pretty UGLY

PrettyUgly catches up with Fight Like Apes front woman MayKay, in the Unisex toilets of the Barfly. Here’s what she had to say:

PrettyUgly: Where have you just come from:

MayKay: We were in the Barfly at 7.00pm , then we went back to the Travel Lodge. And now we are running late .

PrettyUgly: Oh yeah?

MayKay: We had a gig in London last night, and we saw people there we haven’t seen in ages. We were up until 6.00 am

I hope I don’t sound strange. My voice isn’t good. It’s because I don’t sing properly. I don’t really take care of my voice. (laughs) You aren’t disagreeing?

PrettyUgly: I haven’t heard you yet!

PrettyUgly: Tell me a bit about the band:

MayKay: Well before me and the people in the band got to meet each other, we were all in really shit bands. Iv offended so many people by saying that, but they were really shit. Like fucking terrible.

PrettyUgly: How did you meet?

MayKay: We were all in college. We were really shit at college. We were shitter at college than were at being in shit bands, so we decided to see what we all did together.

Jamie, our keyboard player wrote the first song. He had been writing for years. He’s been obnoxious (musically) for years. I was a newcomer. It went from there. It was almost two years ago that we first did that.

We did what most new bands did. We played to as many people as we could. So we could get people talking.

MayKay: Its quite strange to see men wash their hands after they have been to the toilet. Im sure they don’t normally do that.

PrettyUgly: What do you and the band have in common?

MayKay: Well we are all snobs. Awful music snobs. But we found out there was so much more there than that. The music ended up being quite impressive because we were all trying to push the bar.




PrettyUgly: What kind of music inspires you?

MayKay: When we all met we were listening to completely different things. Our keyboard player was listening to pavement. Our bass player was listening to Sonic Youth. I was listening to fucking any pop music going.

PrettyUgly: What kind of things do you write songs about?

MayKay: Well we are all very happy people, first and foremost. But we all have a bitter streak. So I write mostly about a boyfriend I hated, or friends, or things that I hate. I get to scream about things like that.

PrettyUgly: You sound like you have had a lot of bad boyfriends?

MayKay: (Laughs) Your going to make me sound like a whore! Yeah, well Iv definatley had the compulsive liar.

PrettyUgly: How do you feel when you are onstage?

MayKay: I love it. I try really hard to put on a show, not just a gig. Theres nothing worse than people who just stand there and just play guitar. When I sing it feels like Im alone, just shouting at a boyfriend in my room.

MayKay: I have to go, Im supposed to be onstage now.

PrettyUgly: Anything else you would like to add?

MayKay: Just that you should go out and buy our album. Buy it!

Note to Kanye: the police didnt make you sound like a crazy person - YOU made YOU sound like a crazy person.

(As do the glasses)


Lets give the man some due. Kanye West has one good album. But does that really give you the right to compare yourself to Princess Diana?

Here's what the singer had to say regarding the media:



"WHO'S WINNING, ME OR THE MEDIA?
REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH LIGHT I PUT OUT, THERE ARE PEOPLE WORKING JUST AS HARD TO ONLY DELIVER DARKNESS. IF YOU LISTEN TO MY MUSIC, HOW COULD I DELIVER SO MANY POSITIVE UPLIFTING MESSAGES AND BE THE MONSTER THAT THE MEDIA PAINTS. PAPARAZZI GIVE REAL PHOTOGRAPHERS A BAD NAME. A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS, THEIRS ARE WORTH A THOUSAND DOLLARS…

