Stop The Earth!

So, recently I moved to Leeds and wow…culture shock. The culture, despite being only 20 minutes away from Bradford is absolutely different. Street performers are ripe and I want to talk about one who I was lucky enough to have a quick chat with today, Opie Deino.

She is a soulful songstress wielding nothing but an amazing rustic voice and an acoustic guitar. It’s very rare that I stop and stare (One Republic lyrics, did I just do that? wow) and be absolutely shrouded in such an emotional atmosphere when it comes to street performers, but she totally won me over.

OK - so maybe you’re thinking “so what? It’s just another good musician” but let me please set the scene and hopefully correct your pessimism, consider this a mild form of CBT. It was a cold and wet November evening – the streets were incredibly busy with the onset of Christmas shopping and just around the corner was Deino! An amazing voice that would surely have made me see incredible strings of blue, purple and orange flying through the air, If I had synaesthesia of course. The cold wet November evening was suddenly transformed into a somehow scorching three day weekend (because we all love three day weekends, right?).

I have spoken with her about doing an interview so please keep your eyes peeled and the next time you are out and about in Leeds, just take a look at the street performers – they might just change your world.

Hey all! Here’s the newest word from Vice-UK. Yet another issue launch party is coming to Leeds! If you are like me at all, you just came.

In other news, they are throwing together a DO and DON’T book with all our fave beaut’s and tard’s. You just came again, by the end of this you will be bone dry!

Anyway, what you need to do if you want to win the book is to tweet a link to a DO or DON’t pic with the tag #VICEDO or #VICEDON and don’t forget to put @VICEUK in there so they can see you all!

Not absolutely dry yet? Well go have a wank you fuckers ;)

Hey Guys, here are some pictures from my most recent review. I was meant to get an interview but due to a floating cargo ship being late…I didn’t get to do it. The acoustic tour was quite an experience, not to mention when the dragged a guy on stage to sing Ice Ice Baby.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-12109625

When it happened I was asleep, my sister in law ran upstairs wondering if I was moving furniture…I checked twitter to see if anyone else had felt it…and twitter was going crazy with it. Must have been real anyway. BBC news reports a 3.7 magnitude quake felt around leeds, bradford and most of yorkshire.

I checked my e-mails this morning to find, in amongst the penis-enlargement forest, was an e-mail saying I was all set up to interview LTJ before their gig in Leeds. Stoked is all I can say. I have to say, before I go on, that this gig was probably the greatest thing I’ve ever been an insignificant part of, so only go on reading if you’re prepared for the best commentary of one of the sickest events. EVER.

I got there, bypassed all the 14 year olds chillin’ with fake ID. I met up with Vinnie & Buddy – who quickly became my new best friends. They answered some of my silly questions:

You guys have been a sensation for a while now, relatively speaking…you’ve been around for a long time…Is there anything you wish you had done different?

Yea, we probably shouldn’t get into specifics but there are a lot of things we could or should have done differently…but you know, that’s life…we live, make mistakes and learn.

Ok, that’s cool – on the flip side of my slightly depressing opener – What’s your biggest achievement?

Bon jovi. The fact we can say we toured with bon jovi.

Do you miss Florida?

Yea, I mean between tours and everything we got to go back for a couple of days and that was kinda a big tease. But like, Florida is full of old people, so meh.

There are hundreds of songs about California…If you could write another song about Florida…what would it be about?

Old people.

The TV/EP on your website is probably the 2^nd best way I’ve ever spent 11 minutes, I won’t tell you the 1^st best way, but damn man it beats the 3^rd best way and that shit was good. How did you pick the tunes?

Ha ha! We picked the tunes so that the whole thing could appeal to different generations. Like, you know Scooby doo, animaniacs and Malcolm in the middle are all from three totally different times. I’m so surprised that video hasn’t been taken down yet haha – best not to go into that though.

Favourite English band?

Snuff…or an Iron Maiden, of course.

If you weren’t a band, but were still some sort of group…what would you be doing?

Door to door proctologists.

You answered that pretty quickly haha, If you knew the world was going to end in 2012 how would you live your life?

