- Live Reviews
- Live Reviews
This was a Cloud Control headline gig, but with severe weather closing in and a train journey to make back home to the South Coast we had to bail out early. But having bought the tickets principally to see Teleman anyway, the addition of Young Husband was a bonus so still plenty of value for money for us.
Young Husband released a solid debut album in 2013 featuring a number of songs built around melodic guitars and creative lyrics. Tonight's brief set of six tunes centred around two album highlights 'Silver Sisters' and 'Wavelength' as well as 6Music's recently-aired 'Left Of The Rocks'. Closing with the title track from their 'Dromes' album the band left a reminder that they are fully capable of rockin with the best of them as the guitar refrain from the song wanders into grunge territory.
This band have some dates coming up supporting Bo Ningen. I'm not sure what the BN faithful will make of Young husband, but if you're thinking about going to one of these shows I would highly recommend getting there in good time to take in the opening band as well.
Teleman are the recent carnation of 'Pete and the Pirates', basically the same line-up with a different drummer. With Thomas Sander's distinctive vocal still to the fore as in the PATP material, the Teleman songs show a further level of maturity in their song-writing craft. With just a limited edition EP released so far, we are waiting in keen anticipation for their debut full-length offering.
Tonight's set comprises some new songs as well as 3 numbers from their EP. The stunning 'Cristina' first reached the 6Music airwaves last summer and sits at the centre of tonight's set, a truly captivating song. Hats off to the sound engineer at Heaven. Given this was not the main act the sound quality was spot on, showcasing this talented band brilliantly.
Si & Sally
- Live Reviews
Our first visit to this very smart venue. Exceedingly friendly staff and a well laid-out club with a nice-sized bar area leading to the main club room.
Eagulls were support which was a bonus to have the opportunity to see this band that has caught the eye of the music press recently. The band has a polish that complements the raw energy of their melodic punk tunes. But most striking is the menacing swagger of lead singer, George Mitchell.
Each time I've seen Parquet Courts the template for their set is similar. This doesn't see the band burst on to the stage tearing into their fast-paced repertoire. Rather they build through a couple of elongated opening songs with a bluesy feel and jangly guitars, which act as a smouldering fuse.
The fourth song tonight sees the powder keg explode as they go into 'Master Of My Craft' triggering a mosh-pit deep into the crowd which stays pretty much active for the remainder of the 19-song set. Their lyric "Mantras of 'Keep Going' that are locked into my thoughts" has never seemed more apt.
The band gallops through numerous hits from their Light Up Gold album including the almost narrative 'Donuts Only'. The excellent guitar breaks in 'Stoned & Starving' curiously sees the rate of crowd-surfing increase. Fantastic fun, very messy indeed!
Recent single 'You've Got Me Wonderin Now' is delivered with aplomb, not surprisingly minus the squeaky recorder accompaniment evident on the record.
A classic gig from an extremely classy band. Just as you think the set will finish because they've done all their good material they throw in two more highlights 'Yonder is Closer to the Heart' and album title track 'Light Up Gold'
More lyrics: 'This thickness is just enough to wade through' which had strong resonance as we exited to Brighton seafront to a gale-force wind.
Si & Sally
- Live Reviews
- Live Reviews
I am not sure if it is the quality of live performances that keeps improving or, as punters we just continue to find more to intrigue us from the concert stage in our old age? Even as I approach forty years of gigging in November, I can still find artists and bands to see live that, I have not seen in concert before. A case in point is Bill Callahan and at the Royal Festival Hall on Friday with, his accompanying three piece band.
Bill standing, with the rest of the band seated, guitarist Matt Kinsey on one side, and bassist Jamie Zuverza and drummer Adam Jones on the other played for over two hours with the 47-year-old musician and his band turning in an absolutely sublime show.
Dipping into Smog land as well as his solo back catalogue along with songs from his latest LP 'Dream River' the set lasts for fourteen songs, including a Ray Charles and Percy Mayfield cover. The whole set is performed with an aching beauty that at times leaves the audience breathless.
A small touch of interplay with the crowd was just about right, showing the recluive Bill to be in an affable mood. His baritone vocals were solid, crisp and clear. His guitar also did much of the rhythm talking particularly when interplaying with the SG of Matt Kinsey.
It is very rare to see Bill play live and perhaps with the universal praise he is garnering on this tour, his live shows may become more regular occurrences. Let's just hope accolades as the "next Leonard Cohen" in tone and, Lou Reed in his phrasing do not put him off because Bill needs no comparisons, he is a unique talent.
