Merry Christmas from Skaters

There's something very special about this mix of excitement and thrill when you find out your favourite band is back. Because you know, it's not exactly that easy to be holding that noble title. There's loads of expectations. Luckily enough, the band I'm gonna talk about didn't let down. And I'm kinda starting to believe there's no such thing as disappointment when it comes to Skaters.

To be fair, I can't even remember when exactly I realised that Skaters actually came to the the highest top of my favourite bands. I remember them being one of those late-night-TV-watching discoveries. Obviously, I've heard the name before - I might have even ended up at two of their gigs (first one at Live at Leeds 2013 and the second when they supported Palma Violets in the US) if I wasn't SO SLOW. But it wasn't till the Spring time in 2014 that I actually heard their music for the first time. I remember seeing their video for "Miss Teen Massachusetts" ridiculously late at night (or extremelly early in the morning, if it sounds better) thanks for my pretty messed up sleeping patterns and being totally amazed by it. Both sound and vision were so aesthetically pleasing that I spent the next few weeks listening to their debut album "Manhattan" almost all the time. Not only it was the perfect soundtrack to my next trip to New York, but it also became one of my favourite albums of 2014 (to say the least). And even though not much time has passed, I almost squealed when I've heard they already have a new material.

So far, we could hear two bits out of it. "Save Her Something Special" is dark, bit electronic, with dirty sounding vocals and a beginning that you might be expecting from some cheesy 2000's pop band. And then there comes "Mental Case" - the super enchanting track with a sweet melody and bitter lyrics that makes you listen to it on repeat because it's so true. They are both very fresh and very different from each other, and what's more important - totally new from what you could find on "Manhattan".

To understand that difference, just head to their website and say hello to their special Advent calendar. "Special', because your treats are even better than candies - and they are called demos. The stuff you can find there is full of actual gems - some of them more punky ("Stay Off My Side"), some are a lot softer and Weezer-like ("Free-er Than Cat Power" or the cover of The Shining Twins' "Greasy Bear"). And even though it's all pretty lo-fi, there are songs in there that could have easily become singles, like "I Don't Need The Tears", which is a total banger. They are all a perfect filler for the gap between their first album and newest stuff. At the moment it's only six tracks in there, but when you listen to them, you will definitely go back to check the new ones every single day.

I love my vegemite, it's strong as hell and black as night

A (little bit more than) few snaps taken when my parents did what they were promising for a few years and took me for a trip Down Under. As you may guess, we took it as a perfect opportunity to chanel our inner Griswolds and unintentionally got into way too many funny situations, like getting a bit too drunk while sitting next to the Opera House, being lost in Sydney in the middle of the night, eating breakfasts with kangaroos, visiting more ZOO's than a normal person would probably have in their lifetime and getting into a real life hazard situation while trying to drive the other (wrong) side of the road than in Europe. I've also learnt that koalas are as soft as you'd imagine them to be, Aussies don't say "cheers mate" that often, UGGs are unfortunately still in fashion, you don't have to eat sushi in a fancy restaurant and Canberra actually is the biggest shithole of them all. And even though it's hard to top New York, Sydney is very high on my "cities I could peacefully die in" list. I'll definitely be back soon! P.S. The Garden are AMAZING live. Fact.

    

Give me a mop, there will be blood

When you hear the word "bloodshake", the first thing that comes to your mind will probably be a song by that (super popular now) band called Peace. Watch out then, cause pretty soon that word will have a new meaning in your dictionary. Possibly even more important - because when it comes to music, there's probably nothing more exciting than a promising new band.

Bloodshake live as a part of Oxjam, Hirst's Yard, Leeds

The best thing about Bloodshake the band? They are far from being associated with the genre that you would expect them to be a part of according to their name. Imagine The Clash in their punk prime mixed with a dirtiest sound of Nirvana, lazy Morrissey-like lyrics, stage expression worth FIDLAR and The Orwells and a voice that could be easily compared with both Eoin Loveless from Drenge and Johnny Madden from Baby Strange. Sounds interesting, right? That's what you can expect from Bloodshake's live performances.

