Elastic Heart gets covered. Again...

In case you didn't already know, Jono Yates from Blitz Kids has grown a beard and covered chart mogul Sia's latest single, Elastic Heart. It's pretty special, possibly even better than the original, but then again I may just be hypnotised by Jono's new look. Either way, it's a beautiful cover, check it out below.

"blink-182 life. for life."

It's been a sad 48 hours for Blink-182 fans. Tom DeLonge, it seems, has left the band. Now, we all kind of know that post-hiatus, the band have had highs and lows. We all know that they go months without speaking but ultimately, they're pop-punk legends and when they're on form, they're a lot of fun. We also know that Tom hasn't been the best: he can just about play his guitar, his vocals are a tad shakey and he cares more about his other endeavors, but he is still an integral and loved part of Blink. It's not called The Mark, Tom and Travis Show for nothing!

So what's the deal?

Well, first of all statements were released claiming that Tom had indefinitely left the band and that Alkaline Trio's Matt Skiba would replace him at Musink Festival later this year. That's cool, Skiba seems like a pretty rad guy, but is he Tom DeLonge? Definitely not. After this, Tom took to Instagram clearly stating he had not left the band. HAPPY DAYS but then some terrible words came to light. Mark and Travis were throwing about comments about Tom, calling his actions "ungrateful and disingenuous" and claiming that they were finally telling the truth on Tom's attitude towards to band. This led to a very unhappy Tom (why DeLonge face? etc) to take to Twitter to say "A year ago Mark and I spent a week on the phone with managers debating parting with Travis... Don't pretend there isn't more to this story." He quickly removed this tweet which seems pretty telling. Not too long after this Tom released a lengthy statement giving his side of the story which essentially said that his commitments weren't solely with Blink, he found it all very sad and felt the band's relationship had been poisoned. He ended by saying "Never planned on quitting, just find it hard as hell to commit."

So, where are we now?

Mark, in an exclusive interview with Alt Press, has now claimed "Tom doesn't want to be in Blink-182. It's obvious." but that him and Travis are totally cool with it.

Confusing, right? At this moment in time there has been no official statement about the future of Blink-182. Tom seems in a bit of a state of limbo where he hasn't said "I quit" but equally hasn't said "I'm committed." And as for Travis and Mark, they seem to want to go ahead with new material and live events without Tom, so maybe Blink-182 doesn't end here. Whatever happens, Blink-182 will never be the same without Tom and the fractures that have shown in the past 48 hours have been very sad, not only for the band but for all the fans too.

Blink-182 forever.

Neck Deep, Y Plas, 26/01/2015

The Intercontinental Championship Tour promised greatness from it's title alone. It promised battles and victories and nothing but fun and that's exactly what the night was. Foam hands shaped as fists and devil horns were dotted around the crowd, all emblazoned with the Neck Deep emblem; a symbol of pop-punk solidarity. As the first night on a tour which sees them travel the country with Australia's Trophy Eyes, Canada's Seaway and America's Knuckle Puck, hopes were high and tonight the pop-punk massive delivered.

First up were Trophy Eyes who entered the stage, like all bands tonight, to a WWE style commentator announcement and a song which represented their nation. It was a nice touch but that's not why the crowd were here. Trophy Eyes were the only part of the night that was a let down. They pummeled their way through songs which felt shouty and a tad unrehearsed. Maybe it was just over-excitement, or maybe jet lag from their 30 hour flight, but either way compared to the other bands on this bill, they weren't anything special. Following the Aussies were Candian cuties, Seaway. A better set than their predecessors, but still not the greatest, the boys played their songs with purpose and smiles and even filmed their video for the awesome Alberta, but right now, they're better on record. Nevertheless, the crowd were hyped but then Knuckle Puck arrived and it really went off. Hailing from Chicago, Knuckle Puck are the definition of pop-punk. From the get-go they killed it, the crowd lapped them up as much as they did the attention and it made for a hell of a support set.

After waiting nearly three hours, it was time for "the reason for the season" (as put by Seaway's Ryan Locke) to play their set. Neck Deep entered the stage, Ben Barlow holding a championship belt above his head and flew straight into an army of killer tunes. It was insane how mental the crowd went. This is a band who little over a year ago were playing Cardiff's Clwb Ifor Bach, a venue with a 200 capacity at best, and now they're playing Cardiff's hallowed student nightclub; it's a big step up. But after a festival run, a summer on the huge Warped Tour and a second album recorded with A Day To Remember's Jeremy McKinnon, Neck Deep looked more at home than ever. They played old and new including the likes of A Part Of Me, All Hype No Heart, Over And Over and they even closed ambitiously with Candour. It was all so on point. They have become a far more polished band, controlling their nerves and excitement to perform to the best of their ability but still giving real passion. It is a real treat to see that sort of growth from a band, particularly one as humble as this. The crowd's reaction said it all; Neck Deep are a band who are loved and they have a bright future ahead of them. Right now, they're the best of British, especially on a scene where everyone seems to sound the same. Neck Deep stand out and it's so exciting.

