Best of 2011 lists.....

Everyone else is doing it so why shouldn't we? If anyone is reading this then here are some of our favourite things of this year. Merry Xmas everyone.

Dave
TOP TEN RECORDS OF 2011
Steve Adamyk Band – Forever Won’t Wait
Tenement – Napalm Dream
Wiccans – Skullduggery
Autopsy – Macabre Eternal
Obits – Moody, Standard & Poor
Protectors – Can’t Shake The Moves
Night Birds – The Other Side of Darkness
Future Virgins – Western Problems
Attitude Adjustment – No Way Back
Royal Headache – s/t

Adz
TOP RECORDS
Bon Iver - Bon Iver
War On Drugs - Slave Ambient
Obits - Moody, Standard & Poor
The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - Belong
Samiam - Trips
Wild Flag - Wild Flag
TV On The Radio - Nine Types Of Light
Ryan Adams - Ashes & Fire
The Mountain Goats - All Eternals Deck
Protectors - Can't Shake The Moves
Honorable mentions: Hookworms, M83, That Fucking Tank, Rob Crow, Night Birds

FILMS
The Guard
Drive
50/50
Tyrannosaur
Take Shelter

BEST DVD
Talking Heads - Chronology

Matt Sax
TOP RECORDS (in alphabetical order)
Bon Iver – Bon Iver
Decemberists - The King Is Dead
Drive By Truckers – Go-Go Boots
Face To Face – Laugh Now, Laugh Later
The Horn the Hunt – Depressur Jolie
The Horrible Crowes – Elsie
The Mountain Goats – All Eternals Deck
My Sad Captains – Fight Less, Win More
Obits – Moody, Standard, and Poor
Protectors – Can’t Shake The Moves
REM – Collapse Into Now
Richmond Fontaine – The High Country
Singing Adams – Everybody Friends Now
Tom Waits – Bad As Me

Best film released in the UK this year: Animal Kingdom.

We have t-shirts

Yesiree ladies and gentleman we now have some lovely garments with you to insulate yourself during the winter months. Have a look.

They have been lovingly screen printed by Get A Grip studios in Birmingham onto 100% organic cotton Anvil t-shirts. Sizes available are small, medium, large and gril's medium. Colours are white, red and yellow haze.

Prices are £7 at gigs and £10 postpaid. Email matadors@gmail.com for availability and be the classiest looking hipster on the block.

On The Hook available now

What are you waiting for? Go and get it and spread the word.

http://matadorsleeds.bandcamp.com/album/on-the-hook

Tumblr action

We have now embraced Tumblr - not quiite sure how it works but we're on there - add us or whatever you do with it.

http://matadors.tumblr.com/

Here's the flyer for our release gig as well:

Another sneak peek, album release and more....

Here's a second song from our forthcoming debut album (which we will think of a name for very soon, honestly) - a balls out rocker by the name of Beneath The Night (we are aware it sounds like one of those Channel 5 'erotic' dramas they always used to show late on a Friday night).

Beneath The Night by matadors-uk

The album will be available for a lovely pay-whatever-you-want price from 7th November on our Bandcamp page, if you've forgotten the URL it's here:

http://matadorsleeds.bandcamp.com/

We also have some gigs lined up - including our official album launch at the Fox & Newt on the 18th of November - we will probably even have t shirts for sale. Check the side panel for the rest of the dates, we always want more as well.

Here's a sneak peek from the new record, enjoy!

Little London by matadors-uk

We need gigs!!!!

We all know how well loved we are by all and sundry, but after tonight's gig (at Santiago's with Blacklisters, The Dead Beat and Two Trick horse in case you were wondering) we have no more lined up - not one.  Hard to believe I know.  So give us a gig and we'll love you forever.

Oh yeah, we're recording our album in a couple of weeks so keep your ears peeled for it.

I (Adz) endorse this band...

Davey endorses these...

We all endorse these...

Upcoming gigs for you to feast your eyes and ears

Hello again, I trust everyone is well?

Just a quick note to give you the lowdown on a couple of gigs we have coming up in the month of July.  We are always after more gigs so don't be afraid to ask us, we don't bite.  All we ask for is £500, a well stocked rider and no brown M&Ms.  We're joking of course - brown M&Ms are Davey's favourite.

On with the hoopla...

8th July at The Hop in Wakefield

We are very excited to be playing alongside Pylon who have got back together for a couple of farewell gigs and then that's that, no more - see them while you still can, they are marvellous.  Also playing will be the lovely Helen Chambers and James 'Jimmy' Islip doing their acoustic thing.  We are sandwiched between them like a gone off slice of ham between two fresh slices of artisan bread.

