- Live Reviews
Last on the bill at Surya's 5 band offering last Sunday saw Yorkshire’s loudest Road to Horizon take stage.
Setting the tone with the clever use of an intro/atmoshere track the band launched into their signature strutting metalcore power cords to open the set with the excellent Sirens. Vocalist Ben Flockton has the perfect voice to balance a surprising melodic hook before thundering into a full post-hardcore chorus scream. Wonderful to hear, and considering the close confines of the unseasonally warm Surya club, and delivered with a great deal of style.
This band are clearly well rehearsed, excellent musicians and loving being on the road. The tour set up to coincide with the release of their Faultlines ep mainly showcased it's tracks all, of which play superbly well live, Tonight is our Night being a particular favourite of mine from the set. That said, there were no fillers just a fabulous, all to short, set that delivered exactly what the audience wanted, power, power and more power, culminating in the title track Faultlines.
The band has no weak links, the drums of Sie Gordon and Oli Parkinson's bass keep the band on point and are a great compliment to the guitars of Benji Wilson and Chris McIntosh. Fans of StoneSour should check these guys out as a good home grown alternative. I'm a fan and highly recommend you find out for yourself if they pass your way.
9/10 Iain
@docswallow
Set list:
Intro
Sirens
Victimised
Keeping Hope Alive
Tonight is our Night
Faultlines
- Live Reviews
Unfortunately on the night in question lead Singer Mykl Barton had a stinker of a cold, speaking to him prior to the set it was touch and go if he could start. That said they took an earlier slot and on the bill and Enter the Lexicon blew everyone away. This Geordie 3 piece are the real deal, with a simple drum, guitar and bass set up they deliver their lyrical rock with style. Opening with New Addiction prior to the brilliant Do You Feel the Same? they have a great delivery and very appealing stage presence.
Mykl's vocal range is impressive and was ably supported by bassist Danny Pitson during the set. Surya is a warts and all basement club, with a less than sophisticated soundscape, but the quality of ETL's performance raised them above and beyond its limitations.
All their tracks are quickly picked up, sing with the band, nuggets. For all the melody and musicianship in the band ETL are no shrinking violets, they have range and confidence to crank it up and deliver a full blooded powerhouse performance that you normally expect from larger bands.
This Band are certainly greater than the sum of their parts, Ben Hardy in particular is one of the best drummers I have seen for quite a while. To sum up I would challenge anyone not to enjoy the experience of ETL live, I can only wonder how good it would have been with a germ free Mykl. If they come your way, get yourself there. Seeing them now will definitely give you the kudos of saying I saw them before they went massive, which with their LA label backing, they most certainly will.
10/10 Iain
@docswallow
Set list:
New Addiction
Do You Feel the Same?
Lo-Fi
Can't Fight Back
Stars
The Right God
- Live Reviews
Five piece Blackberry Smoke blew into Cambridge from Atlanta to be greeted with a packed out crowd at the Junction 1. Paul Jackson, Charlie Starr, Brandon Still, Brit Turner and Rich Turner have actually been tearing up the U.K. for the past week as part of a European tour on the back of this year's live album, 'Leave a Scar, Live: North Carolina'.
Formed in 2000 the band are three studio albums old. 'Bad Luck ain't No Crime (2004), Little Piece of Dixie (2009) and The Whippoorwill (2012) and their fan base is growing.
This was a rip-roaring rocking set (circa 1977). Nearest comparison and one which the band seem to encourage is their home town heroes Lynyrd Skynyrd (Workin' for MCA appears in the encore) and it really is time machine stuff if like me anyone experienced mark 1 Lynyrd Skynyrd in their prime.
By no means are Blackberry Smoke any sort of tribute band however, they have a growing rich catalogue of original songs in that 'Southern Rock style'. A cross selection of songs are played tonight from all three albums, those that lead singer Paul Jackson says are popular back home. Well they are certainly popular this side of the water as well now!
A couple of slower paced country style ballads sprinkled the set and 'The Whippoorwill' a ballad itself was pretty much sung word for word by the audience.
After the gig there were bootleg T-Shirt sellers outside which is always a sign of popularity, unless they thought it was Black Cherry Smoke playing at the venue!
