News:

Most recent news first
April 2005 Stop Press! James is playing a solo set in the Tap and Spile along with The Phlegms and another band on Thursday 21st. This one is Rock the Vote. It's free to get in and several of the local candidates will be there too.
March 2005   Playing the Glan with Hemasonic on Sunday the sixth. Hemasonic are great, very rage against the machine, and they're nice guys too. Should be fun.
February 2005 Tap and Spile gig is in aid of the campaign against the arms trade and will be on thursday 24th. I still don't know who the other bands will be, but we're providing all the gear.

Should also be playing in the Glan first Sunday of next month.

 
January 2005 We should have a gig next month in the Tap and Spile it'll be a multi band fundraiser for a campaign. I'm not sure who the other bands will be or which campaign it is. More details as I get them.
December 2004 It's Christmas and new year and winter solstice and Mr Grumpy's birthday. basically we're having the holiday off. see you in 2005
November 2004 We will be playing in the Railway Institute on December 11th, which is a Saturday night. Great venue, it's on Euston Rd, next door to the sorting office. If you're coming from the centre of Bangor, go up the high street towards Caernarfon and under the Caernarfon Rd railway bridge. Turn right onto Penchwintan Rd, and right again onto Euston Rd.

We're playing at the Session - Monday 15th November, in the S.U. Acadami (which used to be the Main bar, which used to be the Mandela bar, which used to be the Main bar and was really Jock's bar though they named the Jazz bar which used to be the Jazz room Jock's bar after him even though he hated the place. Eh?)

We're playing Hendre Hall on Saturday 13th, but if you want to see us, you'll have to get there early, we're first band on, at 1pm! (something to do with Mr Grumpy having to be in bed for his afternoon nap by 3pm or he loses his naturally cheerful demeanour or something.)

 
October 2004 Wolves Did It were very funny and we had a good time and sold quite a few copies of the Branded EP (available from the band at gigs for the bargain price of £2). Top gig. We should be playing a couple of times in November, A festival at Hendre and a gig in the Student's Union.  

Gig with The Long Awaited and Wolves Did It - Sunday 3rd October in the Old Glan. Should be fun.

 
September 2004 We're on posters for the Ffridd Bar on the 25th, but we can't make it. Miscommunication - sorry.

We will be playing first Sunday of next month in the Glan

James is playing a solo gig alongside Spongebrain and Duncan Black in Bangor Cricket club on September 10th.

 
Summer 2004 Ok Ok I know. Every year we take the summer off. Bangor is dead, everyone's on holiday, and we come back rested and ready in the autumn.

Well that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

 
March 2004 We've got a gig in Jock's Bar in the Bangor S.U. on Friday 26th, as part of "the session". I'm not sure who else is playing or what time we'll be on.

We have a new E.P. called Branded, featuring Love You, Rememberland and Under Ice, which we recorded in Bryn Derwyn in February - April 2003. It's available from the band and costs £2.

The gig went well and was fun to do after a long lay off, though Mr Grumpy spent the next day in bed, seized up and groaning.

 
Feb 2004 We're back in the land of the living. Mr Grumpy is less broken than he has been of late and can now hit drums without enormous risk of rupture. As a result we have a gig coming up in The Old Glan on Sunday 7th March.

Mr Grumpy's forced inactivity over the last few months has also caused him to build up several heads of steam, which he has been venting all over the Grumpy section of the site.

The old Grumpmonger has also threatened to start a comic strip (possible not all that comic) entitled "A Day in the Life of Mr Grumpy" Watch this space. . .

The Guestbook has stopped working, so I've taken it away for refurbishment and restoration.

 
May 2003
- Jan 2004 		Industrial injury stops drummer drumming! Ok, I know that sounds melodramatic, but you try drumming with badly pulled abdominals and a serious back injury and see how you get on.

Went to see "Wolves Did It" play their first gig in the Old Glan. Just as shambolic as we had been led to expect, but somehow that really fits with a punk band and we had a great night out. I look forward to their next gig.

