Music
Meet: Drenge
Drenge are made up of two brothers, Eoin and Rory Loveless who hail from the Peak District, not far from us (well, me) in Sheffield. They are a duo in the Black Keys / White Stripes way (as opposed to the Pet Shop Boys sort of way I suppose) with no bass, instead this raw, …
See: Lewis Watson releases new video for single, Calling
Coming out on Warner Bros. on July 1st is the latest EP from Lewis Watson ‘Four More Songs’. You may have already heard title track ‘Calling’ over the airwaves, as Zane Lowe made it his ‘Hottest record in the world’ not so long back. But there again, Lewis Watson himself is quickly going beyond …
Live: The Handsome Family – Greystones, Sheffield 21.05.2013
It is difficult to describe a Handsome Family gig because is it so much more than the sum of its parts. It’s not just the marvellous music, or the magnificent lyrics. It’s not just the humour or the bonhomie tinged with darkness, nor is it the fact that your are watching a couple, Rennie and …
See: Gypsy & The Cat – It’s a fine line video, and album news
There’s two things that I’ve always been good at. One is dreaming, and I often think that maybe now that I’m a proper grown up, with children and everything, I’m possibly too old for dreaming, but I don’t seem to be able to stop. So every time I kick a ball it’s Wembley and I’m …
New Music: Cotton Mount – In Blue Colour
There’s this sort of rule that when you talk about Switzerland, you have to mention things like mountains and Cuckoo clocks, watches and chocolate and the like. Musically, there is sort of Alp horns and yodeling and things. I’m sure that if I were Swiss, I would be thoroughly sick of these sort of lazy …
Meet: Memories and Broken Dreams – A Conversation with The Tennis System
Teenagers, was chock full of shoegaze and noise rock goodness. The stuff I fall for every time. Let’s be honest though, there’s a lot of bands attempting to cash in on that late 80s to early 90s sound bands like My Bloody Valentine and Jesus and Mary Chain perfected. They’re not all diamonds in the rough. …
Album Review: Killing Joke – Singles Collection 1979-2012
First up I need to declare an interest. I think Killing Joke are an amazing band. I loved them when they first emerged as part of that morass of styles that has been termed ‘post-punk’, and they are probably currently my favourite band. In between times I have lost touch with them, found them, and …
Meet: Sweet Baboo, and his new album ‘Ships’
I don’t know why, but some of the best and most interesting music to come out over the last few years has been from Wales. Amongst this breed of creative people is Stephen Black a.k.a. Sweet Baboo. Under this moniker he has released some criminally undervalued records that mould indie, psych, country, Motown and plain …
Meet: Ty, and hear about his new releases, label and gigs
One of the best releases we have heard this year on Backseat Mafia came from UK Rapper, Ty and his Kick and a Snare EP. Born Ben Chijioke, he was born and still lives in London. More importantly, he has been at the forefront of UK Hip-Hop for over ten years, starting with his album …
Live Review: Canyon Family, The Payroll Union & Mudcats Blues Trio: Americana at The Harley, Sheffield 11.05.2013
Highlighting a night of Americana, this gig brought together three bands that ring true to that expression. We were able to experience everything covering country, folk, alternative and blues. This is one of the best overall gig nights I’ve been to as it was well thought out and actually had a structure in its choice …