Pete
Bill's very own Set List;
The Sing
Javelin Unlanding
Jim Cain
Spring
Drover
Dress Sexy at My Funeral
A Song for You (Ray Charles cover)
Ride My Arrow
One Fine Morning
America!
Please Send Me Someone to Love (Percy Mayfield cover)
Too Many Birds
Seagull
Winter Road
- Live Reviews
Having been on a break from the U.K. with a single London show last year it was good to see The Boxer Rebellion back in action.
Having gained notoriety in their early days for self-funding their album releases and becoming an itunes best seller, their latest two releases 'The Cold Still' (2011) and 'Promises' (late 2013) have been somewhat below the radar.
This has always been a hard-working band and tonight they played a full 90 minutes, treating us to a set covering all 4 albums.
The set really picked up 20 minutes in with 'Evacuate' and gained further heights with another old favourite 'We Have This Place Surrounded' and opening track on their latest CD 'Diamonds'
Perhaps unlike the early days TBR are not afraid to mix it up a bit to show their mastery of more stripped-back songs, and 'No Harm' and 'You Belong To Me' provided a welcome counterbalance to the full-on soundscapes and intricate time-signatures which are the hallmark of the band.
As I reflected on the gig later that night I reflected on three superb tracks from their albums past and present, all favourites of mine, that they didn't play - truly a measure of a quality band.
Si & Sally
- Live Reviews
In the 1970s Leo Sayer sung about a One-Man Band, conjuring up images of a ramshackle performer simultaneously playing multiple instruments. Will Doyle, aka East India Youth, is the one-man band of the current age, but gone is the adjective ramshackle, replaced with sublime.
Will's performance creates an unsurpassable soundscape through his mastery of keyboard, computer, guitar and endless looping, all complemented with his striking vocal, but the electronic wizadry is not a substitute for lazy application; on the contrary Will Doyle actively produces a high-energy show tonight, showcasing all that is good on his recently released Total Strife Forever album.
The set nicely dovetails the tunes from the album with poignant lyrics like Dripping Down, Looking For Someone and Heaven How Long with mind-boggling near-orchestral extensions. The more I listen to the album it is these very instrumental tracks that reveal greater depths and show why this album has received such high acclaim.
As a one-man performer Will Doyle carries the show superbly. The fact is he does not need to pile all this pressure on himself. He could take the easier route by delivering these songs through fronting a band (he has a track record of this in his previous Doyle & The Fourfathers persona). Instead East India Youth creates a focal point for these brilliantly crafted tunes, delivered with tempo and energy of the highest grade.
Si & Sally
- Live Reviews
We were treated to an awesome gig from Mogwai on Friday night; it was just wonderful to be immersed in their world and wall of sound. Loud for the Royal Festival Hall but, not loud for a Mogwai gig, my earplugs were unused on this occasion. Harmonies of guitars, keyboards, some evolving and drifting meant that there was never a dull moment.
The new record Rave Tapes actually features songs with vocals (through vocoders) as did the gig from Stuart Braithwaite and violinist Luke Sutherland. The vocals seemed like an additional instrument, added to a slow heavy rock beat on bass and drums, that gave the band yet another edge,
Mogwai played five songs from their new album which was released a few days before on CD, Vinyl and cassette and I am sure will be a contender for my top ten list at the end of the year.
You can catch the video of The Lord is Out of Control HERE
More pics of the gig HERE
Set List
- Live Reviews
Girl Band – Old Blue Last 22 Jan 2014
It's a busy Thursday night in London for our 2014 1st trip. One buzz word and we cannot help ourselves, GIRL BAND are hailed to be the exciting next big thing!!
The Post-Punk outfit are receiving a fair amount of airplay and rave reviews for their single 'Lawman' - and the limited vinyl in a printed bag is a treasure to own! (Note plays at 33rpm)
It's one in, one out on the door for this FREE gig and the air is buzzing. The band take to the tiny Old Blue Last stage at 10.15 it's not going to be a long set as the band all have the list written on the back of their hands!
A mix of Pixies with Mark E Smith style insistent vocals but the heartbeat bass, clean drums and tight guitar throughout make this band a very exciting one to watch. It's loud and hectic and the set including closer Cha Cha Cha (all 20 Secs of it!) was a blast of fresh air. There will be carnage in a tent in Reading come this August!!!
- Live Reviews
First class gig in Swansea last night. Peter Bruntnell, Neil Halstead and Danny George Wilson (who works in a tattoo shop, when not being a musician he told us).
