aip

Who you gonna call?

2012-02-15T16:37:00.001Z

What a legend!

Dead To Me Party...

2012-02-15T16:26:00.002Z

http://ambitionispitiful.bigcartel.com/product/dead-to-me-screen-print-and-ticket

Well the Swansea Dead To Me show is creeping up on us, only 11 days to go, so as a treat we've a put a deal up on the store, get a ticket and hand screen printed poster for just £7!!!!! That's a serious bargain, that works out at a mere £2 a poster, if not they will be £6 on the night so go grab yourself a bargain!

Above Them to feature on the human centipede soundtrack!

2012-01-23T16:21:00.002Z

They were so keen to come back, they asked for this show back in November, that's how much they love a good party in Swansea, so why not come out and have some fun with:

ABOVE THEM
Yorkshires finest exports, first time in Swansea as a 4piece, some say this makes them even more rock!
Supporting their brand new album 'Are We A Danger To Ourselves' (specialist subject/kissofdeath). Always a blast.

RINGOLEVIO
All the way from Swansea via Kingston, awesome Indie/Rock, recently released a superb e.p. grab yourself a copy.

HIPFLASK
3 fine chaps from cardiff, easy on the ear pop punk, first time playing Swansea i do believe.

LIVE @ MOZARTS SATURDAY 3RD MARCH 7.30 TIL 10.30PM

£3 on the doorfree entry to Shwing 90's club night which will start straight after the gig if you would like to stay out and party.poster by Jack Kirtley,check his stuff here:

Spring cleaning

2012-01-14T15:01:00.001Z

With new resolutions and post festive seasonal disorder full flow we have decided to get afresh start on 2012.

So, we are putting all our remaining shirts on sale.

Both the 'Forget it' and 'Fangs' shirts are just £10, but there are only a few left and once they are gone that's it...

So head over to the shop and grab yourself a bargain before its too late.

We'll have some shots of the new designs that we are printing this month up on the blog this week.

Sign of the (good) times

2012-01-12T16:20:00.001Z

Good times

Our pals over in the creative juggernaut behind Huck magazine are leading a crusade to challenge the 'most depressing day of the year'.

Screw you Blue Monday!

Head over to their mini site, get involved and lets embrace the POSI vibes!

On Monday, dig out your brightest clothes, heck, go out in fancy dress. Put away your smiths records, the only music you'll need is The Steal's self titled album on repeat.

Plans

2012-01-08T11:52:00.001Z

So, 2012...

We can't predict all that it will bring.

But here is hoping its a little more

(photo from James Bowden)

than

Than

With a dash of

And a healthy dose of

What else? Let us know what you'd like it to bring?

Dead sweet bangs

2012-01-03T23:47:00.001Z

Don't complain about there being nothing to do right!

DEAD TO ME...

2012-01-03T22:46:00.002Z

Need I say more?

What we done did

2012-01-01T20:51:00.001Z

We had a chilly start to the year which gave rise to some epic sledding action around town, highlights include Kerry catching serious airtime in Singleton park and seeing Spinksy practically revert to his seven year old self with excitement when we saw the forecast...

Our pal Mark Pavey helped us set the wheels in motion by designing our 'Forget it' shirt before beset off on an adventure across the states! Check it out here, and snap up a shirt here!

Pugssss got all dressed up but got stood up by the descendents...

The Arteries hit the road with their SF cousins Dead to me (I really hope you didn't miss those gigs...) and we were treated to a Swansea date with Pacer in tow.

The Groundnuts & Independents continued to be a constant source of inspiration. Dear bands, please take note:

Start a band with your friends, play music you like, have fun.

Job done.

Stick with the 'nuts winning formula and you will hold a very special place in a lot of people's hearts and can continue to rock out indefinitely!

Speaking of the Groundnuts & Independents, Jason is a big fan of The Nightbirds, who tore up the boards in Mozarts!

Back to Swansea's premium exports, them Arteries packed up and shipped out across the pond for a 5 week jaunt with the mighty Flatliners! I caught up with them in Orlando and nipped over to Tampa for Pre-fest to warm up for Fest10!

Chris Creswell was the design muscle behind our Fangs shirt, as well as providing the dulcet tones that breaks a hundred hearts in every city the Flats roll through...

Chicken, Kenny, Ian and Sam opened up Fest 10 and nearly ended up squished under 200 sweaty extended family members from around the world!

Swansea showed Gainesville how it's done, and Static Radio NJ brought the 1982 to tears with one song xxx

So, 2012. We'll see.

Ashzilla

2011-12-29T23:30:00.000Z

Tattoos...We have a growing collection, (rebellious huh?)Rhys especially. The man responsible for Rhys's sleeve is so sick of seeing him that he's fled to Scotland for some respite.