If you've got a ticket to see these boys, you're in for an incredible time and if you haven't, go buy one now!

This song is too beautiful 😍 #NDUKtour #IntercontinentalChampionshipsTour2015 #neckdeep #favourite

A video posted by Alice (@kell_soopreez) on Jan 26, 2015 at 3:29pm PST

Setlist (not in order)

Kick It
What Did You Expect?
Crushing Grief (No Remedy)
Damsel In Distress
Growing Pains
All Hype, No Heart
Losing Teeth
Tables Turned
Zoltar Speaks
Say What You Want
Sweet Nothings
A Part Of Me
Over and Over
Silver Lining

Candour

American Beauty/American Psycho by Fall Out Boy

2001 was a great year in the history of music, it was when Fall Out Boy became a band. In the many years since, the pop-punk-rock quartet have given us five awesome albums which have imprinted anthems, emotion, empowerment, and joy on our lives. This week, they released their sixth studio album titled American Beauty/American Psycho and in typical Fall Out Boy tradition it's one to remember.

Anthems are still present (Centuries is one to be shouted from rooftops), and emotion and empowerment still weave their way through the lyrics and melodies but what is new in this album is evolution. Patrick, Pete, Joe and Andy have been expanding their sound since day one, always pushing boundaries but still managing to sound like themselves. What American Beauty/American Psycho does, is break those boundaries that once only bent to create a far more electronic rock record than anyone ever thought they would make. It's definitely no From Under The Cork Tree (which will be celebrating it's 10th anniversary this year) and it's not quite as good as Save Rock N Roll but it is still exciting.

The aforementioned Centuries is a huge sounding rock anthem, holding a torch for all the kids who want to stand up against the enemy. Immortals is another big track (soundtracking Disney's latest delight, Big Hero 6 and whilst we're here, you should go see it because it's awesome) and it's here, and in songs such as Novocaine, Uma Therman and title track American Beauty/American Psycho, that you can see Fall Out Boy's bravery. These are the sounds that make this an evolved band and it's likely to leave people confused. It's commonplace for us to want to box things up into categories and when big rock bands like this add DJs and synthesisers into their music people get uncomfortable because this can no longer be done. But they shouldn't, especially when it comes to this album, because the boys have got the balance just right. There is still the more recognisable Fall Out Boy moments in the form of Jet Pack Blues and Twin Skeleton's (Hotel In NYC) but they aren't why you listen to this record. You listen for the moments of discomfort and uncertainty. American Beauty/American Psycho isn't the record of the year, nor is it the record of Fall Out Boy's career, but what it is is enjoyable, memorable and worth every penny.

6/10

Listen to: American Beauty/American Psycho, Twin Skeleton's (Hotel In NYC)

Fall Out Boy tour the UK in October. Tickets are available now.

The Mindsweep by Enter Shikari

Enter Shikari are on the cusp of releasing their fourth full length studio album and it is the sound this
generation has been screaming out for. Famed for abusing genre boundaries and discussing some of the most important topics that we face as planet Earth today, Rou, Rory, Chris and Rob have created a new masterpiece which continues their legacy and it is seriously impressive.

After disappearing for a year or so from the UK, only popping up for the occasional live appearance and cheeky teaser, Enter Shikari are finally unleashing some fresh and fierce fury upon us. The Mindsweep contains arguably some their angriest material yet as Rou screams his way through issues which are governmental, environmental and most importantly, global. The important thing to remember about this post-hardcore mob is that they aren't in this industry for the money, the fame, or the glory; they make the music they do because they are full to the brim with passion and they want to spread messages of positivity and realism to everyone. You don't have to be a fan of their sound but it is important that you give them a chance for their lyrics and ideas alone. One of the best and most aggressive tracks on the album is There's A Price On Your Head and it illustrates my point perfectly: "I am upper middle class, I am living in the past." This song is pure grizzly noise and the lyrics are performed as a battle: a battle which as the lyrics say is one of the past. It's a simple song yet it's one of the most powerful and that is just one reason this album is insane.

The sound of this album, whilst not as widespread as last album A Flash Flood Of Colour, is still BIG. Enter Shikari have evolved their sound once more whilst maintaining their unmistakably raw core. Electronics, percussion and strings still intertwine beautifully, Rou still spits out his lyrics with visceral integrity and gang vocals are still rife and ready to rupture ear drums worldwide. Yet somehow it feels nurtured. It's difficult to criticise this album. From the first time you hear it, you want more and more and it resonates. Like all Enter Shikari material, it makes you think and it makes you want change as much as they do. The Mindsweep isn't just an enjoyable collection of music, it's a record that gives each individual on this planet power and purpose.

