The Natterjacks Q&A

Your name: 

Freddie Bingham & Mark Evans.

Where are you from? 

Chesterfield, Derbyshire, in the heart of England.

Name of band:

The Natterjacks.

How would you describe yourselves? 

We set out to produce a big sound seen as there's only the two of us and we do this by playing a couple of instruments each and packing out the melodies with harmonies. We like to drive our songs forward with plenty of banjo and the thud of a kick drum accompanied by the shatter of a tambourine. 

Who are your main influences musically? 

We've been listening to a lot of Ben Howard, Lana Del Rey, Fleet Foxes, London Grammar & Fleet Foxes recently and I suppose what we listen to at a particular time does influence what we write and play. Bands like Mumford & Sons and Bears Den are also great and obviously key influences in our music, especially our earlier stuff.

What do you hope to achieve in music? 

We really do love playing at festivals so we'd like to get further onto the festival circuit, the atmosphere is just incredible. One of the best things about making our music is hearing from people that they're enjoying it too so we just want as many people to enjoy what we do as possible.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why? 

That'd probably be playing the Quarry Stage for BBC Introducing at Y Not Festival last year - which we'll actually be returning to this August! It was the biggest audience we've played to so far and the whole weekend was a great experience with the release of our debut album being the following Monday too!

And what’s the moment you want to forget? 

Probably the shows where there have only been two or three people sat at the back, they were probably some of our family too! But even those might have got one more person into our music so it's not all bad!

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why? 

Probably our new track In The Bark, which will be released as the title track to our forthcoming EP, it's lively, banjo driven, danceable and has a chorus which you can easily join in on, definitely what we're all about.

Where can we listen to it?

We've not got it streaming just yet but our debut album is available to stream on our soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/thenatterjacks/sets/album-sampler

Where can we find out more about your music?

Website: http://www.thenatterjacksofficial.co.uk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Natterjacks/178794162141930?ref=stream

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thenatterjacks

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/highlands/id679024155

Anything else you’d like to say that I forgot to ask? 

If you can, come down to one of our shows and have a chat! That's probably the best place to see us, we aim to get it nice and lively and make sure everyone has a great time.

Footnotes from Sonisphere

IT was a fun and eventful weekend at Sonisphere, so here's a few additional bits and bobs noted over the festival.

• The idea of facing main stages is genius. Keeps the fans hanging around less between bands and cuts down on trudging from stage to stage. Although anyone in the disabled section trying to enjoy Dream Theater on Sunday evening would've had it drowned out by the Metallica soundcheck.

• Iron Maiden is more than a metal band, it's a religion. Their fans swarmed the arena on Saturday, all wearing band T-shirts, denims, badges and costumes. And they came in all ages, from teenage girls to hairy old men and everything in between.

• Sonisphere had the most families I've ever seen at a festival. There were lots of parents with older kids, but also with babies and toddlers - as well as nan and granddads. Great to see.

• These festival-goers love a bit of merchandise. If it wasn't a Maiden T-shirt, more often than not it was an official Sonisphere one or a Knebworth 40th anniversary one. And some were Maiden celebrating Knebworth's 40th anniversary at Sonisphere.

• Ironic T-shirt of the weekend: The guy wearing a 'FUCK AUTHORITY' top standing out the way behind a barrier after a security guard told him to finish his drink before entering the arena.

• £4.90 for pint of Tuborg lager seems excessive. It may be the going rate for a festival beer, but Sonisphere doesn't have to follow the norm. The price did include a 10p cup desposit, but £4 a pint would surely have been a decent enough mark-up.

• Cup collecting has become a serious business. Diving at the feet of a moshpit to pick up discarded cups now not only makes entertainment for kids bored of the music, but there were guys who brought their own kit to pick up all those will-be 10ps off the floor.

• While Metallica's By Request set is a great way to get fans involved, the last minute "you can vote for one more song by texting at a cost of 25p plus standard network rate blah blah blah" did smack at wringing every last penny from the fans. 

• The guitarist from Anti-Flag can fly.

Sonisphere - Day Three review

Alice In Chains

THE early(ish) night worked and I'm feeling as fit as a flea this morning. So much so that I'm up and into the festival arena just over an hour before the first band.

But there is a busy day ahead and it starts with The One Hundred. Management for Surrey upstarts had emailed me before the festival encouraging me to come along, so it seemed rude not too.

As I waited outside the Satellite stage for their 11.30am slot, it was great to see the band giving out flyers to festival-goers themselves less than ten minutes before go time.

It can be awkward when you're asked to check out a band you've never heard before - especially when they're given an unenviable early start on the festival's smallest stage. But they were great.

