behindsmilefest-blog

[behindsmilefest-blog]

SMILE 2012 - REVIEW OF THE WEEK

It's been two weeks since SMILE 2012 ended, and now here we bring you the whole of:

SMILE 2012 In Review

SMILE launched its proceeding’s this year with its brand new addition, the SMILE Fringe festival, an event spread across the opening weekend of March showcasing a range of artists and workshops in some of the most unusual locations in Southampton.  By day, various acoustic performers played at venues such as the cellar and the art house and by night, artists such as the ethereal Wise Children and the fearsome Freeze the Atlantic played in venues as haunting as the Bargate castle. Events were either free or required tickets to be purchased in advance, with multiple events taking place at the same time across the city.

  Monday dawned in the wake of the Fringe festival. It was the first official day of SMILE week and a lot of buzz surrounded the events occurring throughout the day. Continuing on with the festival's established diversity of having both live music and guest lectures, Monday started with the 'supergroup' The Producers holding a Q and A session, which was later followed by a performance that evening. Kodiak Jack then played a set filled with technical metal riffs and solos at Unit, whilst Fly, Frankie, Fly, WeCaughttheCastle, Stop No Go and 8-Bit Odyssey outdid themselves at the Avondale.

  Tuesday gave way to a showcase of talent from Solent’s 3rd year music performance students. A diverse line-up of genres ranging from folk, blues-rock and metal made for a night to suit almost everyone’s tastes. Meanwhile, on the high street, Urban Outfitters held an after-hours shopping event that proved to be a resounding success.

  Wednesday was somewhat subdued as everyone stopped to catch their breath due to the onslaught of exciting events that happened over the four days previously. Southampton’s musical hangover however didn’t stop Birmingham-based Johnny Foreigner from blasting us awake on the evening's only scheduled show, who put on a blistering performance that shook the walls of Unit nightclub. 

  Thursday was the first of the two industries days that allowed Solent students to gain an insight into life within the music industry. It started with Welsh rock band The Blackout, interviewed by the Kerrang! Magazine editor James McMahon in which they discussed the ways they have grown as musicians  as well as pinpointing some of the struggles which exist in the industry. They were then immediately followed by Colin Lester, who gave a lecture on what it takes to be a successful music manager. He imparted some of the helpful advice that got him to where he is today, and he constantly stressed that passion was the biggest factor when looking to make it big in today’s music industry. The final guest speakers on Thursday were Rob da Bank, Jo Mckay and Jim Mawdsley, all of which were big names in the business of music festivals. Their session gave an insight into how festivals are run, the issues that can occur, and the current state of the festival industry.

  There was only one show on Thursday evening, and it was the much talked-about Brother and Bones show at Avondale house. Support acts Made by Giants, Simon Says and Oliver perfectly set the scene for the headliners Brother and Bones who were truly one the highlights of this years SMILE week, as they hit the stage at full throttle with their unique blend of folk and rock.

  Friday, the second of the two industries days, featured talks by presenters Zoe Ball and Briggy Smale, as well as techno/country band Alabama 3.  Zoe and Briggy talked the audience through the inner workings of the BBC and what the BBC would look for in an employee. Alabama 3, on the other hand, discussed their viewpoints on the music industry today with a small set of tracks performed at the end of their talk.

  The evening then saw the SMILE 2012 closing party at the Cellar, headlined by indie-rock group Tellison, supported by Skymarshal, List of Saints, Stagecoach and Drawings. Each band brought their own unique sound to the event, making for a fairly diverse line-up, meaning that there was something for everyone. Tellison proved to be worthy of their headline slot with their hook-laden songs, that built up the audience  for DJ Teargas, who closed the night.

  The grand finale of the SMILE week 2012 took place on the large patch of grass opposite the Guildhall. The SMILE in the Square played host to a number of incredible acts; all of which showcased some of the fine musical talent that Southampton has to offer. The sun was out and artists such as Simon Says and Oliver provided a perfect soundtrack to the warmest hours of the day with their laid back ‘sunshine’ music. Later on, the energy picked up as artists such as Alice Avenue, 7th Revolution and Fly, Frankie, Fly took to the stage. SMILE in the Square certainly felt like a festival with these artists, as dance-offs were staged and the audience started to wake up from their midday siesta. Finally, SMILE in the Squares headliner, Cardinals closed the festival with their brand of downbeat and atmospheric indie, which seemed to lack the energy of the previous bands. However, with the sun setting, Cardinals became the perfect act for the moment, giving SMILE 2012 a fitting close.

