learnt.

I would make some kind of plea to the powers that be to award a new classification 'G' for gory. Having learnt that my plan to create an app called 'How Gory'  wouldn't work and would probably be used for people who wanted to know where they could salivate over this stuff rather than be used by people with my plight, who are just too squeamish.

Anyway that's my first world problem, being lucky enough to watch a lot of films - a couple even in those posh over priced seats, and complain about how I have to put my hands over my eyes.

Happy new year!

When films go VERY bad

Every so often film makers push the boundaries in order to shock their desensitised audience, and a film completely outrageous is created and thrust upon us. The existence of said film, causes your blood to boil, so much so in comparison the news of wife beating celebs being welcomed back into the music community with opened arms and a basket of mini muffins, now makes you smile. The motion picture makes you want to picket and scream at the creators. It leaves you with a mouth that is permanently turned set in disgust, and a need to tell everybody about it, so that they can revolt with you.

The Human Centipede 2 is one of the most recent examples of crossing the line - albeit not based on a true story, but rumoured to be able to cause deep psychological trauma. The film had to be cut to pieces (like the main protagonists genitals in the film) to make sure that it actually received a rating. Scenes in the film are as follows; masturbating with sandpaper, mouths being stitched to anus and tongues being ripped out. Yum! Where can I buy this work of madness which makes me question the film makers' sanity. Even twitter God Steven Fry was shocked by it, "Human Centipede 2. I'm not sure I shall ever be the same again". And he's the most cleverest.

But this film maker in question, has bigger fish to fry. Producer of the The Paranormal Activity films, Oren Peli, has made a film about an event so harrowing, abysmal and was even armageddon for some. He wants to use the idea of zombies from the Chernobyl disaster of 1986. I know what you're thinking genius, no one will feel at all disgusted watching that.

The film named ,'The Chernobyl Diaries', sees a group of American teenagers visit the Ukraine and the site of the Chernobyl disaster as "extreme tourists", finding themselves with some unwanted guests, in grabby jumpy zombie form.

When the Michael Bay's 'Titanic' came out in 1997, Blue Peter had a guest appear on the show, who was a baby on the Titanic, she was disgusted that the film had ever been made, as it would remind her too much of the her father who died upon the ship - and that was a love story!

Where will the boundaries stop, what natural or man made disasters are going to be next on the cutting room floor. Is their get out of jail card a statute of limitation of years? If that's the case I'm sure there are some gruesome mass murders or earthquakes, he could use a muse, which are coming up to the twenty year mark. Because after that amount of time it's completely acceptable to turn an innocent victim into a blood hungry monster.

One of the worst aspects of the films is that twenty six years after the catastrophic disaster people are still suffering from the after effects, not to mention the people that lost family and friends, and this film will probably make bucks, and big bucks at that.

If this actually gets a release date and you are hungry for some blood and guts I'm sure "Final Destination 43 : death really is coming this time, really we mean it, RUN" will be out by then, go and see that.

Welcome to the Backlash Lana Del Rey....

When you returned home from a day at school around the age of 5, clasping that mushed up squiggly drawing to give to your mum, praise would normally follow. “wow that’s beautiful, you are such a star.” Sentences were less likely to be more like , “yeah that is alright, but my hair isn’t pink, my hands aren’t five times the size of my head and the colouring outside of the lines is just is abysmal.”




Mums continue to tell you that you’re great. But the one thing they fail to tell you, is that sometimes, if that is the case, that won’t last. They don’t explain to you, that if you do something great not everyone is going to like it, and even worse they will plan and orchestrate your fall.

And the latest person to have been thrown to the wolves, is newcomer Lana Del Rey, her caramel wavy hair, Julia Robert’s style painted mouth and sultry melody was NME porn. Her picture populated magazine front covers and songs dominated the radio waves.


“Born to die” was hailed as the second coming in music, but then the journalists decided to turn on her. Lana started performing on TV shows, and she was then judged all over again. Unfortunately for her, once she opened her mouth, the audiences rose tinted glasses shattered. Del Rey’s haunting atmosphere disappeared slightly and the audience realised that she was human after all.


In the blink of an eye her popularity was questioned and her debut album received harsh comments, and even celebrities including Karl Lagerfield couldn’t resist sticking the boot in.

But why Lana? Why does a certain Queen of Pop get away with miming at a half time Superbowl show? Or a Satellite lover who has a taste for metal leave us with a bad one in our mouths, or a Geordie girl who needs to fight for her affections, get away with it?



