Xmas Bleakness

Every year, xmas barges its way into our lives completely uninvited, derailing whatever shit you've got going on. Capitalism on overdrive. It's more horrifying than Halloween. The crushing inevitability of hearing 'those songs' again, the same bunch of tired, ubiquitous tunes, like a pair of socks with holes in you probably should have thrown away years ago. Then there's the panic and stress, it's such a difficult time for so many, and for what? Maybe it's time to reframe xmas?

On that note, I've compiled a bleak xmas playlist featuring the alternative delights of Smoke Fairies, The Sonics, Eels, The Wandering Step, The Handsome Family, Anita Bryant, The Fall, Billy Nomates, Au Reviour Simone, Holly Golightly, Viv Albertine, The Long Blondes, The Sinclairs, LCD Soundsystem, Andrew Bird, Frightened Rabbit, The Walkmen, Khruangbin, Six by Seven, PINS, Christopher Lee, Sparks... 

HAVE A LISTEN

MERRY XMAS

Firestations - Protection Spells

...from the Hash & Brew article:

With trademark intertwined vocals from Mike and Laura, it also features special guest Neil Walsh (Smoke Fairies, Videocean, Shattercones) on viola, as well as a rare, scorched-earth guitar solo (like a frustrated dad going epic in a guitar shop) from the band’s lead guitarist Martin (who is not a dad).

For fans of emotional alt-country - think Sparklehorse, John Cale, Wilco, Jessica Lea Mayfield, Neil Young, Herman Dune, Sharon Van Etten - albeit selectively filtered through refined (repressed) British sensibilities.

Shattercones - In the Bleak Midwinter

 

                                

Hot on the heels of October’s This Septic Isle EP, Shattercones gift us a slab of Christmas cheer(?) with their take on the popular school hymn ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’. Pedal steel guitar floats over a bed of insistent, woozy drones, chugging guitar, deep, pulsing, and a vocal that’s almost as cold as the song title itself. Recorded specially for the Joyzine Advent Calendar, the song is a warped but soothing missive for those who prefer their Christmas tunes with a slice of Brexit canapés and some homemade rocket fuel. It’s also a potent taster for their forthcoming 3rd EP, due next year. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS. LISTEN TO SHATTERCONES!

Download ‘In The Bleak Midwinter‘
Find out more on Shattercones’ official website.

 

Shattercones w/ Maggie the Cat & Naomi in Blue - Paper Dress Vintage - 22nd Feb

 Tickets: bit.ly/sonictonictickets

 

 

 

Firestations & The Leaf Library at Paper Dress Vintage - 21st Jan

Tickets: bit.ly/sonictonictickets

Pleased to be joining forces with Joyzine for a couple of shows at Paper Dress Vintage, the first being Firestations, who have a sparkly new tune on the way, and support from The Leaf Library and some special guests to be revealed soon!

 

 

 

Ice Baths & Scrounge at Folklore

 Tickets 👉 bit.ly/sonictonictickets 👈

 

Fuzzy Lights & Beija Flo at Folklore

 

Our next Sonic Tonic gig is at Folklore, a new venue for us and it's one of those venues you can get lost in, not only because its a bit of a jungle inside. Headlining is Cambridge alt-folk band Fuzzy Lights who are currently touring acclaimed new album Burials and support comes from the marvellous Beija Flo, all the way from Birkenhead. It's sure to be a wonderful night.  

 TICKETS HERE

This Septic Isle EP

This Septic Isle EP is out now. 

 The EP we recorded at 123 with Rob Squarehead has been released into the digital ether by the good folk at Gare Du Nord records. We also released three very different videos for tracks off the EP: 

Butterfly Rom

  

The Man Who Ate Capitalism

  

Say Goodbye

  

 If you'd like to know more about each song there's a great Track by Track piece over on Joyzine. 

 ...and if you're looking for a review, The Other Side Reviews were very nice, and I quote " Infinitely annoyed, frustrated and upset yet oddly beautiful"

Neiltones

The playlist of me playing on songs that are available to listen to on Spotify has been updated, including a couple of new songs off the new Shattercones EP.

Shattercones announce new EP This Septic Isle

Really pleased to announce we will be releasing an EP through Gare Du Nord records in October..

"In 120 mind-boggling seconds these Four Horsemen of the Great Britain Apocalypse
ventilate their frustration and anger about their country. Their sonic fulmination
sounds exactly like the current state of mind of the UK. Chaotic, confused, helpless
and afflicted by what the hell is going on here sentiments.

Here’s the new British anthem…" - Turn Up The Volume

Here's the video:

Shattercones playlist

 

Magick Mountain live at the Windmill, 19th August

 

👇👇👇👇👇

TICKETS 

 

We've had to cancel many Sonic Tonic gigs during the pandemic, as everyone has of course, and this looks to be our first one back (fingers crossed) co-promoting with esteemed colleagues The Bechdel Sound Test. Magick Mountain are quite something, they channel the frenetic energy of bands like Hot Snakes, The Gories, The Sonics, Jim Jones Revue, Thee Oh Sees, The Make Up, Nation of Ulysees, Drive Like Jehu, Murder City Devils... yeah, I'm just listing a load of bands I like now, but Magick Mountain are really great though, they're up there. Come along.

 

Gunbuttons

 

I'm in this music video, lumbering about with a paint brush in that London they have now.