According to a press release from Biffy Clyro’s record label, the Scottish band have released ‘Sounds Like Balloons’ from their sixth studio album Opposites as a single. Previous singles from the album, first released in 2013, include ‘Black Chandelier’ and ‘Biblical’.
Produced by Garth Richardson, who also worked on Biffy Clyro’s previous two albums - Puzzle and Only Revolutions, Opposites reached #25 on the RIANZ album charts. A two-CD Tour Edition is set to be released on July 4. With songs that successfully, according to NME, blend the ‘experimental and anthemic’ why aren’t you already a fan? As new fans, there’s nothing wrong with being new, we’ve a lot to learn.
The band’s set to make their way to Auckland to perform at Auckland’s Powerstation on September 2.
Grab tickets from ticketmaster asap and check out their live performance of ‘Sounds Like Balloons’ below:
EDIT: So according to long-time fans of the band ‘Sounds Like Balloons’ was never released as a single. The press release was either telling porkies, or maybe it’s been released as a single here in NZ. We’ll keep our eyes and ears peeled, we’ll get to the bottom of this.
EDIT EDIT: Definitely an NZ-only single. We think, no yeah definitely. Probably? No yeah there was only NZ info in the release. Yep, I’m sure- am I? Definitely maybe NZ-only.
On this night, a night as average as any other, a young girl and another young but slightly older girl went to a concert. (By slightly older I mean, the age gap of 11 years.)
But not just any concert. It was the concert of the one and only Ed Sheeran.
*jaws drop*
*wide stares*
Ahhhh! *sizzling sound* Girl look at that body! He - He’s Ed Sheeran.
Thanks to iHeartRadio and 2degrees, Ed Sheeran performed a one-off show at the ASB Theatre, in Auckland and my sister managed to win tickets after days (and possibly weeks) of refreshing inboxes and listening to the radio whenever it was possible! She and I had entered every competition there was to win tickets, and what we found out at the show was that we were one of the few lucky hundred to see Ed Sheeran among the approximately 25 000 submissions sent in from all over New Zealand.
Solo Artist, Jeremy Redmore was the Supporting Act.
He performed a few of his tracks such as Travellin’ Song, Drag Me On Home, and Bad Philosophy.
Now, when the lights dimmed and a spotlight focused on the middle of the stage, the atmosphere was filled with excitement and I don’t know when exactly it happened but tears filled my eyes when he walked out on stage and he got straight into You Need Me But I Don’t Need You.
The crowd was almost deafening but none of them were loud enough to drown out the Ranga god, his angelic voice, guitar and loop pedal.
Even when he played one of his quieter tracks, The A Team. (Although some fans didn’t understand that they should be quiet, he still played on.)
And speaking of those “fans“, an argument broke out among a few of the girls. Ed politely asked everyone to remain quiet for one of his new tracks, because it was a quiet song and so a majority of us did as he asked, respecting his wishes since he was performing for us.
But someone didn’t get the memo, because every time he stopped singing and just played the guitar, she’d scream out, “I LOVE YOU EDDY!!” and I swear I was hunting for her through the crowd with my eyes, getting ready to “stroke and shush them”. (NOT A EUPHEMISM)
But then, someone else started to shout abuse at them and it was a mess. Like really? HE ASKED US TO TRY TO REMAIN QUIET. If y’all wanna bicker, gtfo. Honestly, there’s always a select few who ruin things for everyone else and it’s making me angry just thinking about it.
MOVING ON.
Y’all know my sister, right? Well, Mata never wants to sit next to strangers, so she made her 15 year old sister sit between her and a stranger. And then the girl I was sitting next to had little to no rhythm which made me LOL so hard, but not in a haha ew loser way, more like a haha nawwwwww way, if that makes sense? (No offense intended, stranger!)
And so every time Ed asked us clap or click our fingers, she’d come in at the wrong time and when he’d ask us to sing, she’d try so hard but she’d go off key and scold herself and she was so cute, even though it was incredibly awkward. (Y’know what isn’t awkward? Calling a stranger cute. Okay maybe a little awkward. Shut up, don’t judge me…)
Singing like an angel, like always…
There was also this part during the concert where he performed a song he’d made using all these sentences and replies he’d saved in his phone to the hate he’d received over the course of three years, and he did it so well and he’s such an inspiration.
The light in the background is like the sun shining down on him, is it not?
One part of the song where he says something along the lines of, “you don’t want to see me with my shirt off,” I swear a bunch of fans protested and others laughed and so he stopped and muttered, “Guys…” and that scene was so cute.