Asashoryu wins again. Hooray! His first tournament win as a yokozuna. 

Don't forget to Keep up with the Sumo at Nihon Sumo Kyokai Official Grand Sumo Home Page The next Basho will be in July, with the new Banzuke (rankings) published around the beginning of the month.

 
Apr 2003 Added some more studio photos to the Gallery page and put a little explanation on the Aardvark page..

We've been back in Bryn Derwen, overdubbing Jon and putting the finishing touches to Rememberland, Under Ice and Love you. It seems to have gone very well. Some photos from this session have made it onto the gallery.

The horrors of Mr Grumpy's boss at work means that he is simmering away nicely, and there should be some more vitriol soon. In the mean time I hope you liked the rainbow world of joy.

I went,  Jon didn't, he was right, there was no music.

Jon and I are thinking of going to the Greek Taverna in upper Bangor on Wednesday 22nd for open mic night to try out some of the songs acoustically, and for a bit of a laugh.

Have been back in Bryn Derwen doing my guitar overdubs and double tracking vocals. We've still got to do Jon's guitar bits, some cymbal overdubs and final mixing.

Mr Grumpy has a change of heart.

 
Mar 2003 Cold, followed by throat infection, followed by chest infection. Lousy way to spend a month.

Chiotaikai wins the Haru Basho in Osaka, defeating the new yokozuna Asashoryu on day 15.

 
Feb 2003 Have just played another Charity gig in the Tap and Spile. I didn't know we were playing until I saw our name on the poster, so I didn't have a chance to put it up here before it happened! Still the gig featured a fine performance from Duncan Black (of Skinflick) and we had lots of fun.

Asashoryu now 68th yokozuna. Hooray! Takanohana (the 65th yokozuna) retires. Boohoo!

HMN spent a day in Bryn Derwen, recording the basic bits of Under Ice, Rememberland and Love you. We will be back there next month to tidy up and finish off. It looks like we might finally get a really good recording.

 
Jan 2003 Raiders lose Superbowl. Aaargh!

Gig is confirmed as 19th in the Glan which is a Sunday, but not Superbowl Sunday as I reported. It's Championship game weekend instead, with any luck I'll be back from the gig in time to watch the Raiders take on Tenessee in Oakland at the Network Associates Colosseum.

We have a new song making its live debut, called Cold so cold, it's Christmas inspired, ah yes the season of loneliness and death by hypothermia. . .

After 7 days of the January Basho, Asashoryu has 7 wins, he needs 11 or more to be eligible for election to yokozuna, with eight days to go, he should do it easily, but will the Sumo association elect him?

 
Dec 2002 The season of goodwill has had the effect I anticipated. Mister Grumpy has got all riled up and added some more stuff. It's good news for flightless semi-aquatic antarctic avian species and bad news for  the rest of us. Incidently, I remember Mr G going to a fancy dress party as The Crow. Ssh! don't tell him I've put that in and I might get away without a good talking too..

Whatever you believe and whatever you celebrate in the middle of the winter, have a good one.

We have a gig coming up in the Glan in Bangor on Sunday 19th January. Free entry. Dammit I've booked a gig on Superbowl night! Sod's law says the Raiders will now get there for the first time since they won Superbowl XXVIII. In the Sumo, Asashoryu is going well at the moment. Dare I say that he reminds me of a young Chianofuji? What price Asashoryu as the next Yokozuna?

 
Nov 2002 We've got another gig in the Tap and Spile. Free entry with other bands playing on thursday 28th November.

I have now put some pictures of us playing with Guy in the Tap and Spile on the Gallery page. Love the rainbow strap. . .

We're playing a free entry gig  in the Ffriddoedd bar on the Emrys Evans site on Friday 22nd. This is a nice gig with just us playing, and Andy Trash and Pete "Goth" Nightmare DJing and Vodka 50p a shot. Unfortunately Jen is still unavailable, so Guy is going to play bass again.

I have spoken to the manager of the Old Glan, and after hearing a demo recording of under ice, he has agreed to give us a gig. We just have to arrange a date, hopefully Jen will be back for this one.