Having spent last year on the road Ash has found a new home at Custom inc. in sunny Glasgow. It may be a 380+ mile journey but it's worth it if you want a distinctive, unique tattoo ( or some sweet tribal, I'm sure he'll sort you out).

Ash is bloody brilliant.

He doesn't need superfluous babble to describe him, his work speaks for itself. He's like the silent bob of the tattoo world, but more svelte. He doesn't jabber on incessantly, but when he does chat, its well worth a listen.

I think he's due to return back to the motherland soon for a short stay but don't snooze on booking a slot with him, or we'll take 'em all!

Ashmadethis.com

(these images are borrowed from the interweb, hope that's ok?)

It's so sad you're gone, you didn't wait too long...

2011-12-28T12:16:00.001Z

Season's greetings everyone, we both hope you've had a great time.

As 2011 wheezes it's way into oblivion we reach that time where it is customary for people to share their favourite things from the past 365 days on their Facebook/twitter/blogs etc...

Your feeds become clogged with seemingly endless lists of Top Tens ( usually comprised of the most obscure, long winded titled bands who released a sneeze in a jar on an indie label that came in 72 'colorways'), with no links, reasons or info about why the bands/gigs/sneakers/douchebags hade such an impact. It's like all your annual #ff's rolled into one.

And on that note here is ours:

Just kidding!

But I think I will post a few highlights from 2011 over the next few days before the shiny new, sexy 2012 model wipes it from my fragile mind. Maybe Rhys will too if he can move his fingers...

I'll start with an album that was released this year, but would make my top list for any year since I bought my first Iron Maiden cassette back in the eighties ( that's right, I'm pretty old).

Static Radio NJ's - 'We are all beasts'

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://staticradionj.bandcamp.com/track/last-year"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Last Year by Static Radio NJ&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

If you have a record player I would definitely recommend buying the vinyl, because it's when I listened to this record as an LP, start to finish that I really fell in love with it. It's not that the songs don't work on their own, it's a fine collection of standalone winners, but when you put them all together, you end up with something that is even greater than the sum of its parts.

In this new era of technology, where I can carry around thousands of songs and albums on my phone, I've reached a point where everything feels disposable, and I regularly take music for granted. Gone are the days where I would save up for an album, buy it from musicquarium and pore over the artwork on the bus ride home, memorising the lyrics as I carefully balanced my discman on my lap. I would listen to my cassette of Dookie, or my Nirvana unplugged CD on repeat for weeks at a time. I realise that as you grow older you have less space in your brain/life/heart to allow something as indulgent as music to fully consume your waking hours, but I can't help that feel that the MP3 and iPod have played a significant role in the desensitisation of my brain to music. I just have too much access to too many options, my attention deficit riddled mind can't cope.

I've just reached the ripe old age of 30, defying the odds and cheating the 27 club reserved for musical prodigies such as myself (yeah right). For my birthday I received a whole heap of treats, but one was especially awesome, my wife got me a new record player.

My last one broke and I hadn't really had it set up in a practical location for a year or more, but for the last few weeks it's been a revelation! I've listened to records top to bottom that I haven't played for years, or if I have I've skipped straight to track seven (usually the best song right?).

The new dead to me album went from being a couple of songs I quite liked to the soundtrack of every meal over Christmas!

Not sure how I've managed to digress and meander quite so dramatically but I think the point that I'm making is, listen to albums, limit your choices, give things a chance...

Back to the album:

I thought that I might be slightly biased about this as I have been lucky enough to spend a lot of time with these fine young men from across the pond, and count them as extended family now. But looking beyond their handsome faces and the fact that they are just awesome people this record absolutely kills it, heck they could be puppy kicking, arrogant wretches who wouldn't give up their seat for a pregnant pensioner on a long overcrowded bus journey and I'd still love this album...

After a turbulent year or so, Static Radio NJ have taken all the sadness and loss and created a legacy that shines almost as brightly as the people that inspired it, and I know that they would be so proud of what these dudes have made.

Get hold of it and give it a proper listen (as in at least 3 times through, stream it here), you can thank me later.

A real screen printer!

2011-12-05T17:30:00.001Z

We got to Birmingham pretty early today, so we decided that a trip to visit Kay was in order to check out her swanky new print shop. It's not that new but I haven't been there since it was finished, so it's new to me! Anyway check out their site, www.getagripstudio.com and order some t-shirts so that Kay has to do lots of printing!

Check this siqshit!

