PYT NEWS!

Quick update for you all. Long time no speak and all that, Team PYT have had to switch focus to finishing up a load of deadlines and going to see amazing bands at ATPavement. We are ready to go again now though!

First up, thank you SO SO MUCH to everyone who was involved with Sounds From The Other City. Anyone who came down to the Postcards From Manchester stage will know that it was packed all day long, and we were treated to really special performances from all the bands. My personal highlights were Windmill playing ‘Start a War’ by The National, seeing the waves of confusion and excitement when Islet started playing ‘Jasmine’ and bounding around the room, and obviously the madness that ensued once The Rural Alberta Advantage started. It was taking three of us to hold the speakers up during The RAA because you lot were enjoying it so much. That we then went on to drink the bar dry during the disco after which included pub long jumps and limbo dancing just topped it all off! There have been some ace reviews of the day in the NME, Pigeon Post, Artrocker. Here is a little taste of the day…

So, moving on from that. PYT news.

Number one, the bad news. Due to all of the other work we’ve had on, the new issue of the PYT zine is going to be a wee bit late. Rather than coming out at this week’s PYT at Common (Wednesday night, 8 till midnight, fun fun fun!) The new zine is looking ace, so will be worth the wait. It’ll be out at the start of June rather than the end of May – sorry folks.

ONTO THE FUN STUFF!

This week isn’t just a PYT on a Wednesday week, it is also a return to PYT putting gigs on week! We have got some ace ace bands coming to play, and we are dead excited! SO, Thursday =

Pull Yourself Together presents…

Foxes! – ‘the first ­attempt in musical history to wrangle winsome C86 indie with prog rock’ Alexis Petridis, The Guardian

http://foxesfoxesfoxes.co.uk/

Curly Hair – ‘I love it, I absolutely love it… an absolute delight!’ Marc Riley, BBC 6Music

http://www.myspace.com/wearecurlyhair

Saki Bar (Upstairs)
Wilmslow Road, Rusholme
Thursday 27th May
8pm – £5 / £4 with an animal t-shirt!

To celebrate the Bank Holiday we are heading over to Eurocultured where the lovely folks from Red Deer Club are hosting the Arch stage, and have asked us to come along and play some songs in between the ace bands they’ve got playing, including PYT favourites Young British Artists! Again, it’s £5, and that’ll get you into all of the stages all day.

And finally, another gig we are involved in. If you’ve been over to our website in the past couple of months you’ll know that we love both The School and Hexicon. The School play the best 60s tinged girl-pop around – if you’ve not seen them before we can guarantee you’ll fall in love. Hexicon are well worth a watch too, so don’t miss ’em! Friday 4th June: Postcards from Manchester present… The School and Hexicon at Saki Bar

PYT vs The Week – 28/3/10

A dead brief PYT vs The Week for you. Weather is horrible, so you are better off inside a venue watching bands. Here’s what you can be doing this week…

Wednesday night is going to be ace. PYT’s new favourite band are in town, and we are excited to the max. If you have seen either our website or the last issue of the zine then you will know how much we love This Many Boyfriends, whose particular brand of shambolic C86 tinged noisepop is just what we are after. Get down to Night & Day to catch their energetic live show.

Whilst you are there, Night & Day will be the first place to pick up the new issue of the PYT zine. Given that it is a 5 Wednesday month we don’t actually have a night of our own to release it at, so thought we’d go with a gig by a band we love instead. The new issue of the zine has an interview with Frightened Rabbit, our thoughts on the terrible news about BBC6 Music and WOXY, why Pay2Play has no place in this city and exactly why Dan is getting back into science. Oh, and some bloody amazing artwork by Lizzy Huthwaite. If you aren’t at the gig then the zine will be in Common and all the usual places too, and around the rest of the country in time for the Bank Holiday Weekend (if the postmen play nice…)
—> http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=10150098355300171&index=1
Skip forward to Friday, and PYT will be racing ducks down at Spinningfields in the daytime. Sounds like a lot of fun to us!