Their mix of rap, rock and a bit of electronica harks at Rage Against The Machine, but firecracker frontman Jacob Fields delivers his rhymes, singing and raawwlls with a definite British slant - and with a sense of humour.

Delays on the main stages mean I can check out a bit of noisy bastards Dripback on the Jägermeister stage and Gojira before Protest The Hero appear on the Saturn stage.

The Canadians turned in a popular performance - frontman Rody Walker mocked the short set by announcing they would "play their six songs and then just fuck off" and later threw both his shoes into the moshpit. The music was great too.

The Devin Townsend Project follow before Karnivool turned in one of my favourite performances of the weekend. The Aussies were brilliant as they turned out a relatively short set that included Set Fire To The Hive and finished with the lengthy New Day.

I spend a while flitting between stages taking in the likes of Airbourne - who seemed to pull in a surprisingly large crowd - and Reel Big Fish before I take up a spot near the front for Mastodon.

Gojira played an early set

The hairy prog metallers opened with the stunning Oblivion and although they omitted my favourite Curl Of The Burl, it was another set to remember from the weekend - but there were two more of those to come.

I listened to bits of Dropkick Murphys but then Alice In Chains took to the Apollo stage and blew me away. 

Grunge has long drifted away from the mainstream, but these guys were there at the start and are still making the music relevant today. Sure there were lots of the old stuff of Dirt, but it was a set for the fans. Well, this one certainly.

And when they finished with Would? and then Rooster, I was in heaven.

I had planned to go and see Therapy? over in the Bohemia tent but even with Dream Theater on the Saturn stage, the crowds were building in front of the Apollo for Metallica. I stayed put - even while a recording of James Hetfield and Co was played over and over begging us to vote for another song on the By Request setlist.

They came on a little late, but it was well worth the wait. Flanked on the stage wings by dozens of fans, they tore into Battery and Master of Puppets. The audience went mental and the band fed off the fervour. 

Ride The Lightning, The Unforgiven and Fuel followed before they played new track Lords Of Summer. Sad But True, Fade To Black, Creeping Death and One - oh yes, so great to hear that live - came one after the other along with For Whom The Bell Tolls, Blackened, Nothing Else Matters and Enter Sandman.

There was, of course, an encore that kicked off with Whiskey In The Jar and was followed by late (voted for) addition ...And Justice For All before finishing off with Seek & Destroy.


A fantastic, heavy and unforgettable finish to a wonderful weekend of music. They wanted to celebrate 40 years of festivals at Knebworth - and they did it in style.

To look back at the past days of the festival, click here for Day One or Day Two.

Sonisphere - Day Two review

Deftones' Chino says 'hi' to the crowd

SO day two quickly arrives and from first thing in the morning one thing is very evident - Maiden are definitely playing tonight.

At least every second person is wearing an Iron Maiden T-shirt. I feel out of place. I knew they were big, but this is more - this is a cult.

But Tesseract are the opening band of the day on Apollo and with founding vocalist Daniel Tompkins back after a three-year break they tentatively build into good little set. They are then followed on the Saturn stage opposite by Scottish pirate metallers Alestorm - and by then the hangovers are blown away.

Babymetal win some new fans

Then comes the bizarre back on the Apollo - Japanese outfit Babymetal. Three dancing frontwomen with very high-pitched voices backed by chugging guitars. Nuts. Batshit crazy. The festival-goers I spoke to were split. Some thought it was awesome, others not so keen. Pokemon metal is the term I settled on.

But as the heavens opened I took my leave to the Bohemia tent to take in Calling All Cars and Voodoo Six - sorry Chas n Dave, but it was dry in there. 

Both bands did plenty to keep my interest though and it was a successful if previously unplanned diversion. That's what festivals are all about, right? Finding new bands too.

Anyway, the crazy continued on the Apollo as next up were costumed, Swedish doom merchants Ghost. They really don't float my boat so I quickly decided it was time for  lunch and drinks before a bit of Anthrax and next up after that for me was Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls.

Ghost - not a musical of the Patrick Swayze film

Frank was a weird fit to the weekend - which he admitted himself - with his acoustic country/folk/rock jangles out of place against many of the other chugging guitars and screaming vocals of many others on the bill.

He even jokingly introduced the crowd to an acoustic guitar.

He mentioned in the build-up to the festival and during his set that he is a massive Iron Maiden fan and grew up listening to metal and rock music - maybe he offered to do the gig for free in return for playing alongside his heroes. In any case, his set did come as a break from what had gone before and was coming later. Namely, mayhem.

