Best Of The Best!

Lots of big things have happened this year in the entertainment industry and I was glad to be a part of the positive bits, such as supporting new music! There is so much creative talent about that it has been hard deciding what to choose for the best of lists 2015. Alas here is my choices for this year, agree/disagree get in touch and most of all stay strong. Even when the world goes dark, let your passion shine through and push back against the negatives’ and evils of the world.

HYBRID AWARDS 2015

Best New UK Music – Nothing But Thieves

LOVE these guys, releasing their debut album this autum could not come soon enough, full of hits and looks beautiful, 2016 will be theres!

Best New International Music – Like A Storm

Great trio of brothers that know how to pen a catchy song and play a digeridoo on a metal album amazing!

Best Artist/Band of 2015 – Adeles’ come back

No one saw this coming not even the charts, when here album came in like a wrecking ball and laid waste to all music records ever! Kudos to her, looking forward to see what 2016 holds for her.

Best performance of 2015 – A Day To Remember at Download Festival 2015

Amazing performance, interactive and the best day at download even beating muse to upstage them. Excited to see them again, and again and again...

Best Track of 2015 – Twenty One Pilots – Blurry Face

Everyone from Jonas Brothers to Black Veil Brides know who this duo are, their second official album also called blurry face fuses every single genre of music to make radio friendly hits comfortable with a mosh pit for good measure, these guys will be the next 30STM. Excited to them on tour next year for my birthday!

Best Album of 2015 – Nothing But Thieves (most played by me!)

My favourite albums of 2015 has to be, Don Broco – Brawlers – Bring Me The Horizon – Nothing but Thieves – Enter Shikari – Twenty One Pilots. Enough said they are all quality because the amount of tracks they have on them leave me singing them over and over and...

Best Video of 2015 – Panic At The Disco – Emperors New Clothes

Amazingly thought out video with lots of cuts but feels like one continuous shot of Brendon Urine changing into the Devil, brilliant team effort to put this excellent video together.

Best TV show – The Walking Dead

After watching a few TV shows this year, only one has kept me engrossed that is TWD, six seasons in and I still feel longing for more!

Best film – Star Wars: The Force Awakens/Mad Max: Fury Road

This was sooooo sooo hard to choose one title that I picked two so deal with it. SW because am biased and Mad Max because it is non-stop action that is beautifully made! I really wanted to slip Insideout in there as well so go see it if you haven’t already!!

Overall then;

Worst thing of 2015 – Paris Attacks.

Best thing of the year – Download Festival 2015.

Make sure you check out future podcasts and blogs by me talking about new music and art in 2016! Link below.

https://www.mixcloud.com/thisishybrid/

A Force Of A Film

Back in 1999 I sat on a cinema seat with my best friend from school, after binge watching the Star Wars original trilogy hundreds of times that week alone we were ready to dive into move of the Star Wars universe.

A flood of emotion came over this child as the intro credits rolled up for Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, once again this emotion was replicated as the adult me sat and gazed up at the title sequence for Episode 7: The Force Awakens. Ten years has passed since a Star Wars movie has been released and in that time a lot has changed globally, however, the excitement for this space age universe has only grew stronger. Fans new and old, young and aged have been getting really excited in anticipation for the film release. After seeing it myself like many other fans we were not disappointed, as director JJ Abrams has lovingly crafted a film which can stand up against the original trilogies. It is fresh and immersive exploring more of the star wars galaxy from creatures to planets whilst nodding heavily towards the originals with many crossovers and Easter eggs. The story is similar to Episode 4: A New Hope in that a new Jedi discovers their power on a desert plant and leaves the plant to join the rebellion/resistance against the empire/first order. However, this time a female takes on the lead role, reflecting a positive shifting dynamic in the Hollywood industry as there is still a lacking trend of female heroines.

The length of the film was perfect for all the audience ages and kept you gripped from the first word! Full of humour, action and excitement that leaves you questioning and longing for more. It was great to see the Stormtroopers become more human and the action scenes more realistic. The only problem I really had was the long ending shot which could have been executed better but this is a little thing and am glad to see the universe back stronger than ever, bring on the next films!

May the force be with you, Hybrid.

https://www.mixcloud.com/thisishybrid/

Ending the year off in style with a baddie!

Ending the year off in style with a baddie, confused? The Sesh has seen many great shows throughout 2015 and to end of the final weeks of 2015, was none other than festival headliners, Endoflevelbaddie.