—> http://www.spinningfieldsonline.net/app/whatson/spinningfields/event_details.cfm?eventtype=Manchester%20Duck%20Race&eventid=Manchester%20Duck%20Race
From twee and family friendly to the ever terrifying and bloody loud Kong are playing at Soundcontrol. Prepare to lose the use of your hearing for a while after…
—>http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=10150098355300171&index=1#!/event.php?eid=331897084926

Come Saturday and there is only ONE place you want to be. Once you’ve got over watching the new Doctor in action (Hannah like the look of him a lot, Dan thinks his look is obviously styled on the Tweed jacket he’s been rocking for a couple of years) get over to Night and Day for YOU! ME! DANCING! Team PYT and David Asparagus will be delivering the finest popsongs disco in the Northern Quarter, with cheap drinks offers and dancing galore. Oh, and after you all said you wanted to dance longer last time, we’ve gone and sorted it out – we are open till 3am! WOOP!

—> http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=10150098355300171&index=1#!/event.php?eid=404070724415

Onto Sunday night, and it is a birthday party for a Manchester institution – High Voltage is 7! I don’t think it would be over egging it to say that PYT might not exist if not for High Voltage, as Richard inspired and encouraged both of us in our first musical ventures in Manchester, which led onto PYT. Get yourself over to Islington Mill to celebrate the way HV does it best, with ace bands!

—> http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=10150098355300171&index=1#!/event.php?eid=379936888473

PYT vs the week: 22nd – 28th March

It’s a busy old one this week, so prepare yourselves! But first, why not head to our homepage to be in with a chance of winning a copy of their latest album!

–> Monday 22nd March
PYT are off to the Royal Exchange tonight to see Matthew Dunster’s adaptation of George Orwell’s 1984. If it’s even half as good as his version of Macbeth we saw last year then we’re in for a treat both chilling and shocking.

In terms of music, we believe your best bet is to head down to the Deaf Institute for The Album Leaf – another fine booking by OH Productions. Death Cab meets Explosions in the Sky. Glitchy electronics, soaring vocals. You know the score.

–> Tuesday 23rd March
Over at Band on the Wall the delightful Tunng are in town. A sold out show mind, so be glad if you’ve got a ticket! New album …And Then We Saw Land is just the kind of beautiful stuff we’ve come to expect from the folktronica group over the years, and it’ll be ace to see them in such a pretty venue. Support comes from Erland and the Carnival, who we hear are good and yet haven’t worked out who they are yet…

Another sold out gem for tonight is Tindersticks at the Cathedral (yep, that’ll be those busy boys at OH Productions again!), which, if the Cathedral show from Magnetic Fields is anything to go by, will be absolutely stunning.

–> Wednesday 24th March
Being the fourth Wednesday of the month it’s time for PYT at Common again! 8pm-midnight, indiepop delights. You know the score.

Also tonight is one of the last ever shows from youthmovies (who I’m still inclined to call Youthmovie Soundtrack Strategies), so if you’re in the mood for noise then definitely head down to the Deaf Institute tonight. Support from Adam Gnade and This Town Needs Guns.

–> Thursday 25th March
Head down to the Ruby Lounge tonight for some excellent things from The Twilight Sad, one of PYT’s favourite bands of the past couple of years. It’ll be intense. To win tickets or a copy of the album, head to the post below this one!

–> Friday 26th March
It’s the weekend! Surely that means it’s time to run between venues all night? Yes? Glad you agree. Down at Nexus there’s the chance to catch worriedaboutsatan (which we’re very pleased about having missed them when they supported Errors. Gutted) with Her Name Is Calla. worriedaboutsatan will no doubt previewing much of their forthcoming album – brooding, glitchy and brilliant.