LET US NOT FORGET THE PAPS KILLED PRINCESS DIANA. WHEN WILL THERE BE A LAW PASSED THAT SIMPLY ENFORCES THAT SOMEONE HAS TO ASK TO TAKE A PHOTOGRAPH OF YOU. THAT WOULD SEEM LIKE COMMON COURTESY. RIGHT NOW THE PAPS ARE ABOVE THE LAW AND THE PEOPLE THEY SHOOT ARE BELOW IT. WHAT SHOULD BE ILLEGAL IS PICTURES TAKEN WITH THE INTENT TO SELL….LIKE DRUGS WITH THE INTENT TO SELL… OR CROSSING CUSTOMS WITH ENOUGH MERCHANDISE TO HAVE THE INTENT TO SELL. THE EXPLOITATION OF MY IMAGE IS THE PROBLEM. IT PRODUCES A "BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY" BEHAVIOR THAT CAUSE THE PAPS TO DRIVE RECKLESSLY ON FREEWAYS, JUMP OVER FENCES AND INVADE PRIVACY ALL IN AN EFFORT TO GET THAT "MONEY SHOT." YOU SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SELL A PICTURE OF ME WITHOUT MY PERMISSION. AFTER THIS LAW IS PASSED, WHEN YOU ENTER A PUBLIC PLACE LIKE A BASKETBALL ARENA ETC., THERE WILL BE A SIGN THAT READS…"ALL PHOTOS TAKEN HERE ARE PUBLIC DOMAIN AND CAN BE USED AT THE PHOTOGRAPHERS DISCRETION." OBVIOUSLY RED CARPET EVENTS WHERE PEOPLE SHOW UP TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED WILL ALSO APPLY. THE PERSONAL PROBLEM I HAVE WITH THE PAPS IS WHEN THEY TRY TO CATCH YOU BEING A REGULAR PERSON. I AM NOT A CELEBRITY. I'M A NORMAL PERSON THAT'S JUST FAMOUS. I REFUSE TO SNEAK IN AND OUT OF BACK DOORS AND KITCHENS OF HOTELS ETC….

I AM PROTECTING MY PERSONAL SPACE SINCE THERE ARE NO LAWS TO PROTECT THAT FOR ME.

I PUT MY HAND UP TO THE CAMERA IN SELF DEFENSE!

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED…WHEN I LEFT THE CLUB, I WAS ENCOUNTERED BY A THIRSTY PAPARAZZI AS USUAL. HE FELT HE HAD MORE RIGHTS TO MY SPACE THAN ME, SO I PUT MY HAND UP TO PREVENT HIM FROM TAKING MY IMAGE. I DIDN'T ASSAULT HIM BUT MERELY PUTTING MY HAND UP TO COVER HIS LENS. MY SECURITY YELLED, "GET THE CAMERA OFF HIM." I GUESS IN ALL THE COMMOTION THE CAMERA SCRAPED HIS NOSE.

THREE HOURS LATER I GET A KNOCK AT MY HOTEL DOOR. THERE WERE FIVE POLICE OFFICERS IN FRONT OF MY ROOM AND I HAD NO IDEA WHY. I HAD MY SECURITY GO SPEAK WITH THEM. THE COPS WERE VERY CORDIAL BUT TOLD ME THEY HAD TO ARREST ME BECAUSE A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THAT WAS THE BOGUS PART. THEY PLACED ME IN HANDCUFFS AND DROVE ME TO THE STATION. THEY SPOKE ABOUT HOW THIS WAS OBVIOUSLY A PUBLICITY STUNT BY THE PHOTOGRAPHER BUT THEY STILL HAD TO GO THOUGH THE MOTIONS. WHEN I GOT BACK TO THE HOTEL THERE WERE PAPARAZZI HANGING OVER THE BRIDGE ABOVE THE HOTEL TRYING TO GET A SHOT OF ME GETTING OUT THE POLICE VAN. EVEN THOUGH I WASN'T CHARGED, THE DAMAGE WAS DONE. SURE ENOUGH THE NEXT MORNING, PLASTERED ACROSS EVERY MEDIA OUTLET… KANYE GETS ARRESTED. IT DIDN'T MATTER THAT I WASN'T CHARGED OR THE FACT THAT I HADN'T ASSAULTED ANYONE. ALL THAT MATTERED WAS THAT I WAS ARRESTED.

