Strawberry Fields Festival 2012

In few weeks, the Strawberry Fields Festival will "re-open" his doors for a 3rd edition. I've been able to be at this festival last year, but unfortunately (and because of the day job), only for the Saturday, that's why I didn't review what I saw there BUT it was a brilliant and great festival. I know that here, we hear more about Glastonbury, V Festival or Reading but there's a lot of other great festivals and Strawberry Fields Festival is one of them! This festival is becoming bigger each year and this year, it has an even more amzing line_up than last year. 

By reading this blog, you know how the Leicestershire is important in my life and this festival has become the little point where I can have fun and see all my "lovers" sharing the stages! Oh yeah, they need to become more and more and more important and I know that maybe not next year, but soon, they will be named as one of the "NOT TO BE MISSED FESTIVAL".

At this year festival, you'll be please to see SuperEvolver , Modern Faces, MovE, Danny Greet's new band The Vanishing Point (I'll write soon about that new band), The Great KAV, The amazing Bibelots, Red 'n ' Pink, Raptusound, but also The Dash, KAROVA , By The River, Martha Makes Mistakes, Marner Brown, Buster Shuffles, FC-20, Preacher and The Bear, Young Knives, The Carpels, Kyla La Grange and Of course the legendary The Charlatans and Labrinth.

Modern Faces- First EP and UK Tour

You can, since yesterday, download "Pravda Scrolls/Cynical Brother" the 1st EP of Modern Faces on this LINK but you can also order the limited 7" vinyl version of this 1st EP.

This vinyl version will be only limited to 100 copies so be quick if you want one!

They also begun a new tour in the UK, so have a look at their tour date and jump on some tickets. You MUST see this guys live! Or you'll regret when they'll be big and play only stadium!

Modern Faces website

Modern faces have officially opened their own website, this is where you'll find all the news, photos, tour dates, videos and more.

Subscribe to their mailing list HERE to have access to some fan goodies,previous, etc...

       http://www.modernfaces.co.uk/

Modern Faces was the Support Band for Kasabian

So, as you probably saw before in this blog, Im "supporting" the band Modern Faces and as I previously announced, they were the support act for Kasabian for their first and last gigs of their warm-up festival tour...

I was stuck in Paris so couldn't support them in the flesh but several of my friends could be there (well more for Kasabian at first ) and 2 of them gave me their impressions and wrote me some amazing reviews and the only thing I could say is that I never lie when I say that MODERN FACES is an amazing band!!!! 

The setlist:

1. Lost In A Moment
2. Break Off
3. Got The Love
4. Gun For Hire
5. Rock 'n' Rolla
6. Love Frustrates Me
7. No Mans Land.

Picture By Kath Platt

First review from the gig in Sheffield (04 June 2011) By Helen Murray

It’s a tall order to be a support band when the main act is the eagerly anticipated return of the mighty Kasabian playing their first live gig since August 2010 and debuting new songs from their new album, with a crowd champing at the bit to Get Loose, Get Loose. It would make most support acts quake in their boots, but if Modern Faces felt it they certainly didn’t show it and stepped up to the mark to play a belter of a set at Sheffield 02 Academy on 4^th June.

Singer Monty was certainly up for it when he swaggered on stage in his Rock Star red velvet jacket and exclaimed “Let’s fuckin’ ave it!” at the beginning of the set - music to the ears of any excited Kasabian fan. They launched straight into the big sound of Lost in a Moment setting out their stall as pretenders to the “next big British Rock band” crown. Something tells you that you’re listening to a band from north of the border...is it a sprinkling of Glasvegas or even Big Country over those Oasis influences?....you can definitely smell the heather.

They keep up the pace, rattling through Breakoff and Got the Love with gusto, passion and energy. A change of pace with Gun for Hire, a laid back strumming Kinks-esque beginning in the vein of “The Importance of being Idle”. Then we are back into the big sound of their stomping Rock n Rolla, then a more introspective Your Love Frustrates Me, finishing with No Man’s Land.

They were very warmly received by the Kasabian crowd and after their exit from the stage there were nods of approval all round.

If Kasabian are a big ravenous Velociraptor in their current incarnation, then Modern Faces are at least hungry young T-Rexs snapping at the heels of bigger Rock dinosaurs. See how they grow!

2nd review about the gig in Manchester(08 June 2011)by Tom Wells

Modern Faces. How this band aren't massive, I have no idea.The band were greeted with cheers as I stood in front of them. The left of my face, covered by a man's armpit, and the right being elbowed by a very drunk man who had decided to use my shoulder as a resting post. He'd also decided to try chat up some young girls standing next to me by saying "this band are sh*t, I saw them last night". Well, he soon ate those words when the band broke into their first song. He then claimed that he'd been drinking for 3 days straight and had in fact been "at a different gig last night".

