Posts Archive

This Week @ Hare & Hounds

Scroobius Pip has just confirmed his new club night WeAreLizards for May! Tickets are now on sale, more details here: http://hareandhoundskingsheath.co.uk/2011/03/28/wearelizards/

His nights always sell out so be quick. In the meantime you can watch a video of how to draw a lizard: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWX7dnw0oNg

Or if that’s too exciting for you, dan le sac VS scroobius pip “Thou Shalt always Kill”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoN6XfyQsr4&feature=fvw

Don’t forget to subscribe to our mailing list on the website, facebook and twitter feed!

Monday & Wednesday – Back Bar quiz – Lots of prizes to be won!

Monday

Freestyle & Jibbering presents: THE SOULJAZZ ORCHESTRA

The magnificent Souljazz Orchestra return to Birmingham this evening for a very special show at the Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath. Taking in funk, soul, afro, jazz and latin rhythms, expect an explosive show that’s sure to raise the roof. Full details here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=193387610684187 You’d be a fool to miss out!

Thursday

Moseley Folk’s Lunar Society presents: Erland & The Carnival + Special Guests

One of our Moseley Folk 2010 favourites and officially the loudest band of the festival, Erland & The Carnival will be returning to Birmingham surrounding the release of their forthcoming second album – Nightingale. We can’t wait!

World Unlimited presents: The Lost Highways Tour with Christian Cuff/Will Kevans/Emily Baker

Christian Cuff – from Maine USA, as a songwriter and performer, Cuff is larger than life, deeper by far than the mainstream, a source of quirky, vital lyricism and roiling, emotional darkness…  The time to see Christian Cuff in concert is now, while you can afford the tickets

Friday

The Source presents: The Source 1st Birthday – Frank De Wulf / Mark Archer – for his 1st old skool set in the UK for nearly 20 years, the godfather of the Belgian scene and one of its most respected producers, Frank De Wulf! Add to this a DJ set from Mark Archer, one half of chartbusting rave nutters – Altern 8 and you got the recipe for probably the best Source party yet!

Saturday

SumoSoundSystem presents: Reggae & Bass ARIES & VYTOL Birthday Bash

Aries & Vytols joint birthday bash. A Party night laced with reggae influenced rhytms,vocals and beats across array of musical genres and styles drenched in Sumo good vibes.

Soul Food Project presents: Soul Food Saturdays!

Every Saturday Soul Food Project will be throwing open the doors to the back lounge at The Hare and Hounds, sprucing up the room  and easing you into the weekend with the sweetest soul music and deepest raw funk soundtrack in B14 and beyond.

Sunday

Nu Century Arts presents: Zara Sykes / Moy Moy

You could say she is a ‘thoughtful rebel’, rapping and rhyming since the age of 10 and clearly having no intention of slowing down. Resident rapper at L.I.M.E. (Ladies in Music and Entertainment), a collective of female artists creating a platform for female musicians to be heard, Sykes is also the host of her own show, Snakebyte, which tours the city.

Capsule presents: Earth / Lori Goldston

Earth are an American drone band based in Seattle, Washington, formed in 1990. Although they have played various styles of music, they are best known as pioneers of a minimalistic, long and repetitive form of heavy music known as drone. To a lesser extent their sound is referred to as doom metal. Earth, however, have little to do with metal in their current sound.

Soul Food Project presents: Roasts ‘n’ Records

Great Food. Great Music. Great Vibes. DJ Andrew Dubber will be manning the soundsystem for an afternoon of Bossa Nova, Jazz, Blue Note, Spiritual and beyond. Soul Food will be on hand to provide the best Sunday dinners in B14…Think Cajun Beefs, Warming Butternut Squash, Sticky, sweet hams, Crunchy Pork Belly and beyond…..

