Sleaford Mods

[Deleted member 13905]

Interestingly, their gigs have been likened to early Pistols in energy and anger.

i've been fortunate enough to have seen quite a few of their gigs and no two are alike,
not just the choice of songs they perform, but also the way jason plays to the crowd.

there is a real spontaneity to things,
occasionally quite amateurish but in an endearing way.
from the moment he walks out on stage he wins people over with his cheekiness,
often in a richard III sort of way, which is possibly where the lydon comparison comes from.

i went to hundreds of punk gigs in the late seventies & early eighties and sleaford mods gigs remind me very much of those times,
simply because it is impossible to not believe that the energy and anger is genuinely spoken from the heart,
and also because the sound/style has a newness/freshness underpinning it
(something very remarkable after decades of punk copyists).

in my opinion, though, it is his delivery that is the key to their success.

I detect a bit of humour with them that perhaps isn't evident (same happened with the Smiths)...the 'music' guy seems to be on the verge of cracking up at times - could be nervous energy mind. I can't imagine Jay is that 'in yer face' angry all the time and interviews seem to confirm that.

although his commentary has a serious undercurrent,
there is more than just a bit of humour with them, mate,
in fact, i'd even go so far as to suggest humour is at the core things,
it is so cutting & dry and there is so much of it, that the more you listen to the records the more it reveals itself.

before you know it, you have learned the lyrics by heart and start to sing along,
so it is inevitable that the crowd at gigs sing/shout throughout the whole set,
very much like the gigs of anarcho-punk bands... crass, flux, etc.
and there are plenty of us in our 50's joining in.

all of it would be nothing without andrew's contribution, he clearly knows his electronic music & has been at it for ages.
his tunes may seen like nothing more than a backdrop, but they cleverly set the scene for each unfolding story being told.
brevity is the hardest skill in any of the arts,
it is easy to make loads of noise, but there is nowhere to hide when things at stripped down to their basics.

at gigs he plays the straight guy, but as you say he often seems like he is close to cracking up,
(half the time because jason sometimes spontaneously alters the lyrics unexpectedly and amusingly).

he even shows you how to dance/move along to the music & by the end of the gigs most of the crowd are bobbing along in the same way he does.

after a gig he comes out & is happy to chat to anyone and everyone,
people are buzzing from the prefromance, it's all positive vibes,
most people leave with a big smile on their face.

i'm not sure how well it will transfer to larger stages as they become more popular,
let's see,
but they are unquestionably the best band about at the moment by a long chalk.

 

[Deleted member 13905]

playing Edinburgh same night as Mr Marr .............. decisions decisions

is this a clarkie?

to quote them...
"doing 30 in a 40, playing solo johnny marr, who gives a fuck about yesterday's heroes?"

 

[Deleted member 13905]

Why does he have the urge to swear profusely? Does he think it makes him look hard?

 

[somapop]

There are significant similarities between the two accents, especially, as you say, in those parts of Linconlshire subject to a greater influx of folk from Nottingham and Leicester in particular.

Having bought and listened to three albums there is no doubt in my mind that his accent is Nottingham through and through, even through their Wiki page says Jay's originally from Grantham. The way he says 'McFlurry' is about as Nottingham as it gets. It's an accent that isn't that obvious to the untrained ear, but once you become attuned it's about as distinctive as it gets. It always puts a smile on my face whenever I go back.

As to Jay, I was never good mates with him, but I spent a few nights in his company and he used work at the old, smaller, less corporate Paul Smith shop on Byards Lane in the early noughties and I used to shop there quite a bit back then, and I would describe his disposition as nonchalant rather than discernibly angry, although I wouldn't go as far as describing him as a 'chilled out entertainer'. Pleased he seems to have made it, especially relatively late in life. It feels even better to arrive at a positive destination if you've struggled to get there.

Spot on with the pronunciation of 'McFlurry' (it's difficult to notate). Wondering where the accent starts to filter out - North of Mansfield, East of Stoke...Derby has strong similarities too).
Hardly ever represent in TV/Film, which is why it's a bit jolting when you hear it. Su Pollard back in the 80's (hi de hi), then latterly Shane Meadows work, Jake Bugg and of course The Sleafords.
Almost all other English accents are familiar, be it South West, West Mids, Manchester, Liverpool, North East...Only the East Mids and East Anglia (Norfolk) is under represented (I'm guessing Kent joins the amorphous 'South East/Home Counties' globule.
Talking of Notts shopping, I don't suspect you flounced around in a Stone Island 'cagoule' from 'Limeys' (long gone?) on Bridlesmith Gate...did you? That would somewhat diminish the vision of GDM somewhat :)
Wholeheartedly agree that they've done well for themselves, possibly after a good old slog of trying. Much rather listen to what these 40 odd year old musicians say than the likes of the Gallaghers et al and they're current empty output.