Pete
Set-list
Like I Am
Leave a Scar
Pretty Little Lie
Scare the Devil
Six Ways to Sunday
Good One Comin' On
Crimson Moon
Sleepin' Dogs
Everybody Knows She's Mine
The Whippoorwill
Sanctified Woman
Up in Smoke
Ain't Got the Blues
Who Invented the Wheel
One Horse Town
Ain't Much Left of Me
Encore
Workin' for MCA
Shakin' Hands with the Holy Ghost
- Live Reviews
A Monday night following a gig on a Sunday needs some determination, particularly at the start of a working week but, the chance to catch these two bands in a small venue on our doorstep was too great an opportunity to pass up.
Alvvays from Toronto are a bright, sparky, fun indie band. One album released this year meant the 30 minute set was just fine, Lead singer Molly Rankin had a good between song patter and they just blasted though the album. Molly at one stage commenting how they usually play in beer soaked noisy venues. She got quite a culture shock at the Junction 2 then! A great band and a festival favourite to come.
Real Estate hail from New Jersey and are three albums into their career. An incredibly tight 5 piece outfit, their 90 minutes on stage was very rewarding on the ears. There is a Steely Dan proficiency to the songs and a West Coast smoothness to the overall sound.
All albums are covered as well as an EP released sometime in the past (which seems difficult to track down). The current tour follows some summer festival shows and the venue was pretty much full.
No lengthy conversation with the crowd (they did experience Nandos for the first time that evening apparently) meant that the music just flowed.
The tour continues and a show headlining at the Shepherds Bush Empire next week indicates just how far the band have come already.
A really great show!
Pete
Ones Who Love You
Next Of Kin
The Agency Group
Atop A Cake
Dives
Your Type
Party Police
Adult Diversion
Archie, Marry Me
Green River
Had To Hear
Municipality
Past Lives
Horizon
Green Aisles
Talking Backwards
Fake Blues
Beneath The Dunes
April's Song
The Bend
How Might I Live
Crime
Encore:
Basement
It's Real
All The Same
- Live Reviews
A week-long series of concerts to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Full Time Hobby record label continued with a gala gig featuring The Leisure Society playing their entire 'Sleeper' (debut) album, The Smoke Fairies and Samantha Crain at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on the Southbank. This rather comfortable and intimate seated venue was in fact, just the place for a gig at the end of a sunny autumn day.
Samatha Crain was first on, solo with a acoustic guitar having just hopped off a plane. The new album must be due next year and the 30 minutes or so she was on stage, she crammed with songs old and new. A very talented singer-songwriter, whose reputation is growing.
Last time I saw the Smoke Fairies live must have been at the End of the Road festival around the release of their first LP; Katherine Blamire and Jessica Davies, two acoustic guitars and sweet smoky harmonies. Fast forward a few years and tonight it's a full on 5 piece band with the electric guitars plugged in and, the amps turned up to max. Add to that a powerhouse drummer, bass and keyboards and you can imagine the spectacular effect! Still the same great harmonies just with Uncle Jack's (White) influence's to 'crank it up' looming large perhaps.
To wind up the evening it's the best toe tapping, feel good band in Britain next up. The Leisure Society are here tonight with at one point a ten piece band (mainly 9) to play though their entire debut album 'Sleeper' which itself was celebrating its 5th anniversary.
I defy anyone to leave a Leisure Society gig without that feel good factor. Nick Hemming's songs are a delight, intelligent, interesting and err .. well, toe tappers! The band injects the life into the songs with a myriad of instrument's and harmonies and general good humour.
Throughout the gig the video backdrop showed various artwork from the band's career, including a previously unseen cover for 'The Sleeper' ably described by Christian Hardy. Post the album run through The band played a couple of new songs from their currently being recorded 4th LP, which showed the rich vein of song writing still continues, together with some non - Sleeper songs, including an energetic 'Dust on the Dancefloor' that saw the gig conclude in fine style just over three hours after it started.