After the band's first song, Lost In A Moment (which is a brilliant tune!), Modern Faces were thanked with a cheer that only a Manchester crowd could give. A roar of drunken appreciation. You could see a glint in these people's eyes that said "Fucking hell, these guys are good!".
As the band continued to move deeper and deeper into their set, they got people moving more and a lot of people were getting right into the swing of the gig environment and began to enjoy themselves a lot. Although the majority of people that entered the gig had probably never heard a track from Modern Faces, they were certainly going to the merchandise stand after the headline act, Kasabian, to buy a Modern Faces CD. Towards the end of the band's set, the crowd had even began to sing along to the songs. "Love Frustrates Me" was one of the tracks that really got this. The pleasantly repetitive line in the song, "Your love frustrates me" had a good portion of the crowd singing along.
When the band reached their final track of the night, No Man's Land, the whole arena became silent, but at the same time epic as the voice over of "The state of war world exist between us..." at the start of No Man's Land was played. The crowd REALLY loved it when the music kicked in.
At the end of the song (and the set), the band got their biggest cheer of the night. What a magical way to end such an amazing gig, supporting the one and only, Kasabian.
Overall, a fantastic gig, I, for one, will definitely be going to see Modern Faces play again. What a gig. What a night. What a band.

PicS by Helen Murray.


.

Modern Faces as the support band for Kasabian!!!

Some amazing news for Modern Faces have been announced!

They will be the support band for KASABIAN's  pre-summer Festival UK tour 2011 for the opening and closing nights. They'll play:

Saturday 4th June - SHEFFIELD 02 Academy

Wednesday 8th June - MANCHESTER 02 Apollo

AND

 

They have been invited to record a Biz Session By Gordon Smart For The Sun UK Newspaper to tie in with their Kasabian Support Slot Dates... 

 

Let me tell you that Im so fucking happy for them even if Kasabian is my favorite band and I couldn't be there to support them.......

interview with Modern Faces.

 First of all guys, can you introduce yourself? 

- Monty (Lead Vocals & Rhythm Guitar), Gaz (Drums and Backing Vocals), Jamie (Bass Guitar), Mike (Lead Guitar) and The Master of Disaster Mr James Shields (Keys).

 How did you all met? And how did you decided to create the band? 

- Three of us were at the same school (Monty, Gaz, Jamie) and all shared the same taste in music. Monty got introduced to Mike through a friend and started doing a few small acoustic gigs around our local town Dunfermline. Not long after this we decided to form a proper band and make a go of it. This is when Jamie and Gaz got on board. The tunes started to flow and after a few gigs we started to see the crowds getting bigger and bigger. After a couple of sessions in the studio we felt it would be great to make our live performances massive. We got Shields in on the keys and so here we are now..

How did you choose the name of the band and why "Modern Faces"?

- Well it was Monty that came up with it a few years back. We were right into the whole mod culture at the time and as you know the "faces" were the cool, trendsetters of the 60s. Take that meaning and throw it into todays world and you get us....Modern Faces!

Do you, each of you, have already an experience in the music industry or are you all new in it?

- All new to the industry.

 Let's talk about your music, who gave you the desire to become a "rockstar"?

- We grew up listening to bands from the 90`s, I remember hearing Oasis on the radio when i was about younger and just thinking how fucking good it was. We all love Oasis, Kasbaian, The Stone Roses, The Beatles etc we could go on and on. All the bands and "Rock Stars" from the years gone by have had some sort of influence on us but for us it was Noel and Liam that caught the eye. I dont think you get "Rock Stars" like you used to now a days, just students in pointy shoes, so hopefully we can start a revolution and get people as excited about music as they once were.

 How do you write a song? Are you doing it all together or each of you on your own and then put everything together after all? 

- All tracks are different but generally Monty or Gaz will come up with something and bring it to the band. They will describe the direction they want it to go in and it will evolve from there. Saying that Monty loves to write a full song in his head before letting us all hear it. Hes quite the beatboxer and hes even came out with a full strings section before!!!   

We can hear several of you songs/demos on your myspace and soundcloud pages, I quite love "lost in a moment" and "Rock'n'rolla", do you have a fave one? 

- Not one in particular, Love Frustrates Me is great to play live though, gets the ladies involved.

 Where do you find the inspiration to write the songs?