SIDEBAR, THEY QUOTED ME AS SAYING…"GET THE CAMERA OFF HIM!" LIKE I WAS TALKING IN THIRD PERSON. HE TRIED TO MAKE ME SOUND LIKE A CRAZY PERSON AND PEOPLE BELIEVED HIM. WHAT MERIT DOES THIS GUY HAVE THAT HE CAN SAY SOMETHING ABOUT ME AND PEOPLE TAKE IT AS LAW? THE FACT THAT HE COULD GET ME ARRESTED OFF A MERE COMPLAINT BUT I CAN'T ASK HIM TO STOP TAKING PICTURES OF ME IS VERY LOPSIDED.

WHO'S WINNING, ME OR THE MEDIA?"






P.S. - The media nearly always wins darlinkkk.

Laura Marling is one to watch out for. Our Spotlight this week goes to the songstress. All info is blagged from wikipedia.

Laura Beatrice Marling (born 1 February 1990), is a folk-pop singer-songwriter from Hampshire, England. Marling has toured with a number of well-known indie artists in the UK and beyond including Adam Green and Jamie T, who personally invited her on tour with him last year after he attended her second-ever gig.

She performed at the 2007 O2 Wireless Festival and also performed at the first Underage Festival in August 2007 at Victoria Park, East London.

Her debut single came out on WayOutWest Records, with subsequent singles out on Virgin Records. She appeared on The Rakes track "Suspicious Eyes", from the band's second album Ten New Messages and Mystery Jets single "Young Love" released 10 March, 2008.from their second album. Until May 2008 she was a member of indie band Noah and the Whale, and performs on their recently released debut album Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down from which the current hit "5 Years Time" is taken. Charlie Fink, lead singer of Noah and the Whale, produced Marling's debut album Alas, I Cannot Swim which was released on 4 February 2008.The album was nominated for the 2008 Mercury Prize.

Her television appearances include The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson where she performed the song "Ghosts" and Later with Jools Holland where she performed the song "New Romantic".

Despite playing sold-out venues over the past few months, Marling has spoken of how she still finds larger venues scary. She was once refused access to one of her own performances at a gay strip club, for being underage. She instead chose to perform on the street.

She released her most recent single "Night Terror" on 27th, October, 2008. Her 6-date Night Terror tour starts in November.

Cage the Elephant. Coventry Kasbah
*****
Cage the Elephant stormed the stage on Saturday night. Already stardazed, thanks to their brilliant new album. Cage the Elephant kicked off their U.K. tour with a set, so tight, it nearly burst the seams of the venue.
The packed out set kicked off with the hit single, ‘Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked’. Before long, the crowd was jumping to the music. The energy didn’t let up for one second. By the time that ‘In One Ear’ was played, almost everyone in the place was in for the anthem. Guitarist, Brad Schultz engaged the crowd with ear splittingly precise solo’s.

With sweat dripping from the ceiling, the atmosphere was electrifying. The support bands were at best, mediocre. If they were a pat on the back, then Cage the Elephant were like a punch in the stomach. Not only are the band better live, but they prove the best things are short and sweet.

Cage the Elephant can do little wrong. PrettyUglyMagazine caught up with Lead singer Matt Shultz before they embarked on their new U.K. tour in Coventry. Here is what he had to say:

Have you been to England before?
Matt:Yeah we actually lived over here for about a year. Off and on.

Did you enjoy that?
Matt:I mean it was cool. It was a really good experience. It was like four of us packed in a hotel room Kings Cross for about two months.

Was that because you were recording in London?
Matt:No. It was because we wanted to set up residency here. I guess it was kinda the way we always wanted to do it. Because all the greatest bands started out here.

The Greatest Bands?
Matt:Yeah. The Rolling Stones and the Beatles. Even some of the great American ones started out here. Like Nirvana, the Pixies and Pavement. Hardly anyone even knows about Pavement in the States, but over here they are like legend.

How did you meet the rest of the band?
Matt:Well me and Brad met shortly after I came out of my mothers Vagina. (Laughs) I’m 24 and he is 25.