TICKETS NOW ON SALE FOR 2011:

FRANK DE WULF / EARTH & LORI GOLDSTON / ALTERNATIVE DUBSTEP ORCHESTRA / KUTMAH / BALKANIC ERUPTION – ROMA DAY / NORMAN JAY & UNITED VIBRATIONS / THE XCERTS / TIPPA IRIE (LIVE) / REGIS / AGNES OBEL / BREAKTHRU – SOUL:UTION / EVIL ALIEN / BLOOD CEREMONY & GHOST / WEDLOCK / GREG WILSON / DAEDELUS / FRANKIE AND THE HEARTSTRINGS / DIE!DIE!DIE! / MIMIC- SASCHA DIVE (COCOON) / THE PHOENIX FOUNDATION / OUI LOVE PROJECT / THREE TRAPPED TIGGERS / WOLF GANG / PARTS & LABOR / EMERALDS / CULTS / GENTLEMENS DUB CLUB / SOUND OF GUNS / THE MOONS

To get cheaper tickets in advance buy online:

https://www.theticketsellers.co.uk/buy_tickets/venues/?id=685

Come say Hi!

xH&Hx

Scroobius Pip Says....

Scroob is bringing his club night WE.ARE.LIZARDS to our little Venue … more details will be posted, but for now here is a nice poster and a few words from the man himself…

what you can clubbers expect from your clubnight WE.ARE.LIZARDS ?

Everything they have ever dreamt of! Of course! I dont know really, the aim is just for it to be a real mixture. Its not a Hip Hop night. Its not an Indie night. Its not a dance night. The instructions I’m giving the DJs and myself is just to play stuff that sounds amazing in a club. Big songs, obscure songs, anything that makes you pleased to be hearing it through a big sound system.


What is your earliest musical memory?

Thats tough. I remember buying the Last Action Hero soundtrack and, as stupid and irrelevant as that sounds, skimming through and listening to AC/DC then Cypress Hill. Thats a pretty decent range!

What was your first clubbing experience?

The early days of going to clubs was ALL about cheap booze on the way there and spending very little money. We used to send one person in to our local club (the Pink Toothbrush) then get them to open the fire doors at the back to let the rest in. My key move was, stepping in then standing their looking shocked as the security came running. Others would leg it into the crowd and often get caught. I would play the role of shocked bystander.


What was your first ever gig you went to?

I can never remember which one ws first as, in the same week, i went to see Offspring at Brixton Academy (Ignition/Smash era…NOT “Pretty Fly for a White Guy” era…) and the Rolling Stones at wembley. Two very different shows but both absolutely amazing.

What was the last gig you went to?

Damn I havent been to any recently (other than shows and festivals we are playing). I went to see Sage Francis and B Dolan a couple of times on their last UK run and they were AMAZING. Getting the crowds going insane with just a CD player and a mic. True showmen.

Who would be in your fantasy band?

Drew Barrymore, Megan Fox, Scarlett Johansson… oh… fantasy as in any MUSICIANS together? Right… well Id sling Prince and Bruce Springsteen both on guitar with Kate Bush and Cyndi Lauper switching between backing and main vocals. Matt Freeman from Rancid on bass and this guy called Jamire Williams on drums. He plays with an amazing Trumpet player called Christian Scott. Hell lets sling Christian in the line up while we are at it….

If you could go back in time what musical figure would you like to meet?

Well, when i was growing up and i got really into Jimi Hendrix i was always stunned that he had once played in Grays (small town near to my smaller town) so I think i would pick Jimi as it would have been a local visit.

What are your top five tracks of all time?

Thats impossible. For now, off the top of my head, I will go with

John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman – Lush Life

Rancid – Ruby Soho

Billy Bragg – New England

Minor Threat – In my Eyes

Eric B & Rakim – Microphone Fiend


Which new artists are making the right noises out there?

So many. Sound of Rum are amazing me on a regular basis. Josh Weller has been tearing it up for a while now and is just getting better and better. Aloosh look like they have big things ahead of them. And B Dolan and P.O.S are both making big waves in the underground Hip Hop scene in America. Oooh but those Odd Future kids (Tyler the Creator, Earl Sweatshirt, etc) are doing AMAZING stuff right now. Crazy young, crazy offensive but REAL good.

