Tim BENCH

Aw man that was truly one of the greatest gigs I've seen in Aberdeen! Up there with Explosions at Drummonds. The turn out was fantastic for this too and full of "listeners". Kudos to Ross and Stephen for a fantastic show and great hospitality. Still trying to get over that embrace with Yogi. Mmmmm

Shot on 2 different Cameras. My JVC GZ HD-7 (3CCD HD but not the best camera) and a SONY something or other 3CCD HD camera we borrowed it from a friend. Both Cameras had DOF adapters. We used old Russian M42 mount 35mm SLR lenses on a home made static ground glass DOF with the JVC. And I forget the make of the spinning DOF on the SONY. But we used old 70s Cannon 35mm lenses on that one. We wanted a very vintage feel, hence the 70s lenses. We found that the 5d mkII gives you almost too good an image, and finding two people willing to lend them out would be almost impossible. Capturing from the SONY is straight forward from the DV tapes. But the JVC was a faff with the .TOD file clips stored on the Hard Drive. What is a .TOD? Who knows. It seems to be exclusive to these particular models. We had to use Mpeg stream clip to convert them to something useable. The whole thing was edited on Final Cut Pro with a Magic Bullet looks suite treatment.

This gig is going to be amazing! I saw them support Sigur Ros and they were mint.

Cheeky wee bump

A few friends and I started a film production collective a couple of years ago. We mostly do short films. But I couldn't resist doing a video for CODES IN THE CLOUDS. We finished it ages ago but had to keep a lid on it for magazine and website exclusives. But here it is and its out now. So have a gander at this; Codes In The Clouds Distant Street Lights (iambic Remix) Official Music Video on Vimeo

I've got them in to do a ONE UP instore on sat 12th at 4pm. Pimpin!

I've just confirmed that the band will be doing an instore at ONE UP on SAT 12th, 4pm! These shows will be blinding

It pretty much picks up where AEREOGRAMME left off. But who would have it any other way? It is a grower too so stick with it Huw Gurden! I guess we missed playing amazing gigs like this so we wanted to get back to it. Then this was the first offer we got in two months of radio silence. Its like a higher power calling to..... ok I'll shut up now.

Who said Katerwaul were dead? Mwahahaha I laugh in that person's face. Was it Michael Vennart of Oceansize fame's last attempt to ruin me? Seriously though we took a lot of time out (four months) to see if we still wanted to do it. I guess we really over did it with that last album taking so long then the mixing, then the advertising then the gigs. Then our last gig was so soul destroying we just wanted a break. So since we had no contractual obligation to gig or even practice we did just that.... but then we all went a bit mad and decided that it was time to come back. And now we're all refreshed from the break. We've two new songs in the works, but we're not trying to over work the machine. At the moment this is the only gig we've booked. But we're hoping to have gigs in June onwards.

This gig was amazing. I really felt like I was part of something special. The atmosphere was just how I'd always hoped Kilau would achieve but until now never quite did. Amber was her usual quiet self but because she had the entire audience eating out of the palm of her sweet little hand it was a great set. Her new stuff has matured, lyrically and in structure. I'm looking forward to seeing what she does next. "The Boy Who Trapped The Sun" surprised me. I'm not a huge fan of his soon to be released single, "Home" (I think it's called) but seeing him close with it tonight certainly made me realise how over producing a raw talent like Colin's on a record does him no justice when experiencing it live in front of you. His lyrics at times are twee but at other times so heart wrenchingly organic, honest and well crafted that you excuse any other traits you saw as flaws. He also knows when to impress with his technical abilities and when to hone them in. This not only shows his musical ability but that he knows how to let a song breathe and not over complicate things. When he does show glimmers of guitargod its not there to show off but is as one with the melody. He was accompanied by Stacy, a cello player from the same village he is from on Lewis. She was there to bulk out his sound with simple un-intrusive sweeps of the bow and great vocal harmonies. You can catch them supporting Fionn Regan on sat if you're in Glasgow. If you weren't there tonight... you really missed out.

To be fair in my opinion I did prefer Oceansize to ASIWYFA. But it was just a musical preference. They came across as nice lads on stage unlike my new GP Mike Vennart.

I'd like to see his reaction if every body did as he would do and left.

Ok time to finally put this debate to rest. I replied to Oceansize's message both with sarcasm (it has to be said) and also with my main points being that the room was full of fans that felt let down. And here is what Michael had to say to me; Hello chap I'm not really convinced that a couple of off-hand onstage sarcastic comments -meant with the best of intentions: to raise a smile - warrant the two puerile and incoherent comments left on this site. Comments which frankly boarder on the hysterical. I'm sorry you didn't enjoy the show. We play every night to the best of our abilities, and we pretty much consistently enjoy it. However, much of the audience at the Tunnels were simply not interested in hearing us. That's fine - some people are easily distracted. Some people just aren't gonna like us. Personally, i find that if i'm not enjoying a band, i'll leave the room, rather than stand in the middle of the crowd shouting at my mates. That's not to say i don't like hecklers - i embrace them with open arms. I'm a fair believer in the reciprocal nature of live performance: The audience have to try too. Also, I'm sorry you didn't get to hear your (former) favourite songs ON YOUR BIRTHDAY. Here's an interesting article from Crack.com that may help you. Peace and love, Michael James Vennart ---------------------------------------------------- #1. Internet Asperger's Syndrome (a.k.a. The Troll) We can't take credit for this one, blogger and Internet entrepreneur Jason Calacanis coined the term "Internet Asperger's Syndrome" to describe the utter loss of all social rules and empathy that seems to hit some people for no other reason than that they happen to be communicating via keyboard and monitor at the time. We don't need to retell all of the horror stories. A kid commits suicide on webcam while the trolls cheer him on, Anonymous mocks a suicide victim, some kids fire a baby out of a giant slingshot for a YouTube video (we're not sure if that last one actually happened but it's really just a matter of time). Normal kids, good grades, no criminal records... but get them in a chat room and suddenly it reads like the transcript to a Charles Manson parole hearing. In Real Life it's Called... Asperger's Syndrome. This rarely diagnosed but often claimed disorder is a mild form of Autism that comes with what seems to be a biological inability to show empathy for other human beings, as well as (and maybe stemming from) an inability to recognize nonverbal cues. They continually do weird, upsetting things because they don't know it's upsetting you. That part of their brain is broken. People cringe when they hear this term because they know that a large number of the teenagers claiming Asperger's are, in fact, merely dicks. So Why Does it Happen on the Internet? Calacanis figured out that people who do all of their communicating online wind up mimicking Asperger's behaviors because they are imposing the same disadvantages on themselves. In both cases, when the ability to see nonverbal responses and facial expressions goes away, so does empathy. Soon the thing you're communicating with isn't a person, they're just a bunch of words on a screen. A bunch of words that the little bastard didn't even bother to spellcheck. So basically I have Asperger's or mild autism. I'm off to the doctor first thing tomorrow.

