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DiS's second gig of the year in association with Essex Uni is going to be a cracker! There is not one, not two, but five live bands performing on the night. Add to that indie/rock/metal/punk/alternative DJs playing tunes throughout the night and we think it's game on! More info? Check below!

The Long Blondes

The Long Blondes are five young dandies who used to see each other around town. One day, by chance, they met and they fell in love.

Their shared influences include the Mael Brothers, the Marx Brothers and the Bewlay Brothers. They do not listen to The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, The Doors or Bob Dylan. Each band member chose an instrument each and learnt to play it. Approximately three months after forming, they played a victorious 25-minute set at Leeds Hi-Fi club. A success! The band inherit the aesthetics of early Roxy Music. They have a lot of influences, sometimes sounding a bit like them, sometimes sounding a lot like them. Sometimes sounding nothing like them at all.

Website
MP3: Once & Never Again (Live)

Engerica

Engerica got together in Essex during December 2000. They comprise: David Gardner (Guitar/Vox), Michael Stuart Webster (Bass) and Neil Ross Gregory (Drums).

Engerica's songs are sick and twisted odes to the underworld. Sexy with a dark, sadistic humour. Too honest to be concerned with being fashionable, they knew that such a facade would be transparent to any audience. So they just played the music they loved and crossed their fingers.

They soon earned a reputation for exhilarating live shows and an aggressive onstage personality and in the past year they've travelled around the UK with bands such as The 80's Matchbox B-Line Disaster and thisGIRL.

What's refreshing is that Engerica don't care if they fall flat on their face, they don't care if the whole world laughs at them for trying. Here is a band that is not afraid to give a damn. Are YOU willing to die for Engerica?

Website

Miss Black America

It's generally best to ignore superlatives when reading, or writing, stuff like this. Miss Black America (pictured) - in many ways a superlative band - don't lend themselves to the usual crop of vacuum-headed PR platitudes.

They aren't the coolest band in the world. They aren't the youngest. Or the sexiest. Or the buzziest or the hippest or the most outrageous. Yeah, they're The Best Band in the Fucking World, but isn't everyone these days?

The superlatives that actually matter: Miss Black America are the most belligerent, obstinate, gutsy, resilient, spirited band you will come across. What they do actually matters.

Their CV includes a near freehold on the upper echelons of John Peel’s Festive Fifty; sessions for John Peel, Steve Lamacq, XFM and the like; critical acclaim from the NME to the Guardian via Kerrang!, The Independent, Rolling Stone and huge support from the underground fanzine community; tours with Therapy? and Liars and Antihero and Kinesis and Reuben; support slots with The Libertines, The Dandy Warhols, Buzzcocks, The 80s Matchbox B-Line Disaster, Cornershop and Alabama 3; and recognition from peers, journalists, DJs and, most importantly, Kids Like You And I And Them.

Whilst the music industry has been busy subsiding under a tidal wave of cocaine, egos and fashionista production-line toss, Miss Black America have been slowly, surely, determinedly turning the tide in their direction.

Website
MP3: Emotional Junkmail

*Teevo

*Teevo are the exciteable boy/girl four piece from right here in Colchester, Essex, who formed in early 2003 in a wooden hut in a car park from the ashes of britpop and playing gigs in awful bands when you were 14. With comparisons to Placebo, Seafood and The Pixies, so far the band have notched up an impressive list of gigs around the country, supporting the likes of Kasabian and U.S emo-heroes Pilot To Gunner.

Management and label interest followed on from the recording of their second E.P and have recentley been signed up to Chromium Records to release their first full single. Result!

Website

Koopa

Clearly a band that embraces the pop punk ethic. Koopa are self-motivated, oozing self-confidence and at a young age have written, recorded and produced their own material, as well as touring extensively. These boys produce quality music that embraces the appeal and energy of their influences, Green Day, Blink 182, etc, yet with a distinctly British sound. It's obvious where this band come from and where they want to be!

Website
MP3: Pop Rock Factory

And that's the whole shebang in a pretty basket with a ribbon tied on it! Again, it's Freshers Week too so there will be a good turn out - get your tickets early from the official ticket site. See you there!