I have some photos of us playing in the Tap and Spile, with Guy, and when I get round to scanning them in they will  appear in the Gallery.

The reason for Jen's continued absence is also the reason why I haven't done anything about Aardvark recently. When we have more time to devote to it Aardvark will be back.

We're still talking about more recordings. We have a lot of material that we haven't got proper recordings of and a lot of the recordings we have got are now obsolete in terms of being old versions of songs that have been changed, or of songs we're no longer playing.

Things we need to record include Ring of Flowers, Older, Rememberland, Under Ice, Love you, and a new song which I'm thinking of calling Broken Statue.

I have done some work to bring the site up to date and I decided to make this the front page, as it's the most useful bit of the site. My equipment list is now a bit more contemporary as well.

 
Oct 2002 Second charity gig in the Tap and Spile also featuring Guy on bass Thursday 24th.

Hand made noise are playing in the Tap and Spile by the pier in Bangor Thursday 3rd. This is a short set at a charity night in a pub, with lots of other performers on before us. This gig will feature Guy from Dammerung playing bass, as Jen is unavailable.

 Guy has filled in before, three or four years ago when Jon was away, so then he was playing guitar, and anyway the only song we're still playing from those days is Up Against The Wall.

Wish him luck, he's doing this on one rehearsal!

I have added some new pictures to the gallery, (thanks to Clive who took them) and sharpened up a lot of the other images.

 
Sept 2002 I have been moonlighting  in a band called the Horse Spookers, doing Neil Young covers, and lots of fun it is too.

DJ Kerrap is now back in the Gland every Saturday night.

I have now added some non musical sites to the links page. They are a little eclectic, but then what did you expect.

Every time I talk to Mr Grumpy about updating his world of miserable he goes all grumpy on me...so no surprise there then. I'll keep working on the miserable wrinkled old sod. You never know, something may set him off this side of Christmas if we're lucky.

The return of the students sees a four way gig in the Ffridd bar featuring HMN, Verm, Carpathia and Kobe on Tuesday 24th as part of the usual fresher's week chaos. Entry should be £1.50 on the door. Doors open at 8.00 bands start at 9ish. See you there.

 
August 2002  On the navigation strip you will now find the magic word "Guestbook". 

The Gland has now got a video jukebox with plenty (soon to be increasing amounts) of our sorts of music, so although Saturdays won't feature a dj 'til next month, we're still turning up. If you want to talk to any of the Bangor area rock bands, there are usually members of at least six bands present, including black metallers drinking turquoise things from the jug.

 
May - July 2002 Summer in Bangor is when we all hibernate, well okay then aestivate. Even the Gland has stopped doing Saturday rock nights till the students come back.

Otherwise - I now have a baritone guitar for truly bowel loosening noises and another three new songs in the pipeline (just the lyrics to go), so a lot of the old material, which is no longer representative has bitten the dust.

We also have the prospect of a welcome week gig with another three bands. More on that when I've confirmed it with the venue and the other bands.

More Mr Grumpy coming soon... He's started a new job, so no doubt there will be rivers of invective flowing.

 

April 2002

New song coming through, called "Older" and dealing with the pain and desolation of loss. Yet another cheerful song then.

No gigs booked for this month yet, but I'd love to do one with Carpathia. (See Aardvark) I'll have to see what we can arrange.

 

March 2002

Played a blinder at the final of the battle of the bands, blew everyone else away ...and came second. People kept coming up to me and telling me it must have been fixed, but who cares, the judges may genuinely not have liked us. Anyway we got a good gig in front of lots of new people who did like us and want to see us again. 

We won our heat and are consequently playing again next week (Wed 13th March) in the final in Jock's. Come and support us if you can. The prize for the winners is apparently a gig on the main stage at the university Summer Ball.

Hand Made Noise are playing Jock's Bar, Wednesday March 6th, as part of the Student's Union's  Battle of the Bands.

