Get In Her Ears Live @ Notting Hill Arts Club w/ Alyss 01.12.18

Get In Her Ears returned to West London’s Notting Hill Arts Club on Saturday night to host another successful night full of alternative electronic music. For our second gig at the venue, we chose Alyss to headline; with support coming from the brilliant Elsa Hewitt, Temples of Youth and Varley.

First up were Berlin-based trio Varley, who played a beautiful stripped back set to an appreciative, respectfully quiet crowd. Vocalist Claire-Ann Varley’s gentle, clear voice was perfectly accompanied by the acoustic & electric guitar sounds of bandmates Matthias Heising & Joschka Bender. When she cautiously asked for a little audience participation during one particular song, she was rewarded with attempts to mimic her soft voice, and the trio left the stage to well deserved and rapturous applause.

 

 

Up next were our favourites, electronic duo Temples Of Youth, who (as always) performed a stunning set. Jo & Paul’s blend of old and new songs – including ‘Darker Places’, the title track from their latest EP – captivated the crowd with their ambient guitar sounds and Jo’s standout vocals. We never tire of seeing these two live, and we were thrilled to have them on the bill with other talented electronic artists.

Penultimate act Elsa Hewitt was a one woman music machine. She played a hypnotising set, which included her latest single ‘Invisible Threads’. It’s always a pleasure to watch artists lose themselves within their own sound, and watching Elsa perform her intricate tuning and triggering, whilst simultaneously performing her soft vocals so seamlessly was a genuine pleasure to witness. We were so caught up in her soundscapes we lost track of time, and as we gently ushered her set to a close, electro-pop Queen Alyss took centre stage.

Clad in a shiny cape and black-rimmed hat, headline act Alyss dominated the stage with her powerful vocals and uncompromising attitude. Performing as a one woman band, she had the room packed full of fans who were dancing along to her pop hooks and bouncing beats.

Huge thanks to the bands and to Notting Hill Arts Club, and extended thanks to all those who donated their spare change on the door to National AIDS Trust on #WorldAIDSday – we appreciate your generosity!

Keep your eyes peeled for more gig announcements from us soon.

Photo Credit: Jon Mo Photography

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Get In Her Ears Live @ The Five Bells, 26.10.18

Friday saw our first night at The Five Bells in New Cross, with an immense – and slightly spooky – line-up of Cryptic Street, HAWXX, Worst Place and Panic Pocket.

First up, we’re treated to luscious indie-pop ditties of duo Panic Pocket.

Next, GIHE faves Worst Place deliver the dreamiest of sets as they launch their new double A side ‘Square Eyes’/’Soak’.

Penultimate band of the night HAWXX blow us all away with their frenzied rock anthems.

All the way from Malta, headliners Cryptic Street blast out their utterly immense, riot grrrl infused sounds, wowing us with their ferocious energy.

Huge thanks to all the bands who played for us on Friday. Our next gig is back at The Finsbury with headliners Sit Down on 9th November.

Photo Credit: Jon Mo / @jonmophoto

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Introducing Interview: Cryptic Street

Maltese rockers Cryptic Street are fast becoming known in the UK for their immense, riotous live performances, and we cannot wait for them to headline for us at The Five Bells on 26th October!

We caught up with the band before the head on over to blow our minds! So, get to know all about Cryptic Street here…

Hi Cryptic Street, welcome to Get In Her Ears! Can you tell us a bit about yourselves and what you do?
Hi! We are so looking forward to performing for your Get in Her Ears event on 26th October! We are Cryptic Street – a psychedelic punk band ready to rock your patriarchal ears and mess with your brain. We’re serving alternative madness fresh out of a DIY framework, straight outta Malta!

How did you all initially get together and start creating music?
Leona (vocalist) and Janelle (guitarist) initially met in an all-girls school and founded Cryptic Street 8 years ago for a school project. After several lineup changes and a lot of ups and downs, we decided that it was something we want to pursue in a serious and professional way, and we are working to do just that!

We love your soaring post-punk energy, but who would you say are your main musical influences?
We have a wide range of musical influences, but our music and lyrics mostly channel an emotion or an experience that we would be going through at that point in time. Rather than pinpointing specific artists, Cryptic Street’s music is like a sponge – absorbing everyday life and personal troubles to create something cathartic and meaningful.

We can’t wait for you to headline for us at The Five Bells on 26th October, but would you say there’s been a particular gig you’ve played so far that stands out as a highlight for you?
All performances are special to us. Performing in Malta is heart warming since we’re performing for our home crowd and for people who have seen us grow. On the other hand, every time performing abroad is a different challenge since we have to prove ourselves again and again, and that itself is very invigorating and makes us want to push and challenge ourselves both musically and personally. However, supporting Acid Mothers Temple and PINS last year were definitely special gigs for us!

How is the music scene in Malta? Do you go to see much live music?
Malta’s music scene is small but blooming. There are projects ranging across the musical spectrum, and live music is something that is happening constantly all year round. The music community is a tight knit one, and you always manage to find a fellow musician that will help you out in some way or another. Everyone knows everyone, and obviously that has its advantages and disadvantages. There’s a lot of talent… But little international exposure. We hope to continue pushing the boundaries and promote Malta as a musical hot spot whenever we tour.

