Masons Bar, Derry

By Daniel Robinson

Twin Atlantic. More than Conquerors. Derry. Fiver in. “Ye cannae beat it” as one individual put it.

Hardly content with showing us up at Belsonic, the Glaswegians had to come to the City of Culture ahead of opening for Blink 182 in Dublin to rub salt in the wounds.

But just as Fighting With Wire had done at the weekend, Belfast’s More than Conquerors are here to make a case for the homeland whilst taking a breather from the studio.

“We went into the studio today with Chris from Smalltown to cut a few demos. We’re bringing out an EP in February through Smalltown America” revealed guitarist Danny Ball when I got chatting to him after they’d finished playing. It’ll be a release many are acheing to hear given the mighty impact their five-track debut has already made this year, of which Glasgowbury main stage was an immediate aftermath.

They have a point to prove in Mason’s tonight though, having looked out to a crowd of spiritless juniors when they played the Millennium Forum at the start of the month. The audience isn’t much older tonight but they at least look interested in what the band have to say for themselves. It’s tracks like “I’ve Done Nothing/I’ve Done It All” that do all the talking. Soulful as hell, unpredictable and immeasurable walls of riffs at every other turn. The delicate vocals of Kris Platt could lullaby a crowd as easily as he could incite a sweat-pit with softened traces of hardcore wretching.

Not tonight though as requests for a mosh land on deaf ears, so for now we can only fantasize of the carnage that awaits “Go on, Go on, Get Out”’s outro somewhere down the line. Putting it bluntly would be saying big things are expected of the country’s brightest upstarts.

Everyone is more ready for Twin Atlantic and Masons is suddenly heaving by the time they take off with “Lightspeed”. It’s a massive opening, but rammed as the place is, it’s only a handful of devotees at the front that keep the band’s outpouring from going to waste. It takes a while for everyone else in the room to warm up to them but when the set has hit it’s stride mid-way through, with the temperature screaming and it looking like a game of twister with instruments on the tiny stage, the atmosphere is unbeatable. So much so that a brand new track even goes down well – though still not as triumphantly as “Caribbean War Syndrome”, an anthem which even Biffy would be hardpressed to out-epic.

It’s overwhelming stuff from a group of guys only one album in and even though the stuffy environment could have strangled the life out of their colossal sound, they’re clearly seasoned pros in adapting themselves to suit wherever they play.

Speaking of how the Blink 182 gig came about, guitarist Barry McKenna said “Tom Delong, we met him a few times before and he was a fan of our record. Sam and Ross will tell you Blink are one of their favourite bands ever. Growing up they were really into skating and stuff so all they listened to was pop punk.”

Twin Atlantic’s towering rock will be right at home at the O2 tonight – but we might have to send a message back to Glasgow with NI’s big-hitters next time.

Sneaky audio interview with More Than Conquerors.

Click the link to have a listen. Was done on the McFly so excuse the state. There’s a wee scoop in there though, worth a click! More than Conquerors soundbite

By Daniel Robinson

Indeed, this is in no way a traditional family movie. Robin Williams stars as Lance Clayton, a high school English teacher and single parent who dreams of succeeding as a novelist. Unfortunately Lance has yet to find the fame, fortune and adulation that he craves, despite his best efforts, and must settle instead for a life of mediocrity. His relationship with fellow teacher Claire (Alexie Gilmore) is going nowhere fast and his fifteen-year-old son Kyle (Daryl Sabara) is an odious little shit with a penchant for pornography and a distinct lack of manners. In fact, although Lance clearly loves his son, he finds it difficult to like him, and with good reason. Kyle is so utterly revolting and moronic that he makes sterilisation seem like a good idea.

Nevertheless, when Kyle accidentally kills himself during a masturbation session involving auto-asphyxiation Lance is devastated and, in a bid to preserve his son’s dignity, makes the death look like suicide, writing a fake suicide note in the process.  It is in the aftermath of the tragedy that Lance sees that, with a little manipulation, he could finally get what he has always dreamed of.

Robin Williams as Lance

World’s Greatest Dad is billed as a ‘thoughtful but outrageous comedy’ and I think that this is a fair assessment. There are certainly some laugh-out-loud moments, mainly involving the terrible son prior to his demise, and I really felt that I had been given food for thought by time the closing credits rolled on. Director Bobcat Goldthwait – perhaps better known as crazy Officer Zed in the Police Academy series – was reportedly delighted by the audience’s reaction to the film at the Sundance Film Festival, and this is just the sort of indie sleeping giant that could become a cult hit.  I felt that it really had something to say about the way that people are canonised after their deaths and, although aspects are certainly exaggerated for filmic purposes, the reactions of the “mourners” certainly ring true, especially when remembering the press reactions to the deaths of celebrities such as Jade Goody et al.

