Best video ever?!

So OK GO are well known for having great videos, but this one has got to a career best. To be totally honest, the song I can't remember for shit. It's all about the video. Apparently the whole video was done in one take and no camera trickery was used. It's absolutely mind-blowing! Check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qybUFnY7Y8w

Destine/Eigth Wave @ Islington Bar Academy

Tonight is certainly not a night I would choose to go to. The fact that afterwards I spent more time discussing the fact that 80's legends Kiss are playng at the bigger (but not by much!) Academy venue next door speaks volumes about tonight. It's not that Destine aren't a good band- they definitely are- it's simply that I am far too old to be listening to it.

Before Destine though, I have to endure the horrible drivel that is Eigth Wave. Apparently an ex member of McFly is within their ranks. Even if this was a good thing (which it's not) it doesn't matter cause they are just shit.

Destine are from Holland. A stumbling block for european bands has always been the language difference. With the exception of a few bands, most never manage to break into the UK. Those that do tend to have a strong metal leaning- perhaps it's a sound that suits Europe? Certainly a pop punk band has never made it through. Destine are very much a pop punk band, sitting somewhere between the radio friendly buzz of Blink 182 and the kiddie pop of McFly. They know how to pen a tune, that's for sure. Each song in their set is like a sugar rush and, more obviously, is played with the kind of enthusiasm lacking from similar UK bands. The kids that are here (75-100) certainly seem to to be lapping it up, the bands slightly awkward English only adding to their charm. So can they make it over here? It's very hard to tell, if they do it will certainly be the first. They have the songs and they are a strong, tight live band. There's no doubting that they deserve a shot. As it always is though, it will ultimately come down to luck and the strength of the team around them.

Record Revival- Summercamp, Pure Juice.

Once again, I find myself on the tube flicking through old albums on my ipod that I haven't listened to in a long time and I stumbled across this little gem.

I know very little about the band. I remember picking up this album years ago after Kerrang got all excited about them. As far as I know, they dissapeared after this. A shame as this album is awesome. Each song is reminds me of moments of my youth. I guess the most obvious comparison is Foo Fighters, but truth be told they are a little more pop than that, sounding a lot like Gameface (another great band worth your time if you haven't heard about them).

The best thing about this album is the shifts in pace, from the slight Melancholy of "keep an eye on you" to the buzzsaw pop of "Nowhere near" and the pounding riff that holds down opener "drawer", there is a sense of identity to each song, not just an album of soundalike songs (all too often the case these days).

Beyond the Foos and Gameface comparison, there is even a definite hint of Beatles and Beach Boys in their sound, particularly in some of the vocal harmonies that bring songs like "play it by ear".

I don't think a band has ever been more perfectly named also. This album is pure summer and has certainly been the soundtrack to many a road trip and BBQ for me. As I said, I have no idea what happened to them. I don't even know if this album is still available, but if you do stumble across it- give it a shot, you won't regret it.

Slamdunk Festival 2010

Slamdunk festival's 2010 line up is gearing up nicely. Last years festival continued the festivals tradition of be an incredibly fun day out packed with great bands both old and new. This year is set to be the same. In fact, it's actually going to be even bigger with a Southern date added to proceedings. Taking place at the brand new Hatfield Uni Campus, could this see Slamdunk taking it's first step towards being the UK's first touring festival a la Warped etc in the UK. Would be awesome if it did!

Now about that line up- obviously there is still a lot more to come, but with headliners New Found Glory in place, things already look good. Sadly The King Blues pulled out a week after announcing, but with a re-formed Capdown also on the bill, fingers crossed they will not be missed too much. Set Your Goals and Four Year strong should add to the excitement for all those NFG fans as well. Beyond that, Breathe Carolina and Every Avenue add to the nu-school pop punk factor thatshould draw in all those day glo kids in.

Beyond Capdown, Out Of Sight are the only UK act on the bill so far, though this will no doubt change in the coming weeks. As for other US bands that are likely to join the bill, it's hard to tell, but I'm sure it's going to be strong as the festival has earned a reputation amongst bands as being a lot of fun and very successful for all who play it.

