- Live Reviews
Brothers in charms; Scott and Seth Avett occupy a diamond-like place in the current indie-folk love-in.
A couple of years ago the Avett Brothers played a memorable London gig - it's not easy to shake the Shepherds Bush Empire, but they did. Theirs is irresistible top-tappin' Americana, laced with sadness and pathos. But they also prove that a well-played banjo can mend a broken heart.
The Avetts been making great music for over a decade, so on the one hand it's irksome that harmless-enough Mumfords come along and take the limelight in this stretchy genre.
On the other hand, the Avett Brothers remain, to some extent, a special secret this side of the Atlantic. They are the real thing. There's moonshine in their blood and snakes in their boots.
The former Town and Country Club is a fine venue. It fits some bands better than others and it's not an easy place to get buzzing, but despite its scale and the icy winter night, the Avett Brothers make this feel like a cosy Carolina sing-along. It's about as intimate as you can get with a couple of thousand others.
With no disrespect to the rest of their European dates, the Avetts say they have had an eye on this one since they set out on tour. Latest album 'The Carpenter' gets a strong outing. It got mixed reviews last year, from good to excellent; sharper critics rightly allowed for this band's high standards. It's a fine record with some of their best songwriting.
The Avett Brothers have to be seen and heard live. As good as they are on record (especially with Rick Rubin on the knobs) nothing compares to their stage performances. They open as most bands would hope to close, bringing down the house with a stomping 'Down with the Shine'. It's a safe bet when you've got such depth in your catalogue. The warm up is complete.
There's a universal cheer when Scott Avett sings, "I keep telling myself that I can't make everybody happy, but I do!" Erstwhile understatement and self-deprecation makes this all possible.
Remember the TV show The Waltons? Imagine what the costume department must've looked like. Now you can see The Forum on March 14th - there's old school plaid, flat caps and even belts and braces on show. On stage however, the siblings seem to have found their inner James Brown. Nothing's chequered. The brothers look skinny as whippets and they rock out. It even gets a bit funky - Avett senior does a little shuffle and slide (not holding his banjo, that would look silly).But when they pare it back, the Avett Brothers steal hearts.
It seems Seth Avett leads the vocals more often on this tour. His voice isn't the more powerful or soulful, but it's more countrified and carries an eye-watering vulnerability. "If I live the life I'm given, I won't be scared to die," he sings on the new record's title track. They've toured for months, but this sounds fresh with a resigned mix of wistful positivity and aching insecurity.
Throughout, we're reminded of the partnership's perfect combination of strengths: the words and the tunes are marvellous. The band is fantastic too, especially with a cello and double bass up front of stage,
The hands-off romance of 'Laundry Room' is one of the night's most popular songs: "... stall your mother, disregard your father's words - close the laundry door, tiptoe across the floor, keep your clothes on, I got all that I can take."
This is a delicate love song, possibly of love denied. It resonates one-to-one with everyone from the beardy Stella-swigging chaps (usual disappointing lack of ales at the bar) to the significant contingent of swooning thirty-something ladies. When the brothers sing together, especially just before the encore with the desperate and despondent 'Backwards With Time', their roots are bared. Time and again, the songs are seemingly simple and yet meaningful. They are clever lyricists and it's satisfying that they're not easily pigeon-holed; it's blue grass meets folk meets country meets Appalachian meets southern soul. If they were food, they'd be Mississippi mudpie.
Hearts ache and grown men swallow hard when 'Through My Prayers' is sung. It's too much to take - the groaning sense of loss is palpable. You can't understand how they can perform this without a hug.
Highlights include the hard-to-beat 'I and Love and You', 'The Once and Future Carpenter' and, in the encore, the almost polemic 'Life' - an arresting and life-affirming finale.
Nigel Watts
- Live Reviews
You could not have fitted an extra fag paper into the Cambridge Junction last night when Johnny Marr and cohorts hit the stage. The band cranked the pace up immediately under bright white lights it really was like watching a hungry (can’t say young) new band in action.
The band really does have an energy that transmits to the crowd. With enough space to nod your head in this case, people did the best they could.
Songs came in quick succession, fired out at machine gun pace. Apart from a line about
We had a career spanning selection of songs covering, the new solo album, and nods back to days of The Smiths and Electronic. We even got a Clash (I Fought the Law) cover thrown in on the encore!
I still think there is room for a super group with Johnny on guitar down the road but in the meantime, this was a superb show.
Pete
Johnny Marr through the mists of time .....
- Live Reviews
There has never been a time when I have come away from a Sigur ros concert feeling anything other than amazed and searching for words to describe what I have just witnessed. Friday night at the Brixton Academy was no different in this cycle of wonderment.
Now down to three original members Jón Þór Birgisson, Georg Hólm and Orri Páll Dýrason. New song "Yfirborð," starts the set as green shimmering light lands on the front netting encasing the stage.This eerie lighting with the stage bathed in dark green and silver, is quite amazing and a scene setter for what is to come.
White light as Jón Þór Birgisson’s shadow is cast high of the front netting as his bow runs over the guitar strings on Ný Batterà from Ãgætis byrjun. Crowd transfixed and as ever this band will take you somewhere else for the next couple of hours.
The stage is bathed in red for a gentle slow building ‘Vaka’. We are just three songs it and already it’s an amazing show.
