Calculating Infinite Tees

It’s the last episode of the first season of Calculating Infinite Tees, but we have an excellent guest to round it off in the form of polemic punk poet provocateur Meryl Streek. His new album, Songs for the Deceased, is released 25th October through Venn Records and it is essential listening.

The show discussed was from American underground hardcore band Gag, at Astoria in Vancouver, Canada on 2nd April 2017. Issues at the Canadian border prevented their  vocalist from playing the show, which led to a unique show where devoted fans took turns on the mic so that the Gag gig could go ahead.  

Talk inevitably turns to the variety of harrowing events Meryl Streek is raising awareness of through his music, his residency in Vancouver of 8 years, and, believe it or not, Chumbawamba.

This week, Remfry and Simon sit down with Helen Tytherleigh, bass player for Hundred Year Old Man. Helen's shirt pick takes us to a monstrous five band tour from 2010, topped by Veil Of Maya, but the shirt in question was sold by the opening band, Volumes.

As well as talking about the things that are happening in the HYOM camp, we talk about the birth of the UK tech-metal scene out of tours like this, Helen's involvement in core team organising Tech Fest, and switching from playing technical prog in her previous band to post-metal with HYOM.

Remfry wasn't as deeply involved in the Tech Fest community, so Simon and Helen bring him up to speed, and the wide-ranging conversation also dips into onstage confidence, the experiences of being a woman in a (still) male-dominated scene and plenty more besides.

On this week's episode, we welcome Erhan Alman, from the British metal band on everyone's lips Heriot on the cusp of the release of their full-length debut album, Devoured by the Mouth of Hell. If Carlsberg did metal album titles ...

Erhan picked a show from one of the UK's premier math-rock acts, Oxfordshire based trio TTNG, from the 15th December 2011 at the historic Thekla venue in Bristol. TTNG (or as they were known then) had three years previous released Animals, an album that is often regarded as one of the best math-rock albums of all time. Their fluid clean guitar licks are some of the most melodious and technically impressive in the whole genre, which is perhaps why Erhan picked up the tablature (that's sheet music for all you non-guitar players) to that very album. Yes that's right, for one week, we are Calculating Infinite Tabs (© Simon Clark 2014)

We delve into Erhan's love of all things math, discuss the rich history of Thekla (which, if you're unaware, is a motherfucking boat!) and try to wrap our heads around the absolute guitar wizardry of TTNG six-stringer Tim Collis.

It’s the second part of our chat with Asher and Sam from Portals promotions, chatting all things Portals Festival, including the remaining two choices of their favourite sets from the festivals’ past (shout out to Jambinai and Maybeshewill, plus lots of general waffle and chit-chat about the UK post and math rock scene as a whole, including fantasizing about bands long gone that would be a shoe in to headline Portals Festival.

There’s a bunch of great Portals-hosted gigs happening in the upcoming weeks. Here’s info and links to them

Overhead, The Albatross / Codices / Million Moons

Wednesday 25th September, The Lexington

Bicurious / A-Tota-So / Mount Forel

Friday 18th October, The Lexington

Alpha Male Tea Party / Poly-Math / Lost in the Riots / Tough Glove

Saturday 2nd November, Downstairs at the Dome

Portals Festival 2025

Feat. Brontide / Mouse on the Keys / Cats and Cats and Cats / The Fierce and the Dead / The Brackish / Oavette / Fly Fly Triceratops + more to be announced

24th & 25th May, EartH Hackney

In the first of a two part special, Remfry and Simon speak to Asher Kenton and Sam Festenstein about London-based promoters Portals and their annual festival celebrating the cream of the post and math rock crop.

Sam and Asher both highlight two sets each from Portals Festival history, as well as discussing the genesis and inner workings of promoting shows to a dedicated but niche audience.

Portals is very much a passion project, so we've given Sam and Asher plenty of time to be passionate about it. This week, there's chat about Mclusky and Human Pyramids, and plenty more along the way.

https://www.portalsrock.com/home

For the second half of our reggae themed week, Remfry and Simon settle in with Alex Hurst of Boss Keloid for a relaxing chat about a show in a historic Manchester venue by dub reggae pioneer and singular lunatic Lee Scratch Perry.