All three acts ooze with talent showcasing the best Yorkshire has to offer! ...AndTheHangnails start off the night by turning up the amp and heat in the polar a bear venue, with their wild and exciting two piece act. A second album is coming from the band and you should be front and centre when it does, so good on record even better live!

Second is an underappreciated York act, King No-One. Their look is their own and the music is unique, a hypnotic blend of pop and rock are fused together to make powerful songs which leave an impression. Not only do you infectiously sing along to the lyrics but move to the rhythms which are similar in the style of The 1975 meeting Foals in a dark alley. If this band aren’t in the charts or signed next year there is no justice in this world! 

Ending the night with a heavy beat and special guests is the local legends that is, Endoflevelbaddie. A tightly set of musicians who know their instruments and know how to get the crowd going. Seamlessly moving through their short but non-stop set they take the time to make sure everyone is involved. Everyone including guest star from Bud Sugar throwing down his lyrical content on a track gets the place moving even more.

The Sesh has and always will be a pleasure to return to week after week. With a hybrid of genres and art showcased am sure it will suit everyone, see links below to get involved.

https://www.mixcloud.com/thisishybrid/

http://www.theseshhull.co.uk//

Hiraeth... Cometh...

Years Young are a band far from the youth stereotype, featuring experienced musicians with a mature sound.

Heading down to O’Rileys tonight in hull was well worth the trip, all be it they still haven’t paid their heating bill they have managed to put on bigger and better events. Tonight is a free gig, showcasing Wakefield band, Euphoria Audio, however, the show was stolen by new Scunthorpe band, Years Young. Including an unscripted encore from the demanding crowd.

Playing some select shows in promotion for their debut EP, Hiraeth (released in January 2016) the band are already gaining a dedicated fan base. Singles, Miracles and Sleeping Easy are instant hits with thousands of views online. The singles are part of the EP, not only does it sound great but also looks great and is a must to pick up in physical form. “The artwork was originally inspired by the name, the name is the Welsh word for home and we feel the EP represents the start of the band the birth place”. Visually “it was created by this very talented artist from Germany, who has some amazing art online”. It seems as though the EP doesn’t stop there for this quintet, “we have already wrote and album and maybe more!” As they explain they wanted to hit the ground running and not leave time between releases as we do live in a digital age. I for one cannot wait for the future releases, as Hiraeth showcases the bands talent at writing stadium friendly songs.

Although in the foetal stages of formation the band are thinking big, “it would be nice to play stadiums but we just want to get out there and play to lots of people and have the people sing back your songs”. Even at tonight’s out of town show the band already have the audience answering their wishes by a mass singalong to Sleeping Easy. “We are very fortunate to have a big support team behind us from family, friends and people that support us in what we are doing”.

Their live sound is a good reflection to their EP, energetic, charismatic and one not to be missed. Hiraeth... Cometh... and you best be ready.

https://www.mixcloud.com/thisishybrid/

http://www.yearsyoungmusic.com/

The Sherlocks are band worth investigating

Am sure many bands can say they have played the major festivals, support iconic bands and have a 120 thousand strong fan base, but how many are unsigned when they say this?

“we are not nervous, just excited” reply The Sherlocks as we sit in a gazebo inside Hull Fruit. They are not talking about the headline show tonight but about January 2016, when they are supporting The Libertines on tour. The bands mood was relaxed despite supporting such an established act, but is a mood that signifies professionalism and love of playing to a new crowd. Despite being a still relatively unknown band they have been touring the circuit for the past five years with hundreds of shows under their belt. With still hundreds to come, “we are off on tour for our biggest headline tour, with Leeds already selling out” (now an upgraded show).

With all this hype going on has no one approached them with a contract, “we are in no rush to sign to a label” and why should they in my opinion. With the current moment, a surplus of fans and songs alike they could hit the mainstream audience without giving away any share of their hard work and creativity. Tonight’s show in Hull showcases this with a hundred tickets sold and a verity of ages descending upon Fruit for a memorable night of rock.

 

Standing before the audience tonight are two local support bands ready to show their own swagger tonight, first up as a brilliant new band, called Casanova and seriously I did fall for them. The Magic Carpet Factory is next up whisking the audience away with a good performance, yet murderous cover of Come Closer. Until veterans of the scene, The Sherlocks hit the stage, with their arsenal of hits. All their songs get a great reception from the crowd but it was new single, Heart of Gold and Escapade that got the audience moving.