Continued at......

http://louderthanwar.com/blogs/welcome-to-the-backlash-lana-del-ray-by-cat-marr

Amy

This year the music world lost one of their most troubled and talented little muses, Amy Winehouse. Amy joined "Forever 27" - so named because artists such as; Kurt Cobain, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin and now Amy, all tragically died at this age. After a couple of years crumbling before the press and public's eyes she appeared to get her life back on track, before hitting the headlines again during a tragic performance and then again when she was found dead. Amy passed away on the 23rd July this year at her Camden flat which was later concluded that she was a victim of misadventure. Despite dying so young she etched marks on this world that won't soon be forgotten. Her distinctive beehive, short skirts, vests, 50s style tattoos and over the top eye liner immortalised her and turned her not only into a music but something of a style icon.
Her final ventures were a Clothing line for popular sports casual label Fred Perry and an album of previously unheard material called, "Lioness:Hidden Treasures", which went straight to the top of the album charts.

She left more than a handful of beautiful tracks and breathed life into old ones;






Although she had suffered rough patches very publicly in the end the scene outside her flat showed that she was loved, admired and would be terribly missed.

Millions of messages were sent out from all over the world talking about what a tragic loss it was and everyone wanted to show that they cared. Amongst the messages from celebrities

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-14275110

others have paid their respects in different ways a label called Future Vintage have designed an art deco style t-shirt to celebrate the jazz princess's life.



http://eightfold.myshopify.com/products/amy-winehouse-future-vintage-tee-shirt copy this link into your search bar to buy the t-shirt

http://www.purplerevolver.com/bulletin/news/122059-pride-in-british-soul-lioness-amy-winehouse-as-she-shoots-to-the-top.html


The T-Shirt is a limited edition with the words "and now, the final frame" lyrics from the song "Love is a Losing Game" alongside a grey scale cartoon design of the singer.

What Would a Rap Star Say

What Would A Rap Star Say? WWARSS
It's tough out there getting a job at the moment, slaving over applications, rewording and rewording your CV and after all that not hearing anything back . Even worse when you do get that interview your nerves might sometimes take over and your brain liquifies. But, if you listen closely to the charts today, you might stumble across some tips and tricks from rap artists. Who else talks about their success endlessly? Why they are great and the obstacles they've overcome to achieve greatness? Stop reading those "10 ways to get a job" articles and pick up a Now That's What I call Music CD! Making songs containing more inspirational messages than posters with airplane formations or sunsets on defining team work and motivation. Listening to modern rap music could get you through that darned interview.

Next time you are in that hot seat and your mind draws a blank just ask yourself WWARSS or What Would a Rap Star Say.
You're looking for that perfect story of why you are fighting for this job and why it's important to you. Why not do it for a family member? In 'Lighters' Bad Meets Evil feat Bruno Mars, Royce is doing it for his dad

"I cried plenty tears, my daddy got a bad back, so it's only right that I write till he can march right into that post office and tell em to hang it up"


One of those pesky questions that pops up now and then is about where you've come from and what struggles you have overcome. You might talk about a team project and someone you didn't agree with on your team, or how about talking about the style of your car or someone who didn't want to work with you and how you feel about having overtaken them.

"I remember when T-Pain ain't wanna work with me. My car starts itself, parks itself and autotunes .Cause now I'm in the Aston. I went from having my city locked up. To getting treated like Kwame Kilpatrick. And now I'm fantastic".

His car starts itself he would be perfect for the sales assistant position in Tesco's

And despite his academic achievement Professor Green feels like he has to prove himself,

"Nothing to hide, Strive for the smother, Suffered and cried, Strife made me tougher. Never mumbled or shy, The trouble I rise above all, Expectations to get rep,Ain't never begged yet!"

In 'Read All About It' He's showing his personality against showing the trauma and how determined he is to get where he wants to be. He's also quick to point out that he's never lowered himself, he's got principles!
Professor Green is perfect if you just can't find the right way to talk about your confidence issues, and the obstacles you had to overcome; you had a tricky boss, Green was stabbed in the neck. Potato Potarto


Chris Brown is for the more self confident ones, maybe the ones who have a little more to prove. Been fired from every job you ever had or even had a few nasty run ins with the law? Just go for balls out arrogance like him and Chipmunk do in 'Champion'.

"work your own way to the top, if they put you on a pedestal they can take you off, and there’s a higher level than the top, you gotta make more, don’t do with what you got"

Heed Chipmunk's words, he's a little more down to earth than Mr Brown, don't settle for the glass ceiling, you can concur the world. Remember who got you where you are and don't lose yourself. So what if you've sent out 50 applications and get two sorry you didn't get the job but we can't tell you why letters. If you try your best you will be the best.
If you are looking for that perfect answer to describe why you are perfect for this job turn to Mr Brown

"I’m always pushing myself to the limit making sure I stay ahead...Some people have to learn, some people wait their turn, some people but not me,I was born a champion"

Showing strive confidence and a goal, it's a sure winner.
You're struggling it's always hard to be sitting there telling someone how great you are, trying to give yourself a little boost save Tinie's words for your head.

"Uh, yeh, and I went from the kid in class, Takes some radio DJs so they could bring me up, To the young rapper everybody's ringing up, Got 'em looking for a sprinkle of that pixie dust, Mad thoughts in my head when it's blowin up."

