ALBUM: Double Dagger - More

At first listen, Double Dagger's music is easy to place: Washington DC, 1992. But there is a depth to this garagey post-hardcore that goes beyond the first listen and the easy comparison to Fugazi. There's also a bit of Q and Not U in there, albeit with a bit more bass.

In fact, its all bass, but pleasingly the sound is ultimately filled by the distorted bassline or the contorted chanted vocals, coupled with the frantic drumming of a man possessed. They have more than a passing resemblance, probably through common influences, with our very own Dananananaykroyd.

Those common influences, apparently, besides The Dismemberment Plan, are clearly the discography of the world (in)famous Dischord Records, invoking the attitude of Fugazi beside the rhythm of Q and Not U.

While this album is not perfect, and other preferred bass/drum/vocal combinations are out there (See: Death From Above 1979), it is certainly somewhat of a hidden gem that fans of noise and American Indie in general should check out.

My personal favourite tracks are opener "No Allies" and the first track that I listened to "The Lies/The Truth".

7.5/10

More is out now on Thrill Jockey Records.

Dananananaykroyd @ Southampton Joiners, 13th May 2009

First a quick word on the illustrious venue. Currently hailing from Portsmouth, I am supposed to have absolute disdain for all things Southampton, but I can't help but enjoy the Joiners Arms. Its the largely independent spirit behind it, the local band splendour of knowing that for local scenesters, this is almost making it. It's grottiness is close to Godliness. Plus the toilets boast a collection of promo stickers for probably long gone bands with such awful/great names as "Die So Fluid" and "Rushing With Apathy".

So then, an apt setting as a staple stop on the indie circuit, and as such featured a couple of local bands to begin with. The first (and arguably second best band of the night) being instrumental post-rock act WAKING AIDA. While those adjectives may prompt a snore-fest from many of you, they are far more of the 65DaysOfStatic stable than the Godspeed You! Black Emperor extended noise sessions, mixing as they do, looped math-rock stylings into what is meant to be only their fourth gig ever. Definitely worth a listen.

Myspace

Second on are JAPANESE VOYEURS, whose name is only just good enough to not be forever confined to a venue toilet wall, but with a sound that should be. It's all grunge cliches except with a female singer, which I sincerely hoped wasn't going to be a gimmick, but turned out to be the only vaguely interesting thing about them. What was also a shame is how on their second song, she decided to stroppily proclaim "You're so cool" in a mock Paris Hilton strop that was all too realistic to tell if it was a parody. Really bad.

Myspace

Next are VIDEO NASTIES, a band I'm only dimly aware having passed on a number of promos sent into to the radio station I work for after admittedly skimming through the tracks. Live they seem to resemble a sub-par Maccabees, albeit less fun and much more serious, apparently believing the tiny Joiners venue to be far below their expectations. Not all that great either.

Myspace

Finally, DANANANANAYKROYD hit the stage, with all six of them in jovial spirits and chatting with the crowd. Possibly the friendliest band ever. Lead singer Callum not only calling up a fan who couldn't make it but heartily apologising to anyone he jostles with in the crowd during frequent trips into the front (and back) row. Taking a brief intermission to take questions from the audience, it is discovered that this warm up gig for The Great Escape Festival is one of the few they've done on the South Coast at all. More importantly however, their twin-drummed attack of lo-fi melodic noise is an absolute stormer, as good, if not better, live than on their record Hey Everyone!, with "Pink Sabbath" being the highlight in both.

Myspace

Unfortunately, thanks to the sense of humour of the South Coast rivalry, the last Portsmouth-bound train leaves at 2303, on the opposite side of Southampton, meaning that a sprint through some parks and roads is all that the second half of their set was for me, but very much enjoyable, all the same.

Dananananaykroyd's debut album "Hey Everyone!" is out now in the UK via Best Before Records.

The Futureheads @ King's College Student Union, 29/11/2007

Tonight is an oppurtunity for The Futureheads to showcase some songs from their third album, but before anyone in the crowd can even think about that, Detroit four-piece HiFi Handgrenades have an opportunity to wow a London crowd on the last date of their UK "tour".


Well, I have to hand it to these guys, they do a great impression of Millencolin. And of Sum 41. In fact, all the major pop-punk bands of the nineties are thrown into the mix. But its been so long, this stuff almost seems retro. At least for me. Taking you back to a simpler time, when pop-punk was all about girls and wanking. Occasionally in that order. Rather than nowadays, with your My Chemical Underpants and your Fall Out Boy singing about dead people and... whatever Fall Out Boy sing about.

www.myspace.com/hifihandgrenades

When these guys are done, it's up to Dananananakroyd (I think that's how its spelt) and their six-pronged, two-drummered attack of noise from Glasgow with pride. To be honest, these guys kicked some arse. Both drummers broke their sticks within the first song from playing to hard. Even though song names were lost in the noise, and the singer's diving into the crowd to scream into the mic was a little annoying, by sheer enthusiasm and guts, they put on a great, if somewhat shambolic show.

www.myspace.com/dananananaykroyd

So, without much further ado, the main event begins and The Futureheads kick off their first UK show in 2007 with classics "Meantime" and "The City Is Here For You To Use" before playing, for the first time in the UK, free mailing list song "Broke Up The Time". Whilst this isn't a massive change in direction for them, with the usual power-pop-punk hooks and singalong chorus, its still a fairly promising preview of their unreleased, although finished third album, and the song itself leads to a small group in the crowd to chant "Fuck 679", which doesn't go on unnoticed by the band.

Other new tracks scattered amongst the majority of the first album and only a couple of tracks nervously selected from News And Tributes (including single "Skip to The End" and "Worry About It Later") are "Everythings Changing Today", "Radio Heart" and "The Beginning of The Twist". Finishing on debut album closer "Man Ray", the band were soon back out for an encore including fan favourites "Area" and "Piece Of Crap" as well as live rarity "Picture of Dorian Gray" that left many fans crying for even more.

However, with the new tracks being slightly "more abrasive" as promised, if only still within their previous indie-pop confines, the new album is unlikely to win them over many new fans, but will definately be welcome for those whose preference was their eponymous debut rather than their "more mature" sophomore effort, which, although enjoyable, never really lived up to its predecessor.

Their as-yet-untitled third album look set to be released early next year.
www.myspace.com/thefutureheads
http://www.thefutureheads.co.uk/