Even from where I was seated, which was quite far and very high up, I could see the blush on his face. (Unless I imagined it, which wouldn’t be surprising. I should’ve worn my glasses, darn!) Too cute, though.
That smile though!
Nearing the end of an amazing night, he began performing his new single SING, and he got everyone into it, even if it was a little different from his Folk-y Rock sound, which isn’t a bad thing! He told us to keep singing, even after he’s left the stage, even into our cars to get home and even when we wake up the next morning! Ridiculous, right?
“If you love me come on get involved. Feel it rushing through you from your head to toe!”
Everywhere I turned, fans were singing, dancing, clapping and it made me so happy. He has this way of getting everyone to have fun and his moves on the stage were so weird but oddly mesmerising and I couldn’t look away, except for the times I had to wipe the tears from my eyes.
Yes, I cried and I’m not ashamed to admit it. Okay, maybe I’m a little ashamed. Whatever, you need me but I don’t need you so talk to the hand.
Overall, his performances were amazing and kept the crowd entertained, and his new tracks are sure to please all fellow Sheerios out there. He executed them perfectly and even though he left way too soon, he did not disappoint. And I’m still singing, Ed!
Now, for derp Sheeran.
FEAST YOUR EYES ON THIS!
This is the best thing ever. True derp. THIS.
All photos and videos are credited to my wanna-be photographer, Mata. Hahaha ilysm.
On April 30th, British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran will be performing in Auckland, thanks to 2degrees and everyone reading this, SHEERAN FOREVER.
Already being promoted by the online radio station iHeartRadio, his one free show will be a chance for Ed to perform some tracks from his newest album x set to be released in New Zealand on June 20th.
It will be mine- because his first album was epic, and considering it’s the ginge musical god Ed Sheeran, his second album will be just as amazing.
We’ve also seen two tracks from his new album, SING and Don’t and if any of his other new tracks are like them, then I will- without a doubt- love them. Although to be fair, I love Ed Sheeran in general. He’s perfect and I’m so excited and happy for him, it’s almost embarrassing but it can’t be embarrassing because it’s Ed freaking Sheeran. Okay? He’s a ranga, he’s got red hair! Kissed by fire!
Ahem.
Click and register here to be into win free Ed Sheeran show tickets, I already signed up and now I’m hyperventilating just at the possibility of seeing him live again.
After returning for the Big Day Out in January and wowing audiences with their electric live set, The Naked and Famous are coming back to New Zealand for a single, more intimate show later this year.
Following successful tours in North America, UK, and Europe in support of their second album In Rolling Waves, the band will play at Auckland’s Powerstation on Friday May 16. With singles such as “Hearts Like Ours,” “I Kill Giants,” and my personal favourite “Rolling Waves,” the band have added to the already commendable back catalogue of debut album Passive Me, Aggressive You. This one-off visit back to the homeland is one not to be missed.
Tickets for this R-18 event are on sale now from Ticketmaster. For more tour dates around Australia and the rest of the world, check out their tour page on the official website.
[Post-script: I really enjoyed reading this Buzzfeed article about the band and the dynamics of recording In Rolling Waves. Informative and entertaining, if you’d like to read it yourself.]
I am floating on a post-Laneway cloud, more specifically a post-HAIM cloud after what started off as a fairly decent, then kinda average day, which then exploded into an evening of amazingness and pure magnetic sex energy in the form of harmonies and sound that we call music.
What did I do?! Where did I go?! Well dear reader, be prepared for a blow-by-blow of my day at Silo Park, which was equal amounts cloudy and sunny and windy and returned me to my home with a fine layer of dust and sand over my skin smelling like a trucker who has just driven 12 hours and had a tyre puncture along the way.
So anyway it was a beautiful day in Auckland (which, really, means no rain; we can’t be choosy with this city) and my friend and I made our way down to Wynyard Quarter and lined up to get into the minimally-sheltered/very crowded venue. My very first Laneway in New Zealand! Gosh I was excited.
I got my ticket scanned and a wristband in lieu of paper and didn’t get my bag checked - great, because I had a litre of vodka stowed away in there - KIDDING! I’m all about water these days - and right at the entrance was the main stage where Jezabels were halfway into their set. They were pretty good but we didn’t stay long and decided to have an exploratory moment around the site to get our bearings.
The bars at Laneway work on a token system where you redeem tokens for drinks, kinda like arcade tickets but in reverse? so my friend got a few of those while I chilled out at one of the grassy areas which was nice and relaxing but also kinda burny because I didn’t sit under the shelter and when the wind blew it blew loose grass and soil all over me which kinda hurt and got in my mouth but c’est la vie.