I met Jarod in a parking lot. He tried to steal our space or something. We were like “get out of the car motherfucker. We’re gonna beat your ass.” A few weeks later, I was invited to jam in someone’s basement, and he turned up. That was like a kids band. We were terrible.

And the Bass player, Tichenor ? He and I have known each other for a long time. His parents and our parents lived on a farm together.

Do you ever fight?
Matt:Oh yeah. There was one time me and Tichenor were in Hackney. We started arguing with the bus driver. Then Tich started arguing with me. So I threw a guitar at him. Spartacus style. Like a spear.

I read that you grew up with a very Christian upbringing, and your parents lived on a Christian Hippy Commune. How far is that true?

Well that was before I was born. That was the farm I was talking about. But Tich, Daniel, grew up there. We used to go to church every day though.

Every Day?
Matt:Well yeah. Not always. But there would be three month periods where we would have to go to church every day. It was like revival or something like that. And they would have, what they called ‘Church Retreats’. Where you would leave church to go to another church.

So were you allowed to listen to rock music?
Matt:Well growing up my whole life, I’ve always listened to Christian Music. Like Audio Adrenaline, The Newsboys, DC Talk, or Jars of Clay (Laughs).

I got caught with a Greenday CD once. You know the line that goes (sings) ‘I went to a whore’..Well my dad heard it, and snapped the CD. I was like (fake cries).

But when my parents first got divorced, I went out and bought Jimmy Hendrix Live at Woodstock. When I discovered the Pixies, I remember telling people they had to listen to this band. They told me everyone had heard of heard of the Pixies. Lately I’v been listening to a lot of stuff like Gang of Four, Restless Eric, and Wire.

Do you think being in a band now, is a way of rebelling against your upbringing?
Matt:I’m not consciously ‘not’ Christian. I’m not necessarily rebelling, but when you are getting to that age, when you are questioning a lot of the ideals you were brought up on. Maybe I was running away from it a little bit.

What was it like growing up for you?
Matt:I grew up in a town in Kentucky. I come from a town of 16 000. I suppose I was a bad kid. My parents got divorced when I was in High School. When I was 16. My mum just let me do whatever I wanted to do. It was great. It was fun. I guess it was cool because I had a really tight circle of friends, and we all played in bands together, and that kind of pushed us to be a better band.

What’s your favourite thing about England?
Matt:Um. (Pauses) My manager. Richard Dobbins. (Laughs). No. I really dig the people. And I know it has a bad reputation, but I really love Indian food and curries.

Do you have plans to make another album?
Matt:When we fly back in December, we go into pre production. For our next album, we already have about 30 tracks. We are trying to narrow it down to about 10 songs.

What kind of sound can we expect from your next album?
Matt: It will be a lot different to our current album. It will be a lot more, ‘shaping the music to the lyrics’, not the other way around. I’m really excited about it. It will defiantly be more on the Punk side. But we have been listening to a lot of early Beatles songs. I think if you fight influence too much, it can be just as dangerous as if you seek out influence. There’s a balance.

I’m also looking forward to singing some new songs. The songs we have now, I have sung about a hundred thousand times. Pretty much everyone’s favourite songs, are my least favourite songs. Its gonna be cool.

With vocals that rip up through piano keys like they were pieces of paper. Amanda Palmer is one bitch out of hell, well worth a listen.
7 out of 10.

Who Killed Amanda Palmer? Is the solo debut from the Dresden Dolls front woman. If you liked the Dresden Dolls first album then you will love this album.

The self confessed exhibitionist is a theatrical and manic as ever. Palmer retains her piano punk edge despite her hiatus from drummer Brian Viglione.

The album is part punk, part hymnal, part cabaret and a little brassy.

It is riddled with collaborations, from Dead Kennedys guitarist to Rasputina’s Zoe Keating. Palmer says that when Ben Folds volunteered to produce her solo album it evolved into something quite different. What began as a ‘simple, stripped-down, record-in-in-my-underwear-in-my-apartment-in-boston kinda thing’ ended up being ‘not simple at all’.