2011-11-29T19:59:00.001Z

Get yourself over to these blogs, super talented people putting together some really good collections of work in some of the nicest zines you will set your eyes upon!

http://www.siqshit.com

http://WWW.DARKARTSDOOMCREW.COM/

"A DAY IN THE DARK" is a mini-zine that was put together by the lifers of the DA Doom Crew. submitted works include: Juan Gabe, John McCarthy, Brian Kanagaki, Ben Sears, Adam Vass, Zoe Weinberg, Ian Anderson, Rachel Malin, Snot E.P. and more. it is a 4.25inches x 5.5inches, black and white, 32-page collection of drawings, photographs, and paintings that was released for the opening night of the “A Day In The Dark” art show earlier this month. it was only available there, that night.

Snake shots!

2011-11-29T00:48:00.001Z

I can say no more, but a man in a pub in Germany let us have a shot that ain't on the top shelf. A bottle with 5 dead venomous snakes from Vietnam mixed with vodka and herbs! T'was delightful! Here's what the bottle looked like!

Down a mine

2011-11-24T12:55:00.000Z

Our pal Owen Richards has finally uploaded the short film he shot here in Wales! take 5 minutes, turn off your phone and immerse your brain in this visual treat, it's worth it.

The Arteries are currently cruising around Europe with The Slowdeath and Mikey Erg! They will be back on home shores soon so head over to their site and check the tour dates so you can book a dance party with them.

Postcard from Vienna...

2011-11-23T13:18:00.001Z

Still out on tour, as you can tell I was way too busy to continue blogging while in Canada and the USA, actually I was just having too much fun! Out in Europe at the moment, we have the fine chaps the slowdeath and mikey erg with us, they rule go check 'em out! Also we stole a Canadian named Rory, I think he's having fun? Anyway check out the arteries.co.uk for all our tour dates for the rest of the year.
From what I hear Owen has been a busy boy with some sweet printing, and I have got loads of stuff to do when I get home, so keep your eyes peeled for some new stuff before Christmas,
and go buy a shirt from the shop...
Here's some pics----->

Palindromtastic

2011-11-11T10:16:00.001Z

Hey, so it's a once in a lifetime (unless Jenks and Miles hurry up and crack that whole time-travelling thing) date today.

To celebrate/mark this meaningless yet fun milestone we are going to sully it with capitalism!
From 11:11am until 11:11pm today you can buy a t-shirt for just £11.11
head over to the shop (after you've taken your picture for the 11.11.11 project of course) and pick up a shirt to look snazzy, or as an early Christmas gift for that special person in your life.
You just need to enter the code 'PALINDROMATIC' and it will discount £8.89 from your shirt...

If you could spread the word that would be lovely, we've got 100 twitter followers now and it'd be cool to have 100 likes on facebook I guess, because that stuff is important right?

thanks dudes,

peace out x

i just smiled and thought about how life goes by so fast

2011-11-09T00:40:00.001Z

I'm home, back to the daily grind and feeling sorry for myself....

Florida was a blast, great bands, great friends, great weather...heck I'm jealous of myself!
It was really fun to catch up with a bunch of you 3000 miles away from home. I'll upload a heap of holiday snaps to bore you with asap.

The Arteries and Static Radio NJ were absolutely incredible, 2 of the best gigs I have ever been too, guys, give yourselves a big pat on the backs.

Other highlights included None more black, Kid Dynamite!!!!! Banquets, No Friends, Tv Casualty, HWM, Against Me!(I know, who'd'vethunkit!), Swimming and kayaking with Alligators, Bangers (from outside the sold out venue), The Flatliners killing it in Orlando and Tampa, Big Eyes, travelling with my best friends (even if they were 4 screechy girls) Horsebites/Poodychoo and the amazing Frankie for being the best hosts ever!...the list goes on and I will definitely try and make a more coherent post soon. I feel super lucky to be able to travel and experience stuff like this which makes going back to work and saving again more bearable. Equally I am in awe of how talented some of the people I know are, mad skills yo. It's amazing to see your friends kick ass around the world and watch people react and crowdsurf and stagedive and singalong...

Anyway, enough for now, hope you guys made it, or have something fun planned.

As the mighty ssssnakes say 'Stay in School' and stuff x

Over the sea

2011-10-25T21:12:00.001+01:00

Hey, Ho, Let's go!

Well, I'm off anyway. It's not fair that Rhys can swan off for 9 weeks leaving us all holding down the 9-5 is it? So we're packing up and heading out to Florida for a week and a bit, woohoo! No posting shirts until then sorry, thank you so much to everyone who bought a fangs shirt!

Chris Cresswell Collaborama

2011-10-21T00:29:00.000+01:00

Dudes and dudettes,

We are extremely excited and proud to be able to share our latest shirt for you, crafted by the fair hands of The Flatliner's dashing frontman Chris!

In addition to being in one of the most ass-kicking bands on the planet Chris is a bloody awesome artist.

His Fangs shirt is available to order today!

Click here to order, don't delay because Rhys is off on tour for 9 weeks and I'm heading out to Gainesville too so if you want to guarantee you look the bomb get clicking...