As we’re a new music focused site, are there any other new upcoming bands/artists who that you’d recommend we check out?
We would definitely recommend Emme Woods from Scotland – she’s amazing, and of course, the amazing bands we’re performing with for your wonderful event (HAWXX, Worst Place, Panic Pocket). We would also recommend Maltese artists such as Beesqueeze, nosnow/noalps, and all the other cool bands and artists hailing from Malta… too many to mention everyone!

And how do you feel the industry is for new bands at the moment – would you say it’s difficult to get noticed?
Coming from a tiny island, we definitely have to push harder and harder to get noticed and to get gigs abroad. There are so many amazing bands, for example in the UK, especially in our niche of Riot Grrrl punk, that you constantly have to push yourself in all aspects. Doing it DIY, like so many bands out there at the moment, is both rewarding and stressful at the same time – apart from the music we have to cater for everything, ranging from admin work to design to social media etc. We even organise our own parties in order to fund band stuff! Bands nowadays have to think of themselves as brands and that really pushes people involved in bands to develop different skill sets. On the other hand, we really want to advocate the importance of taking care of your mental well being – being a musician is tough work, and you really need to be mentally strong to navigate through all the rejections and obstacles that the industry throws at you. That’s something that really spills over in our lyrics too!

Finally, what does the rest of 2018 have in store for Cryptic Street?
First of all, we have our upcoming UK Tour – totally DIY, totally fun, and supported by Girls Against and Women that Rock. We really wanted to support female talent during this tour and promote safe inclusive spaces where everyone, irrespective of their differences, can enjoy a night out without the fear of being harassed or mocked. That’s something we REALLY believe in. Therefore we are collaborating with a lot of feminist/non-binary promoters and we’re performing alongside a lot of inspiring, innovative artists. So check us out cause we’re coming for ya! We will also have our unique merch pieces as well as our Titty Monster album on sale during each performance so make sure you come and grab them here. We will be spending the rest of 2018 writing new music, developing the band and our vision, and becoming even more kick ass!

Huge thanks to Cryptic Street for answering our questions! Catch them live headlining our gig at The Five Bells, New Cross on 26th October! 

They’re also playing the following dates for their End Of The Titty Monster Tour:

26th October – London, The Five Bells (for Get In Her Ears!)
27th October – London The Good Mixer
28th October – Cardiff, The Moon
29th October – Exeter, The Cavern Club
30th October – Bristol, Venue TBA
31st October – Brighton, Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar
1st November – London, The Windmill
2nd November – Brighton, The Green Door Store
3rd November – Sheffield, HER FEST//Picture House Social

Have a listen to Cryptic Street on Soundcloud and Spotify, and give them a follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Photo Credit: Matthew Attard

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Get In Her Ears Live @ The Finsbury w/ Peach Club, 12.10.18

Following a host of super amazing bands playing for us recently – including Wendy Rae Fowler, Witch Fever, The Magnettes, The Empty Page, The Menstrual Cramps and Thunder On The Left  – we were back at The Finsbury on Friday for another jam-packed night of the best new music, and to celebrate exactly two years of hosting gigs at the venue!

Kicking off the celebrations is the brooding grunge-infused power of Concrete Bones. Alongside luscious sweeping vocals, they deliver fuzzy reverb-strewn riffs and pummelling beats, oozing a dark, gritty power, and marking themselves out as definite ones to watch.

Next up, The Muffinheads take to the stage, instantly blasting out their immense, raging force. Having really honed their sound since first playing for us in March last year, the Essex band ooze their ferocious, fiery energy as frenzied riffs and tremendous beats race alongside the seething growl of front-woman Bex. And, with Bex even coming off stage to have a little dance with next band Pussyliquor, it’s a totally engrossing head-banger of a set.

Penultimate band of the night, Pussyliquor, bring their pure, uncensored female rage with a wild, punk-fuelled passion. Immediately filling the venue with the heaving bodies of an army of moshing fans, their intense riotous power, tongue-in-cheek wit and empowering messages of equality are delivered with a fierce energy and searing, colossal force.

Norwich band Peach Club close the night with a total dream of a headline set. With a raw ferocity, thrashing hooks and driving beats, they channel their anger at the patriarchy into a wonderful outpouring of raucous energy, and spot-on, exceptionally poignant lyrics. Telling us the story behind each of the tracks (from the disgusting ‘boys in bands’ who take advantage of young girls, to the patronising way they – as females in a band – are treated by men in the industry), vocalist Katie’s raw, impassioned power brings to mind the engaging spirit of Riot Grrrl pioneer Kathleen Hanna, as the band’s seething force and racing sense of urgency are just the motivation we need to speak out and be heard at a time when we need to more than ever.

HUGE thanks to the four wonderful bands who played for us on Friday! As it’s our birthday month, we actually have another gig on 26th October at The Five Bells with Cryptic Street headlining, and our next gig at The Finsbury is 9th November with Brighton duo Sit Down. See you there!

Words: Mari Lane / @marimindles
Photos: Jon Mo / @jonmophoto

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