Nix's "Bit on the side"

 

Editor/photographer/general dogsbody (albeit to herself) Nix’s fortnightly column all about the trials, tribulations, beers, giggles, moshing and madness surrounding Pure Rawk and beyond.

 

3/02/2008 - And the winner is …

Its 2008, another year and another entry. Hurrah! But its just a quickie. Busy times ahead in Pure Rawk HQ. Next week is the first ever awards ceremony at the legendary Marquee Club near Leicester Square in London. It’s the first year that there’s been an actual presentation and it seems after going on Total Rock the other week its shaping up to be bigger than anticipated which can only be a good thing. Got some great bands playing, some pretty awards to hand out and a lot of booze to drink – go to www.purerawk.co.uk/shop about how to get your tickets.

There’s been a bit of bad news from our good friends at Riot Promotions though. The Peppermint Creeps were refused entry to the UK knocking a string of UK dates up including the Pure Rawk gig at the Brief in Croydon. Thankfully, more or less everyone involved with that tour have managed to sort out 99% of the dates not leaving a void in the gig calendar. Stuff like this happens sometimes but everyone should give credit to all of the venues/promoters/bands involved for having the ‘show must go on’ mentality.

The Pure Rawk tour is going to be a little one and is scheduled for 15th-18th May. Short you may ask? Its because its called “Dirty Weekender”. We’re going North, Midlands and South – the dates should be announced by the end of this week along with the fantastic bands on board.

Also, still seeking writers. If you have a penchant for writing or really want to add some good writing experience to your CV, please get in touch! We’ve got stacks to review, need more interviews and also there are gig-going stuff for live reviews. Get in touch with me now via the forum. Oyah!

28/11/2007 – Shall We Rock?

I give up with this whole update on time thing for my column! I think that ought to be my New Years resolution – keep the column up to date. Hell, you can hardly say its been lazy times this year!

All the gigs for the year are done. I’m quite happy because this means that I will be able to concentrate on Pure Rawk as an e-zine again. Until I’d written an article for the very fantastic Bubblegum Slut Zine, I felt like my writing bug had flatlined. I’d not been as much a hardcore writer as earlier in the year as Pure Rawk seems to have diversified into a promotions company as well. Writer’s block is a horrible thing to have. But, thankfully I’ve got my mojo back so expect a lot more content on the site over coming weeks (there has been a rather nice backlog developing).

There are two good things for next year for you. It’s time for the Pure Rawk Awards again which you can vote for on the main page. Unlike the past two years, we'll be having an awards party in the heart of the rock capital in the beginning/middle of February to celebrate the fantastic year of quality music. The Pure Rawk awards celebrates the achievements of unsigned/upcoming rock/metal/punk acts - previous winners have gone on to quite big successes. The voting will close and nominations will be decided on 31st December 2007. We'll then throw the shortlist up for a month on 1st January until 1st February 2008!

The other thing is the first ever Pure Rawk tour. We’re taking the shows on the road in May with three absolutely awesome bands. There are a few dates that have been booked but click here to demand it in your city with Eventful, and we’ll see what we can do. More on the line up in January. Ooh, I am excited.

Oh, before I go. Dead Identities “Music for the Waiting Room” is right good. Makes me want to jump around like a bastard.

30/09/2007 - Scurvy Dogs and Glitter Cannons

Ooh! (Looks at the date of the last post), seems I’m getting a bit better at this updating lark. The pirate night was certainly immense. Ever so happy to give a band like Silverjet their first ever London gig after goodness knows how long. As for GU Medicine - absolutely fucking amazing. Very pleased with the night as a whole. A few minor issues at certain points but the good in general, I don’t need to go into these here, they were obvious on the night.

Next up, Warrior Soul! Then the Erotics/Teenage Casket Company gig ... then a break from promoting until 08 most probably. I know its only the end of September but there’s a fair few dates already pencilled in for next year including the first ever Pure Rawk tour. Yes folks, the stage show is hitting the road and going North, South, East and West. More information on that to come.