- We take a lot from our own lifes and personal experiences, we find it easier to write songs we can relate to and with meaning. Sometimes we like to tell a story though, "Gun for Hire" for instance.

Have you already choose which song will be your first single? And will you tell us? 

- Every song we seem to be writing just now seems to be getting better and better, I can tell you that when we do have to pick one its gonna be an absolute BELTER!!!!!

And do you have an idea of the type of videoclip you'd like to have?

-  "Gun for Hire" - Wed like to re-enact the song.....like an old Western movie. Few gunslingers, a bank robbery and a money train!

 How would you describe your music? 

- Pure ecstacy! Versatility is the key.

 What would be your ideal gig? 

- Doing a massive gig in an old barn in the middle of nowhere. 90,s illegal rave style!

In your influences, you've named Oasis, how did you react when they split? Do you like Beady Eye? - 

We were pretty gutted but the Beady Eye album is quality, going to see them in Edinburgh in April so cant wait. Really looking forward to hearing Noels Solo stuff though, im sure it will mega.
 

You're from Scotland, is there a Scottish Band/artist, you'd love to work with?

- Sheilds loves a bit of Annie Lennox!! 

 And what do you think about bands like Glasvegas.....? Do you think you could become the new "faces" of Scottish rock? 

- Whatever happens wel be aiming to go to the top! We wont settle for being the face of Scottish Rock. Maybe British Rock...or even the world. Well see...

 You've already played gig in big English towns, was it not too hard to be far from your roots?

- No, any gig we play we go for it, doesn't matter where it is. Sometimes its great playing to people you dont know, I mean your mates will go mad for it anyway. If you can go to London and play a gig when nobody has a clue who you are but get the place jumping within a few tracks. You must be doing something right, and nothing beats that feeling.

 What's your memories of those gigs?

- Great crowd and reaction but after that it goes a bit hazy, few too many JD`s.

 You also played in front of 900 people in your town, what was your feelings when you came on stage? Were you feeling like being the kings of the town?

- When you play to a massive crowd that are purely there just to see you, the buzz you get is unreal! Its what its all about and why we're in this game in the first place. Its all about the fans.

Could you leave Scotland to live in another country if it's important for your music?

- Send us on a plane now.........................
 

 "Gun For Hire" and "Lost in a Moment" have been played on Amazing Radio and seems to have a great response from the listeners, were you ready for that? 

- We think our music is ready and that we're ready. Hopefully the fans are ready...lets bring on more of the same.

 Is there an artist/band you'd love to work with/make a duet?

- Paul Weller, the mans a legend!
 

 If you could make a cover, which song would you choose? 

- Rolling Stones, Gimme Shelter.
 

 Could you do a song in a different language? 

- Supposably Gaz speaks a bit of French.... 
 

 Do you have a personal dream(s) apart from the music?

- No. Music is what we want to do and will do, not gonna stop till were there.
 

 Is their in your Ipods, some songs/albums you should be ashame of? 

-Vengaboys - The Venga Bus is coming!

Are you addicted to one song/one album?

- Nothing better than shoving the White Album on when its gettin past those early hours on a Sat night.

 Do you have a message for your fans/supporters?

- Get listening in, spread the word and lets take it to the next level. Much love!

Modern Faces "Rock'n'Rolla

My fave song by the band at the mo'!

Modern Faces...

Modern Faces is a Five-piece band from Dunfermline (Scotland) composed by:

Monty  at the Lead Vocals and Rhythm Guitar
Gaz at the  Drums and Backing Vocals
Jim at the Bass Guitar
Mick at the Lead Guitar
Shields at  Keyboards and Synths

Their music is a compilation of "influences from the psychedelic 60s right through to the pulsating 21st century". The band name check Oasis, The Stone Roses and The Verve as big influences in their career.

They already have played differents gigs in a lot of differents places across the UK, like Liverpool’s Sound City Festival, This Feeling Club London, Death Disco London, Greasy Lips Manchester...... And they had played their biggest show of their existence to a strong 900 crowd at The Velocity in Dunfermline.

The band is gonna play at the upcoming Primal Scream After Show Party on the 26th March at the Brixton Jamm.

The song "Gun of Hire" has recently been played by Charlie Ashcroft in his show on Amazing Radio on Tuesday 8th March and then "Lost In A Moment" played several times by Jim Gellatly in his show on the same radio.

From there the band released their EP 'No Mans Land' in April of 2010 which attracted the ears of many within the industry.

Check them out on their myspace, their Soundcloud profil, their Facebook fanpage , their Twitter and their Youtube page.