For Folk's Sake » Derek Meins – The Agitator

Ones to watch: The Agitator

Lynn Roberts — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 16:43:51 +0000

Derek Meins, previously known as “The Famous Poet” and the voice of Eastern Lane has joined forces with human drum machine Robert Dylan Thomas to create something in a league of its own.

The Agitator immediately strikes you as something completely different. Relying solely on the power of the drums, Meins’ voice has a chance to reach gargantuan volume. The duo are particularly impressive live as you can see the components of the music working together in tandom. However, the tracks available for streaming on their myspace page are so raw and engaging, it’s easy to imagine what a live show would sound like.

Someone new to this band might assume that you can’t get variety with the bare bones of drums and vocals, but Dylan Thomas and Meins fill their listener’s ears with unrelenting beats that more than make up for the absence of a guitar or piano. From a personal point of view, it’s incredibly refreshing not to have a cut and dry format that involves guitar solos, as this is something that could easily over complicate The Agitator.

If the Agitator were to have a philosophy it would probably come in the form of ‘Get Ready’, an extremely empowering song, which motivates every limb with brilliant lines like “Put up a fight/The best that you can” and “Find your oppressor/Knock on the door/Tell them there’s no time to wait anymore”.

Meins in particular seems tired of audiences that are unwilling to fully engage with live music, though admits since the project is fresh off the starting blocs, it’s understandable that not everyone is whipping out their dancing shoes straightaway.

Even if you’re not the dancing type however, you’ll definitely want to agitate to your heart’s content and this terrible twosome have got some advice for you. Now is the time to agitate.

Words and art: Mary Machin

Oxford to host Folk extravaganza

Helen True — Thu, 21 May 2009 08:39:44 +0000

Oxford’s indie music society (ISOC) have announced a party to be coveted by any discerning birthday girl or boy. ‘Imstock’ will celebrate 20 years of indie music appreciation, with a line-up that’ll blow even the finest Pizza Hut birthday bash out of the water. The event will take place at the Jericho Tavern, Oxford on June 14th.

Top of the bill are that wonderful wit of Sussex, Johnny Flynn, and heart-mender extraordinaire Jeremy Warmsley. Also due to play are FFS favourties Cherbourg, Derek Meins (under his nouveau moniker, The Agitator), The Woe Betides, Silent Alliance, The Mountain Parade and High Risby.

Apparently they’re not finished booking bands, so there’ll be more delectation than you can shake a beribboned stick at. The event will begin at 2pm and continue long into the warm summer night, with tickets costing a mere £13 from We Got Tickets on Friday from 9am. Over-18s only darlings. They’re threatening to be ’strict’ about it.

Words: Helen True

Alessi in wonderland after song picked for national radio

Lynn Roberts — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:25:29 +0000

Continuing our theme of helping you fine people tuck in to new bands by actually listening to them, you can catch the lovely Alessi performing ‘The Horse’ on Nemone’s 6Music show throughout the week.

Not enough? Want more? She’s touring too you know, along with FFS favourites Peggy Sue and songwriter-cum-poet Derek Meins, in various venues across the country during October – check out the listings here.

Word is there’ll be CDs of all three artists covering each other’s songs available at the gigs, which will be well worth a listen.

Words: Mike Didymus

Peggy Sue, Alessi and Derek Meins tour

Lynn Roberts — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:40:58 +0000

For Folk’s Sake favourites Peggy Sue will be joined on their UK headline tour by fellow folksters Alessi and Derek Meins.

The ‘Triptych Tour’, which begins on 31st October at the Peggy Sue-curated halloween party at Brixton Windmill, comprises 15 dates across England and Scotland.

The dates are in our listings section, but for those of you whose index finger is feeling too tired for a mouse click, here they are in full:

31 Oct London, The Brixton Windmill
3 Nov Nottingham, Rescue Rooms
4 Nov Winchester, School Of Art
5 Nov Oxford, Regal
6 Nov London, 229
7 Nov Leicester, The Musician
9 Nov Castleford, The Loft
11 Nov Glasgow, Pivo Pivo
12 Nov York, Fibbers
13 Nov Sheffield, Plug
16 Nov Exeter, Cavern
17 Nov Bristol, Cooler
19 Nov Brighton, Hanbury Ballroom
20 Nov London, New Evaristo Club
21 Nov Southampton, Hamptons

Words: Lynn Roberts

Derek Meins – The Agitator

Lynn Roberts — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:58:01 +0000

Derek Meins: is a poet-come-singer-songwriter from bonny Scotland, previously lead singer of Eastern Lane. Meins performs his lyrical folk-pop with theatrical flair.

He Says: \\”Throughout my life I have have learned many different things; some of which I find impossible to fathom and most of which I believe are not true. These things seem to erase themselves from my memory soon after I have ‘learned’ them.\\”

His latest single is available as a free download here.

Single Review: Derek Meins – Oh! You Pretty Woman

Lynn Roberts — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:42:04 +0000

Sometime poet and former Eastern Lane frontman Derek Meins returns with the sort of high tempo stomp-along that must have seen post- Great Depression scoundrels swooping unwitting maidens into their arms with reckless ease and abandon on its original airing in the 1930s.

A simple, fast paced effort infused with vim and vigour from the supporting Mumford and Sons boys, the jig describes those crazy days of unsure lust and unpractised amourousness which transcends generations.

Meins’ sleazy drawl adds a knowing sense to the often contradictory lyrics, which hint at a fellow falling for a girl but balking at her forwardness – try spotting that kind of reticence these days outside an early morning Shoreditch nightspot.

Out on October 13 on 1965 Records, you can jerk your body to the thing live by catching Meins in all sorts of places across the UK in his triptych tour with Alessi and the bloody brilliant Peggy Sue throughout November.

8/10

Words: Mike Didymus

For Folk's Sake » Derek Meins – The Agitator

Ones to watch: The Agitator

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