If you haven't heard Pylon before then shame on you, make up for it right now. Incidentally, this song is miles better than anything we'll ever do.

29th July at Santiago's in Leeds

Our good friend Toby 'Razor' Chelms has put together a bloody corking affair.  Along with us there is Leeds' very own answer to The Jesus Lizard: Blacklisters.  Also... The Dead Beat, who will be travelling all the way from Brighton, they are rocking and remind me of Born Against mixed with New Bomb Turks.  Very new and exciting Leeds two-piece Two Trick Horse round the bill off.  All comparisons are Albini based but I hear a lot of poppy influences in there as well.

Give them all a listen and make your own minds up...

http://blacklisters.co.uk/
http://thedeadbeat.blogspot.com/
http://twotrickhorse.bandcamp.com/

Come along to these gigs - they will be fun affairs.

Now if only anybody actually read this blog we might be onto something... Here's a great video to reward those who might have happened to stumble onto here.  Cheerio.

 
PS our demo is still hotter than an electric fire in a student house with 2 bars turned on.  Check it.

http://matadorsleeds.bandcamp.com/releases

Matadors in Sunderland

I grew up in a small town by the name of Seaham Harbour, on the north-east coast of England, about five miles south of Sunderland. As a young lad, the majority of my toy purchasing activities took place in Joseph's Toy Shop in Sunderland.

Joseph's was destroyed during WW2, when a bomb struck the nearby railway station, causing a train to smash through the front of the shop.  Fortunately, it was rebuilt, meaning that me and my dumb little friends could buy action figures.

Last Sunday, Matadors played a gig in Sunderland with Deep Sleep from the USA, The Down & Outs and Jimmy Islip, in celebration of all-round nice chap Dan Shannon's birthday. I love going back to Sunderland for any reason, even more so to play a gig there (I'd only ever done it twice).

Imagine my amazement on arrival at Plugged Inn, at number 29 Holmeside in Sunderland, when I realised that this was the very site of the aforementioned Joseph's Toy Shop! I was once separated from my mother in the very same building, probably as a result of my feverishly browsing the Technical Lego selection. Mam still fondly recalls discovering me sitting on the step outside the shop, crying my eyes out, pants drenched in urine.

Good times.

Here is a video clip of Matadors playing the track "Armley" in the window of Plugged Inn aka Joseph's Toy Shop...

We have a demo - oh yeah!

Against all odds we've managed to get something recorded.

It's up on Bandcamp and available for free download - go get it.

http://matadorsleeds.bandcamp.com/album/first-demo

Sunday 5th June 2011

Check out this gorgeous work of art...

More gigs for your diaries...

Hi gang…  We have a couple of nice gigs to add to your social calendar (presumably under the heading “Events To Avoid”)…

Saturday 14^th May – “Mynite” at Milo, Leeds with many other local bands, none of which I have ever heard, but I’m sure it will be a good time.  We’re billed to play at 10.45pm.

Friday 8^th July – The Hop, Wakefield with PYLON and Milloy.  That’s right – PYLON.  No further comment needed.  PYLON.  We’ll be on earlier in the evening so make sure you get down to catch us.

We STILL need a gig on Saturday April 30^th.  But in fairness, we haven't exactly been busting a gut to find one.

In other news, you may be interested to know that we’re having a get-together at Matt Sax’s house this coming Thursday.  You’re not invited to that.  No offence, it’s just more of a band members only situation. We intend to have some food, beers and write some new songs.

PYLON.

Happy Tuesday day!

I’m very pleased to announce that Comeback Trail gig number two went off without any significant complications.  Apart from the fact that my jeans were a little too tight around the crotch, limiting my flexibility and attack on the kick drum.  But hey, I’m sure that nobody was looking at my crotch.  Protectors were amazing; no surprise there, they always are.  It was a lovely night and thanks to all who came along.

We’re still looking for a gig somewhere south of Yorkshire for Saturday 30^th April.  If anyone is able to help, please speak up!

In other news, we’re now confirmed to be playing at Plugged Inn in Sunderland on Sunday 5^th June, with the Down & Outs and Deep Sleep.  This gig is a birthday celebration for Daniel Shannon: genial all-round lovely bloke and Offshore Radio bass-jockey.  I can’t think of a nicer way to spend a Sunday afternoon.  Can you?

Okay - I'm off to listen to the new Obits record.  Again.

Hungover band practice - caught on tape...