Well I could die tomorrow so I wouldn’t act any different. I’d just ride it out. I’d probably spend money a bit more frivolously. I’d become a travelling proctologist!

What is time?

Time is what you make of it.

Finally, are you guys an Iphone band or a Blackberry band?

Oh we are definitely an Iphone band, JR is clinging to his blackberry but it’s only a matter of time. He is the only one in the group that has a PC, we all have macs.

Hey guys, thanks for your time…before I go can I get a quick picture?

Of course! Can we do rock faces?

Are there any other kind of faces?

Once the interview had finished I ran downstairs to meet my friend, we jumped inside and instantly started drinking plenty of Jager. £3.50 for a jager bomb…fit as fuck. Zebrahead were awesome, played all the classics – playmate of the year and some sexy covers.

The big deal came around when Less than jake came on and started playing…I pushed my way to the front  and without intention, got the attention of the guys. Long story short is that they dragged me on stage with them to drink even more Jager with them!

The pic shows someone pointing at me…I’m that cool.

I’ve done quite a few interviews before, with a lot of bands from the west coast but this is the first from the east and it was the best thing ever. It had everything…Atmosphere, great music & crowd interaction. 

September is going to be an exciting month in Leeds this year, with the grand re-opening of Mission on the 18^th, Homo every Monday after boasting selected drinks from £1 at Queens Court but more exciting is the big fresher’s party going on in mission.

Sponsored by Attitude Magazine, the party will be held in the newly refurbished Mission, opposite Queens Court. Mission will have 2 big dance floors, 4 bars and a sexy VIP area spread out across a few layers.

Photo Credit: TILL LATE

Mission is a popular spot any night of the week, always delivering a beautiful mix of the most recent tunes mixed with classics that refuse to go away. Offering a comfortable smoking area and the hottest trend setters in the tri-city area, where else would you want to be?

Drink prices have never been a problem and I can’t see them being a problem in the future, admission costs less than an hour’s wage most of the time (in british pounds, of course) offering great value for money.

Photo Credit: TILL LATE

Leeds being one of Yorkshires biggest student centrals means that no matter what night you go you will always find a party, but the attitude magazine freshers party offers the biggest alternative club night of the year.

It’s a matter of maths really guys. Hot people + Hot venue + Sexy prices = A sizzling night not to be missed.

Held in the brand new Mission with drag superstar Lady Lloyd DJ’ing the night away. Attitude will be there taking pictures and as an added bonus, they will be giving free copies of their magazine away, so this night is not to be missed.

So make your way down to this big party on the 2^nd October on lower brigate. New to the city? Not to worry, it’s right next to the train station and if you still can’t find it, follow the crowd of sharply dressed guys and gals.

Leeds plays host to a wide variety of alternative nights, including at least three weekly gay nights. Mission, along with Queens Court is usually the base of operations on a Pink Pounder Monday, Queer Thursday or Back Door Disco Saturday.

To all the incoming fresher’s delight Mission is undergoing a massive refurbishment which boasts two huge dance floors, four bars, an outside terrace and a VIP area set over multiple layers.

The re-opening is happening on Saturday 18^th of September and you can win a chance for you and a friend to be on the guest list, allowing you free entry on the grand re-opening. That’s right, we’ve got 3 sets of gustlist+1 tickets available to give away, all you have to do is tell us about a fun or horrible mission that you have been given and give as much detail as you can! Did you complete it? What were your objectives? The best stories will win the prize!

E-mail your stories to unrealtaylor@gmail.com making sure to leave contact details, so I can contact you if you win!

Tonight i got the amazing opportunity to meet Zebrahead, a band formed in orange county, California. Matty, Ali, Ben and Greg were happy enough to listen to my silly questions and amazed me with the best interview i have ever done. These guys not only make a great sound, they make great company. At one point they reinacted a scene from movie “step brothers” and when they saw that i totally understood what they were saying they welcomed me as a brother of ΛΛΛ (lambda lambda lambda or tri lam) fraternity, however I turned down their symbolic offer as my brothers wouldn’t be too happy about that.

So guys, what made you call your latest album “Panty Raid” what inspired that decision?