You can do it you can succeed just look at what you've accomplished, use his words from 'Wonderman' to get back in the game. Don't say them out loud though the grammar is terrible.
As you shake the interviewers hand they look you in the eye wink and pull out the matching Aston Martin key, thank those rappers for your new vocation.

And if all that fails, just recite Jenifer Lopez's "I'm real", down to earth, no pretence, magic.

Now on Louder Than War http://louderthanwar.com/blogs/what-would-a-rap-star-say-wwarss

My Hectic Life.

Last weekend I experienced a little get together at Leeds University with bands and music and film fans people are calling Constellations. This is this the Second Constellations and apparently the quieter one.

I started my day rushing to the Beeb to pick up my flashmic and start my day, half way up to the University I get a call from the organisers saying that I had two interviews arranged for me Vessels and Hookworms. Reluctant to say that I hadn't heard either of the two's music much less heard of the Vessels. All I knew about Hookworms is that my editor and writer for Leeds Guide love them and mention them on twitter all the time. Slight apprehensive about the interviews I sit down with Vessels, the interview goes smoothly I know they are from Leeds in some form and they create music but little else. Interview is fairly standard and stretching out my arm to each member is tiresome but they're used to it. Speaking about "lots of equipment" et al I was intrigued. After the interview was over we chatted really darn microphone often a barrier. After a while a man came over with glasses and his nose in his iphone and shows me a video of him and his friend trying to make his dog go down the slide it jumps off. It's one of those You've Been Framed type videos, should I laugh at the kid smacking his face of the side of the car and falling on the cat or should I call child protection. Chosing not to call the RSPCA I'm then told that this is Matt from Hookworms....

After stumbling about to see one band and meeting up with photographer Tom I return back to meet Hookworms. They've pre-warned me that they will be awkward in the interview so I'm prepared for monosyllabic answers and a very quick interview. How wrong I was. Answer flew at warp speed swearing, dead cats, Warhammer, stabbings and a very hard challenge to 'keep professional'. Unfortunately I was unable to hear the performance as it was right at the beginning of the day but the interview was a huge highlight.

(if you stumble across these ramblings have a listen they are great!)

Next highlight was going to see Vessels, standing in a village hall looking room (the same description I used for my review, need thesaurus). Expecting nothing I had purposely come to this event with no preconceptions about the bands, the band told me that was a brave move. They soon slapped me in the face with their post-rock, dance, percussion full music. Difficult to explain but amazing to experience.

New Favourite band

Well onto the next chapter Friendly Fires...

You can listen to the interviews here .....http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/p00lgpjv

It's Gotta Be You One Direction

Now on Louder Than War

It's X Factor fever and the papers, twitter, Facebook and chit chat is centred around X Factor's latest pantomime character 'Frankie Cocozza'. Well he's been allegedly taking drugs "Oh no he didn't?!" and big bosses are not happy with him so he's been given the boot. Just in time to join I'm a Celebrity if he wants...keep up that profile Frankie, just saying. Aside from the shock and awe about the "bad boy" being given the aXe something else X Factor related is stirring and that is of course One Direction.

The boys are back with a new video, for weeks Twitter team 1D have been getting everything they can about the boys trending, so much so that the fans are more like their PR now! They have a new single out 'Gotta Be You' and of course it's big news.

Taking a break from the fun, you're pretty, you don't know it, therefore you're amazing, they've turned down the tempo put on their serious faces and made a new video.

This video is ripe for parody, mocking and blogging.

The boys have obviously been consuming a bit of blue.....this song is very Simon, Lee, Anthony and Duncan-esque. They've slipped a few big words and phrases in there, they're a serious boy band, "anointed" and "what a mess I've made upon your innocence"- that one's too easy. To prove how serious they are auditioning to be the new models for Next, walking slowly in beige nicely layered clothing and even showing off their man bags, it's a wonder prices aren't popping up next to their nicely quaffed hair.

Just a couple of things just don't hit the mark with the video some obvious mistakes that just need a little translation, when there is a violin playing, Niall don't pick up the guitar.

If that isn't dangerous enough one of the scenes following it, is Zayn foolishly running on the train tracks to see his gal, he obviously didn't pay attention in that nice big EMPTY posh school Harry's running out of and his smarts obviously didn't get him into those big EMPTY University dorms Louis is walking down. Don't worry too much about Zayn it is a steam train he's hopping on so he won't get the riff raff bothering him.

After all this exiting business they set about on their next advertising venture; cars. As they start singing the chorus, "It's gotta be you-uuuu-uuu", Louis speeds off in his little mini, Harry on his shiny moped and Liam in his trendy Beetle. Leaving Zayn pouting out the window on the train and Nial looking bemused. Mum forgot to pick him up.

Looks like Nial might lose this top gear style who will get there first challenge.

Later on they've all met up, they are going camping, tweed's probably not the best ensemble for this venture. If the video isn't showing up enough epic mistakes the quick camera work across the river to the island towards the group of youngsters is like a bad Frankie Boyle joke waiting to happen.

