Tuesday, 29 May 2007
Our biggest gig to date
We're playing with The Twilight Sad and David Thomas Broughton. We haven't got words to describe how happy we are about this line-up. It's an honour.
Leeds Festival
We've been shortlisted for the annual Futuresound showcase which basically picks the best (whatever that means?) 30 new bands from Leeds & West Yorks. Six of them get to play Leeds Festival.
Good stuff.
Good stuff.
Bands we've been checking out this week...
...Battles, Do May Say Think, Corleone, Itch, Band of Horses, Middleman, Wintermute.
Have a listen to them all.
Have a listen to them all.
Sorry...
...we haven't been on the blog for a while we've been too busy organising the Ep and this massive gig. We ain't had time to breath. 
Friday, 11 May 2007
Wednesday, 9 May 2007
'Whatever it's going to be'
Our debut EP called ‘Whatever it’s going to be’ will be available on Monday 28th May ‘07. It includes four tracks - Demons & Slaves, Oblige, Decimal Place and Exits Are Blockades - and will be available on CD to order soon from our website and MySpace for £4.
Some early EP Reviews:
Some early EP Reviews:
"The final minute of 'Exits Are Blockades' is one of those "Oh YEEEEES!" moments that us poor reviewers wait weeks and weeks to hear." Sam Saunders, Whisperin & Hollerin
"Leeds based i concur only started gigging for proper in January of this year and this EP is an impressive document of the story so far. If they can achieve this much in a relatively short space of time, and the progression continues, then i concur look set to follow in the footsteps of Leeds bands hammering on the publics door." Matthew Stanley, Die Shellsuit, Die!
"If Wilco and Explosions In The Sky shared notes, it wouldn’t sound dissimilar to this Leeds-based quartet. But there’s plenty more to i concur’s post-rock tinged mid-west indie. Aside from the usually sweeping guitars and extended instrumentals, there’s plenty of dark atmospherics, jarring syncopated rhythms and emotive vocals. More focus could transform them into quite a force." Dave Himefield, manchestermusic.co.uk
***
To celebrate the new EP we’ve arranged a special launch night on Thursday 31st May at the Brudenell which, as well as ourselves, will feature some well ace bands that we love. Take a look at the poster below for all the details, especially the bit about picking up the CD for £2. Bargain.
Thursday, 3 May 2007
Tim's ATP diary
So the first weekend at ATP has just been and gone. Not much sleep was had, much Guinness and larger (in combination) consumed. Many, many bands were seen. Curated by Dirty Three this weekend was always going to be a who’s who of the alternative Australian scene. Here are a few thoughts and highlights from the weekend.
Grinderman
Grinderman are Nick Cave and various elements from Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds playing sleazy/dirty rock. Cave doesn’t play the piano, Warren Ellis hardly plays the violin. This is Cave and chums putting themselves out of their comfort zone, though it is still relatively similar to earlier works. First sets were good on the Saturday - a Nick Cave solo slot first, then a Grinderman set to round off the night on the main stage. Both sets featured the same band members, except for Bobbie Gillespie joining the Grinderman band on percussion and backing vocals. He looked off his face.The solo and Grinderman sets were repeated (with small set adjustments) on the Sunday and the result was stunning. Whether the sound was improved or the band feeling more confident, this was an improvement on the earlier day’s set.
Josh Pearson
The final act on the first night on the Centre stage was one of the finds of the festival. The former front man of Lift to Experience has the intensity (it’s all in the eyes) which are a warning as to not f*ck with him. There are many songs about the devil, saving souls and redemption overlaid with kilos of distortion. This man has a history – I’m not sure what it is but I bet it’s interesting.
Low
The new album Drums and Guns made up the majority of Low’s set but if anyone was expecting drums machines, synths or samples there may have been a few raised eyebrows. Songs like Sandinista have been written, de-constructed (for the album) and then re-assembled for the purposes of live performance. The results are awe inspiring. The final song in the set, (the single) Breaker, was the highlight leaving the huge crowd that had assembled wondering if what they’ve really witnessed what just happened. Performances this good are rare.
Shannon Wright
Starting off her set on a grand piano and having a biog (courtesy of the ATP paraphernalia distributed on checking in) with words like “intense”, “emotionally charged” I did expect little. This assumption was very quickly crossed out with Shannon filling the massive room with her superb vocals and (later) aggressive guitar playing. Her moves were equally good too. Anyone who plays a whole song sticking her behind out at an audience and still coming out without p1ssing too many people off has a rare gift. She has a new record out in the coming weeks.
