Sunshine Getaway – Hobgoblin Staines 03 May 2009

May 4, 2009

by Neil Mach © . gig guide, gigs, Hobgoblin, live music, Live Review, metal, music, rock, spelthorne, staines, sticky fungus, Surrey . adpontes, adpontes-staines, B2, Bury St Edmunds, Exeter, Grimsby, hob, hobgoblin, Hoko 10, HUB, Huddersfield, kilburn, Le Pub, lianna, mat, neil_mach, Newcastle, Newport, Norwich, Plymouth, POWERS Bar, Reigate, Scunthorpe, staines, sticky fungus, sunshine getaway, The Lincoln Imp, The Matrix, The New Tavern, The Old Maltings, The Parish, The Priory, The Rock Gardens, The Skiving Scholar, Weston Super Mare, Wigan

lianna-sunshine-getaway-500-2

Winners not Losers – The Sunshine Getaway – Staines Hob 3rd May

Exeter band “The Sunshine Getaway” can be counted on for twinkling picked strings and bombastic percussion breaks. And also for long but enjoyable journeys down through some personalized experiences often using offbeat and temperamental tunes whose twists and turns leave you intrigued without feeling confused or antagonised.

Sweet vocals from new singer Lianna (she recently replaced old singer Aaron in an amicable change in line-up) means that the dissonant grinding and razor-sharp strings of the guitar-play have a more polished edge than one would expect. The wobbles and zingy textures of the songs add several dimensions and layers to the complete soundscapes whilst the supporting vocals from Mat are also presented clearly and eloquently.

Without Lianna this punk rock/alt rock band would certainly look boy-bandish (Tom Fletcher aka Mat seems to be in the line-up) but the sounds are much more sophisticated and complex than the band’s first impression (appearance) promises. Deeply thoughtful and complicated song structures leave the happy audience at The Hobgoblin, Staines feeling thrilled and sated.

Due to illness the regular Sunshine Getaway guitarist was replaced by housemate Aaron at short notice. After the gig, Lianna told me that Aaron had picked up the guitar parts in super-quick time during the day- a feat made more surprising when you listen to the complex sound structures and arrangements achieved by this ambitious band!

Mat and Lianna told me that the band embarks on a 17 date tour starting May 12 – Don’t worry, they will be back in town (as part of this tour) at Sticky Fungus on May 23 2009 so if you missed them at the Hob last night – try to catch ‘em at Stickys later in the month.

www.myspace.com/thesunshinegetaway

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The Stilts

September 10, 2008

by Neil Mach © . staines, music, gigs, Riverside, middlesex, rock . music, staines, hob, adpontes, ska, gig, gigs, hobgoblin, live, dire straits, ad pontes, camden, kilburn, barfly, thestilts, stilts, adponte-staines, bull and gate, providence, good ship, the strokes, the knack, stalker, fountains of wayne, mr fred, sunshine breaks, left for dead

STAINES HOBGOBLIN
Sunday 31st August 2008

Stilts

‘The Stilts’ are a local four-piece power pop outfit. They have a natty image and a cool razorsharp sound not unlike ‘The
Knack’ or ‘The Strokes’ They are playing live gigs all round town right now and you can pick them up at the Camden Barfly on 26 Sep 2008.

These lads are on an urgent mission to bring rock (tinted with punk and ska) to the tired London masses whose jaded ears and unenlightened minds are not used to the raw and organic stilts-sounds that recall those early days of rock n Roll. Take, for example, “Stalker” with its familiar guitar riff reminiscent of ‘Fountains of Wayne’. Twinkling lead guitar follows the verse right up ‘till the fulfilling chorus when Mr Fred sings out, “I know your name, I know your name”. The song is about a sexy cyber-spy ‘a chat-room chaser’ who takes so much more than the advantage. The cheerful beat and the familiar tune is a breeze to pick up and it is guaranteed that you will be humming it as you skip to the shops tomorrow. The song is contemporary enough to be a modern fable that will ring true in the hearts of real urban men everywhere.

