The latest video from Flame To Fire a band made up of ex-members of Radiate and Without Grace. The footage is taken from the 2009 succumbto.me warmup tour.

DUMA

The judges of the Dorset Unsigned Music Awards have decided that Achilles, Dusty Cuts, Otto, The Douglas Firs and The Goodfoot will be in the final, May 2nd at the Royal Bath Hotel Bournemouth.

In the write up of the first semi-final I waxed lyrical about my admiration of the X-Factor’s Simon Cowell’s honesty (Judging the DUMA semi-finals).

There’s no need to continue with that but it was maybe slightly ironic that while his other project ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ was airing it’s first heats of the season we were at the last semi-final for the DUMA, at a pub that seemed to mirror the town in which it was located.

On arriving in Wimborne Minster you have to negotiate a road system designed to protect the inner town from cars and anyone, without a map or directions, trying to find a pub called Pudding and Pye.

However after a variety of 3-point-turns and olde English exclamations I managed to drive past the venue and then spend another ten minutes trying to retrace my route.

In doing so I discovered that Wimborne is a wonderful yet ancient place that deserves a proper investigation. In some ways it is similar to Weymouth, which I saw for the first time last week and currently describe as a cross between St Tropez and Winchester.

The only difference is that Wimborne has a Minster and no harbour.

Once inside the Pudding and Pye you have a classic old English pub with an inviting collection of odd shaped rooms and a ceiling you could easily bang your head on. Most importantly, plenty of helpful staff behind the bar.

And they were needed because the second semi of DUMA was a busy night, with the another five popular bands looking for a place in the final.

Once again Heidi and Ian and myself were judging the merits of these acts, although in the back of our minds we knew that there were two acts from last Saturday who were the ones to beat.

The overall impression I received from the two semis was that very few of the acts seemed to realise they were in a competition and relied on their music to get them through.

The best I can describe their stage clothes would be dour, their energy lethargic and there were maybe be one or two that had the collective spirit which could see them making a living from this profession.

So full marks go to ‘Crystal Arcade‘ for their energy and enthusiasm especially the guitarist who seemed to be putting everything possible into his performance even though most of the audience couldn’t hear his licks let alone chords.

In fact Ian commented that it was a bit like watching the TV with the sound turned down. I would quite happily add that judging by the movement of his hair we’d be watching an underwater shot of a sea anemone in a strong tide.

Also giving natural entertainment were the singers from both ‘The Goodfoot’ and ‘Dusty Cuts’ while the whole of ‘Otto’ performed a fantastic set, full of harmonies, smiles and optimistic energy. Otto also possess a bass player with a rare gift – he can keep people dancing while playing a solo.

In the final they will be up against the casual surfing vibe of ‘Achilles’ who filled the room with a jazz like infusion of ambient dance.

Suzy Douglas (and log) photo by Sophie Court

But for me the most intriguing act we had to judge was ‘The Douglas Firs’. Their sound and look would suit the film ‘The Village’ and I wasn’t far wrong as they later informed me that ‘Twin Peaks’ was the source of their inspiration.

This would also explain why singer Suzy Douglas clutched a log during one song. As props go it is brilliant and if anyone in the audience objects she can always thrown it at them. You never know it might catch on with people bringing twigs and roots to future gigs.

Before we go any further I must credit Trevor Hill, the other half of Devils Music, for his ability to keep the acts flowing through the night. This is the fourth year of DUMA and the slickness was inspiring. It isn’t easy getting five bands on and off stage and the pace was perfect.

After the last notes had left the stage the judges sat down with organisers Trevor and Richard Stannard to decide which five of the ten acts would make the final at the Royal Bath Hotel in Bournemouth (May 2nd).

The judges were only unanimous about three acts and the last two slots in the final caused a lengthy discussion. It’s great fun hearing now people judge, what their tastes are and ultimately how they decide on who goes through or not.

On paper, and on stage, it is fair to say we were all delighted with the five that went though making the final a very interesting night.

Our job of judging is complete however I don’t envy the final judges, the owners of the fabulous prizes as well as DJ Rob da Bank, but I have a hunch which act will get the photo shoot and recording session, however the three slots at the festivals… it’s wide open.

You can see full details about the prizes and find out more about Devils Music here.

Directed by Simon Gesrel who was one of the people responsible for the John Carpenter homage ‘Zombie Zombie’ (see Art of Birdpen) this is the official video for the first single off the excellent Birdpen album “On/Off/Safety/Danger“

Another fulfilling night at The Joiners in Southampton where we discovered some happy pop mixed with social blues and jazz.

A thin crowd were throughly entertained by the first act of the evening, Loz Bridge and the Box Social. Although sometimes it’s a bit disconcerting when the band sit and the audience stand but that’s the case when it’s their acoustic line-up.

Featuring Loz on piano, Andrew Foster on guitar/banjo and Matt E sitting on a cajon – a Cuban/spanish box drum which you play with your hands.

It’s a remarkable instrument which adds enough bass to the mix so that you are not too disappointed about the missing double bass player.

Also missing were my table and chair, glass of wine and a smoky atmosphere which would have really suited the mood as Loz and the band mix blues and jazz with a touch of modern day reality.

They had everyone’s attention with the haunting ‘Sarah & the Wolves’ a song about unfair dismissal and a subject rarely covered by bands like Coldplay, or even Radiohead.

And then you have ‘Witches’ which has the catchy “I hate my job” chorus and is no doubt the anthem for most musicians unable to make a living from their art.

My only complaint is that Matt E had to “sit out” the song ‘November’. I’m sure he could find something percussive to gently waft while Andrew Foster uses his effects peddles to wrap sonic landscapes around the crooning Loz Bridge.

Maybe he could just read a book. Something dark to suit the mood; Edgar Allan Poe is a suggestion.

Due to conversations with the above and others I missed all but the last song of the second act “The School” so can’t really pass comment apart from my usual “more effort in the stage gear required”.

The night’s headliners were ‘The Boy Least Likely To’ who I was ashamedly unaware of but they were such a fun act they won me over very quickly with their infectious, good time stomp and harmonies which seemed to spark up the pleasantly full room.

Formed around the duo of Pete Hobbs (instruments) and Jof Owen (singer) this seven piece smiled their way through a set of merriment that quietly hides a dark and sinister side.

“A lot of our lyrics are sad anyway,” Jof told me, “that’s kind of our trick to undercut the upbeat stuff.”

They describe their music as ‘Country Disco’ which does it justice but there is also a pure and natural Englishness about their sound which might be why they are loved in America and little known in the UK.

According to Jof: “America seems to understand us a little bit better. They seem to get the tongue in cheek, they get that we are not entirely serious and the sounds that we use are because we think they are quite funny.”

It’s the kind of aural flavour that gets XTC such great respect but enough awareness among the general public and it fills their second album “the law of the playground” which has taken two years to release thanks to legal wranglings with their former record company.

In fact in the past two years ‘The Boy Least Likely To’ couldn’t have record any new tracks as their old company would have owned those as well. It is a valuable lesson to anyone who still wants to get signed to a record label and maybe the resolution of these problems brings out the big smiles on stage.

From the new album the best example of their dark side is the song “I box up all the butterflies” which says enough really. The lyrics are wrapped up in the shades of summer that only an English band can create while hiding the definitely un-politically correct content within.

They are definitely a band for the economic crisis as plenty of people need uplifting and even if the feeling only lingers then at least music, in this case, has done its job.