Jess wanted to know how festivals work between sets - I’m not too sure how to explain it, because there’s not a lot of down time… there’s always a set happening with maybe five minutes between each, which you spend travelling to the next stage or fighting your way to the front barrier and waiting it out. Otherwise you just chill out around the area and eat or drink and chat and hang out and hear the music nearby and have a good time. There was a nice selection of food around - including a Fatima’s pop-up! I love Fatima’s feed me Fatima’s - and a couple of VIP sections; enough to make it look exclusive but not so exclusive that you’d wonder how to get in there next year.
On to the music! It doesn’t feel like we saw a festival-full of music, although we did take a couple hours over the day to relax. We saw Daughter, which was the surprise of the day for me - had no idea who they were and never heard of them before - and then a bunch of random bands before heading to the Red Bull Thunderdome to see Watercolours, whose EP Portals was released late last year. She had some technical difficulties and couldn’t start her set on time… and then it carked out again a couple of songs into it but she improvised with a cover of TLC’s “No Scrubs.” There were very enthusiastic fanpeople behind me (I’m guessing they were her mates) and they sang along very loudly. Not bad.
[Watercolours at Red Bull Thunderdome.]
We left Watercolours early to get some food, heading back to the main stage to see what Kurt Vile was like (pretty good, although I’m sure it would’ve been more enjoyable had I been closer up and known the songs), and then it was Frightened Rabbit who I enjoyed very much AND THEN HAIM. HAIM YOU GUYS HAIM.
[Danielle Haim shredding. Pretty much the highlight of my year. Forget what you ever knew about your sexuality.]
My all-time favourite band is Muse, and the most epic concert of my life was seeing their Resistance Tour in Singapore in 2010. I thought nothing could ever beat the swell in my heart, the tears pricking my eyes (I kid you not, I almost shed tears of joy, it was like a religious experience except music was my religion in those few hours) with the roar of the crowd pushing my adrenaline higher and higher. But then Haim took the Mysterex stage, and with the resounding echo of the opening drum beat of “Falling” I knew that they would beat, if not tie, that Muse concert for the gig I will remember most clearly* for the rest of my life.
I don’t know how to describe it yet, not coherently, anyway. I’d bought my Laneway ticket to see Haim and Lorde, and while I did not get to see Lorde as she attended the Grammys instead, I got that $139 + bf’s worth smashed out of the park in that 45 minute set.
I would’ve been quite happy to end the night there but a friend of mine is a HUGE fan of Chvrches, so I knew I’d have to stay and check them out. I was not disappointed. Those of you who know of and like this band will understand. Amped up from Haim’s set, I politely made my way as far up front as I could (honestly, I tapped people on the shoulder and asked to slip in front of them; amazing how kindly people will usher you before them if you ask nicely instead of barging into their shoulder and spilling beer over three people) and even though I had to stand on tip-toe to just see the band, it was still so, so, amazing-
- until some technical difficulty cut the set short halfway through. Boooooooo. It cut right at the break, too, which doubly killed the vibe. Not sure what goes on with these technical difficulties but it was twice in one day for me which is TWO STRIKES LANEWAY. Either way, they were back up and running after five or so minutes and then the awesomeness continued.
They played this, which is a nice song and to be honest I don’t remember what else they played except it was dancey and awesome and I had a great time.
The Presets and Cat Power were playing after Chvrches but I’d seen Cat Power in Singapore a few years back already and was hoping to catch a friend’s birthday dinner, so we skipped the set. So a pretty early night overall but A SUPER AWESOME ONE.
First Laneway verdict: A++ would trade again. Maybe with 100% more sunblock next time.
*I say most clearly but it’s not entirely true in a sense… the whole thing was just so transcendent and rapturous and energetic that in the aftermath I feel that a part of the synapses involved have shut themselves off from the rest of the brain just for self-protection from that much awesome, and also perhaps in a selfish way to always have that experience locked away in that moment of time and space. In a way it’s that little bit more precious, that something that affects the soul so much cannot be replicated so easily whether it be by memory or by listening to the studio record over and over.
