- Live Reviews
Let me start by saying that I love Laura Veirs.....I have looked forward to her new albums ever since 'Troubled By the Fire' was released, and have loved every release since. That said, for various reasons, this was to be my first time seeing her live, so I headed down to Sheffield with great anticipation. I'd also never been to The Plug before.......and won't be returning. Let me explain...
The only description for the Plug is a warehouse... and a freezing cold one at that. I assume it's packed to the rafters on Friday and Saturday nights with students raving or whatever they do nowadays, and everyone's having a great time. So the venue could not be further removed for an American off - kilter folk band midweek in November. The stage is crammed into one quarter of the space, with a couple of hundred mainly bearded types, including me, with our coats on, squeezed between stage and mixing desk, the vastness of its size suggesting it was bought second hand from Muse's last arena tour.
Despite its size, this couldn't prevent Laura's mic being barely audible for the first 30 seconds of opener Sun Song from the fabulous and latest album Warp & Weft. So then, as if to overcompensate, her mic went into shouting mode....great start.
The set was divided approximately 50:50 between acoustic and electric driven songs, the latter mainly when the new songs were played, and Laura's banter and chatter with the crowd was engaging (asking what Sheffield was famous for, the answer came back as steel and Henderson's Relish). Shapeshifter, from the new album was inspired by murmurations of starlings she had witnessed on previous visits to the UK, and July Flame is named after a variety of peach. Both were highlights for me as the sound balance was sorting itself out.
The fabulous 'America and White Cherry' closed the set, with Laura thanking the crowd for coming out and sympathising that we had probably all got work in the morning.....if we thawed out by then anyway.
So in summary, my first live experience of Laura was a disappointment, not of the bands doing, but by venue choice....I still love Laura Veirs, but how about the Brudenell next tour, or even better, the Tipi tent at the End of the Road Festival.
Keith
- Live Reviews
This was like an all American blue collar Smokey venue (if you could still smoke indoors) type gig and impressive it was too!
A cold damp Tuesday school night is, just the night to be whisked away to a seemingly virtual
Caveman are a very solid band led by an exuberant and crowd engaging lead singer, Matthew Iwanusa. They got a decent length set to entertain us with a rocky
The venue was around a third full I suppose and centred on the stage for the arrival of Matthew Houck and six piece band otherwise known as Phosphorescent. Whether solo or with Band, Matthew Houck has honed the ‘Phosphorescent’ name into something meaning thoughtful modern day
Nod’s back to the past, Reasons to Quit from ‘To Willie’, and a solo ‘Wolves from Pride, the set generally borrowed from the past two records, 2010’s Here’s to taking it Easy’ and this year’s ‘Muchacho.
The band is now so well gelled together musically that, they will need to be surgically separated once Matthew is back in solo Phosphorescent mode. Songs that where pure country, to
The surprise once we were outside the venue was that, we were in
Pete
- Live Reviews
In 1992 The Wedding Present staked their minor claim in musical history by releasing 12 singles in the
As the O2 in Leicester is part of the university, expectations for tonight’s crowd was a mix of students and 40-50 year olds in faded band T-shirts; but it’s clear upon entering the room the academics of Leicester largely can’t be bothered with music written before they were born so it’s left to the more experienced gig goers to enjoy the performance.
Opening the show is Taffy from
As the lights dim the creeping synth and throbbing bass line of ‘Interstate 5‘ starts up, the main man in black David Gedge and the current line-up of Patrick Alexander (guitar), Katharine Wallinger (bass) and Charles Layton (drums) in The Wedding Present‘s revolving door of supporting musicians (
- Live Reviews
Folk Supergroup; two words which when wedded together would rightly cause most people to turn the page or its more modern electronic equivalent; wait! Read on and I’ll attempt to explain what The Full English is all about.
The golden age of collecting traditional songs from the British Isles was at the start of the 20th Century; Cecil Sharp, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Percy Grainger and others travelled widely to record the history and stories of ordinary
Their collections of notebooks, musical scores and other documents have been available to study in Cecil Sharp House in
The Full English are seven of folks finest brought together by Fay to turn a small selection of the archive into an album and a touring band.
- Live Reviews
An excellent ‘4AD’ concert at the Cambridge Junction last Saturday.
First up was ‘Indians’ aka, Søren Løkke Juul. Now solo after working with other Danish bands most notably Other Lives, he has now found a niche as an electronic solo artist. A quite lengthy set really kept the audience engaged with a variation of songs and ‘Jonsi’ like pitched vocals. A new album (Somewhere Else) is well worth checking out.