We dig deep into Alex’s love of reggae, take a wander through Lee Scratch Perry’s intimidatingly huge discography, Alex tells us about his direct interaction with the man himself, and of course we spend some time talking about Boss Keloid’s magnificent t-shirt offerings, too.

As those of you who have listened to the Patreon episode earlier this week will know, Simon has been desperate to talk about reggae in more depth. Together with Alex, they lead Remfry on a little voyage of discovery through the history of a genre that many rock and metal fans are unfamiliar with, but may well find much to enjoy.

Lee Scratch Perry & Subatomic Sound System - Full Performance (Live on KEXP)

O.B.F & NAZAMBA - THE GROOVE

On this week’s episode we’re talking to Liam Knowles, bassist and one of the vocalists with Hidden Mothers. Recently signed to the brilliant people at Church Road Records, the band are due to release their debut album Erosion/Avulsion on 29th November and it’s a proper belter too.

Liam’s pick is a particularly special one as it was the first indoor show he took his son Issac to see. A 10-year old legend with impeccable taste, Issac asked his Dad to take him to see Foxing on 24th January at the Brudenell Social Club in Leeds. Liam recalls the night and shares some very special memories through the eyes of his son, and as a bonus, we also have a post episode interview with Issac himself who recalls his experiences. BACK TO ME BON BONS!

On this episode, we talk to Rory Friers from Northern Irish instrumental legends And So I Watch You From Afar on the cusp of the release of their new album Megafauna, a tribute to their home town and the places and formative experiences that influenced their lifestyle growing up. Rory’s pick of show is from cheeky chappie britpop sensations Blur at King’s Hall in Belfast on 21st November, 1995. This was prime britpop mania, with the infamous ‘battle of Britpop’ occurring just a few months before the show, with Blur’s Country House single piping Oasis’ Roll With It to number #1 274,000 copies to 216,000. The show Rory attended was in support of 4th full length album The Great Escape, 1 date from a mammoth 10-date UK and Ireland tour.

It’s Part 2 of our look back to ArcTanGent 2013, the very first edition of the festival , with James Scarlet and Gavin McInally from 2 Promoters 1 Pod and on this episode, we take a deep dive into the highlights from the Friday and Saturday of that inaugural event. Some of these bands still remain a regular part of ATG line-ups, others are sadly no more. Sets from Baby Godzilla (aka Heck), Poly-Math, The St. Pierre Snake Invasion, The Physics House Band, Humanfly, Manatees, Winterfylleth, Bossk, Rolo Tomassi, Earthtone9, 65DaysofStatic, Cleft, Arcane Roots, Three Trapped Tigers, Nordic Giants, And So I Watch You From Afar and Fuck Buttons are all discussed and dissected.  

Our theme was written by James Sherwin. Check out his EP on Bandcamp here

ArcTanGent 2015 - Cleft vs Alpha Male Tea Party riff medley

This week, we wander away from our regular format to bring you the first half of a special double-episode spectacular, taking a long, loving look at ArcTanGent 2013 with none other than ArcTanGent organizer James Scarlett and Damnation head honcho Gavin McInally.

The pair have recently been spilling all kinds of secrets on their thoroughly entertaining podcast 2 Promoters 1 Pod, and as there was a Damnation-curated stage at this inaugural edition of the festival, it seemed ideal to have them both along for a four-way chat.

For both Remfry and Simon, ArcTanGent is a – possibly THE – mandatory festival every summer, and we’re delighted to have the opportunity to reminisce about what made ArcTanGent 2013 such a memorable and important weekend for us, as well as find out a little more about what went on behind the scenes while we were out enjoying the music.

In this first part, we talk about the origins of ArcTanGent as a festival, how Gavin became involved, the site layout, and the pros and cons of the original Arc stage. We round off this episode talking about the single stage of bands who played on the early bird Thursday. And if you remember what happened at the end of that Thursday night, you probably want to listen to the end.

For the second half, we dig deep into the our thoughts, feelings and memories of the bands featured across the two main days of the festival. So expect plenty of talk about Earthtone9, Nordic Giants and Baby Godzilla, among many others. But you’ll have to wait till next week for that.