“Sunshine Breaks” is my favourite ‘Stilts’ song with a huge swoopy bass thing and thick slabs of shoegazing fuzz. The verse sounds like very early Bowie – perhaps something from the ‘Man Who Sold the World’ album. There is also a healthy dollop of early ‘Dire Straits’ and old-fashioned ‘Chili’ in there too. This is a bright and versatile number and could easily make your day- if not your week… Other tunes from the song-book include ‘Left for Dead’ with a mid-sixties feel and attractive hooks.

The Stilts are kinda timid. They are ‘out there’ but they tend to hide behind their graphics and their logo even at the
live shows. And you just try to find pics of this group on the internet…nope, it can’t be done. When I saw the Stilts their
people didn’t even have any goodies for sale and no CD to hawk, which is a shame. Hopefully, all this will change when the children of the revolution start to discover this young band and they begin to reap the benefits of a success they so
earnestly seek.

I saw them at The Hobgoblin Staines last weekend and the boys were looking good and sounding fine. ‘Mr Fred’ – sings and plays rhythm, ‘Trigger’ is on the drums and ‘Here’ is the very capable lead guitarist – the band is currently advertising
for a bass player… but in the meantime ‘J’ thumps those low strings. The Stilts brought their own fan-base to the Hob and
delightful they were too- jigging and shimmying to those sparkly songs with those lil Stilts Stickas stuck to their hineys. Cute!

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You can see the Stilts at:

12 Sep 2008 20:00 Bull and Gate Camden

26 Sep 2008 20:00 The Barfly Camden

3 Oct 2008 20:00 The Providence Brighton

29 Nov 2008 20:00 The Good Ship Kilburn

Links:

http://www.myspace.com/thestilts

AdPontes-Staines

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5 Things – This Week in Staines

August 5, 2008

by Neil Mach © . brentford, gigs, middlesex, music, staines, twickenham, West London . 4wdtheband, ad pontes, adpontes, adpontes-staines, aerosmith, angus young, ben austwick, black crowes, blow ups, brentford, carl and ravi. foulplay, dan mcdonnell, egham, filthys, four wheel drive, gigs, hag hughes, hob, hobgoblin, joy division, keith richards, kilburn, laleham, live, mik perry. rik payne, music, new assassins, newassassins, noah harmon, paddy achtelik, prank, public image, red lion, rolling stones, ronnie wood, six bells, staines, steven tyler, stevie ray vaughan, succotash, succotashuk, the verve, theblowups, three horseshoes, TW8, twickenham, UK

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Rock & Roll with Four Wheel Drive, Staines

Four Wheel Drive- Staines

Four Wheel Drive at HOBGOBLIN STAINES, Thu Aug 07 2008 8PM £3

Four Wheel Drive is a band that exists to play live. They deliver what can only be described as a relentless onslaught of good time, balls out Rock ‘N’ Roll. Ben Austwick and Paddy Achtelik provide rhythm guitar interplay recalling Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards at their best; while Ben also hits you with incendiary, gut-wrenching, Blues-based lead guitar with the same sheer physical force of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Angus Young.

The rhythm section generates a force capable of knocking down walls, yet with enough control to retain the R’n'B feel of ’70s Aerosmith and Rolling Stones. The band have been clocked at close to 120 decibels in rehearsals, almost earning the Guitar Institute their first ASBO!

This musical force of nature is topped and led by Jamie’s vocals. Switching between a sleazy drawl reminiscent of Mick Jagger and Steven Tyler, and the ball-busting scream of Back in Black-era Brian Johnson, the vocals compliment both the Rhythm ‘n’ Blues and Rock elements of the band. Tightly rehearsed vocal harmonies add an extra dimension to the songs, giving the live performances the same depth as the recordings.

The songs have always been written with the live show in mind and the delivery is enough to get anybody’s mouth away from their pint. Four Wheel Drive is made up of a highly “driven” collection of individuals whose lives are designed around the band to make sure it is constantly moving forward. New material is always being written and they can, and do, play any night of the week.

Jamie and Ben’s mutual love of all things Rock ‘N’ Roll make them a well suited writing partnership. Above you will find a taster of the music they’ve written since graduating from The Institute in summer 2007. After finding guitarist Paddy Achtelik at the new Guitar Institute in Kilburn, and introducing extremely talented drummer Will Richards thanks to ACM in Guildford… The Band is ready… It’s Time To Go.