Pete
Photos HERE
- Live Reviews
I've long since given up counting how many British Sea Power gigs I've been to. But one things for sure, I'm still a rank amateur. BSP have a cult following that contains in its ranks individuals who continue to take in countless shows the length and breadth of the UK, and abroad.
So whilst my BSP attendance-record is ok but not one to boast about, they remain by a long way the band I've seen most. So this begs the perennial question: what is that makes them such an attractive proposition? The answer is simply that this band has a real knack of keeping things fresh, if not by what they deliver but by the sheer interest in the venues they play.
Tonight's event, part of Bournemouth Arts Week was right up the BSP alley: a gig on the National Trust owned nature reserve Brownsea Island. So there we were, gathered in the heavy rain at a mostly deserted jetty between Bournemouth and Poole to catch the specially-chartered ferry (included in the ticket price). As we waited in the gathering dusk sheltering under an umbrella it definitely felt like an event that'd be good to talk about afterwards but not enjoyable at the time.
Things changed as we made ourselves onto the boat and broke out beers and started swapping BSP stories with the party-faithful. 15 minutes later saw us moored at the island with a short walk up the jetty, through the National Trust cafe for further refreshments. I suspect the cafe shifted more of their staple 'Brownsea Ale' than they had done in a while - in fact they had sold out by the time I got to the bar. Fortunately the 'BSP Shop' had extended their range tonight to include San Miguels.
The gig was in an adjoining marquee and with everyone safely ensconced BSP took to the stage at 7.00 pm after a support slot from a local brass band.
A slow start in the chilly evening but how did this set warm up. In all truth probably not a set for BSP first-timers but from my point of view it was as near perfect as I could experience. I have four favourite BSP numbers; The Lonely (first ever BSP song I ever heard, on an NME 2003 sampler, rarely played live); Blackout (from first album 'Decline'); True adventures (off 'Open Season'); Radio Goddard (off latest CD 'Machineries of Joy but usually overlooked live). Incredibly they included all four in the set.
Sprinkled around these were better known songs 'Waving Flags', 'Remember Me' plus a selection from their 'rarities' catalogue 'Moley And Me' and 'Bear' - definitely ones for the die-hard. The middle section of the set was accompanied by the brass band, giving fantastic colourful depths to the melodies, and making up for the absence of viola-player Abi who is recovering from an injury.
And so to the ferry traversing the waves back to the mainland truly, a wonderful Sea Power experience.
Si
- Live Reviews
Glaswegian singer Daniel Meade and his friends gave a right rollicking Americana start to the evening. The band landed onstage in an enviable array of hats that promised, and went on to deliver a magnificent start to the evening. The folksy foot stomping ‘What you Waiting For’ was a highlight with its references to Glasgow, and left the crowd suitably warmed.
Sturgill Simpson was up next. Originally from Kentucky, but currently a resident of Nashville, Sturgill has been hailed by Rolling Stone as the ‘Saviour of Country Music’ and compared by many to the late Waylon Jennings.
The rollercoaster of a set started slow and hurtled towards an epic ending taking in some frenzied finger picking and awesome slide guitar along the way.
The crowd were knowledgeable and quite clearly fans of Sturgill’s music, and he interacted with them like old friends. When requested to play ‘Hero’ he replied that we would hear pretty much everything apart from this track as it would result in tears in his beard, “instead of us crying we are going to make you cry”. Indeed some of his mournful ballads including a cover by Lefty Furzzels ‘I Never Go Around Mirrors’ and the superb ‘Water in the Well’ from his most recent album, left the audience captivated.
The band were incredibly tight and at some points the set turned into an all out jamming session with Estonian guitarist Laur Joamets and Sturgill taking it in turns to wow the crowd. There were also nods to Sturgill’s Bluegrass roots. Sturgill explained “we sat on our porches and drank a load of whisky and played music that gradually sped up and became bluegrass music”.
Sturgill’s music was new to me, but along with the rest of the audience, I was completely entranced throughout the gig by his effortlessly powerful voice and beautiful soaring melodies. I really don’t know whether Sturgill Simpson is the saviour of country music, but whatever he is preaching I am his latest convert. Highly recommended.