The Harp gig was a good one if rather cramped (Jon was unhappy about being stuck behind the PA). The Landlord was very happy with the band and the turnout, and wants to organise another gig. This gig also gave me a chance to try out my new lights. Looks good, but feels like playing in a sauna.

 
February 2002 The Barrels has changed management and closed for long term refurbishment. Aardvark will now be in Bangor Students Union. The Dammerung Gig is still on Feb 7th, but is now in Jocks Bar.

Hand Made Noise confirmed for the Harp 12th February gig.

We're on a wonderful new server with a new and much more concise domain name. There should be no further need for me to post things like "couldn't get on the server but this is what we've been doing for the last three months and these are the gigs you've missed"

 

January 2002

We have been booked for a gig in The Harp on Bangor High Street on Tuesday 12th February. This is a free entry pub gig in a long term haunt of the rock / alternative crowd.
December 2001 Aardvark is starting to put on bands, beginning this month with Fubar. Hopefully this will lead to the establishment of a successful live venue for rock bands. It's about time!

October 2001

 Aardvark is starting to take off, 1st Thursday of every month, free entry, 1am licence.

We have a gig on the 18th in the Barrels with Papa Lazaroo, (the nearest I can get to describing them is System of a Down meets Mr Bungle and Frank Zappa)

 

Apr-Sep 2001

 We have been writing more songs, rehearsing, moving house and most importantly we have got the Aardvark rock disco back off the ground at the Barrels in Bangor. 

This will give us the opportunity to give the rock scene in Bangor some much needed focus, as well as providing us with a monthly chance to put on live bands as well

 

Jan-Mar 2001

 I still couldn't get at the server.

We have spent the time writing more songs and plotting.

New songs include Rememberland, which I'm proud of for it's lyrical content, and is a musically heavier direction.

 

Oct-Dec 2000

 More gigs - No web updates, as I couldn't get at the server.

British hotel gig with Dammerung in October went ahead and was ok. Then we played the Railway club which is too far out of the way in bad weather, so nobody came. Then we had a rest over the holiday

 

September 2000

 Newsflash - British Hotel gig confirmed as Friday 13th October with Dammerung as the support 

British hotel gig was a stormer, they want us back fairly soon, which is a good sign. Could be playing with Dammerung in October, which would be great.

I've added a gallery page so you can see what we really look like. When I have time I'll link the pictures up to full size images, but for the moment the thumbnails will have to do.

 

August 2000

 We're definitely playing a gig at the British Hotel Friday 1st of September as part of Music 2000. I'm not sure yet who the other bands will be or even how many of them there will be, but it's £3 to get in (there may be a lower rate for concessions, but I don't have anything to do with running Music club 2000, so don't quote me.). 

I've spoken to Tara at Vagabonds in Rhyl, and it looks hopeful that we may be playing Rhyl in the Autumn.

I've also spoken to the Ffriddoedd bar in Bangor with a view to playing there when the students get back.

We will have a three track tape out called "Demo", probably at £1.50, featuring songs from our trip to Bryn Derwen earlier this year. They were recorded by David Wrench like Cold December was, but this time I think we were much better at being in the studio, and the results reflect that.

There should also be a track of ours available on MP3 soon. When the details are finalised, I'll include a link to the host site.

 

July 2000

 We're taking August off, then we're hoping to be playing a gig at the British Hotel at the beginning of September as part of Music 2000. We're also looking at playing in Rhyl and Holyhead.

 

June 2000

 James has written a new song, inspired by a Tomorrow's World article on avalanches. It's called "Under Ice" and is one of the heaviest HMN songs so far, with thunderous contributions from bass, drums and Jon's detuned guitar. The recent stint in Bryn Derwen Studios with David Wrench has led to the production of a new three song tape, imaginitively titled "DEMO", featuring "The Stalker", "Conformity" and "Take it easy". I'll let you know when it becomes available, and how much it will be.

 

May 2000

 "Face in the Crowd" and "Ring of Flowers" have both taken on a new lease of life, the former with new music and the latter with a new drum part. "Welcome Mat" has also been pared down and is more effective, and look out for a new cover.