Portals Special with Asher Kenton and Sam Festenstein (Part 2 - The EartH Years)

Meryl Streek on GAG at Astoria, Vancouver, Canada on 2nd April 2017

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.

Helen Tytherleigh from Hundred Year Old Man on Volumes at The Cockpit, Leeds, 3rd May 2010

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.

Erhan Alman from Heriot on TTNG at Thekla, Bristol on 15th December 2011

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.

Portals Special with Asher Kenton and Sam Festenstein (Part 2 - The EartH Years)

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 [https://dice.fm/partner/portals-website/event/6d9d73-portals-presents-overhead-the-albatross-codices-25th-sep-the-lexington-london-tickets?dice_id=3706668&dice_channel=web&dice_tags=organic&dice_campaign=Portals+website&dice_feature=mio_marketing&_branch_match_id=969485678148771562&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA8soKSkottLXz8nMy9ZLyUxO1UvL1U83TUxKsUw2tUg0TLavK0pNSy0qysxLj08qyi8vTi2y9S9ILUoEAGAaW4k6AAAA] Wednesday 25th September, The Lexington Bicurious / A-Tota-So / Mount Forel [https://dice.fm/partner/portals-website/event/xev3be-portals-presents-bicurious-at-the-lexington-18th-oct-the-lexington-london-tickets?dice_id=3369305&dice_channel=web&dice_tags=organic&dice_campaign=Portals+Website&dice_feature=mio_marketing&_branch_match_id=969485678148771562&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA8soKSkottLXz8nMy9ZLyUxO1UvL1fcyNjcxNU9LSkxLNLKvK0pNSy0qysxLj08qyi8vTi2y9S9ILUoEAPtUAok6AAAA] Friday 18th October, The Lexington Alpha Male Tea Party / Poly-Math / Lost in the Riots / Tough Glove [https://dice.fm/partner/portals-website/event/3oo2ql-portals-presents-alpha-male-tea-party-poly-math-2nd-nov-downstairs-at-the-dome-london-tickets?dice_id=3677534&dice_channel=web&dice_tags=organic&dice_campaign=Portals+Website&dice_feature=mio_marketing&_branch_match_id=969485678148771562&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA8soKSkottLXz8nMy9ZLyUxO1UvL1S83sUyxNDaySDROtrCvK0pNSy0qysxLj08qyi8vTi2y9S9ILUoEAInJ8Cw6AAAA] Saturday 2nd November, Downstairs at the Dome Portals Festival 2025 [https://dice.fm/partner/portals-website/event/gvl65-portals-festival-2025-24th-may-earth-london-tickets?dice_id=3235702&dice_channel=web&dice_tags=organic&dice_campaign=Portals+Website&dice_feature=mio_marketing&_branch_match_id=969485678148771562&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA8soKSkottLXz8nMy9ZLyUxO1UvL1fczMDVMtkgzNUxLTLSvK0pNSy0qysxLj08qyi8vTi2y9S9ILUoEAJQBdSU6AAAA] 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

Portals Special with Asher Kenton and Sam Festenstein (Part 1 - The Dome Years)

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 [https://www.portalsrock.com/home]