Katy
- Live Reviews
The Junction 2 in Cambridge seems to have cornered the market in interesting support band this past week. Last weekend it was the superb Seeds & Bones and this weekend it was Tom Adams. Unfortunately we missed the first band on, Gaze is Ghost.
Tom makes a whole host of sounds from his guitar as well as his pedals and effects and, a hand held flat board which seems to contain various buttons which change the sound textures as it is waved around. Tom also processes a falsetto voice up there in the range of Jonsi as well, so a very interesting set indeed.
Wooden Arms from Norwich have been getting a fair few mentions from us over the past week, mainly driven from one of our northern correspondents who has fallen under their spell. Tonight the band are on a strictly southern tour which climaxes at St Pancras Old Church in London on Friday (17th Oct).
The six piece band fill the stage as pretty much does their layered symphonic melodies. Their new album 'Tide' features heavily as does old and new songs. With 'Tide' just scraping in at the thirty minutes mark it's a shame the new songs played tonight were not included.
'Tide' was recorded by Wild Beasts and I Like Trains engineer David Pye and the sound of the band does carry the same widescreen song format of those other outfits. Piano, Vocals, Guitar, Trumpet, Guitar,Violin, Cello and drums will give you an idea as to the scope of the band.
The songwriter's of the band Alex Carson (piano) and Jeff Smith (trumpet, guitar), pretty much corner the banter between songs, the former seeming quite excited or nervous perhaps but, when playing their music it all goes to a different and almost celestial level. The songs may better suit a darker stage, with the hint of some swirling dry ice as the budget increases rather than, the bright white lighting they pretty much played their set under.
I would anticipate many more dates and another new LP perhaps from this band for next year. They have real talent for making inspiring music. How about a support slot on a British Sea Power tour?
Pete
Wooden Arms are:
Alex Carson - Piano / Vocals / Guitar
Jeff Smith - Vocals / Trumpet / Guitar
Milly Hirst - Vocals
Jess Diggins - Violin / Vocals
Fynn Titford-Mock - Cello / Vocals
Alex Mackenzie - Drums/Vocals
- Live Reviews
As a once promoter of my own band/club-night in New Cross, I am always a little dismayed and encouraged that the format still exists in some form or another. The Coronet is a great venue, the size of Koko but with the 'décor' of its predecessor 'The Camden Palais'. Infamous for years in Camden as a relic of late 90's rave culture that took a decade to grow up. The Coronet like the Palais could soon be at it's end, at the bar is a petition to save the grand venue which I duly signed before grabbing a beer before settling down to watch the bands.
First, Lois and The Love – The sparse crowd gathered with more intrigue in Lois's spandex jump suit that anything else. The sound reverberated heavily around the empty room. In fairness, she gave it her all but the few ears that were there remained unmoved. At their best I saw Blondie and Iggy mixed into one but less 'Raw Power' and more 'One Way or Another'.
Then, Movie – Angular guitars and dance rhythms, this three piece deserved a bigger crowd. I will always have affection for a band from South London and these guys don't disappoint with originality over novelty. The Goldsmith's alumni know how to put on a show.
Headliners, Escapists – Having listened on record to Escapists, they sound better in the flesh. They are a gang and it's refreshing to see an on stage chemistry that can effortlessly develop a rapport with a small crowd. They remind me of Florida rockers Merchandise, another band whose character live is rarely captured on record.
Finally, Maccabees DJ set – The old trick of using a band generalisation as branding when a few members need some cash for pressing play on iTunes. Those few who remained and too bored to dance took the opportunity to request a selfie, and the lead guitarist (the most recognizable Maccabee) was more than happy to oblige.
Thomas Cavanagh
- Live Reviews
After seeing the band at an early afternoon slot on the Woods stage at End of the Road festival in 2011, Dry The River released their eagerly awaited, magnificent debut album 'Shallow Bed' in early 2012. After what seems like forever, their second full length album 'Alarms in the Heart' was released this August so the band are on tour to support it.
Saturday night saw a busy, expectant crowd at the moderately sized Manchester Academy 2, awaiting their heroes after a couple of year's gap. They kicked off with Hidden Hand and Med School from the new album, and even though the audience has only had a couple of months to digest the new tunes, most lyrics are already memorised, and a mass sing-along begun.