I swear I saw the drummer kiss his bicep at one point... or did I imagine that?

One that doesn't mind being treated like a barren cunt.

That is very true. But even so they need to take responsibility for that person's actions. Plus if it wasn't, why would they care so much? Surely they'd just say "Oh dear not another twat, critic hiding behind his laptop...."?

None taken. I laughed my ass off. I couldn't think which was funnier. The Video or the disbelief of such a childish retort from grown men in the professional music industry. Turns out downloading isn't killing it after all.

I feel like a 10 year old that has idolised Hulk Hogan for sooo long, but has just been slapped in the face by his hero. Then I take off my "Hulkamania" bandana to wipe away my tears.

After my scathing attack on a local forum on Oceansize's recent gig. They personally got in touch to send me a video of a monkey pissing into its own mouth with the caption "fuck off, yeah?"..... *slow clap http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs238.snc3/22536_290587031405_592211405_3937459_7761061_n.jpg

Vessels were the tits as usual. Their new stuff sounded ace! Looking forward to the new album this year. ASIWYFA actually made me yawn. I got clocked by the guitarist that wasn't a ginger douchebag when doing so. I guess I'm getting old. But it seemed like their riffs were all stolen and had no hook to them. Saturated in shit wasp like tones and played them as fast as they could just because... I dunno it might seem like a good Idea? I'm never a fan of drummers who take their tops off to show off their rippling guns before they've even lifted their sticks. It just seemed that they more liked the image of being in a band than make music. Looking around tough there were a lot of people loving it. I just didn't get it I guess. Oceansize impressed me so much, they wiped the floor with every one they played with and I became one of their biggest fans and started calling them one of my favourite bands in the world... 8 years ago. That was when they mopped the floor with Biffy Clyro and Cooper Temple Clause at the lemon tree. I was there when they played to an empty Lava after that. Then a half empty kef the next time. I was even there for the infamous double booked gig at moshulu. But all those gigs were amazing. Last sat I found myself begging for the gig to end. It actually hurts me so much to see one of my FORMER favourite bands put on a show like the one they did. AND ON MY BIRTHDAY too. Who do they think they are? I could understand in the past gigs that luck was never on their side so Mike had a reason to be grumpy. And when I found out Ross was putting this one on I thought "finally they'll get the respect they deserve". And they fucked it up. What gives Mike any right to heckle fans just because they request a song. I'm very sorry that the room is full of people who love your music, mate. I just thought after that first gig in Lava when it was just me, my flat mate, a few others and your support band in the crowd and you got stroppy that you'd be a little happy about it? That just confirms that he is just a massive wanker. The set wasn't the best. Prob the worst choice of songs. They picked too many new tracks from the new album which is yet to be released. What was with Mike's sinatra moment with the wine???? This however was the only time I've seen them play Massive Bereavement. Fitting as it was probably the last time I will ever go see them. I've lost all faith in them now. Does any one want to buy my signed "Music For Nurses" vinyl? Rant finished.

That IS Adam Morrice getting smacked. And it looks realistic beacuse... we it was. Took a sore one to the nose. Ask him about it if you see him. I'll be sure to email in to Kiosk about the blurb and stuff. Just going through finishing touches and printing. I'll put together an official blurb etc tonight. Cheers guys!

Cheers for checking out the trailer. I'm aiming for April. I've got an exhibition which vastly relies on this film that's why I've put together the trailer. Granted the flashes of text are a bit patchy but that seems to have happened along with the glitches from the upload to vimeo. I need to re upload it but vimeo won't let me till next month. However if its the font you don't like.. meh. I like the font. You can see the exhibition in kilau as of sunday 31st jan.

Just manged to scrape myself out of bed. What an awesome night. Milne was charismatic and punctual as ever. Really fucking enjoyed Winter In Siberia's set. They still had that fresh band look about them just minus the slackness. I've never seen a band so tight on their second gig. I enjoyed out set. Not practiced or even played since that glasgow show last month but managed to hold it together long enough. Forgot the chorus to one of our songs which was a bit embarrassing. Indian Red Lopez were great. A few technical difficulties but they've got soooo much going on it sounded massive! Went to tasty tattie for a chicken with Sam then off to defrost the freezer in my old flat ready for getting my deposit back... I wish. So fucking rock and roll! Cheers to Sam for putting it on Muchos Kudos!

Fuckin YAS!

Oh yeah. I suppose it could be. But no it is an excerpt from a book.