Ali: Matty chose the name, it was inspired by the movie “Revenge of the nerds” in which a bunch of fraternity guys stole a bunch of sorority chicks panties and screamed “PANTY RAIDDDDDDDDD”.

You guys have been all around, but you have an especially large Japanese fan base, why do you think this is?

Matty: Well, it’s because we took out Mothra & Godzilla, saving their country…so i guess they are just being appreciative. Yep, we took them to couples therapy.

You’ve had songs featured in computer games such as WWE and Sonic the Hedgehog and movies such as Dude where’s my car, but if you could choose a song you’ve made and put it to a recent movie what would your combination be?

Ali: Wait, i don’t understand the question

Matty: Well i’d like to see any of our songs to Beverly hills cop 1, 2 or 3.

Ali: Oh yea, stairway to heaven would go great with those! Can you imagine like Harry Potter or something?

Ben: Twilight! It’s art.

So your latest album is a bunch of covers, why did you chose to do that?

Matt: We got tired of our own music and decided “hey, let’s play music that people will actually like” let’s play songs that are already hits!

Could you describe your band in one word?

Matt, Ali & Greg (all together): Shit.

Me: No way, that must be one of your silly answers because there’s a sold out room downstairs waiting to hear you guys!

You guys are from Orange County, but you’ve been around the world…if you had to settle in one other place…where would it be?

Matt: Germany! No wait! The Keelbler Village! Those guys make good cookies.

Ali: Germany, aaaw no way, i just ruined the interview by giving you a serious answer…can i start over?

Me: Yea, of course.

Ali: Fantasy Island!

So there’s a whole community of people online who don’t like the new album because it’s a whole bunch of covers, what do you have to say to those guys?

Both: Well, we say to those people…don’t go online…but also, if you do need to go online spend more time looking at porn and less time on youtube.

*all whilst Greg is checking out porn on his mac*

Boxers or Briefs?

Matt: wait, us or the ladies?

Me: Erm, you.

Matt: Commando!

Ali: Commando!

Me: Ok, what about them?

Matt: Commando!

Ali: Commando!….boxers?

Me: Boxers on ladies can look really hot!

Ali: but doesnt commando?

*greg shows a lady in commando on his mac to the group*

Define Time in one sentence

Matt: I think thyme is a greenish plant that goes great with chicken.

Matt: Wait, can i ask you a question?

Ali: Yes, we can interview you now haha

Me: Sure thing.

Matt: Have your shoes always looked like that?

Me: Like what?

Matt: Shiny, or did you do it?

Me: Haha, I got them like this.

Ben: I nearly got some like that from HnM, but in red.

—————-

So once the interview was over, i snapped a quick picture and ran downstairs to the gig! Just in time for Orange, a band on their first UK tour. Their sound was good, the lead singer really reminded me of someone but i just can’t place who.

After Orange had played, MC Lars came on and i was blown away. I can honestly say i’ve never heard of them, but wow. Ok, so i am not one for rap or hiphop but this was amazing, there style is inspired by sci-fi with various mentions of the borg and other alien critters. They had a song inspired by my favourite poem, “the raven” by Edgar Allen Poe which made it an instant win in my eyes! They interacted with the crowd a whole lot. I demand that anyone with the slightest interest check them out on myspace.

Zebrahead came on to stage and the crowd went insane. They played a Britney cover from their newest album “Panty Raid” and everyone in the crowd sang along, they played some of their old classics like “Hello Tomorrow” and “Playmate of the year” and again, at one point…the crowd started chanting YORKSHIRE YORKSHIRE YORKSHIRE! and again, the band didn’t understand what was being said so they called upon an interpreter to help out.

Ali, as always took his shirt off…which is something Zebrahead fans are not shocked at any more. Fans were trying to get on stage throughout the entire gig and those that succeeded were thrown back into the crowd by a big man on stage.

All in all, an amazing gig. The guys are amazing and this was probably the best gig I’ve ever happened to be at. The drinks prices are the Cockpit were great, £2 for a bottle of Becks, which you might think is expensive but believe me…it’s not…I work in a hotel, believe me.