Then, just a hop, skip and a jump down the road there should be time to get to Night + Day for Meursault – heartwrenching Scottish beauty at its best. And if you fancy staying on after for a bit of a dance it’s the launch of Everything You Need, the new night from Carefully Planned. Or indeed take a wee walk over to the Star and Garter for the Belle & Sebastian disco!

–> Saturday 27th March
You perhaps feel like after that hectic Friday you could do with a rest. But fight off that urge to sleep and get yrselves down to Underachievers where you can see Cats in Paris, Deaf To Van Gogh’s Ear and NASDAQ on the same bill. Plus Underachievers clubnight upstairs as normal!

–> Sunday 28th March
For a bit more peace and quiet (well, it is Sunday), we’d recommend getting down to The Art of Tea in Didsbury to see Stanley Brinks (aka Andre Herman Dune).

And then sleep….

PYT xx

PYT vs The Week 22/2/10

Morning all!

Ok, so it isn’t quite the start of the week again, but PYT Towers was very busy yesterday! So, wit no further ado, here is what is going on this week!

One half of PYT is stupidly excited about Xiu Xiu on Tuesday night. I’ve made a bit of an effort not to listen to their new LP Women As Lovers so that tonight’s gig at Islington Mill is even more new and exciting. With support from Deaf to Van Gogh’s Ears and Model Warships this will be ace. —> http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=251132724195

—> http://www.myspace.com/xiuxiuforlife

Come Wednesday and PYT will be at, um, PYT! We had an absolute blast last time out at Common, and it was really good seeing so many new and old faces coming asking for songs and reading the zine. We’ll be spinning the best indiepop from 8 till 12, it is free in, and a lovely atmosphere for catching up with friends! —> http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=313982977756

Thursday looks like it will be a very good night at Now Wave. Japandroids, a two piece trying to sound like a five piece, are really really loud. Which I like. They are playing with Driver Drive Faster (who I have shamefully still not managed to see yet) and the now recovered Mazes. —> http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=186290714518

—> http://www.myspace.com/japandroids

Now then. Friday presents issues for us. There are three things we want to go to, none of which are going to fit together really. So here’s what is going on, you decide.

Icelandic one-man show Mugison is bloody great. I only found him by accident, having picked up his debut album , Lonley Mountain, because it looked lovely and hand stitched and stuff. Then I listen to it and found that he was making weird blips and blops and guitars and folk. Very enjoyable. Support at Club Academy from Paul Green, local blips and blops and buttons and Tenori-On and brilliant to watch. —>http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=314277783079

—> http://www.myspace.com/mugison

Field Music don’t really need much introduction. The Sunderland based psychefolkindierock-sters are back after a three year break to record their new almost-prog album, tracks from which they will be playing at Islington Mill. —> http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=217605391420

—> http://www.myspace.com/fieldmusic

Finally, Performance are back. I never really understood why they weren’t massive back in 2006. They have recorded a new album, and will be tearing apart High Voltage at the Deaf Institute with their POP songs. —> http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=464121570712

—> http://www.myspace.com/weareperformance

Once you are over that decision, Saturday is a simple one. Go to Saki (which is still open, despite some reports) for Underachievers. This week the awesome Bear Driver are headlining downstairs with their massively energetic pop, backed up by Der.Die.Das and BrownOrangeBlue – who I am proud to say are a good band coming out of my hometown of Blackburn! —> http://www.last.fm/event/1398769+Underachievers+Please+Try+Harder

—> http://www.myspace.com/thebeardriver

If you have any energy left, then Sunday means KONG at Ruby Lounge. They are loud. They are scary. They leave you feeling uneasy. They are brilliant live. —> http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=239948748239&ref=nf

—> http://www.myspace.com/kongblog

With that, time to get ready for my day. We hope to see you at PYT on Wednesday night!

PYT xx

PYT vs The Week 15/2/10

Good afternoon everyone!