The album reads slightly like a film soundtrack. The songs are easily charged with emotion. The erratic album is laden with stories. ‘The Point of it all’ and ‘Another Year’ are enough to make anyone with PMT cry for two days. On the flipside, the sick comedy of ‘Melissa Mahoney’ will make you laugh out loud.

The unlikely collaboration with Ben Folds, somehow, form a musical marriage made in heaven. Palmer is a little bit more political and a lot better produced.

Be warned, this album might be better listened to in parts. Most songs come in at over 4 minutes long. If you have the patience to sit an listen to all 12, (hidden track included) then you wont be disappointed.

Named after a character in the Neverending Story, Atreyu are hitting new heights with their latest album; Lead Sails Paper Anchor. I caught up with guitarist, Dan Jacobs (the cute little one) on the Birmingham leg of the Taste of Chaos Tour.

How's the tour going so far?
DJ: It’s alright. So far so good.

The taste of chaos tour has been downsized in recent years, from NIA to upper room in the academy
DJ: Not internationally. Not in the states. It’s a lot bigger in the States. Its like, an arena.

Have you just woken up?
DJ: Yeah (laughs). We were partying last night. We had a bus call at 10.30 am. We were up all night.

So iv read that you are termed as ‘metalcore’???? Did you make that term up?
DJ: No that’s some writer of some sort that came up with it a long time ago.

Where are you from?
DJ: I'm from Orange County California. I’v lived there my whole life.

What was your first concert?
DJ: A Greenday concert.

What was the first record you bought?
DJ: Probably a Greenday record.

How far did the original Orange County Hardcore scene influence you?
DJ: I mean – I saw some hardcore bands

When was the first time you picked up a guitar?
DJ: Um when I was about 12. I’v always been attracted to guitars. Not in a sexual way. (Laughs). My mum always had one. Like in her closet. I would try and take it out and play with it, but I didn’t really know what I was doing. Then when I was in school, this drummer kid who was in class with me suggested we jam. So we started playing.

How did you end up in Atreyu?
DJ: Well I met Alex when I was about 13. He played bass so he and I jammed. Actually he met Brandon’s brother, who introduced us to Brandon – who is a drummer. We started a punk band called Retribution. And we did that for a few years. Then eventually we changed our name to Atreyu. Went through a few member changes, and that’s where we are now.



I was looking on your website, and I saw that to join any of your forums, there is a fee of $25 dollars. Do you consider that to be a bit of a punk rock sell out?
DJ: Well no. It’s a way that people who are really really big fans, can get a little something extra. I mean the reason it costs money, is because it costs money to produce the things we are giving people. There are a lot of extra things, that we – uh – wanna give back to people who are really really big fans.

So what are the other guys like that you are touring with?
DJ: Well we have all known each other for a while, from previous tours. Everyone’s real cool. There isn’t a lot of introducing yourself to people. Its like being back at school.

Who’s the biggest drama queen in Atreyu?
DJ: Drama Queen? Um probably Alex.

Really?
DJ: Of course. He’s the lead singer, so it comes with the territory.

Do you have fights?
DJ: No. not really, its like being in a family. Its like if you argue with your brother or sister or mum or dad.

Your average fan standing outside are about 15 or 16. Do you ever think you are going to get too old to reach out to people of that age?
DJ: No, I think that with good music, age doesn’t matter. So we will get out there, whatever age group.

What's the most embarrassing record you own?
DJ: Probably John Mayer. That’s probably kind of a weird one. I like country records. Lately I’v been listening to a lot of Brooks & Dunn, or Toby Keith.

How has Atreyu’s music evolved?
DJ: I want to say we have come full circle. We have had 4 full length records out. Its been 10 years, and with each record , we try to do something different every time. A lot of times, fans want you to write one particular record, over and over again. Its hard to do that when you want to do better than what you did last time.

Whats your favorite thing about England?
DJ: My favorite thing, is Nando’s.

