This weeks' letters to the editor:

IF THE SHOE FITS

Dear Drum,

Melissa Davey's interview with Deerhunter was quite enlightening. But not in the way she probably intended. What she revealed was her own alarming ignorance of shoegaze music. The most glaring inaccuracies were:

1. The spurious claim that Nowhere was Ride's only achievement. Melissa, have you even heard the incredible EPs that were released prior to this album? Or the explosive single that followed it? Leave Them All Behind took shoegazing into the UK Top Ten at a time when 'indie' records were scorned upon by the record-buying public.

2. The laughable claim that The Stone Roses were a shoegaze band. Ian Brown and his chums were always part of the Madchester 'baggy' scene Ð the polar opposite of shoegaze.

3. The missed opportunity to give some recognition to the awesome Australian shoegaze bands that we've seen in recent years. Most notably: The Morning After Girls, The Redsunband and Sounds Like Sunset (the latter received album of the week in The Drum a few years back, and justifiably so).

My advice to Melissa? Get yourself an education! Next time any of these fine Australian bands are playing in Sydney, check 'em out. You might learn a thing or two.

Yours in frustration,

The Gazing Shoe (good name for a pub that...)

Clovelly

Perhaps the only Leave Them All Behind that Ms Davey's ears would recognise is the Modular Presents variety of compilation CDs of the same name. Having been educated at a single sex school run by nuns, I understand her hesitance to look shoewards since we were constantly being told not to polish our Crosbys to the point where you could see the reflection of our knickers - Ed

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A NIGHT WELL DONE

Hi Drum,

Bring Me The Horizon absolutely killed it on Saturday night at the Roundhouse. Their live sound was killer (and yes, I have been to a few gigs in my time, I'm in the over 30s bracket now!). I'm sure they'll still have plenty of haters, but unless youÕve seen them live you should shut the hell up. It was also great to see Kev Cameron (ex-I Killed The Prom Queen/current In Trenches) filling in on guitar and doing a stellar job. He was totally nuts! The Red Shore were great as well, although the sound guy needed a boot in the head. He didn't do his job as the band came across muddy as hell. I've seen them many times before and usually the sheer heaviness of them live makes me lose control of my bowel.

Thumbs up to the venue as well, decent security and moderately priced drinks (UP-YOURS MANNING!!!) made the night a memorable one.

Til next time,

Ben

Surry Hills It's always great to see the awesome Aussie toasting equivalent of "Cheers" (Pommieland), "Prost" (Germany) and "Salute" (Italy) in print Ð "Up-Yours" is a verbal national treasure - Ed

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RAISE THE FILTH-O-METRE

To whom it may concern,

I was offended and disgusted by my grandson's copy of The Drum Media last week (issue 958) and think it is no wonder I need to wash his mouth out with soap and water on a regular basis. In particular, I refer to the article on the walking corpses who call themselves Cradle Of Filth. For starters, what sort of a name is that for a group? A cradle conjures soothing connotations but then they introduce a sordid word like "filth" into the equation. When I spied the picture of the vile foursome, I wrestled your magazine from my grandson, despite his protests. As a regular church-goer, I immediately booked the young whippersnapper into confession and think it irresponsible of your publication to print swear words that make reference to the female reproductive system. Luring youngsters to read the article with a blasphemous introductory paragraph that mentions serial killers and child abuse is similarly beyond comprehension. I will certainly be monitoring the reading matter that my grandson has access to with a keen eye from now on.

I will pray for the mercy of your souls,

Ethol Wyndemere

Punchbowl

Thanks for reading the mag, Ethol - we're mighty pleased that you'll be picking The Drum up every week from now on. If you have any requests for acts you'd like to read about, feel free to send them our way. Perhaps you'd like to know more about The Fuck Fucks? Or Pisschrist? Maybe some Powderfinger would float your boat? Or is that crossing the line of offensiveness? We'd never want to do that... - Ed