Best band - Delta Sleep
These math jazz shoutaholics are the band we played the most gigs with in 2011 and for good reason, we even had them down to our album launch show where they ripped a massive sicky all over the shop. They also sell a wonderful selection of chutneys from their merch stand, watch out for the chili relish though. It's disgusting.
Best album - Necks of the wood by Lime Headed Dog
Following on from the amazing KFUM & KFUK, these wonky synth pop legends gave us a more polished and focused slice of off-the-wall catchiness. I haven't heard anything else like it. Except for Michael Palin's Introspective Fly Factory, but they sound like everyone.
Best track - Hopscotch Machine-gun Madness by A Genuine Freakshow
The title seems apt for the scatter-shot dual vocal verses but freakshow soon hit us up with some of their trademark post rock goodness and by the end it's time to get epic. Then you just hit play again don't you. Fact: A Genuine Freakshow had a Harry Potter book named after them but it never made it to print due to a suspicious incident.
Best live show - Maybeshewill performing I was here for a moment... with strings
I'm a sucker for strings as anyone who has ever listened to our band might be able to guess. Maybeshewill are pretty full sounding at the best of times, imagine that times one squajillion and you're close to how major league baseball they were sounding at this gig. Sorry the video's not great it was filmed through the eye of the beholder.
Best new bands we heard
Waitress for the bees - Looping violas, saws, dinosaurs... how could this ever be anything but something great?
Leonie Evans (lead singer of Rae) - Incredible singer/guitarist/trumpet impersonator.
Best Webzine - Joyzine
After a quick facelift Joyzine returned with various artists designing the front cover. They've currently got our design up so go have a gander and then read all the ace articles and reviews. Fact: Our cover is actually a life size village and took 30 tonnes of plasticine to make. It's currently inhabited by aging rock stars although Bono has complained about a Razorlight problem and we've had to call in the exterminators.
Click for fun - JOYZINE
Best Festival - 2000 Trees
This festival is amazing. Even though we won't be playing there next year those of us still in the country will definitely be going.
Hope you had as much fun as us in 2011.
Bencat x