[behindsmilefest-blog]

Making shapes for Fly,Frankie,Fly at SMILE in the Square.

[behindsmilefest-blog]

If your week has been feeling a bit empty without any of the In Da Tub vodcasts to wake up to, here's a little pick me up. All shots of the guests In Da Tub are available at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/behindthesmile/sets/72157629191005506/

[behindsmilefest-blog]

A video from last Saturday's SMILE in the Square. Featuring clips of performances by Kathryn Anderson, Charissa, Oliver, Alice Avenue, Simon Says, Made By Giants, Fly Frankie Fly & Cardinals.

[behindsmilefest-blog]

Smile In The Square// Guildhall Square 10th March

It was the grand finale, the concluding spectacle and the glorious ending to what has been arguably the best Smile Fest yet! I am of course talking about last Saturday’s ‘Smile in the Square’, an afternoon full of entertainment, with 10 bands gracing the bouncy castle stage along with Orange Room DJ’s and the music circle.

  The day as a whole ran very smoothly, as more and more people threw off their shirts jumpers and hoodies to lay relaxed on the guildhall grass as the day went on. The sun and gentle breeze also proved a great catalyst for the event’s success, which encouraged many to re-live the festival experience be it through dancing or relaxing. The event started with a selection of acoustic acts including the openers The Kaleurs, country solo artist Kathryn Anderson and Charissa, who managed to uniquely transform a number of pop covers into a more folk genre format. After a succession of soothing light hearted performances it was then followed by the more upbeat Oliver who matched the increasing temperatures with their kooky funk numbers that were for most people, the afternoon’s highlight.

The Kaleurs

More bands including the bluesy Alice Avenue, the classic rock outfit 7th Revolution and others then also took to the stage before the eccentric and electric Fly Frankie Fly really brought the audience to life. The pinked up Frankie in his headband and shorts soon went head to head with a topless ‘Bez’ like character (minus the maraca’s) who pulled out a variety of sensational grooves which captivated the audience, forced out video cameras and brought the audience closer to the barrier. A competitive dance off that could rival the disco scenes of Saturday Night Fever followed and created a more energetic atmosphere.

 Fly Frankie Fly Dance-Off

Cardinals then closed the event with their dreamy set of slow hits, which sounded similar to Athlete and a host of other melodic indie bands that reigned in the mid 2000’s. The group lacked the same charisma or ignited performance as their predecessor but their overall sound worked quite nicely once dusk arrived. The comedy compeers Ben Shannon and Daryl Edge who provided jokes, sketches and wrestling in between changeovers throughout the day then introduced Chris Anderton and Martin James to the stage once Cardinals had finished. The pair and founders of SMILE then praised the organisers of this brilliant event as well as a list of thankyou’s and compliments to everyone else involved. It is likely that the pair will now go off to prepare for a bigger and better SMILE 2013 however it must be noted that the standards and expectations are now set even more higher than before.

Photos from the day are available at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/behindthesmile/sets/72157629553761339/

[behindsmilefest-blog]

If you haven't seen the (often weird but wonderful) photos from today's SMILE In The Square then you're really missing out! http://www.flickr.com/photos/behindthesmile/sets/72157629553761339/

[behindsmilefest-blog]

Tellison // Drawings // Stagecoach // Skymarshal // List Of Saints // The Cellar 9th March

