Bromheads Jacket, The Mules, The Yells @Artrocker Annual Festival, Buffalo Bar, London 17/01/2005

by Dave Artrocker Post to Twitter

So, we’ve been running artrocker.com for … oooh… about 5 years or so now. We kicked off when the magazine first launched in all its inky black and white idealistic glory in 2004 (or was it 2003?) It’s been an interesting ride since then - with a couple of website redesigns, various fallings out and a recent renewed enthusiasm to bring you the very best in music blogging on the Web.

One consequence of the aforementioned redesigns, is that some of our older post have been lost. This new blog is an attempt to resurrect the best of them. Ladies and gentlemen - I give you …. Archive Rocker!

Our first few posts will be around Artrocker Festivals of yester year. Hopefully you all enjoyed the recent festy. Here’s your chance to relive some of the best gigs of past Artrocker festivals….

Bromheads Jacket with ‘guest’ vocalists, pic by Matt Cox

The Yells kick off this highly anticipated Artrocker Annual festival 2006 at the Buffalo Bar in fine style. While not really impressing they lock a frantic pace round a few lyrical gems especially on “Obsession With a Late Night Shopper” which is as throwaway as any current Leeds band you could care to mention. Fun without any pretension, but nothing special either. Perhaps the will to explore the mundane side of life leads to unadventurous climes, like a wet weekend in Bournemouth. Well, you can still enjoy the ice cream right?

There is a distinct difference between being well rehearsed and performing a recital. The Mules haven’t quite coped with that difference. Sure they’re records have that organic jig and that bohemian-esque jam feel. However, as the occasionally strained vocals come from a concerned looking young man behind a drum kit, the staid nature of the piano licks and dour rhythm section become apparent.

It’s all a little serious and not much fun at all. Stop start endings seem all a little bit too clever and frustratingly unnecessary. Me and Dave perk up at the inclusion of aggressive violin noise, seemingly using the oft mentioned screeching cat to provide this attention grabbing audio violence.

The single sees the band hitting their stride, with even a few smiles beaming from the band. They soon stumble back into smarter-than-thou posturing, which is frustrating because their talent is currently being wasted on twaddle instead of tunes.

The Mules

Almost a Pluto sized leap in terms of audience participation arrives in the shape of top geezers Bromheads jacket, with some snappy banter about hometowns and a general positive demeanour. Confidently dispensing with recent Artrocker compilation track “Woolley Bridge” straight away, we are introduced to their world of Samsung phones ringing (“HOLD ON!”) and waxed wotsits. Or should I say OUR world. Yes, another group of young men with a beady, eager eye on our urban surroundings, spitting bile at all those irritating modern nuances.

With Monkey-crippling energy, Tim, Jono and Dan bound about the stage, off the stage, almost through the DJ booth and have a whale of a time. With their catchy, yet off beat, two minute wonders they reside in a happy medium between The Jam and The Libertines without straying into the dodgy underbelly of either.

While cheeky chappy Preston explores the depths of celebrity degradation (being duped by a nobody….or several), these ordinary lads are getting fresh with all their flock and the more excitable members of the audience. They are reaching out to all and sundry on their journey around our fair isles and dragging them along, without the need for brass or tacky television exposure.

Catch first release “What, Ifs and Maybes” with its “woo-oo-oooh” chorus call and enjoy them enjoying themselves before the venues get bigger.

Brad Barrett