Some Innovation please!!!

So it took us a while to evolve into the walking talking idiots that we are today. When I say a while that period differs hugely depending on what imaginary friend you choose to have or whether you decide to believe the Science folk.

• Archeologists estimate that modern humans have been on the Earth for about 200,000 years
• According to Bible scholars--by estimating the generations given, the time would be about 4000 years for the Old Testament and about 2000 years for the New Testament--approximately 6000 years

So which ever path you take your'e looking at quite some time! Now looking back over time not a lot has changed... we still fight over land and whose imaginary friend is the best and unfortunately this will probably go on for the next 200,000 years.

So it's agreed we evolve but we don't learn much? I'll take that as a yes for now :) 

approximately 60 years ago a new phase in our evolutionary journey, Rock and Roll was born. And as always this was greeted with frenzy and awe as something entirely original had been born. When in reality it was derived from Rhythm and Blues so another example of nowt new going on here :) 

I bring this to your attention as the "Rock and Roller" 60 years on is still on the same blinkered path of "Copy and Roll" much like his forefathers. 

Now there have been some visionaries along this "Copy and Roll" journey and they have paved the way for new musicians to be brave enough to try to be different. Not all of them have succeeded mind you but its better to try and fail than conform and in my opinion. 

This brings me onto my next band that I would like to bring to your attention - 

Black Tooth 

https://soundcloud.com/black-tooth-songs

Black Tooth hail from Manchester and how refreshing it is to hear a Manchester band stand out from the white noise that is the Manchester music scene. With a dark yet groovy vibe going on these chaps are really worth a listen. There are 6 songs on their Soundcloud page and all of which offer a unique journey that only Black Tooth can take you on.

The first song kicks off on a happy guitar vibe and it really lifts you up and you know you're in for a treat, it reminds me of classic Beck. This track would be a great driving track imagine a sunny day windows down you get the idea :)

The next track "Polyphonic Blues" has a really gritty sound with a really cool vocal sound over the top, very old school vibe here with cool guitar riffs carrying the song nicely.

As we move through the tracks on the page its obvious these guys are very talented song writers each track is catchy and gets stuck in your head. I'd say there's a little bit of all my favourite bands in Black Tooth from The Brian Jones Town Massacre to Bowie.

Overall a perfect example of an innovative band that refuse to conform to the "Copy and Roll" movement.

"Innovative songs executed perfectly" 

You know a great band as they can lift your mood with a great riff or a simple hook.Black Tooth are definitely resident in my "Great Bands" category and I would highly recommend a listen and even better go check them out live @ The Eagle Inn in Salford on the 26th of July you won't be disappointed.

It's been a while

So we return to the stage next Friday. I'ts been a while I hear you cry? and rightly so it certainly has! well we have some new tunes and so forth to kick us back off into the dark dingy murky world that is the "Unsigned Manchester Scene" where Oasis/Stone Roses rip off bands are playing every venue and the zombie audiences act like they've never heard such original music before!!

Wake up folks there's nowt new going on here.... 

So for a new phase in our musical journey I am bringing in a new idea into Bands on Bands......
Pre gig blogs where I will do a write up on the bands that we will have the pleasure of playing with in the up and coming shows.

Now this is a brave move!!

The 10's of people that have kindly read my blog over the past year will already understand that I don't have a zombie-esque taste in music so this should be interesting idea :)

Don't get me wrong my intention is not to bad mouth anybody, as there really is no need. We all have different tastes and I bet most of the bands we play gigs with don't like our music, but that's part and parcel of taking your music to the masses! you have to be prepared to take some criticism or a bad reception as some people just don't get good music when they hear it and there's no saving some people :(


So the event - https://www.facebook.com/events/645114512229010

On the lineup we have

• Toy Sparrows
• Zilov Gaps
• Empire Signal

Now lets kick things off with a listen of Toy Sparrows - https://soundcloud.com/toysparrows

First impressions!! Well, great vocals for a start and some great guitar melodies going on here it reminded me of Tracy Chapman "Fast Car" meets Ellie Goulding (if that makes sense) I really like the single "Inside My Head" its a strong pop song and it wouldn't be out of place on the radio at all. 

Moving on to the Woodland Creatures demo that's posted here there some little gems that I reckon with the same production as "Inside My Head" these guys could have a strong set of songs! I have had a few listens to "Rex Demo" and that one has definitely got stuck in my head :)  I'm looking forward to seeing how they'll be delivered live on the night..... 

Moving along we find - https://soundcloud.com/zilovgaps

Well I'll be honest I wasn't sure what to make of these chaps at first, The vocals are really strong and dark with some odd arrangements going on its really different it's like an 80's/early 2000's mashup. There's Synths Guitars and even a Xylophone going on here :) I have to say it's clever music with a story to tell... definitely worth a listen and again I'm really looking forward to the live delivery, as it looks like we're in for a treat of a performance from the frontman Matt Carmody  - https://t.co/h6U2sWw9te. 

Finally we find  Empire Signal - https://soundcloud.com/empire-signal 

Now to me these guys have a "Manchester" sound very 90's, I really like the first track "Alive" it has a great energy to it and I reckon this track must go down a storm live. 

There are some great tracks on their soundcloud page including "The Greatest Thing" and "Turn Myself Around" I have a feeling these chaps will go down well, and I bet they have a good stage presence going off their sound. As you know we're big bass fans and I'm loving the driving bass on these tracks I'm sure Mark will love these chaps.

Then there's us... :) https://soundcloud.com/unassisted

Overall this stands in good stead to be a great mix of original bands playing some great music! We hope to see you there? or you may want to dust off your leather jacket and join the zombie hoards at an Oasis/Roses rip off fest.