One Man's Meat - A Feature by David Evans

Nigh-on twenty years before the first of the Batman blockbusters hit the big screen, the TV series was broadcast in the UK; and if ever an American import epitomised the one-man’s-meat-is-another-man’s-poison adage, this was it. Due in no small part to the advance razzmatazz, the public expectation was of action-packed, edge-of-the-seat tales of the Caped Crusader’s derring-do. And so when each and every episode turned out to be a slapstick parody in which the villains were camped up by aging or little known actors, it was no wonder that the sound of disappointment rang loud … fast forward forty-plus years and the fight scenes remain famous for the introduction of words like ‘zap’ and ‘wham’ and ‘pow’ plastered across the screen – a neat trick which served to mask wide-of-the- mark punches and sets and furniture that were reduced to smithereens simply because they were cobbled out of cardboard and balsa.

Written by: David Evans | Date: Tuesday, 31 August 2010

The Hall Of Mirrors (Band Of The Week)

Our Band Of The Week, is a feature designed to promote the wonderful unsigned and indie label talent on offer in the UK right now. The Hall Of Mirrors are this week's selection. A 7 piece psychedelic pop/French pop group from London, who produce a sound which is very reminiscent of groups such as The Velvet Underground and Jefferson Airplane.

Written by: Adam Simpson. | Date: Saturday, 28 August 2010

INTRODUCING: Colour of Sound Release New Single 'Open Room' - Listen Now

Step aside Manic Street Preachers and Stereophonics, Colour of Sound have arrived! Emerging Newport band Colour of Sound will release their stunning new single 'Open Room' this October. You can watch the video for the single below. Taken form their debut album 'When', music fans will be enraptured by the release, which overflows with a spell binding combination of soulful guitar rock, moving vocals, charming lyrics and an all round brilliant level of musicianship. Inspired by folk forefathers Neil Young and The Band, 'When' by Colour of Sound will be released on Red Grape Records on 27th September 2010.

Written by: Nigel Sachdev | Date: Wednesday, 25 August 2010

Every Avenue - Tell Me I'm A Wreck (Video of the Week)

Every Avenue's stunning video for new single "Tell Me I'm A Wreck" is Stereoboard.com's video of the week. Directed by Stephen Penta (Innerpartysystem, The Killers, Alesana), the video for the Michigan pop punk band's new single is a very personal take on the sassy singalong hit single from acclaimed new album 'Picture Perfect'. Featuring interviews with the band's family, friends and loved ones, the video has been resonating with fans worldwide since it's premiere on MTV2 earlier this week, and is currently Kerrang! TV's video of the week.

Written by: Nigel Sachdev | Date: Monday, 23 August 2010

Spring Offensive - Band of the Week (Feature)

Our Band Of The Week, is a feature designed to promote the wonderful unsigned and indie label talent on offer in the UK right now. Spring Offensive are this week’s Band of the Week. A very talented 5 Piece from Oxford, who can fall rather nicely into the alternative-indie category, but do not for one minute imagine that their music is categorised that easily. Indeed, the group play a very diverse and unique array of music, all functioning to progress the meaning of the groups wonderful, creative lyrics.

Written by: Adam Simpson | Date: Saturday, 21 August 2010

Stereoboard Interviews Brazilian Group Chapa Ahead of Album Release

Stereoboard Interviews Chapa, the three brothers from Brazil, who are set to release their first English language album, Creation Room on October 4th. Marcos Chapa, from the group, who are now based in London, spoke with us at stereoboard, about the history of the band, the UK groups who have inspired them and their anticipation, ahead of their new album.

Written by: Adam Simpson | Date: Monday, 16 August 2010

Secret Sirens - Band of the Week (Feature)

Our Band Of The Week, is a feature designed to promote the wonderful unsigned and indie label talent on offer in the UK right now. The first group in this series are the fantastic unsigned Yorkshire act Secret Sirens.

Written by: Adam Simpson | Date: Saturday, 14 August 2010

Stereoboard Talks Touring and Record Labels with Spring Offensive

Stereoboard interviews unsigned band, Spring Offensive during the Manchester leg of their UK tour. We find out what the band have achieved through touring and also how the band feel about life as an unsigned band and whether the draw of a label to organise your tours etc, is something which they desire right now. This is the penultimate leg on your UK tour, why did you decide that now was the right time to go on tour and how has the tour gone?

Written by: Adam Simpson | Date: Thursday, 12 August 2010

From Colour It In To Wall of Arms - Evolution of The Maccabees (FEATURE)

Little did I know standing in a sweaty, packed out tent at Oxegen a few years ago that the band I was listening to would very soon become one of my favourite bands. I was hugely sceptical of the whole Indie genre having been brought up on a staple diet of rock, metal and blues, but with no other bands on at the same time I had any interest in, I had thought why not. After being dragged to the tent by a friend who had heard these guys were good, I was less than enthusiastic when the five-piece took to the stage.

Written by: Daniel Lynch | Date: Wednesday, 11 August 2010

UK's Foremost Brit-Ska Band: The Communicators At Boomtown Fair 2010

Next weekend will mark the fourth year of the UK’s Boomtown Fair, a unique festival that offers up the best ska and party bands across the world, including live gigs from an array of gypsy, folk, reggae, dub and country and western acts.

Written by: Jon Stickler | Date: Saturday, 07 August 2010

Stereoboard Interviews The Lottery Winners - 2010 Live And Unsigned Champions

Following on from winning Live And Unsigned, Stereoboard Interviews The Lottery Winners. We find out what winning the competition has meant to the four piece from Leigh and what the band have in the pipeline now they have the title of Live And Unsigned 2010 winners under their belts.