The SMILE closing party had received a large amount of press and was a major talking point of the week leading up to the event. The Behind The Smile team were there to watch events unfold and give SMILE 2012 the send off it deserves. Skymarshal got the party off to a good start with a strong set which contained some very well constructed songs. Technical guitar riffs were supported by punchy drums and mind bending bass lines, while the singer's gravelly voice poured emotion into their songs. There was an inventive use of harmonics from the guitarist and the complicated rhythms, played to perfection, kept things interesting. On the whole, nothing particularly negative can be said about Skymarshal tonight, but they did lack some of their usual energy, and at times, the members seemed almost disinterested. This was slightly disappointing, as they are a band that are usually very impressive and give it their all. List Of Saints took to the stage next and they got off to a shaky start, with an unnecessarily long instrumental introduction which added nothing to the first song. Thankfully, things got much better from here on out, as they delivered a set that, although not particularly tight, was refreshingly up-beat and a lot of fun. They finished the set with a short hardcore punk song that, although taking the crowd by surprise, was done with tongue firmly in cheek, showing that they are not a band that try to take themselves too seriously. List Of Saints got a lot right, and they do have moments of greatness, but there is the overall feeling that their songs need to be taken apart and refined, as they do have the potential to be consistently strong. Third up tonight was Stagecoach. The Cellar was beginning to pack out as the stage lights lit up the five piece, who began with a quirky Jimmy Eat World style song. The band then proceeded to show off an array of well written, quirky tunes which went down well with the watching crowd. It was hard to pin a genre to Stagecoach. They were pop songs overall, but there was more to it than that, with great three part harmonies, acoustic and electric guitar parts and even a mandolin. The band played a set worthy of admiration, and definitely made a lasting impression on The Cellar. With the closing party in full swing, Drawings brought a new dynamic to the room with a captivating opening. The front man, shouting to the crowd before approaching the mic to address the room, formed a close relationship from the offset. Intense would be a good word to describe the first few songs of Drawings set tonight, and the funny and almost awkward banter from the wonderfully eccentric front man was as much a part of their show as the music. The music itself was grungy; crunching guitar riffs blended with more mellow, cleaner sections. The vocal performance was passionate and we could almost reach out and touch every word he sang. As Drawings progressed they got better, the songs really struck a chord and there was even a mass sing-a-long at one point. It felt like we were swimming with dolphins and having a great time, except instead of dolphins, it was sharks, and we kind of enjoyed the danger.

So the time had come for Tellison to step up and headline the Smile closing party 2012. The band have recently worked very hard to build up a reputation nationwide, and tonight they had the perfect platform to prove that this is no fluke. Firstly, they have the perfect image, you could make plastic figurines and they would sell; four guys who clearly are just happy to be on stage and relishing the big crowd there to watch them. Tellison pull out a relentless onslaught of brilliantly executed, seriously catchy songs, that had the crowd singing along throughout. These are complete with thundering bass, and well thought out three-way vocal harmonies and shouts. At the end of the show stopping set, they thanked the promoters and gave SMILE a mention, as well as thanking everybody who turned out to watch, proving that not only are they amazing songwriter's, they are also genuine, down to earth people.

Tellison provided the perfect end to a great show which was filled with inspiring bands; definitely a night which deserves to be remembered for a long time to come. It’s now worth giving a mention to the legend that is Martin James, a.k.a DJ TearGas, who provided the after party carnage, spinning tunes as if it was 1985.

All pictures of last night's show are available on: http://www.flickr.com/photos/behindthesmile/sets/72157629185981684/

[behindsmilefest-blog]

Guest Lecture With Zoe Ball // 9th March

Zoe Ball currently reigns as one of the most familiar presenters on both television and radio. Famous for her work on the BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Show and her presenting of the 90’s kids show ‘Live and Kicking’, Ball came down for a chat on the sofa, interviewed by fellow Media queen Briggy Smale.

  Entering the JM Theatre in her glittering flower patterned jacket, Zoe began the talk by encouraging the audience to carry out different projects related to their desired field of work. She put emphasis on the fact that the more material you produce, the more impressive it will look for potential employers, either for paid work or for placement. She followed this by crediting the infrastructure of the BBC and their teaching process from an early stage, pinpointing this as the best company to get involved in.

  Providing insights into the production of radio and the playlist selection process was then also covered by the special guest speaker. She criticised some stations for not allowing DJ’s to have the influence on the music selected, holding it partly responsible for the difficulty for underground bands to break through.