If you order before midnight tonight, head over and 'like' our facebook page for a £5 discount code!!!

And if you haven't already, make sure you check out Canada's finest, the mighty Flatliners.

63 days away...

2011-10-17T16:03:00.001+01:00

Just before I dropped Rhys off the night before the arteries mammoth tour, we parked up and got the lowdown on his top touring tips. Stay tuned for an on the road update from Merch man extraordinaire Pugssss and a couple of arteries...

A few more days...

2011-10-15T19:22:00.001+01:00

Brief update as there's not much time to use the Internet. After Hamilton we headed to London, just to let you know, it's nothing like the London, UK. Either way fun show with too much straight gin after the show. Some people went to an afterparty and a few went back to a flat, cheers for letting us stay Adam!
From there we headed back to Toronto for the Flatliners hometown show, awesome to see the hometown love for these guys! Ssssnakes then played the aftershow party with Chris from the flats, Ssssnakes ruled!
Got to Montreal last and played the underworld, shame the venue was 4 floors up, not quite an underworld! Frank and dolorian's sister let us crash at theirs, cheers, went for a dirty breakfast, now heading to Quebec city! Sweet. All this French malarkey is spinning me out!

Toronto to Hamilton

2011-10-12T18:02:00.001+01:00

After the disappointment of missing karaoke the night before, myself, Pugs and Jamie were up pretty early so went for a wander around little Italy in Toronto, super nice place, found a cool little cafe and got our breakfast on.
Headed back to Chris' place where everyone was still sleeping, quick porch jam using wooden spoons as drum sticks. The rest of day went a little something like this-
Go rent cymbals and buy strings and shit,
Get denied renting a van cause the bank fucked over Tim's credit card (pricks),
Split between van and car,
People in car see Michael Cera hanging out,
Van goes and picks up everyone else and trailer,
Drive to Hamilton,
Soundcheck,
Eat delicious burrito,
Play first show of this tour, good times,
Meet some crazy guy who has been a para-trooper and told Pugs about how he had to snap a girls neck(weird)
Watch flatliners play,
Eat falafel,
Head back to house, watch Wayne's world,
Sleep,
Blah blah blah

Gin pants!

2011-10-11T13:27:00.001+01:00

So, for the next 9 weeks I'm on tour, sweet! For the first 4 weeks we're out in Canada and the States with the Flatliners, then we head straight out to Europe with the Slow death and Mikey Erg. All the dates are on thearteries.co.uk, check them out and them come to a show.

My other aim is to drop a few photos and a tale or two of how the tour is going on here, when ever I get Internet access. So here we go...

Sunday 9th October - drive to Shelley's in London, get snooched, sleep.

Monday 10th - wake up @ 4.30am, get to Gatwick, check in, drink and eat overpriced products in the airport. The band is on 2 separate flights, so me Jamie and pugs set off.

Got on the plane, fell asleep, woke up at food, bought a bottle of gin, start consuming said bottle of gin, spill whole glass of gin and tonic over crotch. Look like I pissed my self, great.
Land, customs, bar and wait for others. Get picked up by Chris and bobby t, see some sights, buy beer, drink some, get snooched, go for awesome food, food coma sets in, watch Wayne's world, power hour which leads to sleeping for ages, missing karaoke night! Gutted. First show tonight in Hamilton, can't wait!
Will be rambling on here lots so check it...
Rhys

too late to be forever, too soon to be the end

2011-09-19T23:47:00.000+01:00

So over the past few days there have been heaps of exciting new music, tour dates, record pre-orders and the rest it's all a bit overwhelming.
I'm going to try and collate a bunch of brilliantness from our friends across the web and post later this week.

On a personal note though, my heart skipped a beat when Chas tweeted about some lightyear news earlier today.
If you haven't heard of the seven naked men for every occasion it's like living with only half your zelda hearts filled up...

There are some awesome bands about these days, but if you were lucky enough to grow up and catch the likes of Adequate seven, Captain everything, Five Knuckle (usually all on the same bill for £3!) you'll know that there was something really special about the UK DIY punk 'scene' at the time. Despite the glass ceiling and never ending line of labels/agents/promoters fleecing these bands they toured incessantly and genuinely touched the hearts of at least all of my friends!

Lightyear were a force of nature, a whirlwind of mentalists who also happened to write 2 of my favourite albums ever. If you haven't heard them get googling or ask an older friend who harps on about the good old days, they'll have a copy...

Anyway, all we have to go on at the moment is an official facebook page, and as of 11:26pm, 365 likes and a collective will to see something...

Get involved, maybe 1000+ likes for a band that originally split up in 2003 will be too hard to ignore? Back then Nelb's dad told me that their third album was going to be their masterpiece...