Taking things back up a notch first were Hundred Reasons - back on the line-up two years after their cancelled appearance for the 10th anniversary of their Ideas Above Our Station album. They did the album in full and after a shaky start they found their groove.

In a day with a few oddities, another was soon upon us. Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson and his Great War Display Team re-enacted a World War One dogfight in the skies above Knebworth for a full 15 minutes, complete with commentary. Maiden mascot Eddie was supposedly one of the rear gunners, but my eyesight wasn't up to the job of confirming that.

Frank Turner and his acoustic

The display was ended by the Band and Bugles of The Rifles playing the Last Post - and just a minute or so later Deftones were on the same stage blaring into their track Diamond Eyes.

They may have been a bit bemused, but Chino Moreno didn't let it show and put in a ferocious performance as he stalked the stage rasping out his vocals. It was a great set, but I was disappointed that my personal favourites Back To School and You've Seen The Butcher didn't feature. No matter.

Now we're into the business end of the evening and as Slayer played the Saturn stage, I stayed nearer the Apollo to get a good viewing spot for the big one - Iron Maiden.

Now. I'll be honest, I'm not a massive Maiden fan. I don't own any albums and don't really have the inclination to go buy any. But I appreciate their status as one of the iconic bands of rock and metal music. And from the vastly swollen crowd from the previous day, it was evident this was going to be one to remember.

Soon, a grounded Bruce was out on the stage as they opened with Moonchild, swiftly followed by Can I Play With Madness. The crowd was madness personified and Dickinson seemed to cover every inch of the stage as The Prisoner and 2 Minutes To Midnight followed.

Maiden ended up playing for around two hours - including three-song encore ending in Sanctuary. It was awesome.

My plan had been to follow this by attending the Kerrang disco starting at 1am. But after two days of booze, sun, seemingly infinite walking and loads of good music, I needed a rest. Plus there was another full day of music to come. But today would take some beating.

Click here to read my review of Day One if you missed it, or carry on to Day Three.

Sonisphere - Day One review

Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst

SAY what you like about about Limp Bizkit - and most people do - they sure know how to write songs that get a festival crowd singing along and dancing.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. It's day one of Sonisphere at glorious Knebworth and the sun is shining and it's hot. And as soon as the tent up and the first beer sunk, it's time to see the first band of the day.

London industrial metallers The Defiled are first up on the Apollo stage and quickly get the crowd going with a fierce set that they seem to enjoy as much as their fans.

But the early sets are short and sweet at 30 minutes and they are soon off and next up for me is Comeback Kid in the Bohemia tent. Just like The Defiled, these Canadian punks are quickly into their groove and have the tent thumping.


By this point - 4pm day one - one thing is very clear. Unlike other festivals I've been to, the priority for the crowd here is the music. Beer and everything else is secondary. Sure there are plenty of drunk folks and those dressed up in the wrestling theme of the day - but they're still hear to see bands.

The Defiled open the Apollo stage

After Comeback Kid for me is Devil You Know. As a big fan of Killswitch Engage, I was keen to see what former frontman Howard Jones and his supergroup sounded like live. 

To be honest, they were just OK. Not bad, but I didn't get the vibe off them I get when I listen to KE. Maybe it's unfair to compare, but I'll still give them another listen.

After that I take a little refreshment break - a few beers and some food - and take in bits of Band Of Skulls, Him and Atari Teenage Riot, but then I'm on my way near the front of the Apollo stage for Limp Bizkit.

Wes Borland blacks out

The Lounge Kittens kick off the set with an a cappella intro to Rollin before Fred Durst joins them on stage and takes over vocal duties. From then on it's classic after classic with the likes of Faith, My Generation, Nookie, a cover of Rage Against the Machine's Killing In the Name before closing with Take A Look Around and Break Stuff - and all with Wes Borland in his usual made-up gimp look.

With the crowd really hyped up, next comes headliners The Prodigy. Those who dispute a dance band topping the bill at a metal festival really haven't seen the Essex boys live before. Man, they rock.

Breathe is the first track and within seconds of the familiar intro the audience is thrashing. It's a long set but the energy of the band and the crowd is immense and the likes of Omen, Firestarter and Invaders Must Die really life everyone. When they play Smack My Bitch Up we reach a frenzy and then comes a four-song encore. What a start to the weekend.

Click on the links here to read my reviews of Day Two and Day Three.

Zeb vs Zeus Q&A

Your name:

Mark O'Connor (Zeb).

Where are you from?

Dublin, Ireland.

Name of band: (if applicable)

Zeb vs Zeus.

