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METALCORE CONVERGE The Garage, Glasgow, 14 Jul
Having formed nearly two decades ago, it was 2001’s album Jane Doe that served as the proverbial sucker punch, launching Massachusetts hardcore crew, Converge, into a new realm of recognition and praise. Fusing a love of metal’s brutal, technical proficiency and the blistering speed of thrash and hardcore, the album bore a hole through a largely stagnant modern metal landscape at the turn of the millennium and has since, along with the group’s subsequent albums, laid the groundwork for a tirade of uncompromising, contemporary hardcore acts — in turn giving weight to what has frequently come to be labeled as ‘metalcore’.
Alongside running their own record label, Deathwish Inc., producing other acts and taking care of all their own artwork – courtesy of startlingly
talented vocalist Jacob Bannon – Converge’s most notable extra-curricular activity is indeed their live performance. Tirelessly destroying their instruments, their surroundings, and ultimately themselves – whilst maintaining incredibly high levels of musical cohesion and power – these performances are consistently unpredictable, almost always ending in carnage, and more often than not ending in a tally of breaks, blood and bruises. As time presses on, the intensity and velocity of these shows is far from waning, as they currently prepare for an all-out European assault on the back of last year’s excellent ‘Axe To Fall’ single. The tour sees the rampaging four-man firing squad set their sights on Glasgow’s Garage, providing their many Scots followers with a prime opportunity to blow off some steam with these true titans of contemporary hardcore. (Ryan Drever)
Music PROFILE
TUNNG Sorry, not on the first date. No, TUNNG. You know, those twisted pop music-makers from London. Oh, them. What about them? Well, a new single ‘Don’t Look Down or Back’ is out soon; off from their rather good last album, . . . And Then We Saw Land. It was inspired by travels they took with Malian desert blues group Tinariwen, which apparently taught them that, when it comes to songwriting, ‘you don’t always need a structure, as long as there is presence, emotion and groove’. Sounds like new age hippy clap-trap to me. Give me a genre to work with. Mike Lindsay, one of the lead vocalists, said his friend described it as ‘Epic folk disco brass magnificent.’ How do you like them apples? Hmm, I am intrigued . . . you said one of the lead vocalists? Yes. The current line-up consists of Lindsay, Phil Winter (electronics and samples), Martin Smith (exotic percussion and occasional clarinet), Ashley Bates (banjos and guitars) and Becky Jacobs (melodica and more vocals). When this album rolled around, TUNNG’s founder, Sam Genders, left the band, and new lyricist Ben Bickerton joined. Jacobs was also brought to the fore as a lead vocalist due to her distinctive voice and good stage banter. Clarinet, banjos, melodica and stage banter? I might just be sold – where are they playing? Happily enough, they’re touring now – details below. (Niki Boyle) ■ Stereo, Glasgow, Thu 22 Jul. The single ‘Don’t Look Down Or Back’ is out Mon 2 Aug on Full Time Hobby.
INDIE FUNDRAISER CHARITY BAW II The Roxy Art House, Edinburgh, Sat 17 Jul
After welcoming acts like Vashti Bunyan, Aberfeldy and Meursault last year, (meanwhile raising thousands of pounds for charity) the ‘Baw’ is back with an even bigger line-up. Acoustic folkster King Creosote (left) will be headlining
the Roxy’s ‘main stage’, giving fans another chance to hear tunes like ‘Coast On By’ or ‘You’ve No Clue Do You’. Good news then, if you were one of the unlucky punters who didn’t get Fence Homegame, or Away Game tickets – after both sold out in minutes.
‘It’s looking really, really good this year. It’s probably one of the best line-ups we’ve had, and I’m really excited about it,’ says Charity Baw organiser Mike McLeod.
the Ships, plus Edinburgh’s art-pop trio FOUND (now with added Scottish BAFTA-winner appeal) and Fife singer Panda Su.
Three Blind Wolves headline in the Roxy Room with a country and blues sound with a glimmer of gospel, supported by rockers The Sexual Objects, and folk band Maple Leaves, as well as Glasgow pop double-act Over The Wall.
‘I’ve followed Three Blind Wolves for a long time now
and I’ve seen ballboy a few times in the past, so it’s a pleasure to have them at the event and watch them perform,’ says McLeod. This year’s Baw will raise money for Edinburgh charity Artlink, which provides opportunities for disabled or disadvantaged people to take part in the arts. ‘There will be some classic tunes, some new tunes and
John Peel favourite, ballboy, will also be there, playing beautifully unique tracks from latest album I Worked on a crowd who are really up for it, all raising money for a really good cause.’ (Julia Correia)
8–22 Jul 2010 THE LIST 65