BLOOD RED SHOES - SAY SOMETHING, SAY ANYTHING

(AU magazine April 2008)

(V2)

SINGLE REVIEW

Believing that Blood Red Shoes are a duo is a bit of a stretch when
listening to Say Something, Say Anything.
There's a beefiness to the single which is lacking in bands with twice the
personnel, and the musical complexities make for a strong effort from the
Brighton bunch.
The heartfelt vocals are matched by a jagged guitar riff, shot through
with the modernity that Blood Red Shoes bring to all their records, and
the ingenuity which is setting them apart from the musical crowd at the
moment.
The band are fresh off a sellout UK tour and, if Say Something, Say
Anything is anything to go by, it won't be long before they're selling out
bigger venue on the same circuit.

BE YOUR OWN PET

(AU magazine April 2008)

LIVE: Spring and Airbrake, Belfast

A couple of years ago, Be Your Own Pet played Tennants Vital in Belfast. They stormed onstage with attitude to spare, and after thrashing through a handful of tracks off their eponymous 2006 debut, singer Jemina Pearl Abegg swore and spat insults at the crowd and left mid-set. In rock’n’roll, this was naturally the Holy Grail – a quartet of Nashville teens who didn’t give a fuck.
Loping onstage at the Spring and Airbrake, bleached blond Jemina posed candidly at the microphone and, not to disappoint, spat forth an explosion of rock. With army-style flashes of red paint across her high cheekbones, the Blondie-meets-Ian Curtis singer was ready for battle, and thrashed her way through each song like a demented doll, taking a leaf out of Karen O’s book for eerie dancing.
The punk ethos of the debut is amplified on newly-released follow-up Get Awkward, and for every crazed thrash through a new track came an old favourite. High points were We Will Vacation, You Will Be My Parasol and Bicycle Bicycle You Are My Bicycle, although the immovability of the crowd did cause the Tennessee firecrackers some consternation.
From every track on show, there was a melody and attitude, and more than a little maturity despite having an average age of just 20.
Sadly, there came no temper tantrum, but the last raw crash through Bunk Trunk Skunk left ears ringing, and Jemina and her band once again emerged victorious in the eyes of rock’n’roll.

THE XCERTS – DO YOU FEEL SAFE/LISTEN. DON’T PANIC

(AU magazine April 2008)

SINGLE REVIEW

(MANNEQUIN REPUBLIC)

A recommendation from Radio 1 annoyance Zane Lowe is about as close as any band can get to the kiss of death, but The Xcerts might just have what it takes to rise above the Kiwi Typhoid Mary. Not only that, but the boys are lucky enough to represent the label owned by Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly’s Sam Duckworth, and there’s a lot to be said for this double A-side of rock ['Do You Feel Safe?'] and tingly young love ['Listen. Don’t Panic']. ‘Do You Feel Safe?’ kicks in like something off the local gig circuit, all Pixies-inspired quiet bit/loud bit, replete with Scottish accents, and endearing for it. ‘Listen. Don’t Panic’ is more delicate, making the difference so stark as to feel like The Xcerts’ CV in two parts. Wonder what else they can do…