If you miss ‘em in Staines (don’t) then catch the boys here:

Aug 30 2008 Filthy’s Heath Road, Twickenham

Sep 25 2008 Filthy’s Heath Road, Twickenham

Check them on:

http://www.myspace.com/4wdtheband

Enjoy some punk with the Blow Ups, Staines

Blow Ups - Staines

The Blow Ups Aug 10 2008 8:00P The Hobgoblin, Staines

Noisy and fast, loud and fun, The Blow Ups are a four piece punk band from South West London with a memorable melodic edge. They are set apart from the rest of the punky contenders by lead singer Kelly. With an impressive stage presence and a powerful voice she dominates the songs and the stage. The songs are full of sharp observations about superheroes in rehab, c-list celebrity drop outs, alienation and abuse.

Band Members:

Kel – vocals and guitar
Arda – bass and backvox
Marc – lead guitar and backvox
Cem – drums

Check them on:

http://www.myspace.com/theblowups

Enjoy the smooth sounds of Succotash

Succotash - Staines

Succotash at Six Bells, Brentford August 10 9:00P

Just to let you know that Carl (drummer in Staines favourite band Foulplay) and his ravishing young assistant, Ravi (solo guitar and a local staines hero), will be playin’ dahn The Six Bells, 148 High Street, Brentford TW8 8EW on Sunday 10^th August @ 9pm.

It’s a “proper” London boozer wiv a very friendly atmosphere and, more importantly, good beer!

So, cor blimey, Guv’nor, stike a light, better get yerselves dahn the “frog & toad” rahnd the “Johnny ‘orner” & into the “Rub a Dub” for a right old Cockerney “Knees up”.

If you miss Ravi and Carl at the Six Bells Brentford, catch up wiv ‘em at:

Sep 12 2008 9:00P Three Horsehoes Laleham

Oct 18 2008 9:00P Red Lion Egham

Check them at:

http://www.myspace.com/succotashuk

Get wowed by the New Assassins at Staines

New Assassins - Staines

New Assassins with 4WD at THE HOB STAINES Aug 07 8:00P

The New Assassins

MIK PERRY – Vocals & Guitar RIK PAYNE – Lead Guitar
NOAH HARMON – Bass Guitar. DAN MCDONNELL – Drums.

The New Assassins are an American sounding rock band from Staines ( they like to call themselves ‘the elder statesmen of Staines- but they don’t seem to look as old as Ming Cambell to me!) and they play everything from experimental, punk, new wave to raw blues, rock to indie. I saw them play at The Hob, Staines last year.

Some of their material seems a bit experimental and improvised- yet tight enough that it does not stray into ‘jazz odyssey’ territory. If you take a pinch of PiL (Public Image Ltd) and then add a spoonful of psychedelia a lá The Verve with a dollop of post-punk juice like Joy Division you get close to the sound of the New Assassins.

In fact, the band look awfully similar to The Verve in appearance but seem less inclined to shoegaze and more inclined towards a more raucous and, to my mind, enjoyable rocky style more like The Black Crowes.

Check them here:

http://www.myspace.com/newassassins

Highly Recommended by Ad Pontes

5.

Get your holiday reading in – local author

Prank! By Hag Hughes

Prank! By local author – Price £8.54 (5% discount) from Amazon

The Hilarious New Book by Hag Hughes

Lots of local landmarks feature in the new book by New Haw author Hag Hughes make this an entertaining read- just right for your summer reading list.

The plot of the story revolves around the World Endurance championship and features fun-loving Weybridge man Paul “Hazy” Hayes who spends most of his booze-fuelled time plotting wind-ups. Then during one of his pranks something goes horribly wrong and someone winds up dead. If you were a mate of Hazy’s would you help him dispose of the body and cover-up the evidence? We follow Hazy as he battles with friends, foes, lovers and his own conscience and attempts to hold his life and sanity together under the crumbling reality of divorce and self-destruction. Oh, and don’t forget the body in the boot of his car…

With references to lanmarks in Shepperton, Addlestone, Brooklands and Weybridge, this is a great book for any local reader.

Order Your copy of Prank! Click Here Now

Availability: In stock. Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk

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Get Your Tickets for Beck Theatre, Hayes

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