Not So Acoustic session at The Blind Pig, Sowerby Bridge

The ones responsible for that mess are Kieran Royston (vocals, rhythm guitar) and Ash Shepherd (lead guitar). They were both young enough to be raised in the indie culture and mature enough to look further than this. The sound their create is fresh and traditional at the same time - they bring you back to the good times when punk was not yet forgotten and grunge was making its first steps. Sure, there's still a lot for them to learn about (especially in terms of self confidence), but they are definitely on a good way.

abandoned and haunted places are Bloodshake's favourite spots

Remember "The Drowners"? Yes, that was actually a pretty massive song released by Suede in the 90s before a young Welsh specimen called Matthew Hitt decided to name his NYC-based band after it (and make dozens of girls buy a leather jacket to look as cool as him and his fellow band members). I can assure you that in a few years time not many people will remember about the song called "Bloodshake". It will be all about the band and everyone will be fine about it - as long as they stay original. So if you have a chance, don't hesitate to see Bloodshake live now, when they are still unsigned. Soon you might find out that their live shows are getting sold out within minutes.

Nearest live performance: Shock Terror night at The Chemic Tavern, Leeds (along with Bad Knaves, The Do's and Possum), 31st October
Listen to: Special K + Live in Fear 

Sneaking and peeking at band practice 

Check Bloodshake out on facebook and twitter

All pictures by me

overseas she'll be, in the land of opportunity

Times Square at night

I miss New York. Constantly. I don't think there was a day that I didn't have a single thought about this place. There is something about this city that just makes you wanna come back. That makes you miss it the very second you leave it. I know it sounds cliché, but it's just how it is. It's that kind of place that  will haunt you forever. In the best possible way.

The best burgers in NYC/nothing matters when you're wearing fur (not even your tangled hair)/recreating the cover of one of the best albums ever/Beach Fossils live @ Baby's All Right/Manhattan Bridge

It isn't the easiest of cities to fall in love with though. It is, indeed, enormously big, majestic and full of life, but it also needs time to enchant you. I used to hate it with my whole heart after my first visit. I guess it just wasn't the right time for me to be there. I was a little girl back then, I spent the whole trip with my Clifton-NJ-based aunts and a cousin (who are all a very questionable choice of city guides, if I may add), I haven't even seen the Central Park and to make things worse, I sprained my ankle after several days of endlessly walking around the city. When I came back home, I told my parents I'd rather stay in Poland till the end of my life than come back there. Luckily enough, I've grown up and decided to give it a second shot, even if it took me another 10 years. And when I finally came back, I never wanted to leave this place ever again.  That's just how New York is - it beats you up the first time you go to it, but after awhile it doesn't.

Bleecker St/Splashh @ Baby's All Right/the view from East River State Park/the stage at Kasabian @ Terminal 5 a few minutes before the gig/Garment District and Hudson River seen from the ESB

Right now, I can't think of any possible reason to hate this city. True, I might be annoyed with the lack of "countdown clocks", message boards or at least decent timetables at the subway stations that are so common in the UK and would prevent making me wait for ages for another train (the perks of living in Brooklyn), but at the end of the day I'm still gonna think it's worth to be there. It's worth bursting through the countless amount of tourist (that are always, regardless of time and weather, annoyingly standing still) just to see the Times Square at night or paying more than 30$ to see the sights from the Empire State Building. It's worth all the pain to just be there. After you realise that, you'll see that New York truly is the greatest city of them all, just like my NYC friend told me one night in San Francisco. It just has so much to offer.

Catfish & The Bottlemen @ Baby's All Right/Rough Trade NYC/photobooth addict/6th Ave & W 51 St/Chinatown

I won't lie if I tell you that I took from New York much more than it (financially or mentally) took from me. Except of letting me see all the marvelous visual aspects it has to offer, New York made me experience the best things about living in a big city. Strolling around the streets, spending hours in the greatest record stores looking through the endless amounts of CDs and vinyls of bands that not many people in Europe have heard about, sitting in the little cafes listening to people talking about the enormous rents they have to pay for their flats, searching for the nicest clothes and best eats, meeting inspiring people and going out to see the coolest bands playing at the coolest venues and having the longest and nicest chats with them afterwards. NYC taught me about what I really want to do with my life. It gave me a sense of living the actual dream.

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, Central Park/SKATERS from NYC winning the night at Underground Arts, Philly/insanely good piece of lemon square and coffee at Bakeri/26-28 Carmine St, Greenwich Village/Halloween lampshades spotted on my way back from laundromat, Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn 

After all, the thing I love the most about New York is that it feels like home while being so far away from your actual one. That's why my new goal is to make it my home - no matter if it's only for a few months, few years or a lifetime. I just have to be there, no matter what, no matter how.

the view at Turtle Bay from the ESB

I also made a little playlist that contains the bands that somehow kept me company during my stay in NYC. Not all of them are actually from New York, but listening to these tunes never fails to bring me back to the happy times I spent there.



Loads of love,
Kate