And again during the string section Niall gets his six string out, talented little guy making his guitar sound like an army of violins.

The video finishes staying true to it's theme slipping into Marks and Spencer's clothes territory as they have fun and games near the bonfire, watch the fireworks and show off their threads it's a wonder that Twiggy doesn't zimmer in and tell them to keep the noise down.

Various Cruelties

After being told I was going to see this band, I had no idea what I would seeing the name indicated Metal band but I was wrong....

This is my review that is posted on Purple Revolver it can be found here along with a series of fetching pictures by Danny Payne who's pictures can be here and for more pictures here
Brudenell Social club is hot that even the brick work at the back of the stage is perspiring and as Various Cruelties' support act Soul Circus come on stage, they too start melting before our eyes.

The Leeds five piece have the look of your stereotypical indie band, sharp hair cuts and modish style. Their look might indicate that you are instantly able to pin point their sound, but you would be wrong.

Soul Circus perform strong catchy indie anthems, with catchy hooks and great backing, coupled with a really unique voice.

The front man's distinctive voice is akin to Morrisey or Beautiful South's Paul Heaton and his performance style just as individual. Using his mic and mic lead as a lasso he half-heartedly swings it in a small circle in the air, looking like bewildered cowboy trying to catch the drum beat.

Their performance is almost flawless and their sound is extremely well crafted and rehearsed. The band though having quite a small crowd to perform to played confidently with the attitude of playing to thousands.

Gigs in the Brudenell Social Club are always intimate but tonight was probably one of the most personal that you could experience.

Various Cruelties front man Liam O'Donnell hails from Leeds and because of this Various Cruelties couldn't have had a more supportive crowd. Groups of people formed around the stage calling out Liam's name and offering support whilst brimming with pride.

Liam begins by saying 'How Do' and instantly, friend or newcomer, you know that the gig will be a friendly one. He addresses people in the crowd by name and as he performs the "pinch me look" warms over his face.

The band are slick and the songs have several noteable influences; indie, pop, jazz and reggae and together these create a very original sound indeed.

O'Donnell's voice is smooth as butter with a tangy finish, his vocal style could perhaps be compared to Finley Quaye or Vampire Weekends' Ezra Koening.

He stops for intervals to have micro conversations with his friends and supporters before blowing the audience away from another powerful track.

The best performances of the night "If it wasn't for you" and the haunting "She's the one". As you listened to the smooth lyrics and the cool melodies Liam looks around the room and the intimacy of the gig was apparent then.

You realised that you could be standing next to anyone of his muses and this just made the performance that little bit magical.

Photos by Danny Payne
Words by Cat Marr

Alexisburntout

Canadian hardcore band, Alexisonfire announced this weekend that they have decided to call it quits. After ten years, the band released a statement saying that following guitarist/vocalist, Dallas's announcement that he would no longer be part of the band and would instead concentrate on pursuing other projects, increasing pressures have caused them to split.

The official statement was released this weekend,on the band's

website, www.theonlybandever.com.

After four studio albums and twelve singles the band have made their mark on the popular music scene and made waves over the social networking sites after news of the split travelled.

The band have made post hard-core music more accessible with their hit ,'This could be Anywhere in the World' being played on rock club nights.

Not only have they made catchy songs, but great videos as well

- Alexisonfire Water Wings

Like many other bands that began early 2000's the band have just burnt out, and after ten years in the business no one can say they haven't had a good run at it.

When pop music goes bad

As a post clerk at a solicitors firm I spend hours folding and sending out hundreds of letters every week, but it's been years since I have written actually written a proper one.

Miss R.Black

247 Stuck in my head street
Won't leave my Headville

Worst song ever

SZI H8U

Dear Miss Black,

I am writing to tell you that your actions have ruined my life. I'm not the same person I was 2 months ago because of your imprint on the world I have changed, and it's all your fault.

Now no one likes getting up in the morning I'm going to be bold and say that is a fact. But because of you the getting up in the morning just isn't worth it. When I go downstairs and "get my cereal" the joyful ping of the spoon in my bowl and playful splash of my lactose free milk is just another reminder of your work. And what's worse I feel like you are mocking me, "gotta get down to the bus stop and then I see my friends", good for you Rebecca good for you, when I rush down to the bus stop I go solo. My friends are on the train or in their cars, I'm just minding my own business doing my Sudoku, but you miss it and get picked up in a soft top. Do you know what happens if I miss my bus? I get fired. Oh and P.S. my choice of seats on the bus is next to a sniffer, a talker or a worker with dead eyes.

My life used to be good, really good yes I'd get a song in my head from time to time, the Match.com and their enjoyment of old movies has definitely done the rounds. But I've always been able to shift them. But your song has not left my head, since the first listen and what's worse people take advantage of this hold on me. My boss mentions the word Friday on purpose and then sings your song/torture device. I call it torture device because I have seen films where they play the same song on repeat over and over until the detained screams out or just goes plain mad and well now that is my life.

