This weekend Brighton turned into, rightfully named, Shoreditch on Sea when thousands of hipsters and young industry peeps invaded my turf for the Great Escape Festival. Unimpressed as I was last year with this baby SXSW attempt, I still managed to see a couple shows inbetween Relentless Bombs (bad idea at 5pm) and forays into the Pav Tav (always a bad idea). Here’s what I saw. Note: it was all awesome.

Bleeding Knees Club @ Beyond Retro: Beyond Retro is the weirdest place in Brighton to see a show, due to the fact that the band has to be up on this little loft area and the whole crowd is like 10 feet below them. However, Bleeding Knees Club had a really good turnout of (as someone on twitter put it) any blogger with their salt, and a bunch of their drunk friends in my case, and we fucking loved it. Their EP, Virginity has been on my stereo constantly since November, and it was a pleasure to hear them run through favs like ‘Bad Guys‘, ‘I‘, and ‘Teenage Girls‘ all which rule. The Aussie gutter punks do really bright and fun garage pop, it’s warm and an excersize in excellence in simplicity. Their choruses are catchy as fuck, and they played a good little set — the highlight of which, of course, was ‘Have Fun, their most infecutous and wonderful song, which has not been able to leave my head since I heard it. Big things up for these dudes, and songs to match. Check out the live vids taped by The Fly during TGE:

Bleeding Knees Club – ‘Truth Or Dare’

Bleeding Knees Club – ‘Teenage Girls’

mp3: Bleeding Knees Club – Have Fun

Die! Die! Die! @ The Hope: I’ve never seen Die! Die! Die! before, but holy fuck, thank god I did. They were definitely the best set out of the weekend — they packed the Hope, and everything was sweaty, but they were energetic and noisy and relentless. They were razor sharp and tight as fuck (playing together for 6 years will do that) and the drummer played like an reminded me of Animal (from the Muppets. Not only did Andrew remind me of John Dywer, but as a band they played with that frenetic craziness that I love about Thee Oh Sees. I wish the crowd would’ve gotten a little crazier but they were amazing.

mp3: Die! Die! Die – Auckland Is Burning

Fear of Men @ Green Door Store: Brighton based Fear of Men was a couple of people’s must see band for the Great Escape. I really like their tape that they just released on our great friends Sex is Disgusting’s label, so I was pretty excited, too. They lived up to what they’d put down on cassette, which is a kind of shady-summer day haziness tinged pop that while detailed, is irresistably simple and easy. Very enjoyable, but definitely didn’t blow me away live. They’re new as fuck so I feel bad saying that, but I think there’s probably something here that’s going to grow over the next year or so.

mp3: Fear of Men – Phantom Limb

Milk Maid @ Green Door Store: Having recently announced their debut album is being released by the great Brightonian label Fat Cat, and having adored everything that I’ve heard out of Manchester’s Milk Maid, this was the ONE band that I couldn’t miss at the Great Escape. They put on a mostly great show — and since pretty much everyone has heard about 3 songs, it was all new material that plays upon what they’ve already laid down. That is to say, it’s all gold soundz, slacker melodies that permeate your brain and refuse to leave. It’s kind of 90s, but it doesn’t sound dated and pretty much rules. The excitement that I felt listening to their first records didn’t quite translate live, but I think this is a case of a new band feeling its way out. What I do know, is that the songs sounded really solid, many of which could wind up being my summer anthem. They’re recorded in a dark garage, but they speak to things that are bright and fun. We’ll see.

mp3: Milk Maid – Such Fun

The Great Escape is stepping it up a little, tiny bit in terms of free shows for Brightonians who have to deal with thousand of industry douches invading our city. Now, I know how Austin feels except I don’t give a fuck since I don’t live in Austin (yet). Anyway, the Clapham Junction of Brighton hipsterzones, Beyond Retro, is hosting three days of free music. I highly recommend being there on Friday at 5pm for Australia’s Bleeding Knees Club. They fucking RULE. The rest of the lineup is meh.

THURSDAY 12TH OF MAY

1pm /// My New Favourite Tribe
2pm /// Treetop Flyers
3pm /// Cloud Control
4pm /// Rizzle Kicks

FRIDAY 13TH OF MAY
My Band’s Better Than Your Band Presents:

2pm /// Kyla La Grange
3pm /// Tribes
4pm /// Michael Kiwanuka
5pm /// Bleeding Knees Club

SATURDAY 14TH OF MAY

1pm /// Filthy Boy
2pm /// Dry The River
3pm /// SPECIAL GUESTS
5pm /// To Kill A King

mp3: Bleeding Knees Club – I

Bruise Cruise 2 Launch from BRUISE CRUISE FEST on Vimeo.

mp3: The Soft Pack – Gagdad
mp3: King Khan & The Shrines – Welfare Bread

The great people over at The Reverberation Appreciation Society & The Black Angels are bringing Psych Fest to Austin, Texas the fourth year in a row. This year the festival will take place at the Seaholm Power Plant (214 West Avenue, Austin, Texas) from April 29th to May 1st. They’ve gotten one of the sickest lineups for a festival that I have seen in SO LONG. So many props to them for getting together a sonic smorgasboard of bands who are amazing, aren’t at every single festival ever, are a good mix between underrated and legendary, and include a buttload of NRBW-longtime favorites including The Growlers, Bass Drum of Death, Lower Heaven, The Meek, Spectrum and tons more.