  The session as a whole was filled with helpful tips to succeed in the media world, shocking celebrity revelations courtesy of Briggy and a few curious insights into the production of TV and Radio. The audience were very appreciative of the knowledge Zoe provided which really justified the awarding of a fellowship to her at the end of the talk. 

[behindsmilefest-blog]

Guest Lecture With Alabama 3 // 9th March

Yesterday afternoon, JM315 gave way to the legendary Country/Techno outfit Alabama 3. The two members who by alias are best known as Larry Love and Rock Freebase fed the audience with their view points, their music and their tales which were all delivered in a very rock ‘n’ roll political spirit.

  The duo started off, by discussing their unique sound, a fascinating blend of Country and Techno, commenting on how so many Country purists were offended because of their numerous drug references. They went on to discuss genre conventions and how they broke them with their rave related lyrical themes and incorporation of dance sub genres.

  They moved on, with a continuous debate about illegally downloading, with the pair expressing their surprised agreement of downloading for free. They stated that ‘If you can download it, download it, if you can file share, file share but if you buy it you are a donut!’justifying these remarks from saying how they believe it helps to sell the bigger picture and how it can provide more revenue in the form of merchandise sales and gigging.

  Arguably the band’s biggest accomplishment has been the penning of the track ‘Woke Up This Morning’, the entrance theme for the popular US drama The Sopranos. They exclaimed of their pride from being a part of the series, which came about from a David Chase (Sopranos Creator) phone call who at first, ‘thought we were 3 young black kids from the Bronx’. On topic, Larry also informed us of a Kellogg’s offer for the track who wanted to use the song for an upcoming commercial, with the lyrics re-worded to sing ‘Woke up this morning, had myself some bran’. They kindly refused.

  The guys went on to finish with a strong four-song set with songs off their new album that could be regarded as fine pieces of political satire and social commentary. The song about last summer’s London Riots was a personal highlight.

[behindsmilefest-blog]

Today's Headliners of Smile in the Square coming on stage at 17:20 we believe..

Cardinals- You & I Both

[behindsmilefest-blog]

Here is todays In Ta Dub with guests CARDINALS. Smile In The Square starts at 12 today! 

[behindsmilefest-blog]

Brother & Bones // Oliver // Simon Says // Made By Giants // Avondale House 8th March

Reviewed previously by Behind The Smile, from a Joiners show just two days earlier, Made By Giants start off tonight’s show at Avondale House with music which is perhaps better suited in the afternoon with a cappuccino, than a night-time live music venue. Their music is pretty and relaxing, and they are good at what they do, but they don’t give the impression of musicians that are trying to achieve too much. The acoustic duo’s final song, a cover of Foo Fighter’s “My Hero” isn’t the most imaginative of song covers, and it fails to rouse much of a reaction from the restless and growing crowd at Avondale, who are perhaps wanting something louder.

Not many bands can write seemingly nonsense songs about subject matters like peanut butter jelly and still maintain their integrity, but Simon Says manage to pull it off with their brand of infectious reggae. A fun-loving band that left the more uninhibited members of the audience smiling, Simon Says made their way through a lively set, showing themselves to be completely at ease with the audience between songs and encourage sing-along’s during, and it is clear with the amount of audience members singing along, that a number of people have seen them before. While this is a promising sign that shows they are building up a fan base, they should not forget to refresh their well-rehearsed set before they begin to show signs of becoming stale.

 Simon Says

The penultimate act of the night (and the second who have been previously reviewed by us), Oliver, step up to the plate next with a sound that can be described best as calypso infused pop. This is a band that would be best listened to sitting on a beach in Jamaica, sipping on cocktails. Lead by the soulful voice of Bonnie Elizabeth, the band remains tight throughout, as the bassist holds down the rhythm with some skillfully crafted walking bass lines. Their catchy vocal melodies grab the audience’s attention throughout the set, and as the band vacate the stage, the songs are still ringing in the ears of the crowd.

The venue is at full capacity for tonight’s headliner Brother & Bones, and there is an atmosphere of anticipation throughout the venue. The addition of a second drum kit meant that anyone who had not already heard of the London-based 5 piece were left expecting something exceptional. - and exceptional it was. With the full force of a nuclear bomb to the face, Brother & Bones deliver a blistering half-hour set filled with perfectly synchronised, stomping beats from the two drummers. Impressive guitar work, rhythmic bass, excellent dynamics and folky vocal harmonies combine to create their patented sound. With an airtight set, well crafted songs, and a sound that leaves an audience breathless, Brother & Bones are a fine example of the talent that is coming out of the British music scene.