At work it is an activity to get an annoying catchy song completely stuck in other people's heads and guess what it's yours. Your song isn't making people happy, it's the musical equivalent of The Ring, when people hear it they die inside.

I think my job aids it, constantly opening the post and checking dates to send letters out and people mention days of the week. On Monday I just know that in three days my hell will worsen, someone will ask what day it is on Wednesday I get a cold shiver and my palms get sweaty. Conversations go along these lines, "It's only Wednesday today, I want it to be Friday" then there "It's Friday, Friday". I dread hearing the days of the week, because it's just another thread to your tapestry.

It's like a gateway drug Wednesday is the equivalent of marijuana and Thursday is just full blown heroin.

People have said the glint in my eye has gone, my spring in my step in more like a thump and my sunny disposition has evolved into a thunderstorm. They say chin up, you will get through it your stronger than this, but I'm just not sure I am.

Now I'm not for one second claiming that my life is the worst life in the world but before I learn't of you it was at least 70% better.

Yes Rebecca I am referring to your song 'Friday', or at least I think that's what it's called I can't really remember what it's called because when I hear it my brain boils and then leaks out of my ears. I'm not one of those people who is going to post a death threat on twitter to you or wish you bad luck in your life I just thought you would like to know that mine is ruined.

Today is Sunday, so by your calculations, I've got four days until I can even consider "Partying partying yeah". Other things that have plagued me and your torture device are your sweeping generalisations, "Everybody lookin' forward to the weekend", really everyone? Do you think the nurses that have to look after Saturday nights people that have been "partying partying" so hard that they are consistently throwing up and soiling themselves think thank god it's the weekend.

I'm not saying that the inebriated general public that fill hospital waiting rooms on a Friday and Saturday night is your fault, but I'm going to be honest I don't think you've helped.

I think you have got my point and I hope as you drive round in your soft top, with your personalised number plate and your new designer clothes behind your newly whitened smile and your auto tuned voice should be the cold sting of guilt.

Yours

Cat.

Funeral For a Friend

Funeral for a Friend, have recently been praised for their latest album Welcome Home Armageddon. This record is a heavily anticipated return to their hardcore roots, and it has even been called, "Casually Dressed and Deep in Conversation part two". Where other bands have failed to bring back the je ne sais quoi Funeral For a Friend have triumphed.

The Welsh rockers recently ventured up to Wakefield and I caught up with newest member Gavin Burrough to talk about the new record.

Your album Welcome Home Armageddon has recently been released how has that been received?

Yeah it's great, it's nice to be playing the songs that you've worked hard on over the last year. We're really proud of the record and we just want people to hear it. It's going well so far.

It's been compared to your 2003 album Casually Dressed and Deep in Conversation, how do you feel about that?

I think that when we got together,and spoke about the writing process, there were elements of the band that were maybe missing. The ones that we knew people liked about the band and we wanted to introduce it back in. There's a lot more screaming, a lot more energy and it's fast paced, which we wanted to bring in. I suppose in a way you can kind of associate that with like Casually Dressed and Deep in Conversation. I think at the same time we've still tried to keep it fresh and relevant.

Funeral For a Friend have been around for 9 - 10 years, why do you think there has been quite a big change in your sound?

I think when you're in a band you don't want to kind of rehash what you have done, you want to progress. I think the biggest change in sound was the third album with Tales. And I think the kind of impetus for that album was that everyone was copying what the band had done, and they didn't want to be associated with it, that was the big issue for that album. Now with this album we're trying to revisit our routes really and try and get that energy and aggression back into it.

The American pop-punk sound seems to be quite particular today especially in the charts, as a British band where do Funeral For a friend fit in there?

We're British Punk, pop punk. No I wouldn't say that, the Americans can do their thing and we'll do ours. Matt (leader singer) does sound a little bit American when he sings, he has a big passion for American punk bands. We're Welsh, but I think if we sang in Welsh accents it would be weird.

You have been awarded accolades like Best Band before, do these things change you ?

Oh they have it's gone straight to my head (laughing). No we're grounded people, we've all come from working class backgrounds and it's nice that people appreciate what you do and say nice things about you. At the same we know who we are as people.

How do you feel about the Welsh music scene at the moment?

I think it's great, tonight we've got a welsh band 'Tiger Please' playing with us. There's so many bands out there at the moment and so many good bands from Wales. When we started Lost Prophets were the first band to really kick it off from there on it's been obviously ourselves; Kids In Glass Houses, Bullet For My Valentine, The Blackout there's loads. There's really a melting pot for talent down there.

You guys are playing Wakefield's Black Flag, what do you think of Yorkshire?

Yeah we have been here plenty of times but not in Wakefield. We've played Leeds, northern people are nice.

What are you hoping for with tonight's show?

Sweaty people, jumping around and having fun.

What's Next for Funeral for a Friend ?

