GIG - Rascals, Bangor

Inferno, Bad Dog, Braxton Hicks, Jed is Dead, I Fight Lions

Dinosaur Garden didn't show up, and were meant to provide a drumkit. It turned out to be a good thing really as 6 bands was far too many for one gig, and Inferno had their set cut short anyway as time was running out (1.20am).

This was the launch night of our new EP 'The Bench' - we sold 9 copies, which, by our standards is pretty impressive - was a good turn out too...

We were a bit worse for wear due to the evil drink. Gwion was out on the town on a HMV staff party, so he turned up 20 minutes before we were due on.

Sound was poor due to karaoke mics. Lots of good banter between songs lots of interaction between band and audience - good fun..., oh and Neil bit Joe's arm.

Set list.. Macho Man / I Don't Wanna Be You / Depression / I Won't Take The Blame / Depend On You / This Song Was Never Written / Never Kill Yourself / All In / Gone Fishin' / Poison By Rancid

We were supposed to open with a new track Belly's Gonna Getcha but because our rehearsal room had been double booked, we took the safe option and did Macho Man instead. Did play 2 new tracks Depend On You and  All In which we played ok. Funny not playing  Government To Be and  Get Outta My Head.

Neil and Joe went to a party in Tregarth afterwards where Slayer, Hendrix and AC/DC was played at maximum volume... Joe finished the evening hugging Neil's toilet...

Joe wrote this on our facebook page... 'Great gig last night in Bangor and fantastic audience (until you started chanting 'Weasley! Weasley! Weasley!' at me....bastards.) You know its been a good night when you wake up hugging the toilet bowl and lying on Neil Crud's bathroom floor completely unable to move! great times. We flogged 9 EPs last night, hope you enjoy it (its like hearing us play live but better.....) Hope the guys that lost their jobs at HMV get one soon, in the mean time Gwion says he'll share his wage packet with you all.'

 The Bench EP only came out today but its already making children violent..!!

The Bench EP - out today..!!!

This 4 tracker is the follow up to last December’s debut ‘Never Kill Yourself EP’ on Secrets of Sound Records and pays homage to the bench where the band’s (and this site) friend, Johnny Williams would while away the hours fishing.
Featuring 4 tracks – Gone Fishin’ / Poison By Rancid / This Song Was Never Written / Depression-Scream It Out.
Available on CD copy for £2.50 (inc p+p) by clicking this link
L2W 002

Price: £2.50

STATEMENT BY JOE HOVIS

When I formed Braxton Hicks, I made the conscious decision not to be a political band. Now that doesn't mean ignoring it completely, but i wanted to focus the band on having a laugh and enjoying a few beers. Plus I don't know enough about politics for us to be political and there are 100's of bands already doing it (not knocking them, in fact some of my favorites are bands of this ilk!) but having watched this documentary on Monday night I felt I couldn't just sit back and not say anything.

I have tried to watch documentaries about the Hillsborough disaster before, but have found them too upsetting and had to turn them off but i made myself watch this one. I was shocked. I was only 9 months old when it happened and I had never appreciated the size and impact that day had on so many lives. My words can not do it justice the damage that had been done on that day And this is before I talk about the police and government cover up.

If corrupt policemen and government employees can cover up an incident that happened on national television, with thousands of football fans as witnesses, what can they/do they cover up in private? It's sick.

I don't care if you don't support Liverpool FC, hate Liverpool FC or can not stand football in general that is irrelevant, you must watch this.

If you didn't see the documentary please click on this link.

Once you've watched it, please sign this petition to get the Chief scumbags knighthood removed. That seems like nothing locking him up would be the answer.

https://submissions.epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/47770

Thanks
Joe

GIG - Mello Mello, Liverpool

LINE UP - Vermin Suicides, Braxton Hicks, Toby Parker & The Suitcase

(from Crud Blog) - It’s a shame I have review my own gigs!! But I guess most people are lost for words after seeing Braxton Hicks (ha ha!). We turned up at what is essentially a cool / studenty / place-to-be-seen cafe, that transforms into a venue, with stage, lights, great sound and brilliant vibe. Couldn’t hear a fucking thing during the first song, and Bentham was quick to realise and got the engineer to throb my bass up in the monitors. Joe & Gwion thought we played well, crowd did so too, so I guess it was a good performance. Nice to see Phil Newall endure us again, also Hockey & Richie (Bite Back), that dude from Dead Class and Carl Gintis (Wobbly Hearts) amongst the crowd. Set list – Government To Be / I Don’t Wanna Be You / Get Outta My Head / Macho Man / Song Was Never Written / I Won’t Take The Blame / Poison By Rancid / Gone Fishin’ / Never Kill Yourself.

GIG - Blue Sky Cafe, Bangor

LINE UP - Addicted To Fish, Braxton Hicks

(from Crud blog) - It was organised by Bangor Youth Group, who, in hindsight may not have allowed us to play because of said references and smuggled Port, but without people like themselves who dedicate their time and efforts for the greater good and not for profit then the world would be a far worse off place.
We played our usual 25 minutes, and like BYG, offered our services and effort at our own expense for the greater good. Joe was on top form despite breaking a string and despite not being able to hear each other I guess we did okay – they seemed to like us, and the kids who got up with their guitars at the Open Mic Session beforehand put our abilities to shame. The difference being, we are up there playing as a band, playing our own songs, which have been released and played on national radio, we’ve got ourselves on the covers of national magazines, we’ve supported ‘name’ bands. That is by no means bragging… That is quite simply stating that a band with our limited capabilities can go out there and get our name in small print on the poster, and time and time again it shows that it’s the bands/people with drive that get somewhere. Britain may very well have talent, but it’s up to you to see beyond a panel of arrogant sneering judges and make a name for yourselves. It’s your decision… ours was to be an unambitious punk band, I think our job is done on that front, and I’m now quite happy to take up Anhrefn’s sub-manifesto.

There was a bit of 'afters' a day later when we received a message from BYGS...

'we hope you all enjoyed playing tonight. We had expected a bigger turnout,but exams have just begun so I guess some stayed away because of that.
Thanks very much for playing. We appreciate your time. Unfortunately though you put us in a bit of an uncomfortable position - with all the swearing and reference to drugs etc (I really hope I'm not going to have to answer to anyone about it)...and the empty bottle of port didn't go down too well when the member of staff found it in the toilets either...
We are a volunteer group that are trying to establish youth events in Bangor and to shine a positive light on young people. So far we have a really good relationship and level of trust with the community and we work hard to maintain a 'clean' image and to sustain the ethos of the venues we use e.g Blue Sky Cafe.
That aside, I can say that we all really enjoyed your set - you're very talented and you have a great stage presence.
I think the guys (Loui Bryn and Jonny) are really keen to invite you to some of the over 18 gigs they organise. All the best with the rest of your gigs.'

Joe replied, 'Apologies i did mean to move that bottle of port from the toilet, but forgot about it.... I wasn't being a rebel without a cause, port genuinely helps my voice and at the gigs where i havent drunk it I've lost my voice mid set! we tryed our best not to swear and did apologize where we could, as you can imagine we are not used to playing to under 18s! We censored a few of our lyrics too... but I can imagine they hear far worse language in the playground. We hate drugs and never use them or advocate anyone to use them. I would hate to think that we would ever get you shut down, if that is the case I would be happy to fight your corner and will take full responsibility for any offense we caused on the evening. Other than that glad you liked our set and hope we can play again in the future, to under or over 18's!'

And BYGS replied, 'Thanks very much for your message. I'm sure there won't be any come back at all, but I wanted to highlight it -just because we were put in a bit of an awkward position once you'd gone - I mean you did make reference to Speed and the port you'd drunk too much of.you're right the children will have heard (and used) much worse language before. I appreciate you did make the effort and thanks for cencoring your lyrics!its just, I have to maintain the aims and objectives of the youth group in any night we put on - we sometimes have people of interest drop in on our nights to see how they're going.
Thanks very much for your apology, it's appreciated and accepted wholeheartedly.
You guys'll do really well (can't believe you've only been going for 6months) - a good number of people turned up solely to see you play last night (even in a cafe!) which was ace.'