Exit Ten Review @ The Joiners Arms

Exit Ten – 19^th Nov 09 at The Joiners Arms. Southampton.

It’s not been an easy year for Exit Ten. These Reading metal-core 5-some are pretty much single handed flying the flag for beautiful metal. And playing a trillion shows a year, nailing festivals, releasing and album to insane critical acclaim obviously isn’t enough for some; an unfortunate tough run of CD sales has jump started the band into a new gear, more…considered. No less soaring vocals and massive guitars, but just…fresh.

Baring in mind this is the first date on a 14 date tour, the band calmly adjust straps and drum stands casually enough…and the first song “Remember the Day” just blades your face off. Massive riffs, awesomely accurate vocals and just KILLER stage presence. Literally, as the words “what happened here?” are sung you are literally pinned to the floor thinking….seriously….what happened? How are these guys not GLOBAL?

The set chugs and riffs into literal classics; “Fine Night” and “Resume Ignore” fill the room with pure brutal choruses; chilled numbers like “Perish in the Flames” and MTV2 favourite “Warriors” hit home with note perfect sweetness. But its when riff-tastic old number “Piece by Piece by Piece”, with its almost cheesy uber-metal intro riff breaks down, the room opens like the red sea, the initial “wow” turned into “ARRRGGGH!” The set just flows, and people, more and more people, ones who’ve been hidden away, ones who’ve just been chilling, have been smashed into singing. And you can’t not sing with Ryan Redman. His voice better than record, hitting ball crushing notes and leaping around the front of stage, like he should be fronting some a little more Slipknot.

Then something bizarre happens. An acoustic guitar is brought out, and the band takes a back seat. “This is a new one”. And it’s not like it isn’t good. Redman’s voice is completely faultless. It just seems as little…forced. When eventually the band pick up and play a selection of new numbers we see the evolution of Exit Ten in a song writing band, without the reliance on massive riffs, and although they have never really been a cheesy metal-core band per say, they’ve moved into calmer territory without losing the epic quality that makes them who they are. The band quit the head banging and just let the songs speak for themselves, and as nerve wracking as I’m sure they were to play, they’re delivered with honesty and appeal and sound brilliant.

And with the safe nod to the future, the band return to the brute album opener “Technically Alive” and rip out a colossal night-ender with it. The crowd aren’t exactly hanging off the rafters; it’s not exactly walls-of-death and circle pits, but its moving, and the roar of approval that greats the band as they leave is tantamount to this bands skill and resurgence.

Exit Ten has needed change…probably. Time will tell whether or not this new edge pays off and gets these hard working boys the big time they deserve, because the old tunes are modern classics already and the new ones are a step into a musical Alladin’s cave, and if there is any justice in the world these boys will not be playing small venues in the future.

For more information on Exit Ten, check them out on http://www.exitten.net

By Jack Spurway

Joanne Jones - Apparel Designer

We have been fortunate enough to be able to write a piece on one of Southampton's most promising young designers. Joanne recently graduated with a 1st from London College of Fashion and is now living every clothes designers' dream by exhibiting her work at venues such as London's Sommerset House - recently the venue for the 2009 London Fashion Week!

Here is a taster of Jo's work.. for more information and a look in to how she has reached the scale and heights of her success, pick up January's issue of the Soap Box Magazine - Available everywhere in Southampton and for free from the iPhone app store!

SOAP BOX : MEDIA PACK

This is the Soap Box Media Pack. We are giving this to businesses that want to be

involved with Soap Box so that they can see how our brand will look on paper

and how the business works.

If you are interested in advertising with Soap Box or working with us in the

future, then please feel free to contact us on:

advertise@thesoapboxcommunity.com

Tom Grimsey - Northam Shoal

This is the first in a series that we are running on the blog that celebrates art for the community in public places, commissioned by the City Council. Any of you who have been near Saint Mary's Football stadium will have no doubt seen this eye catching sculpture by Southampton artist Tom Grimsey, erected in 2002.

Northam Shoal is a major light sculpture commissioned by Southampton City Council, in association with Southampton Regeneration Partnership. It acts as a landmark for Old Northam Road; an area associated with antiques, speciality collectibles, pubs, cafes and St. Mary’s Stadium.