Brother & Bones

All images of the night are available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/behindthesmile/sets/72157629183607494/

[behindsmilefest-blog]

Footage from last nights show at Avondale House, featuring Made by Giants, Simon Says, Oliver and Brother & Bones.

[behindsmilefest-blog]

Track of the Day from tonight's SMILE Closing Party headliners!

Tellison- Edith

[behindsmilefest-blog]

Guest Lecture With Colin Lester // 8th March

Colin Lester was in JM315 today to give a guest lecture on what it takes to be an artist manager. With a repertoire which includes artists such as Arctic Monkeys, Craig David and Travis, Colin Lester is more than qualified to impart his wisdom on a room full of students wishing to make a name for themselves in the industry.

The lecture began with a showing of a Youtube video, depicting him screaming and shouting at someone about Bo Selecta’s effect on Craig David’s branding. The purpose of this video was made clear as he proceeded to ask the question: “what does this video say about me?”, to which one audience member responded: “it shows passion”. This is something that Colin Lester was keen to emphasise over and over throughout the lecture, saying that a passion for what you are doing is essential to being successful in the music industry.  

Over the hour, Colin spoke of a number of topics concerning the issues within the music industry. He was a strong supporter of record labels, saying that although many artists complain about them, they essentially offer a lot of money for very little return on the artist’s part. He also stated that sometimes being successful can be purely down to luck and being in the right place at the right time. For example, at Glastonbury festival in 1999, during Travis’s performance, it started raining heavily just as the band sang the first few lines of their hit ‘why does it always rain on me?’ As soon as the song finished, the rain cleared and the sun began to shine again. This was broadcast across the U.K, getting people talking about the band, which boosted their sales from tens of thousands, to millions.

He also spoke of reality T.V artists, using the analogy of ‘fast food’ – in other words, they can offer a short-term income but the majority of them are only a temporary ‘quick fix’. The importance of developing artists was also stated, as Colin spoke of the significance of producing a long-term relationship between artist and consumer. The reasoning is that a consumer will always support an artist that they are familiar with, resulting in more income for the manager in the long term.

Too many interesting topics were raised during the lecture for this short report to do it justice, but the following is a list of what we feel were the most important points of the lecture for any aspiring artist managers:

1.     Be passionate about what you are doing.

2.     Make sure you choose a strong artist that you have absolute confidence in.

3.     Success comes from the artist; without the artist the manager is nothing.

4.     The artist that you back needs to have an endearing personality.

5.     Connections within the industry are indispensable.

6.     Do what you feel is right and the money will follow.

7.     Be persistent; constantly find new ways to keep your artist in the public eye.

8.     As an artist manager, you need to be passionate, have belief, earn a strong  reputation, and maintain your integrity.

Quote of the day also goes to Colin with these final words of wisdom:

‘there’s one simple letter between s*** and hit!’

[behindsmilefest-blog]

Johnny Foreigner // Pirate Video Company // Nine Miles South // UNIT 7th March

      Wednesday night’s only SMILE gig began with the band Nine Miles South, filling Unit’s upstairs with their brand of Yank-influenced rock. Anybody who listened to them would be surprised to hear that they hail from Guildford, as their music wouldn’t go amiss on a Texan classic-rock radio station. The music is riff-heavy, with guitar solos displaying an impressive level of musicality, and vocals that contain that distinctive American ‘twang’ all make for a sound that is unusual for an underground act, but is still very familiar, with strong comparisons to bands such as Black Stone Cherry.

      What happens when you mix together jarring riffs, distorted bass tones, manic drumbeats and belted vocals? You get Pirate Video Company. Upon first glance, tonight’s second act look like an ordinary indie band, but looks are deceiving, because as soon as the hardcore indie rock’n’roll hits, audience members are left not quite sure what it is that is happening right before them. With the audience members standing a few metres away from the stage, instead of asking them politely to move forward, Max Cleworth utilises the space, throwing himself around violently as he belts with the anger of an army of repressed teenagers. The band some how manages to combine several music elements that remind you both of a lot of things, and nothing in particular at the same time. It’s obvious that each member of this band has brought their own influences to the band, and together they create something that is truly unique.