More touring, World Domination, just loads of touring going to Europe next month, festivals over the Summer and then Australia and America later in the year. Just pimping the album out getting people in people's faces, listen to it, it's great

The Black Flag in Wakefield is hotter than the sun, the front of the room is squirming with sweaty fans who are desperate to get a glimpse of Welsh Rockers, Funeral for a Friend.

The claps get faster and faster, as the sound technicians and roadies tease the crowd, taking a lifetime to complete all necessary checks on the equipment.

Lead singer Matt Davies worked the crowd easily with quick wit and charisma, you may have thought that you were watching a stand up act not a gig. In the middle of the set Davies announced that this was the best audience they had played to. The front-man was then hit with the ever popular "Yorkshire" chant, quick as a flash Davies replied, "Thank you I am very happy you are aware of where you are geographically", the crowd erupted with applause and laughter.

The band kept veteran fans happy dedicating the majority of their set to their older music, most of their 2003 album Casually dressed and deep in conversation was played. The crowd reacted manically to , "Juneau", screaming as the first chords were played before jumping and pushing each other to the beat.

They made sure that they made time for their newer material playing a few songs off their current album Welcome Home Armageddon, due to returning to their heavier sounding roots, this was recieving just as well as their earlier material was.

For fans of Funeral for a Friend if they had braved the front, the gig was rib squashingly good but the only downside was that you needed about 3 hours to cool off!

Mountaineer

Up until now the only bands I had heard about from Germany were called 'Die Toten Hosen', which literally means The Dead Trousers, but in everyday conversation it means 'nothing going on' or 'boring'. And another Deutsch band I am familiar with are rockers Rammstein -who are a great way to learn basic German.

Initially when listening to Mountaineer I noticed similarities between them and UK pop acts. The lead singers voice could easily be mistaken for Lancashires' Damon Gough (aka Badly drawn Boy) and the melody of the songs have hints of The Magic Numbers.

Listening to this album conjures up all sort of imagery of the 60s,

the flicks in the hair, the smooth shaped white furniture, the floral print and orange or beige coloured scenery. This is an album compiled of chilled out pop tracks, that some are guilty of lacking in atmosphere.

Among the tracks on the album to take notice of is ' The Real McQueen',which is extreme easy listening. This song is so laid back that it is almost horizontal, the beat and sound are so mellow, but repetitive hooks and interesting lyrics keep your attention. The influence of their sound in this song seems to point towards the American country and western scene.

'Aleena', echoes the trademark sound of our very own Damon Gough, armed with an repetitive catchy chorus, this track would probably be best suitable for single release.

On 'The Real McQueen' album, some of their tracks without vocals could be described as 'musak' and may be more suitable played in a hotel lobby or waiting room. These are all in-keeping with the overall sound of the album, but some tracks may have been best left off of it.

The final song of the album is a repeat of the opening track 'Always Coming Home', but taken down a few paces. Neatly ending the album, and showing there is an order or story that they are trying to convey.

This album is not designed for adrenalin junkies, people who need a therapeutic rock fix or parties. It is as mentioned previously definitely for easy listening, the chilled out sound, will not make you feel strongly about the subject they are singing of but will keep you swaying to it.

Wombats Leeds Met 9th March

Crouching on the stairs,solo, peering through the banister, singing along to the words, lost in translation when they speak but loving every single minute of it.....


In the past these three boys have danced to Joy Division, got lost in the fog, mused about killing a director, been slapped at the disco and relocated to New York. But now they are going to have to cross 'held a karaoke-type gig at Leeds Met University off their Bucket List.

Despite not always reaching the number one or even top five spot, the Wombats, have been hanging around the chars for the last couple of years. The trio has been making extremely infectious music; with clever lyrics, wit and inevitable oo-oo-oohs. These ingredients have always been a recipe for success, and they proved that they were worth their rightful place stuck in our heads, after a great performance in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust.

With an onslaught of five minute careers these days there is so much reliance of Auto-tune, and because of this commercially successful bands playing live could be unrecognisable. Because of this it was even more refreshig to hear the Wombats perform live. The Liverpudlians were pitch-perfect and sounded identical to their record oupit. The gig itself was like listening to the album but instead of being confined to a car or a house or a bus you were in a union surrounded by hundreds of strangers who appreciated your choice in music.

The Karaoke description is self-explanatory really; rarely is there a gig when more than three-quarters of the crowd know every singly word but in this instance they did. The volume level of the crowd frequently equaled the voice of frontman Matthew Murphy, and through most of the songs he was able to hold the mic to the crowd for the verses as well!

All the hits were played to the frantic crowd; 'Kill the Director', 'Jump into the Fog','Backfire at the Disco', 'Moving to New York and 'Tokyo(Vampires & Wolves)'. Most of the band's 2007 album A Guide to Love, Loss and Desperation were included in the set, and a even a few songs off the new album. Despite the newer songs being relatively unknown, the audience's enthusiasm didn't ebb.

