X Men- Second Coming

For the people who don't know me, not only do I spend my time twinkling away on guitar, I also read a lot of comics. Some old, some new. This little section is about new comics, specifically the current X Men storyline of Second coming.

For the last two years within the X Men universe, the gene within mutants that gives them their powers has vanished. That means no more mutants were being born, making the X men a race on the verge of extinction. Until one child was born as a mutant, and was sent into the future by Cyclops son Cable to raise her as the mutant messiah and eventually bring her back to the year 2010 as a grown woman.

The story starts in X Men second coming one shot, with the appearance of Cable and Hope in a terminator style time portal at the Xavier institute in New York. However, since their departure to the future the X Men have moved to San Francisco, and as they touch down in the present it is the X-Men's enemies who are first to greet them. This sets the tone of the story for pretty much the next three books, Cable and Hope on the run as anti mutant forces and the X Men both try to track them and save/destroy Hope respectively.

Although it would have been a tall order for the whole series, I wish the artist, David Finch, had drawn the whole series. His art is gritty, realistic and has tended to be used on most of Marvels major events in the past few years. (Such as Avengers disassembled) The changing of artists for every installment means that when it is released as a graphic novel it just wont seem to flow, which is needed in such a high paced storyline.

Another factor that concerns me is the fact that this book is being spread across all the X men titles (that's four every month) until July. Unless Marvel have some really crazy twists and turns, which I don't doubt, its going to be hard for them to keep the pace up for that long.

In a total spoiler, Marvel this week released a series of cryptic promotional covers for what lies in store. The covers have all had 'I am an X man' at the top and have contained pictures of two seemingly random Marvel characters. (For instance one had Spiderman and Blade on) One of them contained pictures of Hope and Cable, so it seems they will survive this ordeal.

One direction the X titles will most definitely be taking is one of a splintered group. The past few years they have all been together under the leadership of Cyclops, who has taken drastic measures to protect his species. He commissioned a covert team of X Men led by Wolverine to attack their enemies head on using lethal force, even keeping it secret from his other team mates. Hank McCoy, (also known as Beast) left the team when he found out, and as the story here is unfolding and the covert teams existence is becoming known, lines are being drawn in the X Men camp that will have to lead to a mass Exodus of mutants once the story ends.

Check out X Men Second coming one shot then Uncanny X men, New Mutants, X Men legacy and X force until the finale in June.

Jimmy and the Sounds

SOUNDS/THE LIGHT

What a fantastic foray into the wonderful world of physics by scientific four piece Jimmy and the Sounds. Following on from their chemistry based concept album about the periodic table....just joking, that bits a lie. Someone must have had a go at that at some point in rock history though.

Anyway, I don't know if any of this band are actually scientists. One of them used to work in the guitar shop on Portrack lane that shut down, and deep in my heart I really hope they nicked all the stock and built a really long pedal board. They probably didn't though, maybe just took a few guitar leads and used them to record this C.D. Which is a good and righteous path to take.

The first track here is Sounds, an indie dance floor filler so radio friendly I expected Fearne Cotton to start spouting her inane bullshit over the outro. The bass and drum groove that kick the tune off are ripe for sampling (Please don't take that as an invitation, they are not my songs and you will get in trouble) and its only a matter of time before someone gets hold of this and gives it a full on remix. Not that it needs it though, because the chorus alone is so catchy you would still be humming it if they had farted it through a letterbox. If this song isn't blasting across dance floors in the next year I will do something crazy, like donate money to sport relief.

Second track, The Light, is by far the stronger of the tracks. Kicking in with a brooding guitar and vocal assault reminiscent of Best of You by the Foo Fighters, it builds into furious off beat hi hats on a bed of Killers style synths. Comparisons here are mainstream, because this is what the track is and it benefits hugely by not shying away from the fact. I would say anthemic, but that wouldn't do it justice. This is real end of the festival stuff. People slightly tired milking the last bit of enjoyment from the weekend. Fires starting to get lit. The crowd swaying. Mam will be watching on BBC three red button. Girls in wellies spinning erratically as they chant along.

Its also worth checking out their myspace for the track Capital, which maintains the pop sensibilities but is a little more grittier and angst driven. I managed to catch the band live and they opened with this track. Smart move, because after the first line of vocal they had the audience well and truly by the cajones. I cant ever remember watching a band that seemed so relaxed with what they were doing. The venues are only going to get bigger for these chaps so try to catch them in a more intimate setting as soon as possible.

Excerpts from the single and B side are below, and the full tracks will be available on 26.4.2010

http://www.myspace.com/jimmyandthesounds

Sounds, By Jimmy and the Sounds by TheAlteredbeast


The Light, by Jimmy and the Sounds by TheAlteredbeast

Janet Roberts Photography

Every band needs a presspack! Either good old fashioned newspaper reviews in an envelope or an upmarket electronic email type that no one can ever open. Regardless of your chosen media, alongside your recordings of genre reinvention you need some photos. Yes, even the ugliest of bands need to be seen at some point. Need someone to bring out that Dale Winton tan your drummer is sporting? Need to really get under the bristles of your bass players beard? Look no further.

Above are samples of work from Janet Roberts, local photographer specialising in band photography. Janet will push you to find locations and scenes that really add to the atmosphere of a shoot. If you want pics that leap out from the AnR mans desk, amongst the shots of men in dirty parkas with half smoked cigs leaning against garage walls, this is your woman. And her prices are not too high either. More work available to view on the links below

http://http//myspace.com/jay_photography

http://http//janetrobertsphotography.com

Stockton Calling!

This coming weekend (3/04/2010) sees the first Stockton Calling festival arrive in, errr, Stockton. Like a northeastern sxsw, the festival is split across Stocktons three main music venues of Ku Bar, the Arc and the Georgian theatre. A wristband for all day access to all of the stages costs only ten pounds.



http://http//www.arconline.co.uk/detail.php?id=1918


My early afternoon pick goes to newbies Cattle and Cane, on at 1.45 on the Arc stage. I have gigged with these guys twice now and each time they have really amazed me. Laid back, melodic folk that really draws you in. Lying somewhere between Mumford and Sons and the Mamas and Papas, the price of an expensive pint from the Arc bar will really be worth it if you can sit back and take in the ethreal harmonies of this family based quartet.

http://http://www.myspace.com/cattleandcanemusic

4.15 at the Georgian Theatre I will be catching Jimmy and the Sounds, as I have meant to see these chaps for a while now but keep having prior engagements. Pure indie driven pop + hard work ethic = Success. Best to catch them now because your next glimpse will be from the back of a festival tent as topshop clad 18 year old girls scream in your ears and make you feel a little bit like you shouldnt be there.

http://http://www.myspace.com/jimmyandthesounds

Back to the Arc stage for the mighty Dirty Weekend at 6.45, fresh off the back of their UK tour for the single Sirens. Any band that has Roxy music as an influence is always worth a listen, however all too often it ends in a band trying so hard to be retro chic they forget that Roxy actually had killer tunes. (As well as some fancy outfits) Nice to see here then that no dodgy fashions are involved, just the killer songs.

http://http://www.myspace.com/dirtyweekendtheband

On top of this, Teesside DIY darlings The Chapman family, Detroit Social Club and White Belt Yellow Tag