      Johnny Foreigners set began in a charmingly unusual manner, with the interval music being faded out, and then suddenly, from somewhere within the room an audience member, began singing. - “Sleep walk the Reeperbahn, the soberest photographs”. - This audience member was none other than Alexei Berrow; the bands lead vocalist and guitarist. He was soon joined by the voice of Bass player Kelly Southern, singing delicate vocals from the other side of the room - “So somewhere there’s a party that you’re not invited too”. - As they both showcased their vocal ability; filling the room with their voices, they join drummer Jr Elvis Washington on stage.

      What followed was nothing short of incendiary. During Thursday’s edition of ‘In Da Tub’, when asked why Johnny Foreigner was booked for the show, promoter Ollie Lewis simply replied ‘I love them’, and it’s easy to see why. The bands music consisted of a tight mix of technical yet emotive guitar playing, basslines that provided a smooth backline to the complex riffs, rapid drumbeats, and simplistic synths that filled out the sound when it needed that little something extra. All of this combined with three-piece vocal harmonies made for a sound that a 5-piece band would be proud to achieve, let alone a 3-piece. Johnny Foreigners nearly hour-long set was punctuated with deliberately awkward banter, merchandise sales pitches and ended with Alexei dropping his guitar to the ground, upsetting his guitar rig in the process and causing the gig to end in a mass of feedback, making for quite the crescendo. For a show they admitted “felt like a bit of a rehearsal”, they gave it their all, and commended the promoters of the show for forking out the cash to book them.

      All in all, Nine Miles South displayed the technical skills and musicality of the night, while Pirate Video Company tore it up with deliberate anger, spirit and a whole lot of energy. Followed by this was Johnny Foreigner, managing to combine a high-level of musicianship with a tenor of feeling to a blistering effect.

All images from last-night's Johnny Foreigner show are available at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/behindthesmile/sets/72157629174300606/

[behindsmilefest-blog]

The Blackout Interview with James McMahon // 8th March.

It has been a great week so far for Smile 2012, and Thursday saw the first of the guest speakers. The stage and sofas were set and a packed audience were ready to watch former Solent lecturer and now editor of Kerrang! Magazine James Mcmahon interview the successful Welsh rock band The Blackout. 

The Blackout have always been a band to work hard, and stick to what they believe in, and this is something which Gavin and Sean began by discussing with James. They drew a picture of their home town Merthyr Tydfil, and spoke of how the band formed back when they were in school. This led onto the discussion of influences, where Limp Bizkit and similar nu metal acts were mentioned. The band have since gone on to tour with many of their idols including Linkin Park and also Limp Bizkit, with Sean and Gavin mentioning that it’s still ‘living the dream’ to be playing shows of that scale. It was at this point Sean mentioned how lucky he was to be making a living from something he loved doing, however the words ‘no money’ were mentioned frequently, which is a shame to hear from a band of that scale. 

Of course the interview couldn’t proceed without a mention of the latest Kerrang! Tour, where The Blackout replaced headliners Sum 41 at the last minute outraging a lot of fans. Sean and Gavin spoke about their tongue in cheek approach to the tour, playing games with the fans and creating ironic merchandise. James added that this is one of the reasons for their popularity, the ability to have fun and not take themselves too seriously. 

When the floor was opened up to the audience for questions, Sean and Gavin were asked whether they think many bands get ‘screwed over’ by record labels. Previously in the interview, they mentioned splitting from two labels, Epitaph and Fierce Panda, who they said despite splitting, both treated the band well. They went on to say that labels, independents in particular are struggling as much as the bands are, and most are now taking cuts of merchandise sales and live fees as well as record sales in an attempt to stay afloat. 

This interview was filled with stories about zoo animals and good memories. It did have some interesting content as well though, including the pledge music scheme, and an insight into the mentality needed to push a smaller band to the next level.