"Illness is not an indulgence which you should pay for, nor is it a crime for which you should be punished" states Anaesthetist, the most recent single off the album. This pro-NHS song is seriously strong; it's broken into mainstream daytime radio and it's pricking ears up everywhere. Anaesthetist isn't even the strongest song on the album either. Torn Apart boasts: "There's more variation, more variation, there's more within populations" which speaks volumes when put in the context of the world as a whole. And it has everything you want from an Enter Shikari song: mental electronics and vast sounding riffs. Bonus track Slipshod is a gnarly beast spanning a tiny two minutes but those two minutes will be some of the best of your day. The stand out tracks however are the ones that hug this album at it's top and bottom. The Appeal and The Mindsweep I and The Appeal and The Mindsweep II are just incredible. II takes us back to the most notorious of all Enter Shikari songs, Sorry You're Not Winner, and as a long time fan of this band, it's a massive treat and one which I will gush about every time I hear it. It is however, within the first 2 minutes of this album (during The Appeal and The Mindsweep I), that you realise this album is important and will be a lifelong staple in record collections everywhere.

"This is an appeal. To the struggling and striving stakeholders of this planet, this floating rock we call Earth. Alas that means you, that means everyone of your acquaintance, every figure your eyes skim past in the street, every charlatan still to defeat, every tender face you find solace in - now mimic the mindset William Wallace was in. Dismount, disembark, descend from your existence, blacken your angst and decant your hate. Cause in the long run they’re about as useful as pouring acid onto your dinner plate. To muzzled masses that lead lives of deafening desperation. With Excalibur aloft, King Arthur on the throne, but it’s our minds we gotta wrench out of stone. Don’t be fooled by simplicity, there was never a broadcast made of such urgency, cause at no time before us did we grasp the scope of this emergency. Ladle out love and logic by the boatload, equipped with that cargo you can take any road. Now grab life, seize time, this part is for human kind."

10/10
Listen to: The Appeal and The Mindsweep I, There's A Price On Your Head, Slipshod

The Mindsweep is being streamed via the band's website now and is available to pre-order everywhere that appreciates good music!

Enter Shikari are out on tour in the UK this February with Allusondrugs, Fatherson and Feed The Rhino. Grab the last remaining tickets quick!

And as if that isn't enough the boys will be doing a string of signings as well as spending the day at their one day only Mindsweep store in Camden High Street: more info by following this link.

BLOG BREAK

Lack of activity on this blog over the winter period is due to personal circumstances and final year exams. Regular blogging will resume as of January 26th. Sorry kids!

"Music saved my life."

"Music saved my life" is a term I often hear. I understand it more than others do but at the same time I see why people struggle with this phrase. For someone's life to be saved, they have to be in danger of losing it and in an age where mental health is a high profile topic, what role does music really play in keeping us happy?

In the UK, 850,000 young people struggle with mental health. This statistic is only a representation of those who have been diagnosed which means there are many more sufferers out there who are struggling alone. A lot of young people are understandably scared by such mental health problems, whether it be depression, anxiety or any other problem which makes them feel alienated but there is so much that can be done to help. 

Music, for many, is an escape route away from problems and also a source of advice itself. Many musicians not only talk about strength, hope and positivity in their music but some have experienced some form of mental health problem too. As the issues of stigma and prevalence have become more public, many are now speaking about it. Jono Yates, guitarist of alternative rock band Blitz Kids, is one of the musicians who has started opening up about mental health and has recently discussed his battle with General Anxiety Disorder. In a YouTube video on his personal channel, he says:

“There’s a stigma attached to it, that if you suffer from [mental illness] then you’re in some way inferior, or you’re in some way damaged,  but you’re not… Everyone’s human and has their own things to deal with…It does get better but you are in charge of making it better.”

As a musician speaking out about his own struggles, he has received a lot of thanks and support from his fans and has subsequently helped people in the same, or in a similar position to himself. The influence of music in this way is so important because it helps keep the conversation about mental health flowing and helps lift the stigma of abnormality away from the topic too.

It’s not just musicians themselves who are talking about mental health though. There are many amazing charities out there who are standing up for mental health and offering advice about coping with the hard times too. Head Above The Waves are a Cardiff based organisation who promote “hope through creativity.” They have been a huge influence in the area in terms of getting people to talk about mental health and offering ways to cope too, especially using music. I got the opportunity to speak with Si Martin and Hannah Morgan from the organisation about the links between mental health and music.