Towards the end of October sees two new things. An actual website for the promotions side of Pure Rawk as well as the very first ever podcast! The Pure Rawk podcast will be available to Download from this site for free and will be a half hour show featuring some of the best acts around at the moment as well as some of the hottest gigs going down in London.

Hmm, so what else has been happening in camp Pure Rawk? What hasn’t happened is the best question to ask! Been incredibly busy. Which brings me to put the feelers out for any reviewers out there. Check out the Pure Rawk forum to send me a message but got a bit of a backlog on the reviews and want to still keep taking them, but need some wonderful talented folk to help out. So if that sounds like you, get in touch and lets keep this rock rollin’! (sorry, couldn’t resist).

31/08/2007 - Rockin Up A Storm

(Before typing, Nix reads the date of the last entry and explodes into hysterics) Ok, so its been more than a couple of weeks. Cut me slack man, I’ve been busy!

Things to report. WARRIOR SOUL. There are a couple of bits that have happened and a few bits are on the boil. WARRIOR SOUL. So it’s best I explain them. WARRIOR SOUL.

If you didn’t gather, we’ve managed to bag an excellent gig ... Warrior Soul, Rise to Addiction, Jack Viper and Disarm. I really can’t wait for that one. I will have be on my best behaviour announcing wise that night, so I’ll have to get all my frustrations, and any swearing out on the 22nd September when Pure Rawk has its first ever pirate night at the Purple Turtle. On the bill is GU Medicine, Disarm, New Generation Superstars, Junction 13 and Silverjet. Then a shred-off with three London rock guitarists afterwards ... and I’ll be in fancy piratey dress (along with other folk). So if nothing else, come along and I’ll show you my cutlass!

The Pleasures gig at the Bull and Gate the other week was amazing (not necessarily the venue itself though). They’ve grown so much as a band since I saw them back in July of last year on their first UK mini tour - they’ve got a bit darker and bought glitter tape cannons with them! Plastic Toys, Patchwork Grace and Kitty Hudson were amazing as well.

Trash-Stock 07, the weekend of the 17th and 18th in Nottingham by Riot Promotions was back and bigger than last year. The first day was a night of dirty, dirty rock - the highlights being particularly Winnebego Deal and The Authentics (the first time I’d seen both bands live). The second was a sold out explosion of glitter and make-up. RP truly had the second night bang on ... won’t go into it all here, that’s what a review is for. However, an amazing time was had by all and I’m not the only one champing at the bit for Trash-Stock 2008.

Pure Rawk did a ‘last minute’ gig last Friday which went ok. It was a bit dead in places, mainly because of the Reading Festival stealing a fair few rockers away from the capital but we popped the London gig cherry on The Black Spiders and Satan’s Little Heartbreakers and they both went down a storm. Kitty Hudson, Dead Identities and Godsized also rocked the night away and sound wise it was one of the slightly more eclectic line ups I’ve put on, but sounded good and has given me a lot of ideas for the future.

I’ve been pottering over many ideas actually. Next year is going to be banging if all I’ve got planned out goes ahead. For sure see’s the return of The Pleasures to London in March - there’s some fantastic touring support with them too which you’ll find out in due course! I’m also having a think about if Pure Rawk is going to do a tour ... 6 nights, 3 bands, lots of beer - could work.

I’ve finished proverbially kissing my own arse now ... I have a massive stack (of reviews) right next to my computer and a fair few gigs to review so I’m going to get stuck into those shortly. My advice from what I’ve listened to so far is to purchase the following: Zen Motel’s “Stations of The Dead” and Patchwork Grace’s “Milk Teeth” (Sept 10th) - two of the most original albums you’re likely to hear this year. Until next time, adieu.

16/06/2007 - Downloadable Goodness

Corr, it’s been an interesting and entertaining couple of weeks. Not long back from the Download Festival and the Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards I’ve seen a lot of rock and metal! And I likes it! I’m in the process of writing up the whole Download ‘experience’ for a feature on the site and editing some of the pictures that I’d taken last weekend. I’ve still got my wristband on. I am contemplating taking it off though - there’s only so long I can stand having the word ‘Uranus’ on me. It was dead good fun, apart from nearly being crushed to death for Motley Crue and Velvet Revolver ... that was all far from fun. I’m sure I’ll save ‘crazy assed fans’ up for a future rant.