Really? Arent they a South African restaurant?
DJ: Are they? (Laughs) . I dunno, but Iv had one every day, and in every single city we have been in.: London, Norwich, Cardiff, Nottingham. One today…..

Have you seen much of the U.K.?
DJ: Well we have been here a few times. Each time we try to see a little bit here and there. To get some kind of vacation-ish thing out of it. We went to this place in Nottingham that was called the Ye Olde Tavern, or something. Its probably the oldest bar in the world. It was built in the eleven hundreds. Like people in the crusades or something.


What are your plans after this tour?
DJ: To write a record actually.

Anything else to to add?
DJ: I have a rock clothing line. Its rockclothing.com. Check it out.

Manson is hosting the Ultimate Halloween bash on the 31st, in L.A. The party is set to be held at the Roosevelt Hotel. Manson will be acting as Master of Ceremonies, and will announce D.J. sets of other artists. Other artists include Beastie Boys and Joel Madden of Good Charlotte. Spooky.

Mazzy Manson is pictured with girlfriend Evan Rachel Wood. We think she looks cute. But she's still a shlaaag. (And we still prefer Dita)

In other good news, Manson has stated that his new album is almost finished. The singer has reunited with guitarist Twiggy Ramirez.

We jest. We love Manson really. We just want him to be a bit more scary. Like back in the day. Hopefully his new album will sound like his old stuff.

Im not sure about Filth, But the Gallows are definitely one band that put the FURY back into punk.

In fact this band punch the lights out of pop punk.

Brutal performances and scuffles with the audience are a few features of the band live. Otherwise you can sample Gallows album Orchestra of Wolves

Since forming in 2005, The nihilist five from Watford have knotched up a bevy of success. Including being named ‘Best British Newcomer’ by Kerrang, attracting the attention of Epitaph and Frontman Frank Carter being named NME’s Coolest Person to name a few.

And the best bit? ……The best part is, that they don’t give a fuck. Well, at least they pretend not to.

"Gallows is not my life. It's a hobby I get paid for. I'm a tattoo artist - that will always be my life and job. Being in a band is something I do for fun. I quit the band four times before we signed to a major label. Gallows won't last five years."

Frank Carter

Dont fret. Gallows wont be disappearing anytime soon. The band have recently signed a two album deal with Warner Bros and are currently touring across the U.S. of A.

Frank Carter may be many things. But at least one thing is for certain. He still thinks NME is shit.

If you are attracted to the bizarre, the circus, punk , cabaret, theatrics, pianos or just intelligent song writing , Dresden Dolls is a band you might want to check out.

Amanda Palmer, the lead vocalist and piano player crossed paths in 2000 with Brian Viglione - drummer and singer, following a chance meeting at a Halloween party.

After a serious of musical ventures from Palmer, who wrote her first musical at 10, the pair decided to record a demo and subsequently fell in ‘rock’ love. The product of this affair has created one of the most unique duets ever to arise from Boston.

Whilst slowly building acclaim from both the underground music circuit and the mainstream the Dresden Dolls are a band that transcends musical boundaries. In an increasing climate that demands categories, where, if you are emo, you listen to emo. If you are mainstream, you listen to pop, and if you are indie - you will buy whatever NME magazine tells you to, Dresden Dolls refuse to fit.

On their debut album self titled ‘Dresden Dolls’ Palmer explores themes from sex to self harm. In the song ‘coin operated boy’ , comparison is made between man and sex toy, reasoning that a ‘coin operated boy’ is ‘love without complications galore’.

The brutally honest ‘Girl Anachronism’ tells of ‘scars on my arms’ whilst questioning Palmers’ personal state of mind, ; ‘you can tell from the state of my room/ that they let me out to soon/ and the pills that I ate/ came a couple of years too late’.

Every audience loves a show, and the Dresden Dolls are available to present one. Imagine the rocky horror show versus 1940’s cabaret and you have only touched upon a few influences embraced. Add to the mix onstage performance better than thier record and you have yourself a bonfide rarity.