A master class of songwriters indeed.. Sitting left to right, Neil, Peter, Danny, each taking turn to perform songs individually from their various Lps. Never truly solo, as the harmonies where in CSN (Crosby Stills & Nash) territory and when one was singing, guitar, harmonica and percussion was provided by the other two.
The Chattery is also unique, a coffee shop / restaurant, open for breakfast and lunch, it stays open in the evening of a gig. So a 7.30 arrival seen us ordering a home cooked meal and fine bottles of ale (£3.50 - London take note!).
The first set was an hour after which, cheese & french bread was handed out at half time to all who wanted it. A further 75 minute set was superb. Only four dates on this week long tour, friendships certainly seemed to have been struck and much merriment obtained from spending a week being ferried across the country in Peter Bruntnell's Jag (Rover, that felt like a Jag).
The show was full collection of of songs, as the guy's dug deep into their musical careers. The final song, sung as a collective, was a sublimely sweet John Prine cover as the gig drew to a close at 11.45pm.
This is what at great gig is all about; songcraft, collaboration, friendship, a cosy venue and fine musicians. we hope to be back at the Chattery before too long.
Pete
Chris Mills & the Distant Stars play at The Chattery on Saturday 22nd February. Tickets are available on: 01792 473276
- Live Reviews
The small Derbyshire town of Belper does not usually appear in a list of great music venues of Britain. However looking at the signed posters from a variety of acoustic/ folk musicians on display in the lovely little room above The Queen’s Head it’s clear it punches well above its weight.
A small, but enthusiastic crowd are gathered to see twice nominated BBC Folk Awards duo Gilmore & Roberts consisting of Katriona Gilmore on vocals, fiddle and mandolin, and Jamie Roberts on vocals and amazing lap-tapping acoustic guitar which cleverly combines strumming guitar melodies and accompanying rhythm section by striking the guitar’s sound box mid-strum.
Todate they’ve recorded three albums of story-telling songs with strong melodies and beautiful playing. Opening tonight with ‘The Stealing Arm’ described by Jamie about “an arm transplant, which goes horribly wrong”. Katriona sings about her sat nav! “. You find your way by satellite. So take me home …Silver Screen”. Jamie’s song about an irregular customer in the Subway he worked at during his student days ‘Louis was a Boxer’. “…He took a blow too many and now he’s lost his mind, ‘cos Louis was a boxer … in his prime”.
To provide some variety there’s a jazzy-influenced instrumental and a cover of their favourite Christmas song from the Albert Finney film “Scrooge”
The majority of tonight’s set is from ‘The Innocent Left’ (2012)and the main set closes with the first track from that album about the doomed ‘Scarecrow’, “ … he fails at the only thing he knows. Scaring crows”. The eerie main fiddle melody of which could be the dance tune of choice for the pagan parade from ‘The Wicker Man’ as they propel Edward Woodward through the streets of Summerisle to his flaming conclusion; it’s that creepy.
The encore is a beautiful slowed down of Alice Cooper’s ‘Poison’ their version is accompanied by guitar and mandolin rather than a boa constrictor and guillotine.
A 4th album is promised for 2014 and they tour regularly; both should be on anyone’s wanted list for 2014.
Alisdair Whyte
- Live Reviews
It's the 3rd of December, but as far as I am concerned, Christmas has come early. This is the second tour of 2013 for Bristol's Blue Aeroplanes, which in itself hasn't happened for many years, and Nottingham is the first date of it. Entitled the Singles Tour, the Aeroplanes are playing songs they have released as singles or EPs over the years, along with a few promised new tracks. This was much anticipated by this reviewer.
Over the years, the band have been a constantly changing line up of musicians based around chief Aeroplane, vocalist and poet Gerard Langley, and this current band has the renewed vibrancy and energy of Swagger era in the 90's, primarily due to talented guitarists Bec, Mike and Gerard Starkie (they have always been fantastically guitar heavy). Sadly, dancer Wojtek (yes, dancer) was absent tonight, due to family commitments, however how he would have got on with the tiny stage space is anyone's guess.
So with a 10pm curfew (Brudenell, take note), on they came at 8.30 and launched into first released single Action Painting, followed by Broken and Mended, itself often used to open the set.."hi. How are you? How's it going? You look happy, you look glowing.." Great start.
The hundred or so crowd were warming up, and Jacket Hangs, from album Swagger, an ever present in Aeroplanes gigs, brought the loudest reaction so far, until at least And Stones was played. This is the nearest to a dance track the Aeroplanes have ever released, and got some of us middle aged men swaying at least.
New track, I think fantastically called "Walking Under Ladders for A Living" sounded fantastic and bodes well for promised 2014 new album which Gerard himself admits is half written.
