Author: mike

Fishboy at Big Takeover

Ambitious Denton, TX indie rockers, Fishboy, return with yet another narrative concept album. Coinciding with a 160 page 5.5×5.5 comic, An Elephant centers on the apocryphal story of Topsy the elephant, who was supposedly electrocuted in a public execution by Thomas Edison in 1903, though historical sources refute the claim that the inventor had anything… Continue reading Fishboy at Big Takeover

Sleaford Mods at Austin Town Hall

If you didn’t get your hands on last year’s Divide and Exit LP from the Sleaford Mods, then perhaps you missed the boat.  The UK act was all over year end lists, and I’ve got a certain fondness for the duo.  Musically, they’re definitely in the vein of punk rock: brutal all the way.  But,… Continue reading Sleaford Mods at Austin Town Hall

Fireworks at Vinyl District

The Fireworks’ primary sonic objective is drenching catchy guitar pop in feedback and fuzz as they add gal-guy vocals and unleash the ingredients through a trim energetic attack. Featuring 13 hard-hitting songs and a handful of twists, Switch Me On is the London and Brighton UK-based four-piece’s first LP. It’s out this week on blood… Continue reading Fireworks at Vinyl District

Fireworks at AllMusic

Noise pop combo the Fireworks have an impressive pedigree, sporting vocals from Emma Hall ofPocketbooks, guitar and vocals by Big Pink Cake’s Matthew Rimell, and drums by Shaun Charman ofthe Wedding Present and Popguns. They take inspiration from the long line of great noise pop bands the U.K. has churned out over the years, from… Continue reading Fireworks at AllMusic

Fireworks at When You Motor Away

Switch Me On is the first LP from London/Brighton band The Fireworks, but it has the feel of a mid career album or even a retrospective of past singles.  Perhaps one explanation is that while the band is relatively new the members are veterans of bands such as Big Pink Cake, The Pocketbooks, Popguns and The… Continue reading Fireworks at When You Motor Away

Mind Brains at Stereo Embers

Apparently being the driving force behind avant post-punkers The New Sound of Numbers isn’t quite enough for Hannah Jones, as she’s recently joined forces with Kris Deason (Dreamboat), Eric Harris (Olivia Tremor Control) and fellow NSON’er Emily Waldron – oh, let’s just call them all Elephant 6 alumni, shall we? – to form the marvelously… Continue reading Mind Brains at Stereo Embers

Fireworks at Atlas and the Anchor

(On the heels of their two successful singles and self-titled EP, the London-based band, consisting of Emma Hall (Pocketbooks), Matthew Rimell (Big Pink Cake), visual artist Isabel Albiol, and Shaun Charman (The Wedding Present/ThePopguns), released their highly-anticipated debut album, Switch Me On this week via Shelflife Records.  With alternately fuzzy and shimmering guitars, infectiously danceable… Continue reading Fireworks at Atlas and the Anchor

Fireworks at Big Takeover

London/Bristol-based fuzz-pop quartet, The Fireworks, finally release their explosive debut full-length, proving the anticipation was well worth it. As loud, distorted and thunderous asSwitch Me On gets, it remains completely melodic. The guitar stays Johnny Ramone simple, grinding out super-catchy feedback-laden pop riffs for the reverb-fueled male/female vocals to accentuate. Meanwhile, thick and meaty basslines… Continue reading Fireworks at Big Takeover