Robin Williams gives an excellent performance that is both funny and moving– although we actually see his penis at one point and it made me throw up in my mouth a little bit – ensuring that we are rooting for him (no pun intended) throughout the movie. The scene where he discovers his son’s body is particularly touching, with Williams conveying the raw emotion that one can only imagine a parent losing a child must feel. Daryl Sabara, fresh from starring in the Spy Kids movies, has great comic timing and is totally believable as the dreadful Kyle. In fact, we see the face of the modern teenager in a variety of guises – none pleasant – in the array of mourning high school students that crop up to pay tribute to their dead classmate.  This is not a film that paints young people in a particularly good light, but then there are only three characters in the film that do appear to be genuinely decent human beings.

In terms of criticism, it could be said that World’s Greatest Dad is a little slow in places and that the laughs are rather top-heavy with a majority of the gags being present in the first half of the film. However, the fact that there is a great script in place ensures that the viewer remains engaged in what is going on, and that we genuinely care what happens to Lance.

Overall, the film takes a potentially difficult subject – the death of a child – and manages to weave a comedy around it without taking things too far, or making the viewer feel uncomfortable. Williams is certainly on good form and reminds us why he is one of the world’s best-loved comedians and I, for one, always prefer to see him in more adult roles such as this, rather than in the kid’s films for which he has been known more recently. However, I could do without seeing his willy in future, thanks very much.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

The crew meet up again to record episode 8 of 10. A world record breaking attempt, Dan gets the runs and other chat about what’s been going on in the world.

Episode 8: A Brief History Of Shit

Also known as ‘Avatar’ to the fans of the American anime style cartoon series, but thanks to a certain Mr Cameron it’s been stripped of its original title.  Unsure of the possible catastrophe this film could be in the hands of notoriously bad director M. Night Shyamalan, I found myself awaiting those tell tale first few scenes, eager with anticipation.  I’m not let down by the opening, if perhaps a little confused by the star wars referencing, which got my geek-radar spinning.  The fascinating polar landscapes filled with spirits, mystical creatures from another time, and the promise of a great adventure, I’m already hooked.

Ancient powers used for good and evil form the battleground for our avatar.  Well choreographed movements fitted with appropriate CGI effects that demonstrate control over the elements.  This teamed together to bring to life a very animated little character in hero Aang. For a debut feature film performance, young Noah Ringer possesses all the heart and soul that Aang is supposed to embrace.

Banished young prince Zuko is played by UK’s finest Dev Patel (of ‘Skins’ TV series and ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ fame), who is the frustrated down beaten teen.  A thirst for vengeance that drives him to terrible deeds gives Patel a great opportunity to work as the darker character.  Stumbling along trying to understand her powers is female protagonist Katara, who’s bigger brother you might recognise from his leap to fame as Jasper in the ‘Twilight’ saga.  Sadly neither deliver substantial performances, of course not helped along by the hurtfully simplistic dialogue and constant reactions shots which detract from the idea of characters inhabiting their own emotional spaces.

Placed within an estranged world where each nation is defined by their continental locations and elements, but somehow not too dissimilar to our world.  It allows some interesting location shooting, the exoticism of Asia is inherent in so many set designs and this definitely helps the narrative.  Albeit the narrative isn’t clever and it doesn’t take much to convince me that the main ideology of the animated series has been thrown into the wind.

The original conception of several martial arts influences to create a fighting style that’s unique to the animation comes across clearly in the odd fight scenes.  As soon as I begin to think that time and effort has gone into intensive martial arts training, I have to catch myself as it’s obvious that the mismatched attempts at martial skills that little passion has been applied.

The technical mastery of models and miniature sets is impressive and quite right so placed as a feature of significance within the tale…but are they really from this narrative or just snatched from other fantasy films?  The major battle sequence seems to have been warped from the second ‘Lord of the Rings’ film, in a more than over the top clumsy referencing pattern.  It’s difficult to see this film as its own separate feature and not just a rehash of so many other fantasy films.  It’s just not okay to take a cult classic, make a live action version and fail so miserably to deliver something original.

