Boards
1st Aug, The Lexington - The Ballet + Making Marks + Without Feathers
Fortuna POP! presents
The Ballet + Making Marks + Without Feathers
Guest DJs - Cosines
Thursday 1st August, Doors 8pm
The Lexington 96-98 Pentonville Road, London N1 9JB
Nearest tubes : King's Cross / Angel
Tel : 020 7837 5387
Web: www.thelexington.co.uk
Advance: £8.50 from We Got Tickets / £10 Door
http://www.wegottickets.com/event/217244
THE BALLET
Unashamedly “sissy” and explicitly queer, The Ballet marry the DIY ethos of the Hidden Cameras with the wry poeticism of The Magnetic Fields to create literate, infectious pop gems.
Formed in 2005 by Greg Goldberg and Craig Willse (who are both professors and met whilst at graduate school) with Marina Miranda (who they met at a party), The Ballet are still going strong after eight years of pop magic, retaining their original line-up. That’s not to say they haven’t gone through some line-up changes over the years. Acquired bandmates Ginger Brooks Takahashi and Michael O'Neill left in 2007 to join JD Sampson in MEN. Indiepop luminaries such as Linton from The Aislers Set and Ramesh from Voxtrot have also made guest appearances on previous albums.
Their new album I Blame Society released on Fortuna POP! is a continuation of the lyrical themes and songwriting style found in the band’s two previous self-released albums (Mattachine! [2006] and Bear Life! [2009]). Inspired by Stephin Merritt’s body of work, songwriter Goldberg also draws from an array of pop artists and periods, from 60’s bubblegum to 80’s synthpop and 90’s indiepop, fusing these in sophisticated and novel ways which rewards repeat listening. Avoiding autobiographical or confessional modes, Goldberg nonetheless mines his own psychological constitution and intellectual interests to craft songs whose overt musical prettiness is often contrasted by a dark and complex subtext.
"Recalling Holiday-era Magnetic Fields, these songs bop with heady buoyancy, yet are underpinned by complicated but universal themes: self-deception, infidelity without shame, war fatigue and finding love in a world of online hookups." Time Out New York
http://www.thepirateship.org
MAKING MARKS
In 2012, Making Marks rose from the ashes of Norwegian indie pop band mylittlepony. As mylittlepony they released two full length albums, Think Too Much (2008) and Making Marks (2011), won awards in Spain, toured several times all over Europe, and also visited the US and Canada, including an official showcase at SXSW 2011.
Since April 2012 they have been Making Marks and have toured in Italy, the UK, Germany, Austra, Czech Republic and Scandinavia, and also supported Allo Darlin’ in Germany and France. Their first single ”Ticket Machine/Like Spinning” was released on 7” vinyl by London based Fika Recordings in October 2012. Two more singles and a debut album are due to be released by autumn 2013.
“Here to stay are the band’s sweet male/female vocal harmonies; folk pop orchestration, and sly worldview where one’s greatest dream is to become “Andrew Bird … but younger.” Maybe growing up isn’t so hard after all.” – MTV Iggy (US)
http://makingmarksofficial.tumblr.com
WITHOUT FEATHERS
Without Feathers are Nat, Emma & Rory. Nat used to be in Monkey Swallows the Universe and is currently in The Figureheads. Emma used to be in Standard Fare and is currently in Ely. Rory used to be in Rory McVicar and is currently in IT. 3 guitars / 3 voices / 3 stops on the northern line.
“Acoustic throughout, and with little added instrumentation, the thing that stands out is these beautiful harmonies from all three, and the overall quality of the songwriting.” (Backseat Mafia)