Hello all as DiS. We are excited to announce our 15th anniversary gig at The Lexington on Saturday 31st May 2014.
From its humble beginnings in a bedroom in south London 1998, where it began as a zine and online record store (the latter since discontinued), it has evolved to a site read by more than 40,000 users a month, now ran from living rooms in Balham and Edinburgh. In the process, literally thousands of bands and concerts have been interviewed and reviewed in its pages.
Around 10 years ago, we also began to put on live concerts, first at the much-missed Spitz venue in east London, then at the Half Moon Herne Hill (via one-offs at Brixton Windmill and Brixton Jamm). Since an opening gig at the Half Moon with the Television Personalities, PB grew in strength with a number of nights there, which have included Willard Grant Conspiracy, Last Harbour, and Dave Harding (Richmond Fontaine). Sadly this ended abruptly last year when Herne Hill was hit by floods. The Half Moon was gutted during the flooding, and has been closed ever since.
As a result, this is our first night at The Lexington, based on Pentonville Road. The line-up for this retrospective is culled from the period where we have been at the Half Moon.

MADAM
After playing twice at our nights, we are happy to welcome Madam back on the bill. Fronted by the charismatic chanteuse Sukie Smith, Madam's noirish, nocturnal music brings to mind PJ Harvey, Portishead, and Cat Power at their smokey, intoxicating, late night best. The band have released two critically acclaimed albums, 'In Case of Emergency' and 'Gone Before Morning'; have collaborated with artists such as Swervedriver's Adam Franklin; completed a soundtrack for the debut feature film of Neophyte Films, 'Hush Your Mouth' - an "urban ghost story"; and supported the likes of Julia Kent. Madam are currently working on their third, as yet untitled album.

MORTON VALENCE
Brixton-based Morton Valence are a five-piece whose songs remain quintessentially British (despite having only two native Englanders among their number), right down to referencing a certain Sham 69 song. Released on their own label - the charmingly named Bastard Recordings - tracks such as 'Bad Times for the Hare Krishnas' and the brilliant 'Man on the Corner' reference south London life. Their first album 'Bob & Veronica Ride Again' came with a 100-page novella, while their sophomore effort 'Me & Home James' followed in 2011. That same year, in October, they headlined one of our nights at the Half Moon Herne Hill, bringing along a huge local audience. They are currently working on a third album, and will be playing as a duo.
http://www.mortonvalence.com

ROTIFER
Fronted by Robert Rotifer, who has released several albums in his native Austria, Rotifer are something of an indie super-group. Their debut British CD, 'The Hosting Couple', has been released on Edwyn Collins' AED label and is in part about Rotifer's experiences as a twelve-year old in the 80's on a hosting arrangement in Canvey Island, Essex. He currently lives in Canterbury.
Also in the band are the Television Personalities' Mike Stone, who replaced Darren Hayman (ex-Hefner) on bass last year, and former Death in Vegas guitarist Ian Button on drums. They played our night back in November 2012. 'The Hosting Couple' was produced by one-time Stiff Records artist Wreckless Eric (he of the legendary 1977 punk song '(I'd Go the) Whole Wide World'. Rotifer's latest album 'The Cavalry Never Showed Up' came out on their own Gare du Nord label in September.
http://www.robertrotifer.co.uk

http://www.pennyblackmusic.co.uk
http://www.thelexington.co.uk

Ticket £5 in adv from http://www.wegottickets.com/event/255804
£6 on door

Hope to see you there!