Rory Friers is on record pronouncing that a little solidarity goes a long way and that sentiment rang true over Portrush last night as the topflight of Northern Irish bands aligned for a fund-raising spectacular.
The cause was to support those suffering with multiple sclerosis and to generally raise awareness of the illness. At the end of the night I think the organisers will be quite pleased with the intake and the resounding success of the evening.
The Retro bar seemed an unusual setting for the crusade, especially when a heap of the North’s household names were gradually announced. Even despite Dublin’s instru-punkers Adebisi Shank having to pull out, the sheer level of demand expected for this one called for a guestlist before a single band had been revealed! Something quite special was brewing, other than the Buckfast, and anticipation was insane.
The early kick-off didn’t put off a ‘being with the place rammed as the North-side ghetto punk of Bomb City 7 brought the scenie-boppers out in hordes (who quickly dispersed afterwards until Axis Of). You really haven’t heard anything like them before and everyone in the room goes clean mad to the sound of bouncing ‘Belfaauust’ rants leaping off dandering basslines, fluent in the same rancid rhythms of their supergroup forebearers in Team Fresh. It’s a rollicking start and already the walls of the Retro are gasping for air – you can imagine the terror then when Lafaro begin setting up.
Considering their sub-headline slot at Glasgowbury and abolition of this very bar a fortnight ago, the lads are on early tonight delivering ballsy set favouring new and forgotten material over the usual crowd-pleasers. The place still looks like a crisis zone after ‘Leningrad’ and as per the norm with Lafaro, the comedy comes as thick and fast as the sneering rock n’ roll genius.
“Fuck”, Fighting With Wire frontman Cahir O’Doherty must be thinking, once again having to follow Lafaro as they did at Glasgowbury. It’s a routine performance for the Derry three piece; ‘My Armoury’ adds weight to the other straight-ahead rockers, ‘Everyone Needs A Nemesis’ is left till the end – the only one lips move to. For the most well established band tonight, FWW’s crowd is modest, but the band use the time to preview many songs from their long delayed second album. Cahir even says a tour EP will be released to bridge the gap till the record is sorted, but by the sounds of ‘Erase You’s playful Nirvana structure and ‘Blackout’s getting hit by a Scania-like brutality – it’ll be worth the delay.
Axis Of are by some distance the loudest band on the night and their late slot will surely boost their already massive reputation for double-barrel math-punk brilliance. Ewen Friers doesn’t stop until the crowd are practically on top of him and Niall calls out for for abnormally slow head-banging during their awesomely trippy cover of “Tupenny Sludger”. It’s complete chaos and even in such a jammed space ‘Brobdingnagian’ still sounds galactic.
Second only to ASIWYFA are Team Fresh. Guitar-heavy gang rap reeking of the North coast but showing reflections of Cypress Hill, early Incubus and Tom Morello. Everyone chants back along with the gnashing verses and tempos that gut you like a fish. It seemed Team Fresh had a longer stretch on stage than the others but this was probably down to the mass itching to once again have the walls painted with our brains by And So I Watch You From Afar.
Every time a band pipes up and you start to think “They might well be the best band about these days..” ASIWYFA breeze in and put a lid on any doubt that they are the absolute rulers of this country’s music scene. It only takes ‘S Is For Salamander’ to tell us that much, but ‘Clench Fists, Grit Teeth…GO!’ is just disgracefully good. Once more, after a Zombie Safari Park b-side no less, it’s everyone’s second favourite riff (second to Tupenny Nudger) with guitars being adjusted to their in-built ‘kill’ setting to end the night heroically.
Even after everyone’s been ushered out, still “DUN-DUN-DUN DUH! DUH! DUN-DUN-DUN”ing all the way, the night will be remembered for the sheer harmony of this country’s bands, pulling together to support a good cause, raising the ‘green’ and playing some brilliant music along the way.

By Daniel Robinson

THE ROCK’N’SOUL SEXTET SET TO RELEASE DEBUT UK SINGLE
SEPTEMBER 27, 2010

No Belfast dates as usual, but if you’re at Reading/Leeds check these guys out! Awesome!

Wed 25 Aug Shepherds Bush Empire Supporting Lost Prophets
Thur 26 Aug Underworld Supporting Motion City Soundtrack
Fri 27 Aug The Flowerpot
Sat 28 Aug Leeds Festival Festival Republic Stage
Sun 29 Aug Reading Festival Festival Republic Stage