Written by: Adam Simpson | Date: Thursday, 05 August 2010

A Dubstep Too Far? - A Feature by David Evans

If the truth is known, I didn’t deserve to drop lucky on my first ever visit to a car boot sale: after a Saturday night on the town, with a newt following me around taking notes, I should have spent the morning between the sheets, sleeping off the effect of five too many Tequila slammers. I gave the wife du jour a mouthful each time she tried to rouse me, and might possibly have stomached the nagging if the Paracetamol had been close at hand … and if the dog hadn’t been so nimble I would have toe-ended it down the stairs for wagging it’s tail so noisily.

Written by: David Evans | Date: Saturday, 31 July 2010

Life As An Unsigned Band Part 3 - The Sound Engineers (FEATURE)

So far we’ve seen how bands form, practice, get gigs and release music (PART 1) and how promoters work in their jobs of organising gigs, recruiting bands and advertising the show (PART 2). However, there are people working almost behind the scenes who are integral to this whole process. This section will explore the role of the sound engineer. For anybody who doesn’t know, this is the guy who, at a gig, painstakingly mics up every single instrument, drum and voice, and balances all the volumes so that the listener can hear as much as possible with optimum clarity.

Written by: Daniel Lynch | Date: Wednesday, 28 July 2010

Its Grim Up North - Why Is It So Hard For Unsigned Northern Acts To Make It?

Being an unsigned band is not an easy task. Financial issues, working around full time jobs and studying, or just getting a gig. The list of problems are endless and groups often have to do everything themselves. Management, promotion, photography, web sites, whilst still trying to play and write good music. And all this comes with no guarantees, even the fact that you are a fantastic group, with a good fan base and a huge online following means nothing. Getting that elusive record deal is a lottery and only a few lucky ones ever receive the winning ticket. A quick look at MySpace will reveal the vast number of unsigned acts out there all aiming for the same goal and a huge number of these groups are pretty good.

Written by: Adam Simpson | Date: Wednesday, 28 July 2010

Stereoboard Interviews Acclaimed Singer/Songwriter Josh Ritter

Stereoboard received the opportunity to interview acclaimed singer/songwriter Josh Ritter, following the release of his 6th recorded album, So Runs The World Away and ahead of his impending UK tour in September. The artist who has been named as one of the top 100 songwriters of all time and compared with the great Bob Dylan talks about inspiration, his 10 year career so far and the music business.

Written by: Adam Simpson | Date: Saturday, 24 July 2010

No Vuvuzelas… No Flags… No Fun – Are Music Festivals Getting Boring?

Well, the World Cup is over for another four years and, once again, England have failed to return home with the trophy. The last few weeks repeatedly brought bitter disappointment to the English fans, culminating in the team’s defeat by Germany, and many tears have since been shed. However, as always, there is some good news to follow the bad. The endless and monotonous drone that has provided the soundtrack to every match during the entire month-long tournament is finally over. This is, of course, a reference to the infuriating noise-maker that is the vuvuzela.

Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Thursday, 15 July 2010

Interview: Stereoboard Talks With Hip Hop Artist, N'FA

N’FA (No Fixed Abode) is a London born rapper, who grew up in Australia. The rapper hit the headlines at the end of 2009, after it emerged that Heath Ledger had produced the music video for N’FA’s track, Cause An Effect, which was released on June 28th. The video was shot in Heath’s garage and was made, just before The Dark Knight. The film which captured Heath at his acting best, just before the Hollywood star sadly died.

Written by: Adam Simpson | Date: Tuesday, 13 July 2010

Interview: Factory Records Legends A Certain Ratio

In the 1970’s Factory Records began revolutionising the way British music was produced and the way artists were managed. The original creation of Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus, Factory Records soon shaped the Manchester music scene and sowed the seeds for the 90’s Madchester Revolution that followed. The list of acts working under the label are huge and diverse, containing some huge names such as Joy Division, New Order, The Happy Mondays and A Certain Ratio. Factory did not do things the normal way, or the cheap way. Famed for never really making any money, no expense was spared, record sleeves, posters, flyers were all pieces of art in themselves as Peter Saville was given the creative freedom and ultimately the cash needed to produce the artwork that the label was famed for.

Written by: Adam Simpson | Date: Saturday, 10 July 2010

Interview: Aussie Rockers JET

Stereoboard grab the opportunity to interview Australian rock group Jet, prior to their upcoming gig at The Shepherds Bush Empire in London on the 18th of this month. We find out a little more about the group and the upcoming gig as well as their latest album ‘Shaka Rock.’

Written by: Adam Simpson | Date: Saturday, 03 July 2010

Interview: Paul McCartney's Guitarist - Brian Ray.

I had the fantastic opportunity to interview Brian Ray. Brian is an award winning musician, singer and songwriter who has worked as a session musician for the likes of Rod Stewart, Kelly Clarkson, Smokey Robinson and Etta James. But it is as Paul McCartney’s sideman that he is most famed. Playing bass and guitar alongside the ex Beatle. Brian is soon to release some solo material, with an album and a couple of singles on the way as well as touring the USA this summer with Paul McCartney once more. I took the opportunity to interview Brian and find out a little more about his solo venture and also what it is like to work with a British Pop Icon.

Written by: Adam Simpson | Date: Thursday, 01 July 2010