Calculating Infinite Tees

For the second preview of what will be our Patreon episodes, we’re talking about Simon’s choice of Faith No More at the Camden Roundhouse, for two nights in June 2015 on the Sol Invictus tour. Remfry was also in the room for the second show, even if he was up in the balcony and Simon down on the floor – which seems pretty on-brand for both of us.Faith No More are a truly foundational band for Simon, and these two shows give us plenty of opportunities to talk about three full decades of being a fully subscribed Mike Patton fanboy, as well as watching a band that, for some time, seemed like they were never coming back. Along the way, we’ll be talking about some of Simon’s very earliest encounters with alternative music, touch on the great ‘sitting at gigs versus standing at gigs’ debate, Remfry enthusing over support band Rolo Tomassi, a spectacularly nerdy setlist comparison and a conversation about the patchy success of comeback albums. Among other things.

Remfry's first Patreon pick is a monumental show from 2002 seeing System of a Down touring Toxicity, an album that has entered the modern metal pantheon as an undisputed classic. At this point, SOAD were untouchable and after the tour had to be pushed back 4 months due to the devastating Twin Tower attacks, anticipation was immense to see the LA alt-metal quartet on their first UK date since Toxicity's release. As a bonus, they also brought New Jersey's The Dillinger Escape Plan with them, who it must be said went over the majority of the crowd's heads (including a 17-year old Remfry) but would one day emerge as a band dear to him, as well as inspiring the name of this very podcast. Simon attended the same tour and is on hand to reminisce on his memories of one of the band's Brixton Academy shows in London a few days later. Follow our Patreon Page for incoming updates on how you can sign up for more Calculating Infinite Tees content.

It's the first episode of Calculating Infinite Tees and we are honoured to start the ball rolling with Karl Middleton from prestigious alt metal legends Earthtone9. Karl has lent his considerable larynx to Earthtone9 since 1998 and in a period of just 4 years, released three albums of blistering progressive hardcore that cultivated a modest yet devoted fanbase, of which both Remfry and Simon are very much a part of. Earthtone9's hiatus in 2002 left room for Karl to explore other musical projects (The Blueprint, Twinzero, Blackstorm ... all excellent by the way) before Earthtone9 reformed in 2010 for a few sporadic shows and a new album, IV released in 2013. But with their latest album In Resonance Nexus the band sound more fired up than they have done in years, a savage record that keeps one evil crawling eye on the past, whilst simultaneously laying foundations for the band's future. Karl picked an immense bill for us to discuss, a triple punch of Neurosis, Converge and Amenra which he witnessed whilst living stateside in Detroit, Michigan and produced a mighty fine collab tee for us to coo over too. In Resonance Nexus is available now and we heartily recommend you pick up a copy

T-Shirts play a vital role in the eyes (and on the body) of the average underground music fan. In an increasingly digital world, they are tangible, just as a concert is a tangible physical experience in a shared space. For musicians trying to make ends meet in a world where recorded music garners little to no financial pay-off, t-shirts and other merchandise are a vital source of revenue.  For many fans, purchasing these ‘tees’ is both a gesture of support and an important part of their identity. The right t-shirt worn in the right place will act as a beacon to the like-minded, drawing them in like moths to a flame ...  if moths liked to talk about riffs anyway.For the past 25 - 30 years, Remfry Dedman (The Independent, Metal Hammer) and Simon Clarke (Heavy Blog is Heavy, The Monolith) have between them watched thousands of bands at hundreds of venues around the world. We've been to a lot of shows, and at a great many of them, we spent a little bit of money at the merch desk.  The result is an embarrassingly large and unruly collection of shirts, hoodies, beanies, tote bags and more. Alongside these two pillars of Economy and Identity, each t-shirt in our substantial collection carries with it something more personal - a memory.  The overwhelming majority of the shirts in our collection have been bought at live shows and festivals. The band selling the shirt may have been the headliners or a support act.  They may have been familiar favourites, or a brand new discovery at that very show.  It may have been the first - or the last - show played with a particular member or the first time certain songs were heard.Our aim with Calculating Infinite Tees is to explore and celebrate the phenomenon of being a fan, follower and participant in the world of underground music, principally through unlocking the specific memories lurking in the t-shirt collection of our guests.  This provides the opportunity to talk about bands at particular stages in their careers, venues, support acts, or anything else which a specific shirt may trigger.After spending around ten years writing reviews, we wanted to find a way to talk/write about music without it being music criticism.  What we want to do is something closer to oral histories, celebrating the condition of being a passionate music fan, the places it can take you and the things you can witness or be a part of through it.RSS Feed Instagram Facebook The Bird App