The Sherlocks will be releasing new music in 2016 as well as the huge headline tour to start the year off, Get involved you will not be disappointed.  

https://www.mixcloud.com/thisishybrid/

http://thesherlocksmusic.co.uk/

 

Signed, Sealed and certainly Delivered!

Head hunted by Virgin/EMI records is what every seventeen year old in a band wants is it not? Pretty Vicious are one of those bands but is the hype and record deal justified? We chat to the band when they graced Hull as part of a mini tour.

 

Between headline shows over the past year, Pretty Vicious have managed to support phenomenal acts including, Nothing But Thieves, The Vaccines, Manic Street Preachers to name but a few. “We don’t really get nervous playing shows any more, even to big crowds”. “In fact we prefer the bigger shows because the audience is usually further away and you can evade their looks. At smaller shows the audience is sometimes right in front of you so puts more pressure on you”. Shows like these could be something the band might be getting used to after the recent success of Catfish and the Bottlemen, there is a lot more focus from the younger generation on the guitar sound. “It’s good to see a lot more bands coming through but the welsh music scene is shit, we love the people in Wales but there is not enough acts on the scene.” When questioned why this might be the band state that it could be due to the low employment in the area, especially from this writers perspective it has been sad to see that over the past few years some bands have had to blackout of the industry such as Funeral for a Friend and Kids In Glass Houses. 

Pretty Vicious are looking like they are going to change that, placing a spotlight over Wales once more, as their hit single ‘Cave Song’ has been getting everyone excited from Channel Four to Radio One. “All we did was put some tracks on Spotify and we got contacted by them [Virgin/Emi], which was shocking considering how many thousands of tracks that are online.” It comes as even a bigger surprise to find out that Cave Song “was actually written as a laugh for our cave crew and we completed it as a band in one day”. Fans should be pleased to know that an album will be out next year with the band recording in January 2016. “It is already written anyway and we have already wrote a second one as well but we want to tour the first album first, to get to as many people as we can”. Touring they will be as 2016 plans to be the ‘big break’ for them, just like 2014 for Catfish and The Bottlemen, watch this space. Full interview can be listened @thisishybrid in the new year.

As for the live show, two local support acts hit the stage to warm everyone up for the headliners. First off is the excellent wheeling guitar sounds of Wayward Sons before more a more retired and easy going sound from Fronteers, both bands shine and are a good representation of Hull. As Pretty Vicious don the stage the atmosphere builds with anticipation for this new four piece. Just like their current profile the atmosphere explodes as everyone embraces the hypnotic rock rhythms oozing from the stage.

Overall, the show took the audience into the wild and vicious sound of a band experimenting and learning their instruments from the inside out. This was one to remind us guitar music is still alive.

https://www.mixcloud.com/thisishybrid/

https://www.facebook.com/Prettyviciousuk

Winter Warm Ups OCT-NOV Shows

Tis been a busy old season, mainly because of my university degree, Third and final year means more commitment but alas there is always time for a show or two. However, not enough chance to write my blog about how amazing they have all been! So to summarise here is some pics/words to describe the shows...

Brawlers & Allusondrugs played a joint headline tour to represent Yorkshire and it was the amazing, Chatted with both bands backstage and was so excited to learn from Harry (Brawlers front man) that they have a shed load of songs ready to go and album two should be here before we know it! Both bands amazing live and on record so go check them out now.

Courtesans are a new darker rock band that like to create an experience live and that they did! It was a great show and great in depth interview about art/power and saving lives, which can be listened to online now (mixcloud podcast).


 

Next up was an attempt to see my favourite band live, Twin Atlantic. Unfortunately due to last trains I was unable to stay for the show but I did meet them for a signing in Dr Martins. As well as this, got to see Life (hull band) getting some great exposure and new band Creeper do there thing. Creeper were also great live and added me on the guest list for the sold out show, true saviours!

Finally, The 1975 shimmied on up to Bridlington for a stunning show both visually and audio ably. Although this was the third time seeing the band it was the first full production show. As I have only previously seen them in Middlesbrough on my birthday (2012) and London album release show (2012). Both of these were great and very memorable but this show left me wanting more with a shiver running down my spine kind of show. Support act, Ratboy is also a raving band at the moment who showcase songs about teenage society and angst. Loved both acts, check out my interview with ratboy also on mixcloud, search thisishybrid.

Until the next gig, laters...

https://www.mixcloud.com/thisishybrid/