I’ve been busy on the promotions side of things again, another gig that I can draw to your attention - if you’d let me. The Erotics with support from Teenage Casket Company, Kitty Hudson and Vamps & Gypsies on the 29th October. The Erotics are quite frankly awesome heavy trash rockers from the USA (with cowbell might I add). There are another couple in the works too for September ... watch ziz space!

No sooner is the Trash-Stock tour done, Trash-Stock in Nottingham rolls around again. We’ll be running an official Trash-Stock website featuring interviews and exclusives with all of the bands playing and there will be a chance to win tickets to this years shindig! More stuff than you can shake a boom-stick at. It was short and sweet, but fun - see you back here in two weeks.

23/05/2007 - Procrastination Station

Procrastination station, I think that must’ve been where I’ve been hiding out for the past few weeks! From now on, this will be a fortnightly column.

Well, its not so much procrastination as more being dragged left right and chelsea by loads of other stuff. Its safe to say that Pure Rawk Promotions (the gig side of the site) has officially kicked off and we’ve got at least four major gigs in the pipeline between now and the end of October. One of which is this weekend - its another ‘Unleashed’ gig, a bit like the very first gig that Pure Rawk did (if you came to the Dec 5th one, you’ll know it was rather spanking! Not a biassed opinion of course). 26th May at the Purple Turtle in Camden is host to Pure Rawk for the night with rock from the mighty King Lizard, Disarm, Zen Motel, Godsized and Crystal Kicks - all bands that we’ve seen live on more than one occasion and thought ‘bloomin eck, that’d be a good party if we threw them all on the same bill’.

The other gig that we’re allowed to release to the world is one at the Bull & Gate on the 15th of August. We’re absolutely chuffed that we’re able to put on Canada’s Red Light Rippers on their second ever London date. Those guys kick some serious backside. They’ve had a bit of a line up change but from the material that I’ve listened to recently of theirs I’m very optimistic that they’re going to leave a mark on the UK this tour. Also a favourite of Pure Rawk, Patchwork Grace - they’re seriously talented and the probably not even the combined ages of your nan. The Pleasures from Germany (who are touring with Patchwork Grace) play their second ever gig in London - they’re glam rock with a twist - very extravagant but such a tight knit bunch of kick ass rock musicians. The openers are Croydon’s Kitty Hudson and we’re very pleased to have secured them for the opening slot.

Check out the site in the coming month for more information on all of the gigs that we’ve got in store for you. It promises to be a very exciting couple of months.

So as for the site stuff - we’re back in business, expect regular updates on Pure Rawk. We’ve got some cracking interviews going up in the next week or so - the likes of Drugdealer Cheerleader, Dirty Rig, Maxi Browne (The High Society) and Fables Last Stand to name a few. Also not forgetting some reviews of some of the top album releases and demo’s that have landed on the Pure Rawk mat of late. Keep the beers cold and the music on.

16/04/07 - Where it all began ...

I thought it’d be rather fitting to do a rewind and go back to where it all started. How I got involved in all of this insane gig going, writing and taking photos of it and then making people read what I had to say.

Both my mum and dad used to go to a lot of gigs on the unsigned/underground circuit - bands like Laughing Sams Dice and The Inmates - good quality bluesy rock n’roll - just for fun. Mum was a massive Queen fan and my dad used to listen to a lot of different stuff. At one point he used to press vinyls not long before he and my mum started going out. A few years down the line and I turned up in the usual ‘being born’ fashion. To make me go to sleep I’d have doses of Queen, Chris Rea, Daryl Hall, The Inmates and The Beatles filtered into my tiny mind - it seemed to work. I spent the rest of being a ‘kid’ running into mischief, getting into trouble and having a big crush on Chesney Hawkes (even the mole) after ‘that’ song (“The One and Only”).