Why should people come to your clubnight?

Fuck ’em. They dont have to. It’s a tiny venue. We will be well busy anyway. I just wanna hear all this music on a better system than my living room.

(new answer forced out by the promoters and venue) – I just think its going to be a real good mix of sounds that hopefully pulls in a equally mixed crowd who can all enjoy it! Each night will have a killer live act kicking things off aswell.

THE SOULJAZZ ORCHESTRA

Monday 28th March

Freestyle & Jibbering present

THE SOULJAZZ ORCHESTRA

Plus support from Tangawizi, Sam Redmore & Shelley Roots

The Souljazz Orchestra return to the Hare & Hounds for another explosion of funk, soul, afro, jazz and latin rhythms that are sure to raise the roof. Their last appearance in Birmingham back in April 2010 proved to be one of the highlights of the year, and with critically acclaimed album “Rising Sun” released on Strut Records and support from the likes of Gilles Peterson in the bag, this show promises to be even bigger.

Since their formation in 2002, Canada’s Souljazz Orchestra have drawn on the rough, raw funk grooves of the 60s and 70s, moving forward the blueprint laid down by Fela Kuti and Fania Allstars in entirely new ways, whilst keeping the analogue grit intact. With three albums to their name – 2006’s “Freedom No Go Die”, 2008’s “Manifesto” and the aforementioned “Rising Sun” from 2010 – and years of relentless live touring to look back on, Souljazz Orchestra have developed into an in-demand fixture at venues and festivals worldwide.

Support on the night comes from Jibbering’s very own Tangawizi, Freestyle resident Sam Redmore and Rhubarb Radio’s Shelley Roots.

Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath, 8pm-11.30pm

Tickets £5 early bird / £7 advance / More on the door

Tickets available from www.theticketsellers.co.uk

106 High St, Kings Heath, B14 7JZ

www.hareandhoundskingsheath.co.uk

Review - Chapel Club

After starting off quite literally with a bang, Chapel Club launched head first into their Sunday night set at the Hare and Hounds. Starting off with arguably their best known song, Surfacing, the London five piece continued to play a full hour’s set that left everyone in the audience feeling like they’d been very quickly steamed – in a

good way. Rammed to the brim, the soldout set saw the band play several songs from their EP and recently released album, Palaces. As the show went on, the band veered from their more energetic tracks, like Five Trees, which saw the first few rows of audience rocked about by an impromptu pit, to the sombre Bodies, which held everyone in a revered silence for the duration.

Just rock ‘n’ roll enough to get everyone moving and just melancholy enough to get everyone moving and just melancholy enough to bring back hush, Chapel Club were well within their rights to have sold out. Supported by the equally commendable David’s Lyre, who, fresh faced and eager to please, played an opening set of five songs from their soon to be released EP, In Arms. What their support lacked in stage presence, Chapel Club front man Lewis made up for fivefold, self-admittedly on the rum; his crowd interaction and banter made the heat that seemed to appear from nowhere in the crowd bearable

The tininess of the Hare and Hounds made for a perfect venue for what are sure to be one of the most up and coming bands this year, and, all technical hitches aside, the set could not have been better. Avoiding the clichés that come with an encore, the band deemed it better to announce their final song rather than reappear with the standard ‘oh look we’re back’ approach of usual gigs, and with one final track, they left the stage to applause, and a feeling of both satisfaction and prolonged heat stroke from the audience.

Posted by Tamara Roper on: http://www.redbrickpaper.co.uk

Review - Esben And The Witch

It’s Tuesday night and we find ourselves in familiar territory upstairs in the main room at the Hare and Hounds, awaiting another eclectic evening of live music hosted by Birmingham Promoters.

Kicking off proceedings are local 5 piece Silver Souvenirs with their pick and mix style and good times ethic. Combining chugging guitars, math rock rhythms and even Balearic synths, they do a great job of working the crowd, making plain their mantra “to make people dance”. Knives, is the sound of Delphic and the Klaxons meeting halfway between Atlantis and Interzone, whilst Youth is more Dancing than Killing in the Name of. Despite a few sound issues they manage to keep the crowd enthused and will surely garner continual praise and recognition for their energetic performances.