Daughter was the band we had all come to see and a sold out show it was as well. Having caught a glimpse of the band at The End of the Road festival in the summer, it was eye opening to witness the full power, charm and subtlety of the band for a full hour plus set.
- Live Reviews
As the evenings draw in, dim the lights, and turn on the Lanterns on the Lake….
The solo voice of Hazel Wilde starts the night, followed by her keyboards, then Sarah Kemp’s violin, followed by Paul Gregory’s guitar, also played with a violin bow. Beautiful…and then like a folkrock Mogwai, they crash into a much darker end, building to a crescendo with Adam sawing away with his bow, then attacking the drum kit…at times up to 4 people hit the drums…it’s a schizophrenic performance, plaintive and wild, polished and raw. It conjures up coastal images from their native Newcastle, sounds echoing in the mist, seas gentle then storm-lashed, tides turning…Ships in the Rain is a song title that sums up much of their mood.
Many of the songs are from new album Until the Colours Run. It’s similar to their first, Gracious Tide, Take Me Home, but there have been some line-up changes, and the sound is perhaps darker, more orchestral. Last year at a festival they seemed a bit ‘light’ to me, tonight it’s much stronger. They now get played on Radio 4 as well as 6 Music, so they must be moving in the right direction.
The well-deserved encore also starts solo, then everyone joins in on the new album’s title track, and they all go wild for I Love You Sleepy Head from the first one.
Local support the Holden Girls showed promise if they develop beyond the obvious Joy Division influences. They really need a dark subterranean club at midnight to play in. Their EP is good though.
On a related topic, this is the second seated gig I have been to in a week. OK, as I approach middle age it can be nice to rest the body after a hard day punching keys and writing stuff – but most of our entertainment these days is experienced in a seated position. Gigs should be different, with a live interaction between the bands and audience. It is really hard for bands to drum up an atmosphere in places like theatres. Bring back the Bill Haley Teds, and rip up those seats! Discuss…
@KevinHand3
- Live Reviews
A night for Jon Brookes the Charlatan’s drummer who sadly passed away earlier this year was held at the Royal Albert Hall in aid of The Brain Tumour Charity last Friday (18th October).
‘Dumb’ were first on, ‘early doors’. A young
Adrian Chiles was the compere for the evening with the Chemical Brothers DJing between sets. Up next was a stage full of musicians from New Order, (Joy Division), The Vaccines and James Walborne currently in Edwyn’s Collins band. Tim Burgess took on lead vocals as they whipped through Love Vigilantes (New Order cover), Melody Calling (Vaccines cover) and a triumphant, Love Will Tear Us Apart to finish off.
A solo James Dean Bradfield gave us an acoustic Manic Street Preachers set of Motorcycle Emptiness, A Design for Life and If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next. This was actually a very powerful set, just right for the occasion.
Another special happening was the return to Liam Gallaher’s side of original Oasis guitarist Bonehead. A two song segment with ‘Live Forever’ and ‘
The Charlatans’ headline performance was nothing short of supersonic. There was a real fire in the belly of the band as they stormed through a set of career spanning songs, in front of an adoring crowd. This very special night, one that will stay in the memory for a long time to come.
- Live Reviews
Early doors but a sizable crowd gather for Big Deal. Second album and riding on the crest of a wave with a very confident early set.
First night on the tour for
I have seen Local Natives a few times already over the past year either at festivals or indoors supporting the National (ATP & Roundhouse) so, this was the first headline show I had seen since they toured the first record.
The band do not disappoint, they are actually winding up touring the second album so the gig has an ‘End of term’ celebratory feel. Being up top of the gig bill obviously means that people are there to see your band. You get more time on stage, so whilst this time we get all ‘the hits’ (if you already know the songs), we also get a fabulous selection of material from both albums.
Having pretty much travelled the world in the past 12 months the band must be looking forward to recharging their batteries but, they seem on top form for the people of
Pete
Set:
Breakers
World News
Wide Eyes
Warning Sign
Ceilings
You & I
Black Balloons
Shape Shifter
Wooly Mammoth
Black Spot
Camera Talk
Airplanes
Bowery
Who Knows, Who Cares
Encore:
Heavy Feet
Sun Hands
- Live Reviews
Not knowing Dylan Carlson or Earth’s output in depth it took a couple of songs (??) to get into the set but then, yes, this very good indeed. Just Dylan and a drummer and I guess best described as, Dylan playing mostly repetitive guitar almost loops, with echo distortion which easily moved into feedback, just as a note lingered. Nothing fast nor killer loud either ... quite hypnotic as you tuned into it ... very good indeed.