The Drones
The Drones were (by my ears) the loudest band of the weekend, and also one of the most straight forward. Pub rock, as one of my chalet cohorts described them. I think there’s a little bit more to them than that, and they do have tunes. Front man Gareth Liddiard has a mad look in his eyes and is a good screamer. Shark Fin Blues from Wait Long by the River and the Bodies of Your Enemies Will Float By is stunning.
Spiritualized
After a period of ill health Jason Pierce has assembled an acoustic band with a string quartet, 3 gospel singers, a Fender Rhodes and himself on acoustic guitar. The idea of Spiritualized material played acoustically may not sound appealing but it somehow works wonderfully. A rendition of Ladies and Gentlemen We’re Floating in Space woven together with I Can’t Help Falling in Love With You is heartbreaking.
Dirty ThreeIf I learned anything at the festival this year it’s that Warren Ellis is king. His way with anecdotes about song titles and meanings are pure comedy. Wayne Coyne from The Flaming Lips has a similar ability to put the audience at ease and get everyone on his side. His hypnotic violin playing is equally as good as he sways back and forth attacking what should be a pretty instrument. He also puts a tonne of distortion through it at times. What a guy.
Dirty Three played two sets on different days with the 2nd instalment being a much improved performance.There aren’t many weekends as good as this one.
Grinderman
Grinderman are Nick Cave and various elements from Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds playing sleazy/dirty rock. Cave doesn’t play the piano, Warren Ellis hardly plays the violin. This is Cave and chums putting themselves out of their comfort zone, though it is still relatively similar to earlier works. First sets were good on the Saturday - a Nick Cave solo slot first, then a Grinderman set to round off the night on the main stage. Both sets featured the same band members, except for Bobbie Gillespie joining the Grinderman band on percussion and backing vocals. He looked off his face.The solo and Grinderman sets were repeated (with small set adjustments) on the Sunday and the result was stunning. Whether the sound was improved or the band feeling more confident, this was an improvement on the earlier day’s set.
Josh Pearson
The final act on the first night on the Centre stage was one of the finds of the festival. The former front man of Lift to Experience has the intensity (it’s all in the eyes) which are a warning as to not f*ck with him. There are many songs about the devil, saving souls and redemption overlaid with kilos of distortion. This man has a history – I’m not sure what it is but I bet it’s interesting.
Low
The new album Drums and Guns made up the majority of Low’s set but if anyone was expecting drums machines, synths or samples there may have been a few raised eyebrows. Songs like Sandinista have been written, de-constructed (for the album) and then re-assembled for the purposes of live performance. The results are awe inspiring. The final song in the set, (the single) Breaker, was the highlight leaving the huge crowd that had assembled wondering if what they’ve really witnessed what just happened. Performances this good are rare.
Shannon Wright
Starting off her set on a grand piano and having a biog (courtesy of the ATP paraphernalia distributed on checking in) with words like “intense”, “emotionally charged” I did expect little. This assumption was very quickly crossed out with Shannon filling the massive room with her superb vocals and (later) aggressive guitar playing. Her moves were equally good too. Anyone who plays a whole song sticking her behind out at an audience and still coming out without p1ssing too many people off has a rare gift. She has a new record out in the coming weeks.
The Drones
The Drones were (by my ears) the loudest band of the weekend, and also one of the most straight forward. Pub rock, as one of my chalet cohorts described them. I think there’s a little bit more to them than that, and they do have tunes. Front man Gareth Liddiard has a mad look in his eyes and is a good screamer. Shark Fin Blues from Wait Long by the River and the Bodies of Your Enemies Will Float By is stunning.
Spiritualized
After a period of ill health Jason Pierce has assembled an acoustic band with a string quartet, 3 gospel singers, a Fender Rhodes and himself on acoustic guitar. The idea of Spiritualized material played acoustically may not sound appealing but it somehow works wonderfully. A rendition of Ladies and Gentlemen We’re Floating in Space woven together with I Can’t Help Falling in Love With You is heartbreaking.
Dirty ThreeIf I learned anything at the festival this year it’s that Warren Ellis is king. His way with anecdotes about song titles and meanings are pure comedy. Wayne Coyne from The Flaming Lips has a similar ability to put the audience at ease and get everyone on his side. His hypnotic violin playing is equally as good as he sways back and forth attacking what should be a pretty instrument. He also puts a tonne of distortion through it at times. What a guy.
Dirty Three played two sets on different days with the 2nd instalment being a much improved performance.There aren’t many weekends as good as this one.
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