Oct.23.09
The Craufurd seem to be having a good week, in the front of house the guys are celebrating a year’s anniversary of Underpass at the venue with the Peartree Bridge Family playing a lengthy set, in the back we have the return of some infectious pop punk electro noodlings with Yashin coming down for a show, then there’s the supports from local names like Firetone, Scared Of The Ocean and Embrace The Tide to boot too. Not to mention 80′s Matchbox B-Line Disaster the day after.
It’s been a while, but we’re back at the Pitz once again and this time BBC Introducing are taking the helm with the featured bands tonight. The gig takes a host of talent from inside and outside of Milton Keynes with some familiar names with Firetone and Hiding In Reno while Starseed and This Part Is Us are definitely some new sounds to our ears. With that in mind, the sound of sound-checking is, as ever, our cue to get up front to see who’s causing some fuss tonight.
If memory serves me right, I first seen these guys in their current format down at the County Arms, they were admittedly getting used to playing in their new lineup and really had to up their game. Down the line sometime, Firetone have shown that they’ve really focused with a new line of songs and a much sharper sound and it’s all recorded on a new six track Ep. We know the band have come some way, but the real question is “how far?”…
Aug.08.09
It feels a bit weird now as I’ve realised that a year of AMPjam really has come full-circle, Live!zone was one of the first “proper” articles I covered and I find myself back at the event once more. Last year cut it close, but this time I was ready for a long day with an actual battery pack and plenty of money for some mochas or any other source of the caffiene I needed. When I finally get myself sorted and waiting for the day to start, there’s not much to do but have a laugh at Oz and the crew going through soundcheck like a band about to play at Wembley, good times.
Jul.25.09
The local festival season is most of the way through now, next stop Station Square for another round of Musik 4U with the Make a Difference crew. Usually I like to chill around a bit, but today’s start was different with me meeting a hazy Craig Hudson in Bletchely as the band gathered to get our “convoy” of cars, music gear and amicable musicians on the road to the festival. Pulling up, I see some familiar faces with our Alice and also Nick, a friend I haven’t seen in a good long while. A clear sky, friendly crew and a café around the corner? This might sound too good to be true…
Jun.05.09
A local band is on the road to playing the Download festival, but what could be better than a warm-up gig in their hometown? How about a gig that is free? It’s the case for our own Sacred Mother Tongue who are rightly looking forward to the big day and it seems there’s quite a few people around to catch them one more time. The supports also looking good too, Seethe and Firetone are a couple of reliable bands to set things up while “Lost Without Cause” are another new face in the Beatdown nights.
Thursday’s plans were almost thrown out of the window, though I was looking forward to doing the MK Bike Jam, the event was cancelled. Then I found myself back at the Craufurd for a solid night of five bands, My Passion are no strangers to these parts now, and they’ve returned once again with Firetone along for support. Also on the bill are Lecarla, a band who will look quite familiar to some of you, along with some new faces in Here’s To Tragedy and Harlequins Truth…
May. 01. 2009
The Craufurd had quite a lot on last Friday, with six bands on the bill. The two bands generating the most attention being a couple of hardcore acts named Shadows Chasing Ghosts and Casino Brawl. As ever, there’s some local support around too, with Firetone, Embrace The Tide, Without Consent and Kids Picked Last all having a go at the support. And for once, it looks like a fair turnout by the time the first band start to play…
With Sucioperro behind them and getting in even more acts from out of town, Underpass seem to be on a roll. Looking back, the setup has come a long way from the crates and monitors at Zaks and the year is still looking a fairly serious one. Taking the helm for this night is a rock quartet under the name of “To The Bones”, coming down from Bolton to have a dabble in the MK scene. The support can’t really be knocked either, from what I’ve heard, Duke of Marmalade have been doing quite well and Firetone opening the gig up can’t be bad either…
Once again, the Pitz has a bit of a showcase on for a few local names that have been striking up the right chords (no pun intended) with the local scene and a bit beyond. The three bands in question are Firetone, followed by Planets and Hiding In Reno. The latter also have a new Cd out tonight, though all the bands seem pretty good, all fired up for their sets and playing foozball, plus some familiar faces like Warren and a few new friends can’t be bad at all.