After raiding my mums newer stuff ... I stumbled across the wonders of Extreme. Then like a ten tonne freight lorry ... the rock of Bryan Adams virtually knocked me sideways. Part of me blames it on Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, the other part blames it on hearing “Reckless” for the first time. Anyway, the next thing was my mums fault entirely. Not long after the video release of Robin Hood, Mr. Adams decided that it was time for a tour and knowing how bonkers I’d gone over the “Waking Up The Neighbours” album mum got us tickets to see Bryan Adams, Extreme and Squeeze at Wembley Stadium.

So the time rolled around, it was a gorgeous day in 1992 and I was 7, had hair as long as my bottom and was a midget compared to everyone around me. Extreme came on and a random dude picked me up so I could see. I went up into the stands for Bryan Adams so I didn’t have to jump up and down for a quick glimpse or look helpless enough to be picked up. “Summer of 69", “Everything I do, I do it for you”, “Run To You”, “Heaven” - I was hooked from start to finish. I remember my mum having kittens when I climbed up onto one of the chairs to wave a lighter around. After that gig I was in love, I was bitten by live music. I didn’t care how much it made my little ears squeal after goodness knows how many decibels. I wanted more.

So what does that have to do with new music you might say? A lot. I started going to a lot of gigs over the years after that. Some rock you’d write off, some rock you’re probably still listening to now. I blame the existence of Pure Rawk on a collection of bands from 2002 onwards. One of those culprits was my first rock n’ roll interview - a band by the name of Hurricane Party. I’d had previous experience doing interviews in something else I’m obsessed with, football ... but this was a totally different kettle of fish. I’d started writing for my university magazine and trying to hold up the rock end for London South Bank and threw a couple of reviews and interviews at them. I’d found Hurricane Party (now Roadstar) after going to see Nickelback at the Brixton Academy in 2003. I’d seen quite a few support acts by this point but they just knocked the stuffing out of me. Frontman Richie Hevanz took to the stage in eyeliner and leathers and a swagger to rival Steven Tyler. Behind him, an Izzy Stradlin-esque lead guitarist with a gorgeous V by the name of Kreepy (Robin, now ex guitarist) and a rhythm section that was a plethora of hair and tight trousers. I loved it! Sod Nickelback (I know a few of you would’ve said that anyway) but Hurricane Party just outclassed them.

I went to a fair few HP gigs after that support slot and got to know a lot of the ‘Nutters’ (now ‘Roadies’ - Roadstar faithful) and there were more and more acts supporting HP I got to hear of and started to love almost as much. To cut a long story short, I was frustrated with a lot of the mainstream music press focussing on bands a la mode. I discovered that a fair few people started ‘zines’ - whether paper based or online and loved the stuff that they were doing. In Feb 2006 I sat there one afternoon and the seed started to sprout in my head that I should do my own. It just snowballed from there. I started to get a lot more adventurous with the gigs that I went to. Kicking around in smelly holes of venues in London or running away to places like Nottingham, Sheffield or Brighton every other weekend I kept finding pretty fantastic bands. That’s my life in a nutshell to date really. Well, ok ... I stripped down the story. I left out the alcohol, trouble, loves lost and found and lost again and the strange and wonderful people I’ve met. But they’re just as important as the bands I’ve found. Its all attributed to the site that you’re reading today.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that especially with music, don’t be afraid to check out something that’s not instantly ‘out there’ ... you could find yourself finding absolute gems that quite a lot of people haven’t heard of. The more and more gigs I go to nowadays, I’m stunned with the amount of talent out there. I laugh out loud at anyone who says that there is no hope for quality music nowadays.

2007 seems to look like a fantastic year for mainstream music but there are so many bands that I’ve kept an eye on for the past couple of years that are starting to bring out new EP’s or work on albums in collaboration with other bands in a similar boat. There are a lot of tours going on as well. Even Pure Rawk decided to get in on the action with the 2nd “Unleashed and Loaded” compilation release party and Trash-Stock London this year. Join me, rub your mits together in anticipation of a rather awesome rock n’ roll 2007. In the spirit of the Trash-Stock tour ... 'get your rat out'.

© Pure Rawk 2007