A COUPLE of weeks ago, I was writing about being hugely excited at getting to see the mighty Jesus Lizard performing in Belfast on my birthday.
On the night, a rammed-to-capacity Limelight witnessed a glorious career-spanning display (mostly: they don’t touch 1998’s Blue, probably as drummer Mac had left the band by that stage - thus, I may never get to hear Cold Water played live) of the Texas-bred, Chicago-based band’s gnarly yet grooving alt-rock pummel, punctuated by regular crowd surfing excursions from their stalwart frontman/howler, David Yow (64).
Mr Yow chugged cans of beer and applauded the audience between songs: the two blistering encores we were treated to suggested that this superficially mocking display of appreciation might actually have been a sincere.
Anyway, getting to see the Lizard in action was certainly a great birthday treat, but as if that wasn’t enough of a gift from the good music gods, I awoke the following morning to the news that Noise Annoys faves Swervedriver had put out their first new tune for five years.
The Oxford-sired pedal mashers treated me, and indeed the rest of the shoegaze-loving universe, to Volume Control, a song from their upcoming new EP, The World’s Fair.
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Recorded by the band with help from TJ Doherty and RIDE’s Mark Gardener, this woozy swirl of twangy, snarling, droney guitars, punchy percussion and lackadaisical but tuneful vocals is the sound of primetime Swervies.
Volume Control could just as easily have been released at the height of their first stint of Creation Records-backed fame back in 1993 as in the first month of 2025.
Volume Control could just as easily have been released at the height of Swervedriver’s first stint of Creation Records-backed fame back in 1993 as in the first month of 2025.
Although, back then, the ever-fickle music weeklies would likely have been grumbling about the atmospheric piano and strings sprinkled throughout the song - courtesy of musical guests Will Foster (piano), Calina de la Mare (violin/viola) and Sarah Willson (cello) - citing such ‘non-rock’ elements as worrying evidence that the band might be betraying their guitar band roots by flirting with “a more sophisticated sound” or “attempting to become the Auteurs” or some such nonsense.
“We haven’t really done an EP since our days with Creation,” explains Swervies guitarist/vocalist, Adam Franklin of The World’s End, which will be released via Outer Battery Records in March.
“I have no idea why it was the done thing back then, but it was a cool way to present your music with no sort of commitment to direction. You could just go off on one on any song if you wanted, and that’s what we wanted to do again here.
“I’ve always consumed music via singles anyway and was always partial to a good B-side or three.”
Having heard the full EP, I can assure you all that the other three tunes are also quality items cut from similar ‘vintage Swervedriver’ cloth - the spooky title track even features a sly sonic callback to their early scorcher Sci-Flyer.
Thus, the limited coloured vinyl release of The World’s Fair EP should slot effortlessly into your Swervies record collection alongside their original run of classic Creation EPs - Rave Down, Sandblasted and Son of Mustang Ford.
It can and should be pre-ordered now (while stocks last - the red version is already sold-out) via swervedriver.bandcamp.com ahead of its official release on March 7.
While you’re there, be sure to check out the recent deluxe re-issue of their criminally under-rated fourth LP 99th Dream from 1998 and the original, slightly less good but interesting nonetheless version of their debut Son of Mustang Ford EP from 1990, Petroleum Spirit Daze.
Naturally, a full review of The World’s Fair EP will be coming your way to coincide with its release.
Stendhal Festival applications now open
LIMAVADY’S Stendhal Festival has just opened its annual performance application process and, as ever, the organisers of the multi-award-winning music festival are keen to hear from musical artists who fancy the chance to feature in the programme for Stendhal’s 15th Birthday this July.
Submissions can be made now via the event website at stendhalfestival.com until February 14.
Scheduled for July 4 to 6, 2025’s festival will be the first time Stendhal has been run across a full weekend from Friday to Sunday, with punters who purchase weekend camping tickets heading home on the Monday.
Event director Ross Parkhill says: “We say this every year and it still rings true, the submission process is always one of our favourite times of the year.
“We love discovering new music, new artists and new performers and the submissions always throw up some absolutely brilliant discoveries.
“We first discovered acts like Ryan McMullan, Soak and JC Stewart through our annual submission process, but it’s not just about music.
“We want to hear from poets, visual artists of all kinds, comedians, dancers, theatre groups and basically anyone who would like to get on stage at Stendhal and wow our audience with something special.”
He added: “We love to see as wide a variety of acts apply as possible, from acts that have just started up to more established acts who haven’t played the festival yet - even acts that have played before and want to come back, we want to hear from everyone and anyone that can make our programme as good as it possibly can be.
“We have already had a lot of inquiries with regards to acts getting on the bill this year, so now is your chance to make it happen - but please get your submissions in before February 14.”
‘Early bird’ tickets for the festival are on sale now via stendhalfestival.com.
GIG RADAR
Upcoming and newly announced shows of note
- Rise Against - January 29, Telegraph Building, Belfast
- Brant Bjork Trio - January 30, The Limelight 2, Belfast
- Skinner - February 5, Ulster Sports Club, Belfast
- The Messthetics + James Brandon Lewis - February 8, The Black Box, Belfast
- The Vaselines - March 20, The Black Box, Belfast
- Lael Neale - May 11, McHugh’s Basement, Belfast
- Earth - May 22, The Black Box, Belfast
- Gama Bomb, Raised by Owls - May 18, Limelight 2, Belfast
- Nine Inch Nails - June 15, 3Arena, Dublin
- Girls With Guts Fest 2025: Cherym, Wynona Bleach, Gush etc - June 28, Oh Yeah, Belfast
- Queens of The Stone Age - August 20, Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin
