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.'

RADIO INTERVIEW

On Storm FM, recorded after our show at Bar Uno in Bangor Uni back in February.

GIG - Railway Club, Holyhead

LINE UP: ArtisFiction, Inferno, Braxton Hicks, Atlas Will Atone

(from Crudblog): We were due to play at another venue in town, while this gig was on, which was silly. One horse towns have enough trouble hosting one night, let alone two. The gig was thankfully pulled and as an olive branch we were given the opportunity to bake under the stage lights and face a difficult audience at this metal night. That’s exactly what happened, they were a tough audience, or at least didn’t know how to react to Joe’s piss-taking banter, ‘We went down like a lead balloon,’ he later said. I think we lasted 20 minutes, a great diet though, as I lost about half a stone in the heat!

NEWS - Vive Le Rock compilation CD

Braxton Hicks are featured on the cover CD of this month’s Vive Le Rock magazine, alongside the likes of Killing Joke and Wilco Johnson. Available from WH Smiths and other good newsagents, the magazine has a print run of 15,000 and specialises in punk, garage, primal rock’n'roll, new wave and 80s hardcore.
Braxton Hicks track is Never Kill Yourself taken off our debut EP of the same title and is described by Vive Le Rock as ‘a slightly unhinged collision of The Minutemen and Snuff.’ – On hearing the description, Joe Hovis said, ‘Two fucking ace bands, one of which is quintessentially British which is a bonus.’
We are soon to release their follow up ‘The Bench EP’ on link2wales records, and plans are afoot for the label to reissue ‘Never Kill Yourself EP’ which has now sold out. There is also a debut album planned for release in September… Vive Le Rock

GIG - The Continental, Preston

LINE UP: Goldblade, Evil Blizzard, Braxton Hicks

(from Crudblog): First up it was Braxton Hicks (pic by Emma Barry), pretty sad when I have to review my own gigs, but hey! It’s my band and I’ll type if I want to, and no other fucker will write about us! We came, they saw and we played conkers with the crowd. A decent enough set, plenty of mistakes from me as usual and plenty of good humoured banter with the locals, who seemed to like us… And a huge hats off to Rob Talbot, the promoter who made tonight, and many other excellent nights past and future possible at this great venue. Without people like Rob, events like these would not be possible; we’d be left with shitty pub gigs, awful tribute and covers bands or ‘big’ gigs where the money making whores take your wages. There is a need for venues of this size that are independent of any corporate pressures, they are perfect for bands of Goldblade’s stature, not just perfect, but an absolute necessity, and also a springboard for cruddy bands like mine who normally have to play those shitty pubs to 4 people (3 of them bar staff).

GIG - North X North Wales Mini Egg Festival, Skerries, Bangor

LINE UP: Wobbly Hearts, Mexican Walking Fish, Heldinky, Electric Valves, Braxton Hicks

(from Crudblog) I was initially nervous at playing in front of people who are my peers, but who are far better musicians than myself; Duncan Black, Dewi Gwyn, Chris Combi Markwell, Carl & Rob Gintis just to mention a few. The nerves soon ebbed away and we gave as good as we could give, and judging by the response I guess they enjoyed it, and the Bryce amp that Joe plugged his guitar into blew me away – amazing sound.

RECORDING - The Bench EP

Spent the day at Rockcliffe in Llandudno recording the 3 remaining tracks to go on The Bench EP Depression, Poison By Rancid, This Song Was Never Written.

Neil doing his 53rd take of Depression and getting depressed about it...