‘Orrible weather out today. Manchester is grey and drizzle filled. However, don’t let that put you off as there are loads of great things to do this week!

Before we get started, you may have seen that the new issue of PYT zine is now out across Manchester City Centre. We’ve just sent off zines around the country, so if you are in London, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, Preston, Stoke, Birmingham, Totnes, Blackburn or Brighton then the zine will be available in a record shop near you soon!

On this night we call Monday, Eddie Argos brings his new band to The Ruby Lounge. Everybody Was In The French Resistance… Now! correct the mistakes of pop songs past. Anyone who has picked up the new issue of PYT will have seen our interview with Eddie about the band. This will be a load of fun, especially with The Lovely Eggs supporting! —>http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=355597665346

—>http://www.myspace.com/fixingthecharts

Onto Tuesday and, once you’ve got your pancakes down you, we suggest that you head over to Band On The Wall for a cracking gig put together by Twisted Folk. Stornoway and Beth Jeans Houghton were getting a lot of attention at Green Man and End Of The Road when we were down at those festivals over the summer, and this is a great chance to catch both acts at the same time! —>http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=174602091050

—> www.myspace.com/stornoway
—> www.myspace.com/bethjeanshoughton

Come Wednesday and all the cool kids are talking about Erland and the Carnival. I have no idea who they are. Instead, why not head over to Academy 3 to see the lovely and massively entertaining Fionn Regan. This guy is always a lot of fun, mixing wit and charming songs. —>http://www.last.fm/event/1320693+Fionn+Regan+at+Academy+3+on+17+February+2010

—> www.myspace.com/fionnregan

Thursday night and things are staying folky, as Red Deer Club take over Art of Tea in Didsbury for a cosy little affair with George Thomas, Golden Ghost and Jamie Harrison. It’ll be lovely. —> http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=255541750865

—> http://www.myspace.com/georgethomasandtheowls

If that isn’t your bag and you are after something that is a bit more loud and energetic, our great pal Mr Young Adult Friction kicks off a new night with Dead Kids, Death to Van Gogh’s Ear and Monsters Build Mean Robots at Saki Bar. I have it on very good word that Dead Kids are ridiculous live, so this could be a must. —>http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=284721742851

—>www.myspace.com/youaredeadkids

Kicking off the weekend in funpop style, the frankly amazing Internet Forever are playing at Kro Bar on Friday night. Internet Forever make great fuzzy indiepop, and are one of the best new bands knocking about at the moment. There is also terrific support on the night, with the ace-ace-ace Of Mice and Mental Arithmetic, Judy and the Blooms, Brainlove Records’ Matt Riviere and the mysterious-but-could-be-great Lynx Africa. This gig is a MUST. —>http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=239233160368

—> www.myspace.com/internetforever

The only thing we can see worth heading too on Saturday night in Manchester is So So Modern with Hyacinth Girl at the Deaf Institute. I’ll be honest, I know very very little about SSM. The Guardian suggests that they will give you a ‘synthgasm.’ I don’t really know what this means. Could be worth a look? —>http://www.last.fm/event/1386451+So+So+Modern+at+The+Deaf+Institute+on+20+February+2010

—> www.myspace.com/sosomodern

However, Team PYT will be out of town. We are off to Cardiff for a great new club night ran by some lovely people. If you are in the Welsh capital then make your way to Little O’Neil’s for Modern Life Is Rubbish. We are going to dance like it’s 1997. Amazing. —> http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=272788805999&ref=mf

Sunday shall be a day of rest. Make a nice roast and watch a film or something like that. It’ll be dead nice.

Hope you have a lovely week!

PYT xx

PYT vs The Week – 8/2/10

Hello one and all,

Hope you are good and well this bright-but-not-quite-bright-enough day. Here at Team PYT we are very excitable at the moment, as we are launching the new issue of our zine this week. Much like our spiritual home of Common, the zine has had a lick of paint and spruce up and looks, as they say in the trade, the business. More about that below…

So what is going on this week?

