ComEnts

Mike: Hey AK, some Anonymous joker wants us to write something interesting and suggested that we write a summary of the Berkshire scene. Let's teach him a lesson by doing what he wants but being as boring as we normally are. What do you think?

AK: Yeah, they obviously deserve everything they'll get? The music scene in Berkshire is difficult for any one person to be able to sum up

Mike: ...which is why we're doing this together...

AK: Fair point, it's difficult for any one person to be able to sum it up as there are pockets of underground musical resistance all over the shire. The one thing that we can be sure of is that josaka is the central hub of much of the unsigned "scene", offering as it does resources, information, publicity, exposure, information and reviews on pretty much anything music-based in Berkshire (and further afield, such as the mysterious - and some say haunted - county of Oxfordshire). The chat room is a haven for musicians and fans stuck in either the classroom, the workplace or the studio, and the pages, articles and information are updated on an almost constant basis - and certainly would be on a daily basis, if only people would provide fresh updates and reports on a daily basis.

*cue Mikey's response in 3.. 2.. 1..

Mike: Er.. 321 then go or go on 1?

AK: Always 321 then go, never 3..2..go!

The Boy Heff:Ever since you sold your soul to Kevin Harrington you've been such a josaka kiss arse. Afraid he's going to tear it up and you'll have no-one to go rowing with?

AK:The thought does haunt me, like the sword of Damacles hanging over my head. And when have I ever gone rowing with Kevin? I hate water sports, I'm not tall enough to be in a boat with Ronnie Corbett, let alone Sir Steve Redgrave.

His Royal Heffness: No, you butthead, I meant go rowing with your soul. Don't you watch The Simpsons?

There are many aspects to the Berkshire scene, I think we should concentrate on Reading 'cause it's what we know best. Perhaps look at each musical area in turn? Starting in a completely arbitrarily order and certainly not entirely based on some list you might have previously sent me I say we start with the excellent metal scene.

1. Metal

Mike: Currently hiding behind their Marshall stacks are such excellent young metal bands as Sylosis (guitarist Josh is some kind of guitar god), Malefice (who's album is great and I must get round to reviewing...) and Exit 10 who are a bit more accessible but still very heavy. I'd consider those the big
three local bands. Then there are people like Blind Eye Policy (who I see are playing Uxfest again this year) but we don't get them in Reading very often these days. As well as the young bands there is School for the Gifted who are still rocking hard in a more old school way.

Mike's top three local Metal bands: Malefice, Sylosis, Exit 10

AK: Ah, metal? my specialist subject. Don't let my mild-mannered appearance and darkly exotic good looks fool you into thinking that I am anything other than a metal devotee. I'd have to agree with you, those are pretty much top metal dogs in Reading, and Exit 10 don't even have shouty vocals, they have nice, melodic, enunciated vocals which sound great. And Blind Eye Policy are very good, I prefer their music to Sylosis - despite Josh doing entirely worthwhile things on the guitar - and School for the Gifted are less death/shouty metal than they are "classic" metal, so are easier on the ear again as well as putting on a great show. Obiat are another band I rate highly, frontman Laz is one of the main local promoters with Readirockrevolution, and Obiat have a great stoner/doom sound, with some fantastic melodies and tunes. Their guitarist has probably my favourite tone/sound out of all the local "scene" bands; he plays a beautiful natural wood-finish Gibson SG through a Marshall, and it's a filthy, dark, awe-inspiring sound he creates.

Are you not going to mention DiscGuys at all, Michelle?


The guy who AK occasionally has the privilege of guitar teching for: Ah yes, Obiat. It's hard to tell what genre to put some of these bands in isn't it? DisGuys for me are more Classic Rock, maybe we'll put them in a Miscellaneous section at the end?

2. Interesting indie / garage / no-wave scene (Club V, etc.)

Mike: Sid from Club Velocity has to take a lot of the credit/blame for this scene. The Velocity nights have continually championed bands who tend to share a certain vibe. Quite a lot of them are out of town bands (or even international but some local bands have made repeated appearances. Three Litre, Off the Radar and Rebus to name three. I have to mention Return to Zero in this category as well. Their demo is excellent, they rock live and in Stupid people they have one of the best local scene songs out there.

the mAK daddy: Out of all the "scenes" in Reading, this is probably the one with the most celebrated bands playing, and the highest amount of respect being paid to it. Sid Siddle should be given the freedom of the city for bringing not only a wicked, well-loved and hugely cool gig to the Rising Sun Institute (or whatever it's called! The one near the After Dark, not the Forbury!) on the last Friday of every month, but also for being Reading's only truly credible link to the music industry. It's always upset me that my own bands don't fit the profile needed (i.e. being good!) to play at Club V, it's one of the few gigs in Reading I haven't played, and the one I want to do more than any other. Polar Remote are starting to snowball, I believe they've had links to Club V in the past, and other great acts like Yumi Yumi and The Suffrajets have all played stormers there. If anyone was interested in seeing what the really, really cool gigs in Reaidng were like, I'd automatically point them to Club V, I always feel like I want to make a film about Reading's music scene everytime I go there.

Return to Zero do rock a lot, I was amazed last time I saw them live, and can't wait to see them again. I hear their drummer is such a booze-sponge that he often wanders into Rebus rehearsals and absent-mindedly starts playing for them as well!

Brother of Pete I suppose Pete and the Pirates need to go in this section as well. Currently flying high (with Yankee 99er) as my favourite Reading band. Not sure if you've seen them or not?

AK: No, truth be told I haven't had the chance yet, but I'm dead keen, cos all their reviews are ace, and I never have any idea of what they sound like. If they sounded like someone else, it would be mentioned in the review but that hasn't happened yet, so I think they'll be pretty cool! I remember being at your house at a party with the guitarist from Pete and the Pirates and having a good time playing silly songs.

To be continued...