A: What inspired you guys to set up Head Above The Waves?

Si: “Heads Above The Waves really came from my own experience - when I was struggling with self-harm as a teenager. It was pop-punk music, and writing/playing songs for myself that actually became my coping mechanism (seriously, thrashing a drum kit is such a good way of releasing stress). Being able to express myself through music and lyrics (whether my own or someone else’s) replaced my need to hurt myself.”

Hannah: “Initially we wanted to focus on creativity and music as a way to overcome your problems, and as huge music fans we all felt this was the best way we could get others involved and get support from the local music scene. And we're all just massive music fanatics and gig attendees!”

A: What’s the best advice you can pass on about coping with mental health?

Hannah: “We're firm believers in finding what works for you. We know that not everyone's cup of tea is music as a coping method. But we're suggesting it, sharing stories from people who it has worked for and encouraging people to have a go. If it doesn't work, try something else!”

Si: “And don’t give up! If it feels like you’ve tried a bunch of other things and they’re just not working out, it’s ok - you just haven’t found your thing yet, so keep on searching, no matter how long it takes or how hard it gets. And if you want to do something creative - it doesn’t have to be a masterpiece. I personally think that honest emotion in music counts for way more than technical perfection.”

A: Of all the musicians you’ve spoken to, who has given advice/stories that stick out the most?

Si: “Everyone that we’ve interviewed has actually been really receptive to our concept, and talked really honestly and openly, which has been awesome. But I think my favourite was Dan “Soupy” Campbell from The Wonder Years. He said: “If you take a calendar and colour in every day that’s bad, then look at a week or a month, then you might see a bunch of coloured in days and it looks like you’ve got a pretty bad life. But if you look at those few coloured in days on a say 80 year life span, then really, they’re just a drop in the bucket.” So I went and got a bucket tattooed on me!”

Hannah: “I would say Gnarwolves has been my favourite interview that we've done so far because I feel they really had the chance to say some cool things about their music and lyrics. They discussed how important music and friendship is to keeping your chin up and your head clear. I just felt they were really honest and encouraged people to talk about their feelings- which can be a hard thing for young people to do. Also, they’re just such a rad band.”

A: Why do you think music is so important in coping with mental health?

Hannah: “I can honestly say I wouldn't be alive now if it wasn't for music. It is my go to pick me up when I'm going through a hard time. I believe that when you're in a negative head space, a new band, new song or album can put into music and lyrics what you may not be able to admit to yourself or say out loud.  It can give you the courage to move forward with your life and grow, or can even just put a smile on your face when you remember good times you associate with certain songs. Music can definitely soundtrack your life, and lyrics can become mantras that you can say over and over to remind yourself to keep going. And of course playing and creating music can be cathartic.”

Si: “Music’s actually been a really key part in practically every human culture as far back as recorded history goes. I think there’s something that just kind of… resonates with people, if that makes sense. Personally, I love finding lyrics that let me know that there’s someone else out there who’s going through the same thing as I am, but they’re dealing with it through their music. And that feeling that I’m not alone, coming through a speaker, picks me up and means I can carry on when I’m at my lowest. Because actually, music can play such a huge role in your mood. It’s really hard to do, but when you’re feeling bummed out, avoid the temptation to listen to sad music, and listen to something that picks you up instead. We’ve made a Spotify playlist of songs that people have shared with us that pick them up when they’re down, so I’d definitely recommend checking that out!”

Personally, I wanted to talk about this on my blog because I have had my own battles with mental health. Ever since my early teens I felt different. I coped with all my problems and pressures differently and I never really spoke to anyone about it. Even now I struggle from time to time, but the one thing that has always been there when times have been tough is music. I don’t perform or create but I listen and take comfort and inspiration in the words I hear. I have lyrics tattooed on me to remind myself to stay strong when things get hard and every day I discover new words that help me. I recently stumbled across a lyric from a song by metalcore band, Architects: “pick yourself up and learn to live.” Its words like this that resonate with people and give people strength.

And, it’s not just these alternative musicians who create support concerning mental health. You often hear fans of artists such as One Direction and Lady Gaga say how they have been saved by the music and it is nothing but positive that this is happening; that all types of music are empowering people to get up and get through the problems they face.

The important message amongst all of this is that whether you want to create music, listen to music, or find help in any other form that is positive and helps, there is always a way to deal with mental health. No one is alone and there is always a place you can turn which will provide the support you need to get up again. If you are struggling, find a source of happiness and talk to someone. Here are a few links that might help: 

Head Above The Waves: hatw.co.uk
Youngminds: youngminds.org.uk
CALM: thecalmzone.net
SANE: sane.org.uk
MIND: mind.org.uk