We’re lucky to have a pair of tickets to each day of the festival for y’all to win. All you need to do is email NURAVEBRAINWAVE@GMAIL.COM with PSYCH FEST in the subject & in the body include yr full name, which day you’d like to go to, band you’d like to see and bonus points to pictures of cute pugs. Like this, this or this. (Contest Deadline: April 26th)

Check out the lineup below, featuring our picks in bold for the day, and pick up tickets in case you don’t win! There’s also a ton of mp3s at the bottom. I wish I could be there, seeing as I had such a fun/dangerous time at the Psych Fest 2 back in 2009, so you’ll have to go in our honor and rock the fuck out.

Friday April 29th, 2011 :: Get Tickets

Stage One
6.30 ZaZa
7:30 Beach Fossils
8:30 Night Beats
9:30 Atlas Sound
10:30 Crystal Stilts
11:30 A Place To Bury Strangers
12:30 Omar A Roderiguez

Stage Two
5:30 Christian Bland (from Black Angels)
6:00 Sky Drops
7:00 Zechs Marquis
8:00 Blue Angel Lounge
9:00 Radio Moscow
10:00 Quarter After
11:00 Shapes Have Fangs
12:00 No Joy
01:00 Tobacco
02:00 This Will Destroy You

Saturday April 30th 2011 :: Get Tickets

Stage One
2:30 Ghost Box Orchestra
3:30 Woodsman
4:30 Shine Brothers
5:30 Beaches
6:30 The Black Ryder
7:30 Sleepy Sun
8:30 Fresh & Onlys
9:30 Crocodiles
10:30 Prefuse 73
11:30 Black Moth Super Rainbow
12:30 Spectrum

Stage Two
2:00 Holy Wave
3:00 Weird Owl
4:00 Vacant Lots
5:00 Cloudland Canyon
6:00 Pontiak
7:00 White Hills
8:00 Lumerians
9:00 Young Prisms
10:00 Indian Jewelry
11:00 Soft Moon
12:00 Lower Heaven
01:00 Bass Drum of Death
02:00 The Meek

Sunday May 1st 2011 :: Get Tickets

Stage One
3:30 Diamond Center
4:30 Fungi Girls
5:30 Black Hollies
6:30 Dirty Beaches
7:30 Pete International Airport
8:30 The Growlers
9:30 Roky Erickson
10:45 The Black Angels

Stage Two
3:00 Hellfire Social
3:30 Chris Catalena
4:00 Tjutjuna
5:00 ST37
6:00 Daughters of the Sun
7:00 The Cult of Dom Keller
8:00 Wall of Death
9:00 Cold Sun
12:00 My Education/Theta Naught: Sound Mass

mp3: Beach Fossils – Sometimes
mp3: The Black Ryder – Sweet Come Down
mp3: The Fresh & Onlys – Waterfall
mp3: Lower Heaven – Fire Engine
mp3: Bass Drum of Death – Spare Room
mp3: Fungi Girls – Doldrums
mp3: The Growlers – What It Is

Ah, Eagulls. One of my first band crushes of 2011. I loved this band immediately. From the first seconds of every single song I’ve heard, I adored this band. Not only are they intimidating, talented Northerners (hailing from Leeds), but they have the best and most hilarious band name I’ve heard in a while. I think what’s best about Eagulls is partially what I mentioned before, they’re kind of brash and intimidating, they’ve got a bigtime sense of humor (see: the eagle thing pictured above) but their songs are a mesh between that harshness and some really, really accessible and catchy melodies.

I saw them live once, for their Council Flat Blues 7″ launch party. If you haven’t gotten that single, the vinyl is sold out, but you can get the mp3 version through Not Even Records. But they were really, really good. Like, really good. They move a little bit more towards harder punk than they do on record, but they’ve got the engaging, endearing and scary part down really well. I must sound like the biggest pussy saying this band are intimidating, but trust me, they are. They’ve started playing a ton more, and I imagine, have another 7″ in the pipeline — but you’d be a damned fool to not see them at Camden Crawl this year.

mp3 | Eagulls – Mystery (The Wipers cover)

The Camden Crawl 2011 Festival runs in venues all over London during the Bank Holiday weekend of April 30th – May 1st. Get your Early Bird, Weekend and VIP tickets through See Tickets.

I didn’t really write too much about the OFWGKTA show that I caught at SXSW at VICE’s late-night Saturday party. Mostly it was because I was one of the biggest hot messes that night, and had been drinking all day. Any late night SXSW coverage has to be alcohol influenced, no? But nonetheless, Odd Future put on one of the craziest and best shows that I saw, so when I heard that they had been added to the Camden Crawl 2011 lineup, I couldn’t have been more excited in any way shape or form. We all know that anything OF related overruns the internet now, but it’s for good reason – these kids fucking rip whatever they do a new asshole.