Next up, is Trophy Wife, members of Oxford’s Blessing Force collective – a group of musical souls forged during the creative process of Foals’ Total Life Forever album. Opener Take This Night has a Kid Creole Latino intro overlaid with Hot Chip, Over and Over style chimes. Hot Chip is a good starting point for the band both musically and in their dynamic on stage. Just as Alexis Taylor’s vocals add fragility in an otherwise electronic environment, so too Jody Prewett’s voice adds languor to their “ambitionless office disco”. Microlite, their debut single seems to melt away revealing a sense of humanism akin to that on One Life Stand. The Quiet Earth, imagines New Order and sees an enthusiastic turn by the drummer beating down on the drum pads for dear life! This is definitely a band that you would like to be seen out with.

From the downright human to a glimpse of the supernatural, Brighton’s Esben and the Witch begin their performance with what could best be described as an incantation. As Rachel Davies wails at the back of the stage, Ring like, her face hidden by long black hair, guitarist Daniel Copeman’s spasmodic movements appear as reactions to her ever intensifying dirge. She approaches the front of the stage and starts to frenziedly bang away at a cymbal whilst the drone of the guitar summons up the spirits from beyond. Then from out of the maelstrom comes a plaintive voice that captures the soul. As opening tracks go, Argyria is a very powerful one encompassing all the elements that make up EATW’s style. As Beth Gibbons’ vocal on Portishead’s Dummy guided you into the heart of the music whilst retaining an existence all of its own, so too with Rachel Davies’ voice. She could be described as Florence’s Wyrd Sister, choosing to live on the darker fringes of the human psyche. Warpath sees her at her most Siouxie like backed by cavernous Glasvegas style guitars. Climaxing with Lucia at the Precipice, the crowd is literally left teeth-chattering, as the thunderous bass vibrates through the floor like an electric shock

Not just music but more a sense of theatre, a well-worked performance set to a backdrop of unnerving guitars, punctuated by ominous pounding drums with a Gothic heart and a voice that can dance on the wind and summon forth the dead.

Words by Andrew Gutteridge on: http://www.audioscribbler.co.uk

An Interview With Yam Who?

With only two weeks to go until NYC disco band Odyssey touch down at the Hare & Hounds in Kings Heath for a gig of colossal proportions, I caught up with Andy from Yam Who?, who has been working with the band in the studio, for a brief chat about what we have to look forward to and how their studio sessions have been going down.

What can we expect from Odyssey’s live show?
“One of strongest disco vocal groups from that golden era, with a well-honed live performance brought about from many years of touring – a ten piece band at the height of their game.”

Yam Who? have been in the studio working with the band recently, how did that come about?
“We were recording new material for the Yam Who? album with a London vocalist called Natasha Watts, who had previously worked with Odyssey as a backing vocalist. That was the hook-up. For us it’s a once in a lifetime experience, just to hear those famous tracks live.”

How have the studio sessions been going, and what have you been working on?
We have been working on all of their anthems, re-recorded with a live band. We had a direction for the album, in which it should be ‘one-takes’, keeping the over-dubs and editing to a minimum. Their sound is quite diverse and not just entirely disco – some of the tracks Odyssey wanted slightly faster, some given a ‘Philadelphia’ feel. There are new recordings of ‘Going Back To My Roots’, ‘Native New Yorker’, ‘Inside Out’ and many more – even some reggae versions!”

What does the rest of the year hold for the band?
“More shows in London, as well as festivals like the Garden Festival in Croatia. The first single to be released will be Ashley Beedle’s remixes of ‘Native New Yorker’, backed with Toby Tobias and PBR Streetgang reworkings of ‘Inside Out’. The full album will be released on ISM Records in May.”
Posted by Sam Redmore on: http://freestylebirmingham.blogspot.com