Lots and lots of people seemed to be interested in my Standon Calling review in fact it’s pretty much the most clicked on thing that has ever been posted up here so I thought fresh home from Offset Festival I’l do a review as well!

Alright so found some times so I have a chance in hell of actually remembering what I saw.

So I arrived after a REALLY long car journey after getting stuck in traffic. (Was totally worth it for being able to get a lift back) brought my records to where I was going to be DJing but found there was no decks… (not a great start) However not to be deterred I dropped my records off and went to see some bands.

First one I saw was Please. They have played for me before with Three Trapped Tigers & Ungdomskulen more than a year ago and I love them but haven’t had a chance to see them since. They were really good, definitely want to see them more often.

After getting a drink a pottering around I stuck with the L&Q stage for Graffiti Island, who get their 7”s whereever they show up (must have about 5 now!) but they haven’t been playing for a bit but they were here and brilliant with their usual tunes about tribesman, islands, magic potions, headhunting etc (Is all themed in this way!)

Jeees, not easy trying to piece together what you did from looking at the program. I certainly saw the last couple of songs from Invasion though who are pretty ace on the main stage.

Then it was Bo Ningen time, I’ve seen them SO MANY times now it doesn’t feel like it’s essential for me to catch them but I was curious to see how they would fare on the main stage. Needless to say, they totally slayed it.

Think from that what I’ve learned is that a great band is always great no matter when where or how etc. It always comes through.

And Mon-Chan climbed all the way around the stage in the trussles which looked great… see if I can find a piccie. No I can’t a picture but sure they will come up around and about.

Can see a nice photo of them HERE though

From there I went to see Teeth!!! on the L&Q stage who were really good. Just getting better and better they are. Excited to see what they come up with in the next year. Hope it gets even more fun and dancy!

I think then I got down to the serious business of having a good time (wasn’t only watching bands!)

Come back to the L&Q stage (Didn’T realise saw nearly all the bands in there) for a bit of Lovvers who I haven’t seen play in a a bit and they reminded me that there were some ace bands who started the UK Surfy Garage thing of last year.

After that it’s the kings of all things good in the area of London dark electronica it’s Factory Floor. Sound was a bit ropey at the start and had some technical difficulties but I think it was one of the busiest stages I was all day and the fact that they are insanely good means that even on a bad day they are still one of the best bands around.

Little bit gutted I miss Art Brut actually and I missed several friends bands play earlier which was also a shame but what can you do!?

Watched a bit of Telepathe but they are just rubbish live is the end of it and won’t bother trying to see them again as good as some of their tunes are.

Caught a bit of Liquid Liquid but felt a bit sorry for them as they were just up there doing their thing, playing the songs and playing them well but they aren’t a suitable band for 2nd headliner on a main stage really so didn’t work too well.

Anyway by that time I wasn’t feeling bands anymore I wanted party so hit the Trailer Trash stage and danced on the stage with a friend for about 2 hours, we then popped out for a breather but that turned into drinks in the campsite for most of the night till decided to turn in for the night.

On day two! Woke up with my neck and back feeling fucked for obviously not sleeping right in the tent. Grabbed some ciders and went off to the mainstage for a bit of Wet Dog who apart from one newer song that sounded like could do with a bit more rehearsing were sounding great as always!

Then luckily as couldn’t do DJ set the day before I ended up doing an early slot on the White Heat stage.. ooops that just went up on the site for some reason accidently clicked go. Hopefully no one notices….

So yea DJ’s there played stuff like Becoming Real, Tobacco, CAN, Kraftwerk, Emeralds, Gold Panda, Health (Gold Panda remix) & plenty of others.

Between the DJin Hyrst played who if you keep up with the site/go to the shows know are one of my favorite bands and they were super good as usual. Looking forward to some new material from them.

Stuck around for a bit of of Banjo or Freakout who I haven’t seen in a long time and have quite a few records of. Was great to see him play with fairly new (to me) band and set up. Was a gooden.

Then headed over the mainstage for Monotonix who will for a lot of people be the highlight of the fest and good for them as they are such a fun live band. I was feeling too dead on the Sunday to get it involved in their crazy party but was shitloads of people who were loving it!

Think a lot of people there just had no idea at all who they were as well lol.

Then it was over the White Heat stage for Cluster who are 2 old German chaps who were very early guys on the electronic scene over there.

