Calvinball.

So this weekend was K-Fest in Kingston. I’m bored at work so I’ll do my best to recount what happened. Here goes!

So I finished work at 6pm on Wednesday and got the train down to London and met Dave at KOKO’s where 65daysofstatic had just finished playing. We drank some free record label booze and hung out with the supermassive rockstars for a bit then fucked off back to Apologies, I Have None Towers for the night.

On Thursday morning, real early, I got a call from Conor saying he couldn’t make it for the evening’s house show at Giles & Angela’s fuckpad because he was ill. He assured me he’d be fine for the Peel show on the Saturday. So we were a drummer down. When Joe came round and we started practicing for the house show we decided he was probably faking. Which put us in a bad mood. To make matters worse, the show was all acoustic and we fucking suck as musicians. The ‘stripped-down’ sound doesn’t exactly flatter us and thus practice was depressing. So we drank ‘till it sounded good. Hammered, and satisfied we were going to go down a storm we made tracks to the fuckpad. The bus was boring so Joe and I drank some MD2020 and it FUCKED OUR SHIT UP. We made it to Giles and Angela’s and lo and behold, everyone else was sober as shit. Disaster.

First up was Limited Means a two-piece from London somewhere I think. Rey gave them loads of shit for fucking songs up but they sounded mint to me. Real tight considering it was just bass, guitar and vocals. They kinda sounded to me like acoustic Blink-182 songs but with much better vocals. Vince, the singer has a great voice and lyrically they were spot on. Politically charged, but intelligent and thoughtful with it. He did a fair bit of explaining each number but it never came off as preachy or lame. So yeah, dead good. And I poured whiskey down vince’s shirt and he didn’t even batter me. Top lad.

After they played, we were feeling suitably nervous about our turn, we were shitfaced and Limited Means had been mint. We then met a young lady called Helen Chambers who was up next. She was all over the place, swigging red wine from a huge tumbl(e)r, telling us all how she was shit and would probably mess up all her songs. Needless to say this was great news! We were going to do exactly that too! As it turns out, she was INCREDIBLE. She sang beautiful songs about her kids and friends and at one point I think I had a tear rolling down my cheek. I can’t emphasise how beautiful her voice is. She was ace. At this point we were really shitting it.

So we “set up” and “tuned” our guitars and kicked off. And this is where I don’t remember much. I’m pretty sure that of the 6 songs we’d practiced we only finished 2 or 3. oh well, I know for sure I only fucked up one. Whatever, we were shit. Finished off with a Movielife cover so at least I had fun. Until I was sick on the bus. Aaaaanyway…

Friday daytime was spent watching wrestling on youtube and beating the living shit out of Giles Bidder. He really does need a good kicking, so whenever you see him, give him a slap in the face or a kick in the nuts from me. Also recieved another call off Conor saying he might have swine-flu. Started to take it a bit more seriously as he said he probably wouldn’t be able to make Saturday at the Peel. Oh dear, time for plan J.

Friday nightime was all about the Fighting Cocks and KFest. First up were Serf Combat. Never seen these guys before but I’m deeply in love with Fun Alf, for being the raddest fucking dude alive. I was hoping they wouldn’t suck and they were well mint! Alfie, bless him, was a little bit bleary-eyed shall we say? but still held it together like a pro. Didn’t see any of the next few bands because the place was FUCKING RAMMED but everyone sounded decent from where I was. Dear Landlord played as awesome as the week before in Manchester and if you haven’t checked them out, do so as they are miiiiint. Proper negi but uplifting at the same time. I’m rubbish at comparing bands but I’d say OWTH/Ergs!/WhateverIDon’tKnow…  After the show I went back to the fuckpad with Kieran, Minty, Bidder and Angela, stayed up drinking and smoking and talking shit and somehow didn’t get to sleep till 5.30 even though Kieran and I had to be up at 9am.

9.00am. Fucking hell. How do we even get to the tube? It took us a good hour or so to find the tube stop which meant I rolled up late to Apologies’ house where Joe and Dave had started practicing the set with Josh Apologies on drums. It was sounding pretty decent and after A,IHN had had a run through he loaded the van and set off to Kingston Peel.

FUCKING CHELSEA WON THE FA CUP. BASTARDS.

Saw loads of bands on the Saturday and they all were ace. Favourites included Porches, Men, Apologies, I Have None, YMATAB and the incredible El Morgan. Our set went pretty well all things considered I think. It wasn’t the same without ConAir but Josh did a great job of filling in. Also we invented a new drink. Take a pint of Diesel (Half cider, half lager, topped with blackcurrant) and drop in a shot of Jack Daniels. It tastes well nice. Harry Mega Games christened it ‘The Tennessee Rattlesnake’ which is pretty much the best name ever. The Peel was pretty busy all day and I think everyone had a good time. I was a fucking state all day because of the hangover but it was still a sweet day. And a sweet weekend.

Got the train back home on Sunday after eating some sweet pasta with Bondy. Another excellent, boozy weekend. Met more awesome people and drank plenty of disgusting drinks. If you actually read that whole thing you must be a real sad cunt. I feel sorry for you. Anyway, looks like I might have to actually do some work.

Take Care,

Matt.

On Thursday we played our first show in aaaages with Banner Pilot, Bangers and Pure Graft at Santiago’s in Leeds. It was mint. All the other bands tore it up big time. Bangers are probably the best band going right now. So mint. Le Graft are also proper mint. Tight, fast as fuck, angry gruff bastards. And real swell guys to boot. Club Night after was sick, Weezer+Cocktails=WIN. BIG LOVE to Sam and Pete and everyone who put the show on, it was a reight smashing boozy du.

Friday I went to see Dear Landlord, Apologies I Have None, Leagues Apart and Dead Mills. Aparently this was Dead Mills last show, and I missed them. I was too busy messing about getting drunk. Oh well, you win some you lose some. Leagues Aparty are a band I’ve heard a lot about and they somehow lived up to the hype. Ultra tight, ultra catchy and energetic as fuck. The singer, Bilbo has a mint voice too. Can’t wait to tour with them this summer. Apologies were mint as per. I’ve been excited to see Dear Landlord since ‘Dream Homes’ came out. And they were so fucking good. And I get to see them again this weekend. Result!

I had a mint weekend, met some ace new friends and spent plenty of time bullying Giles. Best weekend since Fest!

Roll on K-FEST!!!

We’re playing in Leeds on Thursday with BANGERS, BANNER PILOT and PURE GRAFT. It’s at Santiago’s and will cost £6. By all accounts Santiago’s is some hot-bed of proper dirty boozing and considering the other bands playing, I fully expect at least one person to die from alcohol poisoning. Come along, it might be you!

Also, a couple of new tracks will be put up online in the next few days. They’re sounding decent. Same shit as usual to be honest, but whatever.

One Love. x