Who else is in your band? (if applicable)

Mark O'Connor (Zeb)

John O'Connor (Zeus)

Adam O'Connor (Teeb)

Mr. Tickles (Himself)

Jubs Haylin (Silent Partner!)

How would you describe yourselves?

Zeb vs Zeus is 'fictional' band that makes 'real' music. Made up of bickering siblings Zeb & Zeus, we will be releasing two versions of all our songs - a Zeb version and a Zeus version - which will go head to head to see who's version is the best. Each song release will be preceded by a mockumentary style YouTube video, chronicling the trials and tribulations of Zeb & Zeus, the first of which Episode 1 - How to Start a Band is now available on our YouTube channel. 

While we enjoy making quirky videos to market our music, we mostly just love to make great music. We have released our first 'duel' single 'Out of Wax' on 2nd June with our second to follow in July 2014.

Who are your main influences musically?

Radiohead, Muse, Coldplay, Ocean Colour Scene, Bob Dylan.

What do you hope to achieve in music?

Like all the other musicians out there, we just want to avoid having to get a 'real' job and have fun along the way. We'd really love to make it as an independent band. We record, mix and master our own music, shoot and edit all our own videos. It's a lot a work but it gives us the freedom to things the way we want to. We love writing songs and making videos and hope that someone out there will enjoy them as much as we enjoyed making them.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?

Just getting things off the ground for our first release was an achievement in itself. Most people don't know the amount of work an indie band has to put in behind the scenes with recording and mixing the music, shooting and editing the videos, setting up and maintaining the social media, building websites, etc.... Getting the ball rolling is often the most difficult step. Now we just want to keep the momentum going.

And what’s the moment you want to forget?

Well that would have to be the microphone stand hurdle incident of 2014! Luckily I can still have children! Zeb Tip #1 - Microphone stands do not make good hurdles, even if you are wearing a cape!

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?

Well that's easy to answer, we've only released one song (2 versions) so far - 'Out of Wax'

Where can we listen to it?

Zeb Version - http://youtu.be/Ap3MMikP8eo

Zeus Version - http://youtu.be/_1wM3pnO3JY

Where can we find out more about your music?

http://zebvszeus.com

https://facebook.com/zebvszeus

https://google.com/+zebvszeus

https://twitter.com/zebvszeus

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1yOH_Xx6mM9s-HYZfKGdug

https://soundcloud.com/zebvszeus

Anything else you’d like to say that I forgot to ask?

Zeb, Zeus & Teeb (aka...Mark, John & Adam) are real life brothers from Dublin, Ireland. We developed the Zeb vs Zeus idea when both Adam and John moved out of Dublin making it a bit difficult to practice and perform together. Subsequently, Adam moved back to Dublin from New Zealand and John currently lives in Bangor near Belfast. We meet up whenever possible to shoot video footage for episodes of Zeb vs Zeus, music videos and other quirky ideas to help get our music out there. 

5th and Pontiac Q&A

Your name: 

Mark Anselm Tait.

Where are you from? 

All over the shop.

Name of band:

5th and Pontiac.

Who else is in your band?

Bandmates.

How would you describe yourselves?

Disfunctional but kinda good.

Who are your main influences musically?

Who cares..us mostly.

What do you hope to achieve in music?

World peace.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?

Not considering it to be a career opportunity.

And what’s the moment you want to forget?

Splitting up!

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?

Moleskin Joe...cos it is fab!

Where can we listen to it?

soundcloud.com/atholl/moleskin-joe-5th-and-pontiac

Where can we find out more about your music?

Seek and ye shall find.

Dripback's Adam da Rat's Sonisphere picks

WITH Sonisphere Festival taking place this very weekend, RealSoundsOK caught up with Dripback bassist Adam da Rat to get the low-down on who to see.

He told us: "I'm picking stuff that might not be as obvious - everyone goes to see the big names, - but the great thing about festivals is finding hidden gems."

So here are his choices...

THE DEFILED - Apollo Stage, Friday 2.45pm

I've followed this band since they were playing to 20 people in a shitty little pub in Camden and always imagined them on a huge stage. Next Friday I don't need to imagine. I can't wait to see them bring their show to the biggest stage they've played so far. Crushing but melodic and with a rare star quality, you shouldn't miss these.

Check out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhA0eglzNis

STAMPIN GROUND - Jagermeister Stage, 5pm Saturday

This is their first show in god knows how long. They were the kings of UKHC back in the day. The first time I heard them I thought "Slayer on crack". Viscous, energetic, they will have the whole place bouncing up and down. I can not wait.