Your never really sure what to expect when you see older guys doing music that perhaps was more relevant then than now but no no no, they were making some amazing music and I can definitely recommend checking them out. Really want to see them again.

Although their was no stage show of any kind there was still something quite mesmerizing about them.

Was having some drinks around the main stage after then with Pulled Apart By Horses on who are totally not my thing at all but seemed to be doing a good set that people were liking.

Afterwards on the mainstage were Chrome Hoof who I have seen a couple of times before. For me they rarely hit the amazing level but are always a really good band. They are at their best at their heaviest and most doomy in my mind, more of that please!

Oops no missed something here. Some point around this time I went to the Hardcore stage for the first time in any of the 3 years I think to Brontide as one of the guys was friends with people in the same group camping as me as they were sounding pretty ace actually! Not totally my thing but fantastic technically and really interesting heavy guitar work.

Ate so much food on the Sunday as well, had a Wild Boar burger with butternut squash relish was the highlight I think!

Was running a bit late but managed to catch the last few songs from Fiction who were great. Hang on a min… before then I saw some of Neils Children & The Drop Five who were doing their first gig which I enjoyed.

Then went to see The Rayographs or perhaps just Rayographs they have decided now who I haven’t seen in at least 6 months and I LOVE THEM SO MUCH. I want to watch them play every day and marry them all. Probably my favorite set of the weekend even if some cunt was trying to spoil it for everyone else by shouting stuff out but after he shouted “Booby” in a very loud voice it was mainly funny.

Then off to the mainstage for 80’s Matchbox B Line Disaster who were actually amazingly good although the singer kept of looking like he was disorientated and forgotetting he was stage!

Then it was Esben and the Witch who are one of my favorite bands and although I wasn’t planning on seeing them as seen em so many times now I got the last 3 or 4 songs and was totally incredible as per always. Seriously Lucia at the Precipice is the song of the year I’m pretty sure.

I really really wanted to see Mount Kimbie but I was dying by this point and wanted to see Caribou. Unfortunatly the sound was totally absymal for the first half of the set, they managed to get it sounding good for last couple of tracks which I enjoyed. Hoping will be better at EOTR next weekend.

Then last but certainly not least were Atari Teenage Riot who I’l admit I only managed to catch a few songs of before I wanted to pack up my tent but they sounded actually incredible. Couldn’t move much by this point due to fucked neck but would have loved to be in there. They definitely definitely definitely should have been headlining the Saturday would have been crazy.

Mainly a brilliant weekend, could perhaps do with some more variety and would be ace if the dance stage was 24hrs or at least till very late. (Although I’m sure the organizers want that too!) Seemed to be quite some scally’s getting in later on on the Sunday but is tough to avoid that either.

Oh yea and the slide was amaing :) , Booze and food choices definitely an improvement over last year too.

Roll on the next one!

I’m happy to annouce a very late notice gig with the great Daredevil Christopher Wright on Monday the 13th of September at Old Blue Last!

They were due to play somewhere else but it got cancelled late notice but as I really like them thought I’d try to sort something out.

They have album being release on the brilliant Almost Musique label (Mt. Kimbie, Thus:Owls)

“The passion that is inside every one of the Daredevil songs generates feelings of…tantalizing possibility where the sky can break off from the dirt that holds its roots hostage.” Daytrotter

“A band of nobodies from Wisconsin, whipping us into thrills. A take on folk-rock that’s muscular, playful, rich with cymbal, handclap and three-part harmony” Said the Gramophone

The gig is free entry and doors are at 7:30. Not sure who is supporting yet but will let you know as soon as I come up with something.

Alright thought I would return with another stuff I’ve been loving blog.

Really excited about seeing Zola Jesus tonight too! Not putting her on as she was on one recently methinks.

Alright so first up is the amazing Mater Susperia Vision who I’m really excited to have over to play in December for what I’m pretty sure is their first trip over here.

I was listening to Jon Hilcocks New Noise podcast and it opened up with this track which is a total gem! Don’t know the first thing about the act though. Can just listen to it over and over too.

Couldn’t think of what to put as the 3rd one as just put what record I currently have on and it’s the execptionally amazing Nedry with Apples and Pears.

In Photos: The Moulettes album launch with Coda Luna on The Tamesis Dock!

This was the last of our summer residencies on The Tamesis and no sooner did we finish than the weather went crap, maybe we should go back on, get it sunny again.

Photo’s from the lovely Suzanna Smith - www.scarletlightfilms.co.uk