Looks like it's going to be a good one, so get down.

The Emo revival...

No, I am not talking My Chem or the "emo" genre that the Daily Mail created! Before all the silly haircuts, self harm and eyeliner there was actually something more exciting, and this summer it appears to be having something of a reunion.

With The Get Up Kids, Sunny Day Real Estate, Saves The Day and Hot Water Music all touring over the next few months, it's enough to make you think you have stepped back 7 or 8 years to the heyday of the scene. Back then it was backpacks, centre partings and thick rimmed glasses. Mix tapes, fanzines and an endless run of quality indie labels (Deep Elm, Jade Tree, Revelation to name a few).

So if you want to see where the sea of bland pop punk bands got their inspiration from, then head to one of these shows. Alternatively pick up Saves The Day "Through Being Cool", Hot Water Music "A Flight And A Crash", The Get Up Kids "Something To Write Home About" or Sunny Day Real Estate "Diary" and enjoy.

Now we just need Elliot, The Promise Ring, Boy Sets Fire and Grade to come over and it would be the best summer ever!

Rolo Tomassi

So UK noisniks Rolo Tomassi have just rolled out a nice run of tour dates. The band are set to drop the second album in a few months time and hopes are high for it. Produced by dance guru Diplo, the buzz on this one is big, so keep an eye out.

Even more exciting is that RT are supported by the monstrous Trash Talk and rowdy newcomers Throats, meaning this is going to be one of the most intense live packages of the summer. So if you like your rock with a bit of blood, sweat and beers, I strongly reccomend you head down to a show.

Dates are as follows...

10 Apr 2010 19:00	Academy 2 with Trash Talk & Throats	Oxford
11 Apr 2010 19:00	Corporation with Trash Talk & Throats	Sheffield
12 Apr 2010 19:00	Roadhouse with Trash Talk & Throats	Manchester
13 Apr 2010 20:00	Stereo with Trash Talk & Throats	Glasgow
14 Apr 2010 19:00	Rock City Basement with Trash Talk & Throats	Nottingham
15 Apr 2010 19:00	Engine Rooms with Trash Talk & Throats	Brighton
16 Apr 2010 20:00	The Forum with Throats	Tunbridge Wells
17 Apr 2010 19:00	Champions with Trash Talk & Throats	Bournemouth
18 Apr 2010 19:00	Clwb Ifor Bach with Trash Talk & Throats	Cardiff
19 Apr 2010 19:00	Flapper and Firkin with Trash Talk & Throats	Birmingham
23 Apr 2010 20:00	The Underworld	London

Festivals of 2010

Well, 2010 already looks like a good year for festivals. The past few years, the market has been horribly over flowing with festivals, meaning few managed to pull together a bill of any quality, let alone anything exclusive.

Already 2010 seems to be different, with most of rocks big hitters making festival appearances. To have AC/DC, Aerosmith, RATM, Iron Maiden, Pearl Jam, Eminem, Muse, Rammstein etc all playing is quite an incredible thing, and that's just the headliners. There's still more to be annouced also. Sonisphere has one more headliner to go (surely got to be Metallica to complete the line up of the big 4 of thrash?!) Not to mention that we haven't heard a peep from Reading Festival yet. Blink 182 have been strongly rumoured as one of the headliners (a pretty sure bet as their tour dates surround the Reading weekend perfectly. Beyond them, there's talk of Foo Fighters and Guns And Roses, but those seem less certain with Grohl firmly in Them Crooked Vultures world and Axl Rose just being an unpredictable diva!

Regardless, this summer is set to be great and I personally can't wait. Last year, Download was a huge success, but Sonisphere was still finding it's feet and Reading/Leeds and pretty much every other festival veered too far down the indie route. This year, it would appear that rock is truly back. Going to be a big one, so pack that tent, sleeping bag and crate of beer and I'll see you in the fields!