We added the cymbal hiss at the overdub stage like the Ramones It's Alive record - the two Matts were excluded from shot because they were so hungover they were worried they wouldn't be able to rep with the ladies after they saw this video.  If you make it through to the end give yourself a medal.

Reflections... and another gig!

After all of our optimism and enthusiasm, the writing was on the wall for the first gig of our return from the wilderness.  I just can’t believe we didn’t see it coming.  We should be thankful that it was matters beyond our control (electricitus interruptus) that caused our set to collapse midway through the first song.  I like to think that we managed to pull things back together but by then it was all too late, expectation gave way to indifference, and four more eggy faces could not have been found in Leeds that night.

Many thanks to all that came down for the warm atmosphere and positivity.  I had a great night and hope that you did too.

Oh, by the way, the walk-out was truly inspired... Bravo Leeds!

So… the comeback continues in earnest this week, with another West Yorkshire gig.  This Friday night sees the Matadors at the Hop in Wakefield, sharing the stage with our good friends the Protectors and the Brown Hound James Band.

Remember when there was such a thing as indie rock that was great?  In the nineties?  Well, that’s what the Protectors sound like.  What you get from these chums of ours is pedigree.  They ooze it.  Pierce their skin and you will be drenched with a Pylon-y, Dugong-y, Nathaniel Green-y syrup that will reaffirm everything that you love about life.

Brown Hound James Band is the latest vehicle to channel Matty Dugong’s delicate tones, this time ploughing a more laid-back, easy-going groove.  I’m not going to get too carried away, because I haven’t heard them yet.  Well, apart from through a rehearsal studio wall.  They was well muffly.

Also on the bill will be some acoustic shenanigans from Louise Distras and Don Mercy.

Stage times are…

Protectors – 10:45

Matadors – 10:05

Brown Hound James Band – 9:20

Louise Distras – 8:45

Don Mercy – 8:10

(*though probably subject to change on the night)

This is going to be a great night – great music for great people.  Come down and say hello.  I'm proper looking forward to it!

Davey/Matadors

Friday's gig

Yo dudes,

Our first gig back from the dead is this Friday (4th March) and if you can find something better to do in Leeds on that particular night then please keep it quiet as we'd like some people to turn up.

Here's the deets...

Friday 4th March - SANTIAGO'S BAR, Grand Arcade, Leeds

WOODERSON - Sheffield post-hardcore merchants on the comeback trail, slamming out a set of brand new songs and old faves.

MATADORS - if you like Drive Like Jehu, Hot Snakes and Mudhoney prepare to cringe in embarrassment as 4 old men trundle out a pale pastiche of said influences.  We're good really - honest.

The gig is FREE ENTRY - as in no pounds.  A collection will be made but if you're a skin-flint then you don't have to pay any money whatsoever.

First band on at about 9pm.

Even if you don't like the bands it's Davey's birthday so buy him a drink.

Much love.

Hello... and gigs!

We're back.  No one missed us.  No one even remembers us.

We have gigs - the first in about 5 years.  We will not disappoint.

Coming up then:

Friday 4th March - Santiago's, Leeds - the first gig of our phoenix like resurrection from the ashes.  It's a free gig in honour of drummer Davey's 37th birthday.  Playing along with the magnificent WOODERSON.  Come down and enjoy yourselves.

Friday 18th March - The Hop, Wakefield - along with the mighty PROTECTORS and BROWN HOUND JAMES BAND.  This will be a good one.  Have heard good things about the venue.

Friday 29th April - The Well, Leeds - opening up for FORGETTERS (featuring Blake from Jawbreaker/Jets To Brazil), BLACKLIST ROYALS and more.  This'll be a banger - it's early doors (6pm), so get there early if you want to see us.  Get there later if you're not arsed.

Saturday 30th April - The Vaults, Derby - back in my motherland playing with 'old enough to know better' pop-punk juggernaut VANILLA POD.  GIG NOW CANCELLED

Sunday 1st May - Portland Arms, Cambridge - a lovely gig organised by our good friends DS and Georgie.  Also playing are Pontefract fun boys ABOVE THEM and my favourite band, PROTECTORS.  Will be a drunken mess.

Monday 2nd May - Red House, Sheffield - Not Shy Of DIY half dayer again with ABOVE THEM and loads more, I expect we'll be on pretty early.  At least I hope so, we'll be knackered from 4 gigs on the bounce and have to go to work the next day.

Friday 29th July - Santiago's, Leeds - with a band called THE DEADBEAT, not sure what they sound like but they are not from this septic isle.  EDIT - they are actually from Brighton.