COMPETITION:
WIN! A R*E*P*E*A*T RECORDS BUNDLE OF JOY
We hope you all had a thoroughly splendid Christmas, with all the food and presents and merriness your hearts desired. However, whatever you wanted, those lovely people at legendary Cambridge-based indie label R*E*P*E*A*T Records are here to give you everything you need: a tidy bundle of all their releases from the last 18 months.
So - generous souls that they are - the following could be yours to cherish for all eternity:
- 'External Shallow Actions' 3-track CD EP by The Batts, plus badge.
- 'This Was The Sound Of Sugar Town' 20-track compilation CD.
- 'Venus Envy' 7" flexi single featuring The Baby Seals and Beverley Kills.
- 'This Is The Sound Of Sugar Town Volume 2' 13-track vinyl compilation LP.
- 'You Flexi Thing Vol. 2' 7" flexi single featuring Saltfen and SIAH.
- 'Heartbreak Major' 4-track 12" vinyl EP by Careless Sons.
That sounds tasty, doesn't it? YES IT DOES. BECAUSE IT IS.
All you must do is answer one simple-if-Google-is-your-friend question:
Which of the following is NOT a popular game played with a bat and ball?
A) Pesäpallo
B) Bat-and-trap
C) Odbyt Odbyt
If you want to win (and why wouldn't you?), e-mail your answer to [email protected] by 5pm on Sunday 31st December 2017 with the subject heading, "Hot rock action, please!" Now, back to the drinking with you.
The winner will be notified via e-mail. Please note that the editor's decision is final, for he is fine like a fox and supple like a minnow.
Photo: Careless Sons (from Facebook)
COMPETITION:
WIN! LIMITED EDITION, SIGNED BEVERLEY KILLS/THE BABY SEALS SINGLE
A couple of weeks back, Cambridge-based indie legends R*E*P*E*A*T Records released a rather ripping split 7" limited edition orange flexi single by The Baby Seals and Beverley Kills. We'd lavish you with superlatives about how ace it is, but you can hear it for yourselves right here.
R*E*P*E*A*T have very kindly sent us one copy, signed by both bands, which can be yours to cherish forever. All you have to do is answer one simple question:
Which of the following is NOT a real band?
a) Rad Pitt
b) Ill Murray
c) Professor Brian Rox
E-mail your answer to [email protected] with the subject heading "I'm Too Flexi" no later than 5pm on Friday, 3rd November. Please note that the Editor's decision is final, for he is wise, like H from Steps.
The first ever Subterranean Festival, a new indie and rock festival in the centre of Cambridge, has been announced for later this year.
Taking place on Saturday 23 September, the line-up includes Scottish three-piece rock band The Amorettes, Indie band PINS, and Stone Broken who will headline each day of the festival.
SUBTERRANEAN. 2017
Subterranean also features acoustic performances from InMe lead singer Dave McPherson and rock band Ducking Punches alongside some of the top Cambridgeshire rock and indie act; Hollowstar, Beverley Kills, Sweet Crisis, Seasons, Phoenix Calling, Mammoth Penguins, The Extons, The Baby Seals and Staycations.
The Festival has been co-curated by Neil Jones, Operations Director for Cambridge Live, local journalist Jude Clarke and Cambridge 105 presenter Tim Willett.
Tickets are £15 from: 01223 357851 | www.cornex.co.uk
Music | Line-up announced for cool new indie festival in Cambridge The first ever Subterranean Festival, a new indie and rock festival in the centre of Cambridge, has been announced for later this year.
So this amazing all woman punky delight called Beverley Kills played this messy-perfect Hüsker Dü cover as a new couple's 1st dance song, and I was strongly reminded of the glory of YouTube :'D
TSH: How do you feel the Beverley Kills creative partnership has evolved over the years?
Juliette: Well, it started with us as a band just thinking we’d do cover versions of old songs, sort of punk them up, but then we realised we could actually write songs of our own and we were not bad at it. So we started writing our own songs, it progressed and got better and better, that’s pretty much how our partnership has evolved. We now know how our songs are going to sound. We have the ideas in mind of what the definition of the Beverley Kills sound is. All the girls are on the same wavelength and we work so well creatively.
TSH: In terms of upcoming material is there anything new you’ve adopted?
Juliette: Yeah, I suppose we’re kind of maturing in every way with our sounds, adopting more layers; it’s been a natural transition with backing harmonies and vocals. Georgie and Elisa have been singing backing vocals, then Kate joined in and so have I now. We’re all responsible for vocals and have more roles. We like to write and practice and let the songs come out naturally.
TSH: When penning lyrics, do the words come from a personal place?
Juliette: Ninety-nine percent of the time our lyrics are centred around our own experiences as a band, Georgie wrote one song from her friend’s experience actually. I guess we don’t like made up songs, all the songs we write are personal to us.
TSH: Your latest work the ‘On the Trail’ EP is 13 minutes of pulsating uplifting punk, do you feel it consists of an overall theme or narrative?