The bassist, Tord Overland-Knudsen, seemed to enjoy the performance even more than the crowd, with a grin stuck in his face although he had slept with a coat hanger in his mouth. The Wombats cleverly left their biggest hit until last, which promoted the crowd to chant 'Joy Division' at them - were they doing covers? The band teased a little more before stomping straight into 'Let's Dance to Joy Division' much to the crowds delight. The warm reception they recieved may make them change their mind about New York and give moving to Yorkshire a try!

All Correct - OK

Welsh band OK, are an indie outfit who's newest song Lego has been described as, " a blast of harmonic sunshine upon a grey music scene". The band have had a series of line up changes since their debut album in 2009. Ahead of the release of their new album they have released Lego as the first song off the album.

OK, have created a gimmicky video to go alongside their new song, Lego, which features puppets playing their instruments and generally rocking out.

Joe Paine the lead singer from the band answered some of my questions, with a particularly interesting analysis of The Thunderbirds, enjoy!

OK, tell me who OK are?

OK are a pop band from Cardiff who like to play music that makes you feel good.

Story behind the single?

I came up with the 'fit together like Lego' thing years ago. I got the tune sang it into a tape recorder so I wouldn't forget it. Then, low and behold years later I dug it up and thought this could make a good little song.

Single out this week how are you feeling ?

It's a weird process making a single. What with practising, recording, playing the track live and hearing it over and over during the making of the video. It kind of gets to the point where you can't really hear it anymore. But, I still catch myself singing the tune to myself sometimes, so I guess it's a good sign.

You seem to have a fondness for Lego, but what were your favourite childhood toys?

Depends what age you're talking. I was MASSIVELY into Turtles. Going further back it was all about Postman Pat and Thomas the Tank!

Indie is a pretty popular genre, how do you think OK stand out ?

We see so many bands that seem miserable or pretentious. Whilst this can sometimes be really cool I think we all share the same feeling that we don't want to be like that. It's great to sing about miserable things, just have fun doing it.

What's the best thing about being musicians ?

The chicks and the dollars... ha ha, no, it's cheesy as fuck but being able to travel around with your best mates having a laugh whilst doing something that you really enjoy is the best.

You have used puppets in your video, which do you prefer Muppets or Thunderbirds?

I was never really into the Muppets, I found it hard to tell the different between them and Sesame Street. I was a BIG fan of the Thunderbirds though. I remember getting to the age where you think back to the Thunderbirds and realise how utterly in-practical it was (slides into the cockpits, taking off through a swimming pool, always having the fly from the same place wherever the disaster is). Seemed like perfect sense at the time.

Light bulb

Today I realised that I write the word ventured A LOT. Need a Thesaurus

Not So Tinie Anymore

This year it was my mission to broaden my musical horizons, and I feel I am well on the way to doing that. Last month I ventured to see man of the moment, Tinie Tempah aka Patrick Okogwu at the O2 Leeds Academy.

After scoring two gongs at this years Brit Awards, for best 'Best British Break Through Act' and 'Best British Single', it's no surprise that the audience crammed in to the O2 Leeds Academy, like Sardines.

The room was literally teaming with energy, Tinie's band shuffled onto stage, and as the man himself bounded in, the levels had gone from excitement to hysteria. Listening to the volume of screaming you were more likely to expect to see teen pop sensation, Justin Bieber up there.

Tinie Tempah aka Patrick Okogwu looked like a pop-star/paparazzi hybrid, wearing a fitted beige mack, shorts and sunglasses. The pint sized award winner jumped about the set, skipping from side to side of the platform ready to work the crowd.

Tinie Tempah and his band worked through his debut album Discovery, and surrounding that, was a well rehearsed and entertaining show. Over half way through the set, he decided to start a DJ-vs-band-athon. Asking the audience to decide who was better at covering tracks such as; Taio Cruz - Dynamite, Far East Movement - Like a G6 and Swedish House Mafia - One (know your name). Though predictably he couldn't idenify a winner, he was trying to ensure that his show could include everyone.

Tinie Tempah had the energy of a three year old,constantly bounding across the stage and spinning round, he was dedicated to make sure that everyone was on their feet and enjoying the gig as much as he was.

The man could command the audience to do what he wanted, he asked them to throw their hands up in the air, a sea of arms could be seen, and as soon as he asked the crowd to make a w, for 'Wonderman ' with their hands thousands of w's appeared in the crowd. Following the performance of 'Wonderman' Tinie gave a shout to his friend Ellie Goulding who features in the song, saying that it was shame she didn't win at the Brits.

The gig itself was full of inspirational words to the crowd, but it was clear that this 22 year old man just wanted to spread gratitude for the support from all his fans. He paused the songs for a minute spoke to the crowd, told them that whatever they wanted to achieve in life they could and used himself as an example, before dragging a fan up on stage.

The band began to play and the chorus of 'Invincible' echoed round the venue and Tinie sang the song to the giggling female fan. In the middle of the song he paused and the fan held up the two Brit awards Tnie had won, provoking yet more screams.