 

[somapop]

i've been fortunate enough to have seen quite a few of their gigs and no two are alike,
not just the choice of songs they perform, but also the way jason plays to the crowd.

there is a real spontaneity to things,
occasionally quite amateurish but in an endearing way.
from the moment he walks out on stage he wins people over with his cheekiness,
often in a richard III sort of way, which is possibly where the lydon comparison comes from.

i went to hundreds of punk gigs in the late seventies & early eighties and sleaford mods gigs remind me very much of those times,
simply because it is impossible to not believe that the energy and anger is genuinely spoken from the heart,
and also because the sound/style has a newness/freshness underpinning it
(something very remarkable after decades of punk copyists).

in my opinion, though, it is his delivery that is the key to their success.



although his commentary has a serious undercurrent,
there is more than just a bit of humour with them, mate,
in fact, i'd even go so far as to suggest humour is at the core things,
it is so cutting & dry and there is so much of it, that the more you listen to the records the more it reveals itself.

before you know it, you have learned the lyrics by heart and start to sing along,
so it is inevitable that the crowd at gigs sing/shout throughout the whole set,
very much like the gigs of anarcho-punk bands... crass, flux, etc.
and there are plenty of us in our 50's joining in.

all of it would be nothing without andrew's contribution, he clearly knows his electronic music & has been at it for ages.
his tunes may seen like nothing more than a backdrop, but they cleverly set the scene for each unfolding story being told.
brevity is the hardest skill in any of the arts,
it is easy to make loads of noise, but there is nowhere to hide when things at stripped down to their basics.

at gigs he plays the straight guy, but as you say he often seems like he is close to cracking up,
(half the time because jason sometimes spontaneously alters the lyrics unexpectedly and amusingly).

he even shows you how to dance/move along to the music & by the end of the gigs most of the crowd are bobbing along in the same way he does.

after a gig he comes out & is happy to chat to anyone and everyone,
people are buzzing from the prefromance, it's all positive vibes,
most people leave with a big smile on their face.

i'm not sure how well it will transfer to larger stages as they become more popular,
let's see,
but they are unquestionably the best band about at the moment by a long chalk.

I've been to a few gigs of late that's left me barely energised.
Best gig was in an old Lighthouse in East London (across from the millennium dome) - Aphex Twin headlined (at around 4am when half the crowd had fallen asleep). Worrying levels of crushing at one stage, but he's (Richard James) was intense and an utter joy.
I bet I'd enjoy the Sleafords in that respect.
Cheers for that post - you sell them very well. Will grab an album or two in the coming months.

 

[Deleted member 13905]

I've been to a few gigs of late that's left me barely energised.
Best gig was in an old Lighthouse in East London (across from the millennium dome) - Aphex Twin headlined (at around 4am when half the crowd had fallen asleep). Worrying levels of crushing at one stage, but he's (Richard James) was intense and an utter joy.
I bet I'd enjoy the Sleafords in that respect.
Cheers for that post - you sell them very well. Will grab an album or two in the coming months.

no worries, brother,
catch them on the upcoming tour if you can,
you won't be disappointed.

i'm guessing by your username that you are well into your music,
soma records presumably?
you'll love your electronica, then.

or is it soma.fm?
http://somafm.com
dunno if you know about them,
an underground, advert-free, internet radio broadcast from san francisco.
fucking brilliant,
(despite the corny names they give to the stations)
loads of great electronica stations on there, pal,
plus plenty of excellent americana, alternative, etc


anyway...
full album

chubbed up +

 

[Second Skin]

Got some tickets tickets for this at The Ritz next week. I had never heard of them but after stumbling across this thread and listening to some of the songs I was hooked.

Thanks guys

 

[peoffrey]

I don't dislike people like Audio Bullys or The Streets but that didn't do anything for me.

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

Talking of Notts shopping, I don't suspect you flounced around in a Stone Island 'cagoule' from 'Limeys' (long gone?) on Bridlesmith Gate...did you? That would somewhat diminish the vision of GDM somewhat :)

I used to shop at Limeys with some frequency. I was good mates with many of the staff there too and had several nights out in town with them in the early naughties. When Limeys closed I moved my custom to Flannels, where I got my wedding suit from as it happens. I found some of the staff at Flannels to be a bit of a chore at times tbh.

Never owned a Stone Island jacket though. Most uncouth :-)

 

[Sir peace frog]

fucking great band