Check out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZS9L8s98Rk

THE LOUNGE KITTENS - Satellite Stage, Saturday 5.30pm

I've not seen these live yet so really looking forward to this. Three very funny girls with beautiful voices doing very creative interpretations of all manner of songs, from rock to dance to hip hop to whatever. One keyboard, three perfectly harmonising voices and a wicked sense of humour, I can't imagine this not being fun.

Check Out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiwJdH3avHQ

DRIPBACK - Jagermeister Stage, 12pm Sunday

OK - so this is my band. If I wasn't playing I would most definitely be watching Protest The Hero over on the Saturn stage. With that in mind, we need all the help we can get so come watch us play haha. It's dirty, vicious, brutal hardcore played by a bunch of friends who grew up on death metal. We don't get together often but go absolutely bonkers when we do. 

Check Out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yD5dZZ7972k

KROKODIL - Jagermeister Stage, 2pm Sunday

Friends I've known for years who are all incredible musicians who've been in other bands previously (and currently). Riffs. Big, fat, juicy riffs, and all the heavy.

Check Out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lhmNYgA0eE

Darkbeat Q&A

Your name: 

Fabio.

Where are you from? 

Italy, living in London since 1997.

Name of band: 

Darkbeat.

Who else is in your band? 

Jackie and Franco.

How would you describe yourselves? 

Two thirds Italian and one third female, Darkbeat is a London-based indie-rock band with post-punk/new wave influences ready to serenade you with tales of intrigue, dark love, murder and alien invasion. Or, to put it simply, we're rock'n'roll lovers with Peter Pan Syndrome.

Who are your main influences musically? 

Joy Division, Siouxsie, Bauhaus, The Cure and The Sound are among my favourite bands but I like to think we don't sound like any of those.

What do you hope to achieve in music? 

We're old enough to know we'd never make a living out of it but we also want to stress we never intended to. Music is our passion, we mainly want to have fun but we're also quite serious about it. We're currently lining up gigs and planning to have professional studio recordings done pretty soon. Ultimately we'd love to be playing in larger venues than the local pubs/bars and at festivals and we're working on it. The kick of being on stage and playing for a large audience, that's what we're here for!

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why? 

The band is only eight months old, still waiting for the highlights to come. 

And what’s the moment you want to forget? 

Ditto.

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why? 

That would be Stardust. It's a very simple tune with a catchy chorus and Jackie's lyrics perfectly complement the music. A pleasure to play and hopefully a pleasure to listen to. That's for you to say though.

Where can we listen to it? 

http://www.reverbnation.com/darkbeatmusic

Free Electronic Press Kits from ReverbNation.com

Where can we find out more about your music? 

Website: www.darkbeat.info

Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/darkbeat_band

ReverbNation: www.reverbnation.com/darkbeatmusic

Facebook: www.facebook.com/darkbeatband

Twitter: www.twitter.com/DarkbeatHQ

Anything else you’d like to say that I forgot to ask? 

Yes, thanks a lot Greg for getting in touch with us and for promoting new bands, that's something we really appreciate. 

Kill For Eden Q&A

Your name: 

Dave Bown.

Where are you from? 

London, UK.

Name of band: 

Kill For Eden.

Who else is in your band?

Lyla D'Souza – Lead vocalist

Dave Garfield Bown – Guitar

Andrea Basiola – Guitar

Mike McGuinness – Bass Guitar

Wally Miroshnikov – Drums

How would you describe yourselves?

Kill For Eden is a five-piece hard rock band. 

Who are your main influences musically?

Influences include Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and The Cult’s solid riffs, Blondie’s instant melody and Garbage‘s contemporary mix of pop hooks and rebel attitude.  

What do you hope to achieve in music? 

To make some music that lifts people and brightens their day in our own uncompromising style.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why? 

Our first album is a highlight as it captures the spirit of the band.

And what’s the moment you want to forget? Pushing the band van through the mud backstage at a festival in our onstage finery.

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?

'Kerosene' is a great radio tune that has a strong melody and a raucous catchy riff. Its a song about sex from a female perspective which gives a satisfying and subversive edge.

Where can we listen to it? 

https://soundcloud.com/killforeden/kerosene-radio-mix

Learn how to get your music heard at ReverbNation.com

Where can we find out more about your music? 

Official Homepage: http://www.killforeden.com
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/KillForEden/featured
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/killforedenrock
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/KillForEden
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/killforeden
Reverb Nation EPK: http://www.reverbnation.com/killforeden

Anything else you’d like to say about your band/music that I forgot to ask?

Our music is available here at iTunes 

Here at Amazon and here at Rhapsody