Other performances he got the crowd involved in were; Snap, this was set to a backdrop on a big screen of personal photographs from his childhood up until today. The song had an early 90s rap sound and this just added to the nostalgia of the lyrics. He encouraged everyone to take out their cameras and take a photo of him,that he could add and update to the slideslow. From the balcony all that could be seen were tiny lights off cameras and phones that looked liked thousands of stars in the sky.

The best reception was felt with two songs, 'Pass Out' and 'Frisky'. After taking his first break of the night he came out for an encore of this song. Everyone was on their feet during this point and Tinie pointed the mic to the crowd for the majority of the choruses confident that they would be able to sing the lyrics back to him.

Taking another break, the lights went down the band left the stage and a visual of a heart monitor flashed across the screen to the sound of a heartbeat. You could feel the energy in the crowd, this was the one song everyone had been anticipating and everyone around could sense it. Just before the atmosphere became hyperbolic he ran back onto stage and jumped straight into 'Pass Out'.

Tinie Tempah not only proved that he wasn't all hype but that he might want to consider a name change.

A Quick Chat With Your Demise

image myspace.com/yourdemise

Tonight I ventured to the Cockpit to brave uk metal/hardcore act Your Demise on their we used to be kids tour. A sweaty room, hard rock, inaudible lyrics and people throwing themselves off stage...my only regret I bought my handbag and couldn't join in!

I caught up with a very sweaty Ed Mcrae, the lead singer of the band.

How did you find tonight's show?

It was rad, it was so good. It was sold out for one and we haven't played Leeds properly in a while. I love playing Leeds it's always amazing.

You got a lot of stage crashers tonight, how often does that happen?

Yeah, we seem to be a lot recently, it always happens and tonight was no exception.

They music you guys play is pretty hardcore. Did you see the comment that journalist made about Rock being dead?

Rock is quite a general term for music, so no it's not dead. No music's dead really. When it first came out the attitudes have changed. But no, no music is dead. Music and art can't die.

What do you think of the British music scene at the moment?

Thriving, thriving. I guess the art and culture scene, there's so many bands coming up and in general there are so many artist and musicians coming out, that are really good and from the UK. A lot of the world are now seeing that the UK is back on the map as quite a hub of music.

Sum up tonight's show in three words?

Really fucking good.

Freelance Whales

This Friday I attended a gig, solo, not only was it the first of 2011 but the first one I had ever been to see on my own. Nervous I sat down expecting the band that would sound like a mix of Mae, Owl City and Hellogoodbye. After Initially getting over the feeling of being on my own, I started writing down notes in shorthand on a discarded bus ticket, partly for reviewing purposes partly so that if people saw me sitting on my own they would know what I was actually doing.

After the gig I approached Judah Dadone, to speak about the gig and also find out the story behind the interesting name. After the band had finished packing up their equipment and he came back to talk to me. He told me that as a kid he had almost drowned in the sea of Galilee, Israel. A lifeguard saw that he was struggling, jumped in and dragged him onto the beach to give him the kiss of life. As he came to, an elderly gentleman, who the lead singer believed had dementia, said something about 'Liberty Whale' and that was the reason for the word Whales is in the name.

This Friday, the Freelance Whales packed out the Brudenell Social Club, it's a place where the bands that play leave their egos at the door. The intimate venue welcome the Brooklyn based band like an old friend, clapping and politely cheering as they took to the stage.

Seeing the band live, you realise that each member is an integral part of the overall sound. The guitars, harmonium, synthesisers, bass, glockenspiel and drums aren't the only instruments in the bands repertoire, but their voices as well. Carefully planned harmonies build up and create the base of each song. The distinctively high lead vocal by front man Judah Dadone, stands out over the plethora of sounds, and is often softened by the gentle voice of Doris Cellar.

The texture of their music is more apparent when they play live, the music and organisation of the band, creates an electricity in this small venue. They didn't just know how to play the instruments, but how to experiment with them. At one point the guitarist took out a bow and started playing his guitar as a violin. The crowd weren't just listening to the music but were looking intently as to how it was created.

They opened their set with 'Rise and Shine', treading carefully as they begin, opening with an acoustic guitar and onto a quick build up of percussion and finally the vocals. The song a blend of pop and folk, with lyrics played to a nursery rhyme style tune, "Cutting all the corners, tearing down the borders, ignoring all the warnings, living out of focus". They aren't the run of the mill lyrics, but they received a positive response from the audience.

'Generator 1st floor', provoked the best response from the audience, the band did not command a raucous reaction from the crowd. Just the fact that people were moving to the music, seemed to mean everything to the band.

Though confident in their abilities, Freelance Whales were humble and sometimes bashful after addressing the audience, it made for a relaxed and enjoyable night. A band like Freelance Whales are definately one to be experienced live, it isn't until you see them perform you are able to see the complex formation of their music and how each member of the band is quintessential their trademark sound.