Anyone who has seen footage of their SXSW shows (or any of them, really) knows that they go balls to the wall, hard every time they play. The likelihood that someone will get their skull busted or nose broken is like, 100%. What I loved most was being able to head bang the fuck out of everything and do that one hand in the air motion constantly. They of course did all the hits, and I’m assuming that they will at the Camden Crawl show as well. I want to hear 64 by Mellowhype (if you haven’t seen that Fuel TV video — do it now) the most. Here’s a truthful warning: this shit’s gonna be out of control in terms of line, crowded/sweatiness, likelihood of death but I’m pretty sure it’ll be worth it.

mp3 | Hodgy Beats – Alright

(ps. I used that photo above because obviously I’m in it two people to the right of Tyler, The Creator. Oh yeah. #vanity)

Brighton’s premier (if only noteworthy) festival, The Great Escape, announced it’s final lineup last week and I snoozed on it. What a major mistake. With over 300 bands, 30 venues, and the presence of myself — this is a festival not to be missed. Check out my favorites that are playing below, and then the full lineup at TGE2011 Website.

THE VACCINES / CULTS / YUCK / SUUNS / FIONN REGAN / JOHN COOPER CLARKE / KING CHARLES / MARQUES TOLIVER / THE SOFT MOON/ ECHO LAKE / CHRISTIAN AIDS / HIND EAR / IDIOT GLEE / PRIZE PETS / FEAR OF MEN / FLATS / MILK MAID / DENT MAY / DIE! DIE! DIE! / MAZES

The Great Escape runs in venues all over Brighton from May 12th – May 14th. Early Bird tickets are £45 and can only be purchased through April 12th. Don’t snooze.

mp3 | Milk Maid – Such Fun

Just got some excellent news regarding London’s Camden Crawl 2011 festival lineup. The list of bands is now finalized and the amazing OFWGKTA who put on the best show I saw at SXSW, will be coming over from LA (just like me!) to stun London once again with their swag.

In addition to those, they’ve also got Dananananaykroyd, The Agitator, Banjor or Freakout, Eagulls, Flats, Johnny Foreigner, King Charles, Marques Toliver, Mazes, Rainbow Arabia, S.C.U.M, Spectrals, Turbogeist, Veronica Falls, Wild Palms and about a thousand more.

The 2011 Camden Crawl runs from April 30th – May 1st in venues all around London. Early bird tickets are £54.00 and you can pick them up via Camden Crawl and See Tickets.

mp3 | Eagulls – Mystery (The Wipers cover)

WAH! Austin Psych Fest 4 curated by the great Reverberation Appreciation Society will be returning to Austin on Friday April 29 and 30th and May 1st. They’ve finally announced the rest of the lineup and it is INCREDIBALLS. Weekend tix are running for $100 and daily tickets are going to be $40 per day.  Get your tickets while they are still hot.The obvious answer is to go to all 3 days. Check the lineup below and some mp3 highlights from some of our longtime favorite bands playing this festival.

FRIDAY APRIL 29
Omar Rodriguez Lopez
Crystal Stilts
Atlas Sound
Beach Fossils
indian Jewelry
Radio Moscow
No Joy
Zaza
The Quarter After
Blue Angel Lounge
Cult of Dom Keller
Zechs Marquis

SATURDAY APRIL 30
Spectrum
Black Moth Super Rainbow
Prefuse 73
Crocodiles
Fresh & Onlys
Black Ryder
Tobacco
Lumerians
The Soft Moon
Cloudland Canyon
Young Prisms
Beaches
White Hills
Pontiak
Woodsmen
Weird Owl
Vacant Lots
Tjutjuana
Ghost Box Orchestra

SUNDAY MAY 1
Roky Erickson
The Black Angels
The Growlers
Cold Sun
Dirty Beaches
The Night Beats
Wall of Death
The Black Hollies
Daughts of the Sun
Lower Heaven
ST37
The Meek
Hellfire Social

mp3 | The Growlers – Drinkin’ the Juice Blues
mp3 | The Fresh and Onlys – Waterfall
mp3 | Beach Fossils – Sometimes
mp3 | Atlas Sound – Walkabout (With Noah Lennox)

The 2011 lineup for the Gaymers Camden Crawl, or as I like to refer to it, London’s mini-SXSW has finally been released. The shindig which will take place at the end of April into the first Weekend of May, sees tons of venues hosting a bunch of bands and this year a bunch of NRBW are playing. Check out our picks for Saturday and Sunday below:

Saturday, April 30th
Cloud Control
Dananananaykroyd
Eagulls
Marques Toliver
Rainbow Arabia
Spectrals
Tanlines
The Agitator
Wild Palms

Sunday, May 1st
Banjo or Freakout
Johnny Foreigner
Marques Toliver
Peggy Sue
Spectrals
Veronica Falls

mp3 | Spectrals – Chip A Tooth (Spoil A Smile)
mp3 | Dananananaykroyd – Cleaning Each Other