HybridLab Who? Are you a musician interested in widening your fan base or hankering after your own career in media? |
|
 |
The Metro on Oxford is at first glance an unassuming and even slightly dingy gig venue but for anyone interested in having their finger on the pulse of rising bands then this venue can be counted in their top three. Super easy to get to by anyone’s standards The Metro is the perfect prequel to a night out the raz, for as little as £5 you can see up to 5 bands, kicking of at 8pm and usually ending before 11, there’s still oodles of time to hit another club or bar. The venue was taken over by Legendry Live music and club promoters Blow up in 2001, in 2002 it was awarded Time Out Venue of the Year and more recently in its Student Guide for 2006 the NME referred to Metro as one of three clubs to visit in London alongside KOKO & Electric Ballroom. Into the mix are some friendly staff and a bar that serves a good selection of booze, whilst not cheap it’s at a reasonable rate considering what they put on stage for you. |
Ian Stevenson’s webpage is called ‘I Like Drawing’ and yes
that’s about as perfect a description as you’ll get. Ian
likes to draw on everything and what results is a
fusion of funny, weird and down right scary. His latest
publication is a small book entitled Best Wishes Get Well Soon, a collection of cartoon style images drawn by Ian or some part of his subconscious. The book is like most of his work funny and slightly worrying in that the characters seem warped or up to no good. This book is Ian’s third and follows on from ‘The Shut Up Man’ and Lost Heroes’ both sold out. Over the last few years Ian has collaborated with friend and fellow artist Chris Knight who is himself owner and curator of Concrete Hermit, a small gallery/shop in Bethnal Green. Having previously worked as a designer for big name brands Ians own work is now gathering momentum. His show at Concrete Hermit has just finished and he intends to collaborate on an animation project, other work will be shown at the Paul Smith shop in London’s West End, while a documentary on Current TV (an independent channel headed by Al Gore) will feature some of his music. Claire Quinn |
 |
|
The Gin Riots Formed at Uni by friends Guy Stevenson and Cillian Logue The Gin Riots have New Wave written all over them, but the beauty of this four piece is their ability to straddle the genre with nods to punk and influences as diverse as the Cure and Bert Jansch. Coming through in tracks such as The Polka, front man Guy Stevenson lauds a tale of misfortune in a foreign land, the track twists and turns bringing us through lovecats base and punchy drums into a whispered line before we head back to the frenzy. ‘I Didn’t mean it’ gets us all limbered up with its powerpogueesque changes and chorus, egged on by Stevenson’s flitting dance moves, often traversing the usual stage/ floor barrier to shake it for the crowd. No time to catch your breath as they punch straight into El Torro, at heart stopping speed we hear of loneliness and passion only made all the more sweet by the Pneumatic stable lad of a lead singer. Funnily, their energetic and what feels like laddish charm would suit the iPod on the way to work just as well as a lairy night on the lash.
11.59The indie punk out fit formerly known as Striker have done a Prince on us and renamed themselves 11.59.
Mandisa After taking a break from solo work to sing, write and generally jam with other projects, soul songstress Mandisa is back. Her first gig will be at the monthly acoustic night, The Day After Sunday, in
|
 |
 |
 |
|