Monday night sees Bad Uncle welcoming Dan Friel to The Corner. Maybe better known for being a member of Parts & Labour, Friel’s solo work is all glitchy dark electronics which can go all euphoric at times. Kind of like a happy take on Fuck Buttons. Support comes from local noiseniks Planks, who are ace. Worth checking out —>http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=287104014171&index=1

—>http://www.myspace.com/danfrieldanfriel

Onto Tuesday and one half of PYT will be heading to Academy 2 to see The Low Anthem and David Ford. Rhode Island based folksters The Low Anthem’s Oh My God, Charlie Darwin LP seemed to go down a storm last year, so this should be a good show. That is before you even think that David Ford, the fella from early-noughties indie kids favourites Easyworld, is supporting —>http://www.last.fm/event/1247920+The+Low+Anthem+at+Academy+2+on+9+February+2010

—>http://www.myspace.com/lowanthem

WEDNESDAY – In a very selfish manner, Wednesday night is all about PYT. It is the first PYT of 2010, as we take over the now even bigger and more lovely Common on Edge Street. As well as providing the perfect atmosphere for you to catch up with your friends over a drink and some popsongs, you’ll be able to pick up the flash new zine which has an interview with Eddie Argos of Art Brut/Everybody Was In The French Resistance… Now—>http://www.facebook.com/reqs.php#!/event.php?eid=284374614674&ref=ts

Thursday night was going to be a difficult choice, but as Beach House at Islington Mill has sold out you can only go to that if you’ve got a ticket anyway (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=262409613941&index=1).

So, if you aren’t going to that then you should be heading to The Deaf Institute to see two of our favourite bands of the moment playing at DiScover Manchester for Drowned in Sound. Sian Alice Group make something between post-rock and free jazz, whilst Esben and the Witch are like a electronic-post-rock take on the Grimm Fairy Tales. This will be fantastic—>http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=289665676320&index=1

—>http://www.myspace.com/sianalicegroup
—>http://www.myspace.com/esbenandthewitch

Onto Friday, and we can’t choose between two great nights. So we won’t. Given that they are 5 mins apart, you could/should really go to both. The Red Deer Club Tour hits the ground running at Retro Bar with the delightful Sophie’s Pigeons and Panda Su making great folky/pop/bit electronic music that is sure to leave you with a smile on your face—>http://www.facebook.com/events.php#!/event.php?eid=291083866317&index=1

—>http://www.myspace.com/sophienelson
—>http://www.myspace.com/thepandasu

After the bands finish at Retro, we suggest a quick dash to the Star and Garter for a good old dance at Shake It, Shake It. Justin Shake It knows how to get kids swinging their indie-hips, so go throw some shapes—>http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=224087862318&index=1

Come Saturday and Team PYT will be heading down to Saki Bar on Rusholme for Underachievers Please Try Harder. This week they’ve got the(JELAS), Nursing Home and the hotly tipped Hyacinth Girls playing downstairs, followed by the traditional Underachievers disco-mayhem across two floors once the bands are done—>http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=463286935561&index=1

—>http://www.myspace.com/thejelas

Also of note on Saturday, WOTGODFORGOT have the bright new face of lo-fi-African-beats-reggae-folk, TUNE-YARDS at The Ruby Lounge—>http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=198574174599&index=1

—>http://www.myspace.com/tuneyards

Sunday shall be our day of rest. Go get loved up somewhere. Possibly at Cornerhouse for their Breakfast Club showing of Breakfast At Tiffany’s*—>http://www.cornerhouse.org/film/info.aspx?ID=360&page=0

So there you go, lots to see and do this week. We hope you can make it down to Common on Wednesday, and let us know what you think of the new zine and website!

PYT xx

*[NB – I would like to point out at this stage that I don’t like that film, I think most of the characters in it are rubbish and horrid.]