Exit Calm Live@The Castle Oldham [Manchester]- Sept 08 [The Night]

Rob Marshall genius!

Hearts and Minds new tune intro

Band came on stage before midnight. Simon, the bassist player suddenly points me out a t shirt hanging from one speaker. I look at it and to me surprise I realize it was an 80's Barça T shirt, my fav team!

That was class! Thanks bro.

Nicky Smith Exit Calm

They started with 'Hearts and Minds' again like the night before in Rugby. We had a few tracks to hear from their upcoming album, but god, they get better and better. I ve uploaded a video in youtube for anyone to hear it.

http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=wO-TrLxP14E

Rob Marshall-Exit Calm

What an amazing trip

Sound was much better and had nothing to do like in Rugby. And also a bit of a lighting was there too, which helps a bit to the show and me photography. Although Nicky voice wasn't 100% due to technical sound problems the night before, as he couldn't hear himself at all although he gaved his best to almost break it.
What a night!.

They try to teach me to be alone, when I believe that we are on our own

They are more and more skilled every time I see them [And its been a few already] and also getting their own style and personality, which is what really amazes me about this band. They are unique.
I get special feelings with Exit Calm, something hasn't happened to me for a long time with any other band, and I ve seen hundreds of live acts on the last 20 years.

Ladies and gentleman, the rather fabulous Exit Calm

Nicky is getting more and more skills, he has the right dose of Charisma a front man needs.

Scott drumming was again sublime again. Unfortunately both nights he was dark and couldn't make good photos of him.

Rob Taking off.

He makes it sound like if there are 4 or 5 guitars in there.


Simon Linsdley shines bright, very bright.

They are on a national tour at the moment and I'm just hoping they get back to the studio soon so we will get the most anticipated 1st album from the lads very soon. There is a lot of expectation about it, reviews from independent and indie sources are rather good. Its been 4 or 5 fuckin years since Lyca Sleep and its about time we get a full studio album. And also hopefully in the future a quality dvd recording , as the snippets we can see in youtube does not do justice at all.
They sound massive!

Pretty Sharon and Nick aftershow

The Castle Oldham, backstage room

Here is the link to Cath Aubergine blog in myspace with some photos too. The best regular read to anything happening to indie and Unsigned bands in the Northwest and other weird Villages you ve never heard before all around England.

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=59983142&blogID=438283214

Me and Rob Marshall before the show .photo by Cath

Thanks Cath!

I hope to see them live again very soon. And, why not, to play here in Spain next year!

All photos by Pedro Vila

Exit Calm Live The Castle Oldham [Manchester] Sept 08 [The Day]

Saturday morning I woke up in Aubergine Towers, me mates Cath&Nick place in Manchester city center.

Cath in Manchester city center

Near Picadilly Manchester

Despite I had quiet a few pints and Corona beers the night before I was not hang over at all. It was rare sunny Manc day and I wanted to make the most of it, so about noon after a nice breakfast in Night&Day [One of my fav places] in the norhtern quarter and a top walk around city center [God, how much Manchester has changed on the last 10 years!] me and Nick went to the nearest newsagent to get two more 6 packs of the mexican delight with lime and chill out a bit playing Grand Theft Auto 3 on the PS3.

Oldham street near the Afflecks Palace

Later on the afternoon we gathered with Alex [Big Clive] and some other friends and we watched Arsenal getting thrashed by Hull on the pub. I found funny how much all the crowd was cheering and supporting Hull. I guess the londoners get the same sympathy that Madrid or Valencia teams can get in Barcelona.

This is fuckin Manchester!

Night & Day Manchester

I used to hang around a lot in Night&Day on the late 90s

After a few more beers, it was time to call a Taxi and go to Oldham. Its been a long time since I went there the last time on the late 90s, but hasnt changed much unlike Manchester city center although The Castle was a venue I have never been before.

Breakfast beer

Our friends Ness and Gaz from Lincoln were driving all the way to meet us, and also Pretty Sharon and Ian 'The Dirty Voyeur' with another friend. We were a bunch!

Meeting point was the pub nearby the Castle. Where we had a few more and even witnessed Big Clive doing a Karaoke performance of a Sparks old song!
Big Clive Rocks!
Pub atmosphere was funny, it was like taken from TV series 'Shameless' chapter. You could not get more mancunian than that.

I missed the supporters 'No Tokyo', but we all had a great time sitting on the Castle terrace with all the mates over a nice drink. Also Rob Marshall came and gave me a T-shirt of the band. Thanks a lot mate. I havent wear a band t shirt since the old 'Metallica Justice for All' or 'Janes Addiction' Nothing Shocking days, but be sure Im gonna wear this one until it fades away and until everybody asks me 1000 times 'Who they are?' [Which people has done here in Spain already].

Exit Calm was due on stage soon, so I went to the Backstage and wished the lads the best of the shows.

End of part 1

All photos by Pedro Vila

Exit Calm headline tour

Rugby show poster

By the time you read this I'll be flying to England to see Exit Calm performing live in their first headline tour all over the country. I am sure it will be their last warm up gigs before they go into the studio to record the long awaited first album which is expected to see the light earlier next year.
I will see them live in Rugby [Style Bar] and Oldham Manchester [The Castle] in what I believe it will be one of the last chances to see Exit Calm in small venues. Although I hope it doesn't happens for a while because when it comes to sound, proximity and good vibes, big venues or arenas will never beat the feeling you get seeing bands in small halls.

'We are on our own' new single. Oldham poster

I have been through this before with other smaller bands I ve seen on the past that have now have become major acts. And it is not the same.
But being honest I would love to see the lads playing one day in Wembley or Glasto, who knows? Time will say.
Which is sure is that they all have the quality and class to achieve that one day.