Before one even arrived on the scene it was apparent what kind of concert we were in for. There were young girls everywhere, some with (One Direction themed) painted faces, some with signs and others clothed in Katmandu puffer-jackets and not much else. Lower Queen St and the area surrounding Britomart swarmed with Directioners and the different factions of the fandom; Carrots being one of the sections I learned about last night thanks to Kara‘s vast knowledge. The majority of which were chaperoned by tired-looking parents, with whom I felt a sort of affinity with. One Direction’s October 12 2013 Auckland Show was sold out, so I had mentally prepared myself for the surge of tweens. Or at least I thought I did.
Upon entering the venue there was a sort of buzzing in the air, exuded by the scores of teens and this buzzing got louder as we approached the arena. The buzzing, upon entering the arena, turned into cheers- but not just any cheers, screams so loud and shrill that it threatened to bust your eardrum.
Sporadic, deafening, screams pierced the air, and your ears, at any given moment. At three points during the intermission the crowd cheered for an Opporto ad, an Opporto ad. Each time without fail. The supporting act, 5SOS (?), were met with gusto from the accommodating crowd. An Aussie band who sang some songs I didn’t know (Beside You…and, uhm, I can’t remember the others) and a cover of Katy Perry’s Teenage Dream.
As we waited for the stage to be set up for 1D, the crowd entertained themselves with more screams for inane ads, including a Dressmart ad and Girl Guide Cookies. They reserved their loudest screams for Opporto ads, however. When the lights dimmed and the impressive stage lit up, it alerted the crowd to the fact that One Direction were ready to perform and after that it was pandemonium. The show started off with a video clip which took the audience through a party introducing each band-member, not that the excitable audience needed any reminding. And finally the lads (don’t judge me but I had to google the names) Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Niall Horan, took the stage and the screams became almost unbearable. However we could just hear the boys kick the night off by launching into a high energy track, ‘Up All Night’, tying in nicely with their intro vid.
It’s a good thing that the ground floor audience were also seated, or it could have become disastrous. There was a lot of jostling about on stage which translated to more cheers and screams from the young audience who sang along to every song sung. The boys encouraged the screaming, and the singing and applauded the arena’s zest.
During their engagement breaks, in which they bantered with the audience and amongst themselves, they had their usual ‘twitter questions’ bit. They were asked to do the time-warp and a New Zealand accent and once again someone asked them to do the Haka. Surely they should have known from the last time that asking a British boy band to attempt a traditional ancestral war dance is only entertaining when they’ve never been asked to do it before.
The band’s singing talents can’t really be denied, the dudes can hold a note and rather well. The songs are catchy and upbeat, where they need to be, and although it got a bit tiresome when they kept telling the crowd over and over again that they were the loudest crowd ‘evah’ I found myself having not too horrid a time- to my dismay. The lighting and sound were great, and I really did like the stage. It was good.
Highlights were obviously the only songs I knew, one of them being ‘Moments’ (written by the amazing Ed Sheeran, whose concert we also reviewed), and a weird clip where they showed us the band dressing up in disguise, mic’d and left a’wandering the streets of London being filmed from afar.
One Direction’s encore consisted of ‘Best Song Ever’ before following it up with ‘What Makes You Beautiful’, between the huge balloons being bounced around the audience and the confetti being dropped, it was quite the spectacle. I found it disconcerting because I’m used to concert-goers shouting ‘ENCORE ENCORE ENCORE’ before the encore, however it seemed all this crowd could muster were incoherent shrieking. However it seemed the concert was a roaring success, sold out, loud as anything and basically a deafening pot of gold. All in all, I suppose- apart from the screams which is unpleasant in any occasion, I can’t say I didn’t enjoy the moments where I knew the song and found my foot tapping along in spite of my misgivings. If there’s one thing the One Direction band-members know how to do is have a good time on stage. And who wouldn’t, when they have ear plugs to block out the majority of the ungodly shrieking?
Mata’s Honourable Mentions:
- Lorde attended the concert, she tweeted she was the weirdest little goth there and commented on the enthusiasm of the audience. I heard she left early, though. Anyone care to clarify that?
1D- “Have you guys seen This Is Us?” *Jess and Mata shake their heads* 1D- “did you enjoy it?” *Jess and Mata shake their heads*
- I rather liked their cover of Wheatus’ ‘Teenage Dirtbag’, perhaps because it reminded me of my own tweenaged years. I apologise if my age is showing.
According to a press release from Biffy Clyro’s record label, the Scottish band have released ‘Sounds Like Balloons’ from their sixth studio album Opposites as a single. Previous singles from the album, first released in 2013, include ‘Black Chandelier’ and ‘Biblical’.
On April 30th, British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran will be performing in Auckland, thanks to 2degrees and everyone reading this, SHEERAN FOREVER.
