Awaydays

Awaydays is a 2009 British film directed by Pat Holden and stars Stephen Graham. It is based on the novel of the same name by Kevin Sampson, originally published eleven years previously in 1998.

The film follows Paul Carty, a 19-year-old in the aftermath of his mother's death who becomes part of The Pack - a legendary group of football hooligans who dress casual and wear adidas original cagoules, carry Stanley knives and follow Tranmere Rovers F.C.

Plot

The film begins in 1979 with Paul Carty (Nicky Bell), with his sister Molly, (Holliday Grainger) and father, at his mother's graveside. After his sister escorts her dad away from the grave, Carty, looking at his watch, starts to run off. Along his way he gets changed into casual clothing and carries on running until he catches a football special train.

Aboard the train, he meets the leader of the football firm, John Godden (Stephen Graham), an ex-soldier who warns him he has no room for runners in his firm and he best stand his ground. When walking through the train, he meets Elvis (Liam Boyle), and Carty reminisces about how they met in a series of flashbacks. We learnt that Carty has always been fascinated by The Pack, observing them at Tranmere games when they fight and trying to dress like them, at which point Baby Millan (Oliver Lee), taunts Carty and threatens him but Elvis leads the other lads away and Carty stands his ground. Carty eventually meets Elvis at a club night and the pair realise they have many things in common from music taste to wanting out of Birkenhead. The pair fantasise about leaving for Berlin. Carty, over their next few meetings, begs Elvis to introduce him to The Pack but Elvis calls them a "gang of pricks" and says Carty does not want to be involved. Eventually, after Carty headbutts a rude sales assistant in a record shop to prove his fighting skills, Elvis gives in and tells him to meet him on the train at 12:00 on Saturday.

The Away Days

The Away Days is a Turkish dream pop band formed in Istanbul in 2012. The band's current line-up consists of Oğuz Can Özen (vocals, guitar), Sezer Koç (guitar, bass guitar), Haktan İlhan (guitar), Orkun Atik (keyboards) and Ulaş Ozbiçer (drums).

History

Formed in 2012 by Oğuz Can Özen and Sezer Koç, the band released their debut EP, How Did It All Start, independently in late 2012. Following year, the band released their first music video, "Galaxies", and performed at South by Southwest festival, attracting international attention. In addition, the band performed at The Great Escape Festival and toured United Kingdom. The band also opened for artists such as Portishead, Paul Banks and Owen Pallett.

In 2014, the band released the singles "Your Colour" and "Paris" with respective music videos. The music videos were premiered by Clash and Spin, respectively.

Musical style

The band's musical style has been described as "dream pop" and "shoegazing."Clash magazine editor Robin Murray wrote that "the band's material matches the citrus-sharp songcraft of School of Seven Bells with the whirlwind drumming of early Ride," while also noting that "there's even a bit of Swervedriver's rock edge in there." Mischa Pearlman of The Guardian wrote: "Turkish shoegaze might not be a major phenomenon, but given the breadth of their [The Away Days'] talent, it soon could be." Zachary Lipez of Vice described the band's style as "a solid mix of 2006 Brooklyn, forever Flying Nun, and The La’s if they were mentored by the Reid brothers." The band's lyrics are sung entirely in English.