Juliette: I guess so, there is a slower song (‘Under our Sleeves’), which is quite different because it’s slower and I wrote that one. It might be the one everyone skips *laughs* or it might even be listened to! We don’t think too much about themes. Instead of a theme or a narrative it’s more like a pace, we get together and determine the pace I guess.
TSH: The opening song on the EP entitled ‘Hansel and Regretel’ consists of lyrics like ‘promises were lies’ and ‘watch the stars explode’ - what’s the story behind the song?
Juliette: Kate wrote that one, as far as I know it’s a personal a song about someone she’s familiar with, it has a deeper meaning for Kate. It’s her message to someone and that’s what the lyrics signify. I guess I can’t delve into it too much, but I definitely like how it came out!
TSH: ‘Under our Sleeves’ as you stated earlier is a slower song and the tempo shift certainly adds a dynamic depth to the EP, what motivations do you draw upon for a song like this?
Juliette: I had quite a few unfortunate things happen around me when I was writing this song and I was sort of in that dark place at the time. Five minutes later I could write an upbeat song, it’s strange really! I wrote that song really quickly, it just reflects a personal space for me and the motivations for the song take me to that place I guess.
TSH: What two words would you use to sum up the EP?
Juliette: A banger!
TSH: Do you feel as a band your priorities have shifted over the years?
Juliette: We love each other’s company more than anything - our friendships have definitely strengthened. When I first started in the band I just didn’t expect to get three other girls that were so on my wavelength that I was going to bond with so strongly. We’re fortunate and look after each other. Our priorities have shifted slightly, but all in a good way. We just want to write together, play together, record together and have as much fun as we can and if something comes out of our releases then that’s great, same with our gigs. If not we are having a good time.
TSH: What sort of emotions do you experience when playing live?
Juliette: We love it; it is for me the most important part - I’m sure the other girls would agree. Doing the records and getting them out there is great, but to play gigs and be onstage is the best feeling.
TSH: What kind of atmosphere do you like to generate whilst performing?
Juliette: We’d all agree that we like it when the crowd is into it; jumping around, singing and dancing. It always creates a unique and heartwarming bond.
TSH: Is there a particular musical period that inspires the Beverley Kills sound and one that you girls identify with?
Juliette: I guess we have very different tastes, which is good, we draw influence from early 90’s grunge and a little from 80’s and 90’s pop punk, also American punk. Elisa loves her rock classics so there’s a little bit of 70’s and 80s influence in there *laughs*, our musical tastes definitely overlap. That’s for sure!
TSH: What are your thoughts on the social media world and how it plays a big part of a band’s output nowadays?
Juliette: Hmm, well when I first started in bands it was before the age of social media and we used to hand-type newsletters and send them out and that’s how people knew we were doing gigs and we’d fly post, that’s how people would hear about you. I guess the gig aspect is a lot easier and quicker, but I kind of feel social media makes things too accessible, like bands are too accessible, it just seems far too easy to actually be in a band and you can record stuff and put it on social media and not even have to gig it. You can just upload it to YouTube and be signed from that. It’s strange I guess. Gone are the days where you have to tour the country relentlessly and release album after album to get noticed. I guess it has its good and band points.
TSH: Are there any strenuous elements you face being in a band?
Juliette: We are lucky and blessed. Being close friends we’ve not experienced much strenuous aspects, our friendship keeps us bonding well. I guess the difficult part would be lugging our equipment around *laughs*.
TSH: What can we expect from Beverley Kills for the year ahead?
Juliette: We are certainly looking to promoting the EP more, it came out just before Christmas so there was not much time and that time of year consists of a slump for gigs. During March time we are going to tour a fair bit, I’m really looking forward to it. We’re looking to arrange some gigs throughout early summer. Also, another release may be possible in the later part of the year; we’re always writing songs and keen to get them recorded… Oh, and more merchandise! We are going to carry on having fun!
TSH: If you could go back in time to see one performance who would it be?
Juliette: The Who with Keith Moon playing.
TSH: Is there one album that you are emotionally attached to?
Juliette: Probably Mega City Four – ‘Tranzphobia’.
TSH: What’s the best live show you’ve attended?
Juliette: I’d say Nirvana at Reading ‘92. The whole of Reading ‘92 was amazing; it was all bands I was into. I was going from stage to stage and saw many legendary bands. It was awesome!
This starts out reasonably well- I was surprised. The first three tracks are by Beverley Kills, and this reminds me of a slightly more poppy version of Vice Squad- the singer of this band has a little less snot and a little more tone to her voice. Actually, it’s kind of enjoyable. The music is mostly the same, although I hear some Anti-Nowhere League in the basic sort of street punk-y sound Beverley Kills has. The mix is clear, the lyrics are decent, I would like to see what this band has in store for the future. There’s a lot of potential for them, especially if it’s grittier and less professionally recorded next time around. The Destructors’ songs are mid-paced fuzzy punky garage rock from Britain- somewhat of a sound of its own, but nothing to go nuts over. These are pretty much standard fare for Destructors’ songs- nothing very good or bad, just unnoteworthy. Unfortunately, they had to following a surprisingly stellar band like Beverley Kills, and couldn’t keep up. Oh well- better luck next time, fellows.