Martin
- Live Reviews
I have to confess to being biased about this gig. Everyone loves Emily Barker and her band, she is one of the nicest people in (folk)rock. She comes on stage to introduce all her supports. She invites an audience member to sing with her (very well) on powerful duet Fields of June, in place of Frank Turner who is on the recorded version – perhaps it will be fellow Aussie Nick Cave she plays with next. The packed audience love her. But I have loved her longer than most….
I remember her years ago singing in the playground at Cambridge Folk Festival (she was fully grown, it was just a good place to busk). I remember her singing wildly at all night parties at the same festival, and at little gigs at the Portland Arms. And at the Strawberry fair with The Low Country and now, now she’s all grown up. I almost shed a tear…
She has been to Nashville, and is more of a country singer than before. She wears a sexy spangly jacket. She sounds SO tight and professional, but without losing the common touch which made us all love her in the first place. She has a great band in The Red Clay Halo which, includes the lovely Gill Sandell, an artist in her own right who (quick plug) is supporting ex-Broken Family Band members I Strip for Couples at Cambridge Junction next week.
Emily and band mostly play tracks from the excellent new album Dear River. Partly autobiographical, as she explains tonight: Letters is about her grandfather surviving as a refugee in wartime Holland, A Spadeful of Ground is about the attitude of some Australians to native people. There are two songs about rivers, the album title and the poignant Blackwood about a childhood place in Oz – nothing about the Cam though.
There are also solo songs about coffee – Emily is an addict and seems to be sponsored by East London roasters Square Mile – and a very popular version of Nostalgia, as used in the Wallander soundtrack. There are three encores, the last a version of Aretha’s soul classic Do Right Woman.
I Missed most of gentle Rachel Dadd due to a madman on the bus, but saw all of support Chris T-T, the Tony Hancock of agitfolk and another old Cambridge favourite. He mixed songs by AA Milne about bears with new x-cert single The Bear, as played by Radio 1, mostly in the censored version. His often sad songs barely conceal a wicked sense of humour.
@KevinHand3
- Live Reviews
With its plush seating and huge auditorium the Birmingham Symphony Hall is approximately a million miles away from your usual beer-soaked, sticky-floored music venue. The venue would best described by the word “polite”; the ushers (not security) who prevent you from taking your seats until an appropriate between song break, the tickets have the word “ ENJOY” on them and the posters in the foyer politely asking us to “like” or vote for the venue in the upcoming “ most welcoming theatre” awards.
Nick Mulvey is the support, a solo singer-songwriter who finger picks and strums his way through a set of lovely folky-tinged songs which would be ideal for a boozy sunny Saturday afternoon on the Garden Stage at the End of the Road festival (those of you who have been to EOTR will know what I mean, those that haven’t shame on you). Standout songs include “Venus” and the title track from his “Fever to the Form” Ep, which is available now.
After the break, into the polite venue strides a confident, three-time Mercury prize nominated (surely a winner this time, place your bets) singer-songwriter Laura Marling.
“Hello, I’m Laura” are her first words from the very bare stage; one mic, two acoustic guitars and two steady spotlights and that’s your lot. Personal preferences from her albums are the songs where additional instrumentation is used to compliment her voice and acoustic guitar but despite this personal disappointment, if you’re singing very personal songs baring your emotions this is probably the right stage to perform on.
- Live Reviews
Danny and the Champions of the World - The Railway Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Peoples Republic of Essex -24th September 2013.
So Pete says to me go along it’s local for you and I like em.... That’s how Elaine and I ended up in a dodgy boozer on a school night in September.
Dodgy is apt, the venue is in a former grand hotel that has been tragically neglected, but lovingly abused.
The neglect and subsequent emergence as an open mic music venue treads a fine line between geniusly eccentric and eccentrically genius.
The night in question was hosted by South by South East who are usually showcasing local(ish) talent. Dreaming Spires is a sometime 2/3 piece, but tonight only a 1 piece, as there was an exam the next day! Clearly Mum thought extra study was required, not a problem though as lead vocalist Robin took us through some songs he wrote about his North American travels. Clever songs that warmed the small but expectant crowd very nicely indeed. Next up Jamie Parisio (curiously a 5 piece) who notched up the volume with some banjo and slide guitar based tunes that were clearly pointing to the main event.