If you have any information or would like us to feature a council arts initiative that you have seen - the please feel free to let us know on studio@thesoapboxcommunity.com

MUSIC - The 2 Bit Thugs

To show you all that we're all about all forms of creative exploits, we have been lucky enough to score the latest mix-tape from breaks and house pioneers - the 2 Bit Thugs. The Thugs are a producing and DJing duo that know how to party.. If you've not heard their sounds before, then think hip-hop crossed with big bass!

The thugs are two familiar faces in Southampton after having played at Mono Bar under the Say Whoa Party Programme. Here is a link to their latest set called "All Basses Covered":

http://www.zshare.net/audio/57272316da099fda/

2 Bit Thugs – Let The Story Begin...

Western Roots - Sub General

Kid Rock Vs Jackal & Hyde - Pimp Of The Nation

Chrome Kids Vs Elbow - Grounds For Divorce (Chrome Plated Elbow)

MC Gringo & DJ Beware - Tamborzao Con Scratchy

Jack Beats – What (Vocal Mix)

Dillinja - Twist Em Out - (Proper Villains Remix)

Second Protocol - Basslick

Rob Le Pitch - Sticky Fingers - (Baobinga & ID Remix)

Scam – I Feel It

Rossi B & Luca - Music Money (2 Bit Bmore Edit)

DJ Zinc & Dave Spoon- Ghost Train

Dizzee Rascal - Stand Up - Accapella

Reflex - Put Your Hands Up

Dynamite MC - There They Go - Accapella

Ripgroove - Double 99 - (Twisted Bitz & Ant Brooks Remix)

Rico Tubbs - Gangsters - (2 Bit Thugs ReRub)

Warboy - London's Getting Dirty - (Jackinori Remix) - A New Hope Records

Affie Yusuf & Trevor Loveys - B Boy Tradition

Screama Vs Ian Round - Don't Hold Back The Rave

Stupid Fresh - Grip Yourself

Micky Slim - Hit The Club - (Heavyfeet Remix)

Stagga Feat. Skamma - Sick As Sin

Black Rob - Woah - Accapella

Blackjack - Dead Prez

Machines Dont Care - Soundboy Massive - (Herve & Detboi Remix)

Heavyfeet - One Last Time

Blowfelt - Shake To This

Baobinga & ID - Jump Up Get Hype - (Gella Remix)

DBX - Doing Our Thing

B Rich - Everyday Hustle - (2 Bit Thugs Remix) - A New Hope Records

2 Live Crew - Party - (2 Bit Thugs ReRub)

Fake Blood - Mars - (Player Player's 95 Jump Mix)

Tipper - Pins & Needles

Rex The Dog - Itchy Scratchy

Notorious B.I.G - Hypnotise - (Cold Blank Remix)

EZ Rollers - Walk This Land - (2 Bit Thugs ‘EZ Roland’ Edit)

Freestylers - B Boy Stance - (Mulder Remix)

Rico Tubbs - Gangsters - (Muffler Remix)

2 Bit Thugs – Drama

2 Bit Thugs – Infommercial Outro

You can find out more information on the 2 Bit Thugs by visiting www.myspace.com/2bitthugs

Gemma Barrett - Illustrator and Designer

Gemma Barret, based in Southampton, graduated with a BA Hons in Illustration from Southampton Solent University in 2007. Since then Gemma has been working to build her portfolio as a freelance illustrator.

Although digital seems to be the chosen tool for many artists at the moment - Gemma still favors the lure of a good old fashioned pencil and paper set up. Unless called for, Gemma's work isn’t about being edgy or subversive rather, Gemma hopes to evoke a bit of nostalgia or to capture an element of fun in my imagery, she's try to combine originally observed forms and settings with a more fluid line and imaginative approach.

Gemma has started producing and selling activities books that will be available for sale at 'Art House Craft & Zine Fayre' on Sunday 22nd November 2009.

Will Brown - Southampton based Illustrator

We've been lucky enough to receive some work from gifted young illustrator, Will Brown!

Will regularly contributes to Southampton's toilet reading creative writing publication'Pop Cult'

Check back to see more information and works from Will in the very near future!