First older song played was third song in, in the shape of New Ceremony, and now the party had really started. Probably in part to it being Saturday night and clearly everyone present was already a fan, the atmosphere was fantastic. It was also noted that the band attract a large female fan base, including this reviewer's wife, and an almost obsessive following.
This is a band that looks like Biffy Clyro, all long lanky hair and tattoos, but in Peter Liddle they have a be-fringed frontman with the voice of an angel. His almost falsetto tone really gives this band a sound like no other out there at the moment, and the musicianship of the rest of the band create the anthemic backdrop over which he soars.
New single Gethsemane, already sounding like it's going to be a firm live favourite, again had the crowd singing and dancing as the temperature inside the venue increased. The band seems genuinely appreciative of everyone's support, especially considering the gap where nothing was heard from them, and they thank us frequently for coming to see them.
The main set closed with Vessel, again another favourite from the new album, and finally No Rest from Shallow Bed……the crowd certainly does love them in the best way possible..
The encores began quietly, with an acoustic version of History Book, but we all knew (and hoped) what was coming, and that was Weights & Measures. It’s fair to say that I could barely hear the band as everyone was belting this out at the top of their voices….a real uplifting, emotional experience.
So with Goosebumps all over, sweat dripping off us, and virtually everyone grinning like buffoons, the show was over. The band came over to the merch stand for after show selfies and autographs, and we all left hoping it isn’t going to be another 2 years before we see them again.
Keith @kjsmith4082
- Live Reviews
Last night of the current European tour for James Taylor and his 'All Star' band (which includes, bassist and leader Jimmy Johnson, drummer Steve Gadd and guitarist Michael Landau) was at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Even though this beautiful hall hold a few thousand people, this seemd a very intimate gig from the off.
Surely one of the nicest people in music, James and the band played two career spanning sets with a few covers thrown in. His voice, his enthusiasm and it seems his heath are all on tip top for with the audience entranced all the way through.
The band are tremendous and as James introduces each member in turn throughout the first set, he shakes their hand or give them a hug, just saying thanks for being there.
Whilst all the 'hits' are on parade there are many many stories around all the songs that are played, even "One More Go Round" that they "play for the groove, but is lyrically weak", don't you believe it!
The two set are broken up with a twenty minute interval which sees James chatting with the crowd, posing for photos and signing autographs. The band comes back and the start the second set whilst on this is still going on. A true gent!
James is at one with his music and is a true legend with such a vast back catalogue and music history. His voice is as clear as ever and songs like Carolina on My Mind, Sweet Baby James and Fire and Rain are just as tingling in 2014 as they were when they were first recorded.
This was a truly magnificent show from a true troubadour.
Set 1
Something in the Way She Moves
Today, Today, Today
Lo and Behold
Wandering
Everyday
Country Road
Millworker
Carolina in My Mind
One More Go Round
Sweet Baby James
Shower the People
Set 2
Stretch of the Highway
You and I Again
Hour That the Morning Comes
Handy Man
Steamroller
Only One
Fire and Rain
Up on the Roof
Mexico
Your Smiling Face
Encore:
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)
You've Got a Friend
Wild Mountain Thyme
- Live Reviews
It's an autumnal Sunday evening in Cambridge and I think most of the would-be punters for tonight's gig have elected to stay around the fireside. Indeed, the last time I saw The Phantom Band it was also a dark and chilly evening but that time, on the island of Eigg back in July.
The Eigg gig was in a packed marquee which swayed to the force of the band's anthem driven rock as it swept over them. The band tonight where on equal form tonight but, the more intimate Portland Arms might have raised the intensity a bit.
The Phantom Band are really into their stride at the moment and blasted through a seventy five minute, album spanning set, to the delight of those assembled. All excellent musican's it was an electrifying set.
Another highlight was actually the band filling the support slot. Cambridge based Seeds and Bones who were absolutely entrancing. Electronics, guitar and a heavenly voice. Goldfrapp meets Portishead perhaps. Look out for this band!
So a first class evening that was well worth stepping out into the autumn night for.
Pete