- Live Reviews
Stranded Horse is Yann Tambour, a French songwriter and very accomplished string musician. Two songs sung, whilst playing a mini self built, Kora and two on acoustic guitar. Yann’s songs are both lengthy and lyrical. Someone who has already been on the music scene for a decade, it was nice to discover his music first hand in a live setting.
- Live Reviews
First up were the Sulk. The post Madchester spirit is certainly alive with this five piece – in terms of funky swagger, dress and appearance. The singer was quite aware of this making an gag that they would be playing Sproston Green next (but then they’d need a keyboardist). I personally wouldn’t make the comparison with the Charlatans, however there was definitely a recollection of Molly Half Head (*1) in their sound, while the track ‘Flowers’ had an Inspiral Carpets feel to it, again sans keyboard. The baggy vibe permated the full set showcasing some lively guitar hooks and some danceable elements from the rhythm section (well, for those young enough to dance). Unfortunately not good enough to utilise the ‘What’s green and appears supporting Exit Calm at the Borderline?’.. ‘The incredible Sulk’ but entertaining enough.
- Live Reviews
I was not sure what to expect from this debut gig of The Claw, very loud, sure that’s a given and slightly odd as they are promoting themselves as a secretive, progressive, psychedelic band.
But the truth of it was a rather fun night of old school rock theatre. Warm up band Trieste were a classic, balls out, foot planted wall of noise that showcased some very tight guitar talent.
Second set was by Vodun, who quickly turned on the weird with, their Afro, Metal, Voodoo, Soul sound. Their strong lead vocalist, eccentric, Mick Fleetwood sized guitarist and powerhouse pint sized, rock chick, drum kit pilot, they got the slight crowd up off the collection of odd furniture that lined the walls like a school disco. The band ended their set with a huge selection of broken drumsticks and a guitarist lying on the floor, off the stage, to play out the last riff of the final number.
The build up to the main event saw the swelling crowd being teased by the rebuilding of the set and intermittent use of a smoke machine. With the big reveal now upon us the German heavy metal sound track was replaced by a James Bond soundtrack to accompany a parade of what can only be described as shaved Wombles in monks’ vestments.
Up goes the Claw salute and the crowd return the gesture. Cue the music, a frantic release of battered Korg keyboard, flying V and chrome guitar. A loud and atmospheric set including The Bells, Seize Decay and Undoing Wrong filled the inadequate space of Garage’s Upstairs venue with a soundtrack of noise that would be brilliant for any Hammer Horror remake.
Without knowing the songs, I was quickly into the raging rhythm of psychotic alien monks and feeling by the end of the set I had been preached to and, in truth, probably converted. I think that a sundown slot at one of this year’s rock festivals would be an ideal way to show the act off to a wider unsuspecting audience.
For those of you with a preference for loud theatrics this is worth a look. The music is all the better for the visual impact of the band, but having listened back to the music online today its one that’s going on my playlist, though not for the train section of my daily commute.
7/10 for the night, though only, because the venue was too small for power of all 3 bands.
Iain
Our Interview with The Claw
- Live Reviews
Well, this was a tremendous show. Highly anticipated and only announced a few days before, it sold out within a few hours. Understandable when the house band is the Foo Fighters! As Dave Grohl said, with tongue firmly in cheek, “ The Forum!, we used to play the enomo places, now look at us”
What we had in store as the band took the stage at 7.50pm was two hours twenty minutes of American Rock n Roll in tribute to the legendary recording studios, ‘Sound City’ in LA.
Each set was backed by Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins and various other members of the Foo Fighters, plus Alain Johannes from Queens of the Stone Age / Them Crooked Vultures also played all night on guitar and vocals
Alain Johannes took stage centre first up covering Queens of the Stone Age, Eleven and as with other artist’s on the night, a song written for the "Sound City: Reel to Reel" soundtrack.
As the band shuffled around, Chris Goss from Masters of Reality was next up and the evening continued down a rockin’ road. Dave was having a great time, playing with heroes and friends pulling all the classic poses and striking the guitar with a vengeance.
Fear’s leader and chief punk rocker, Lee Ving, along with the Foos own Pat Smear were next out front. First time in the UK for Lee’s Fear songs and he still went down a storm.
The hardest gigging man in showbiz? Rick Springfield was up next and yes, he brought ‘that song’ with him which, was a major success for the studio as well. But before we got to Jesse’s Girl there was a storming’ twenty minutes of other tunes.
Dave really gave Rick the Star treatment all in good humour. There were so many smiles on that stage last night; they could have generated their own sunlight. A classic moment came when Rick broke a string and then threw his SG sky high across the stage to a roadie, who caught it (thankfully) and delivered it back to Rick for the next song.
The finale came with Rick Nielsen, and Krist Novoselic coming onstage. Dave took to some powerhouse drumming and Taylor Hawkins became the singer and front man for four of a five-song set of classic Cheap Trick concert covers.
Final song on the night with Taylor back on drums and Dave with Rick Nielsen’s trademark chequed Cheap Trick guitar was ‘Surrender’.
As the band said goodnight, everyone applauded and surrendered to a great night out. Then, the house lights went up and the show was over, but what a show it was!
Pete
- Live Reviews
Arrived at the venue just in time to hear the last 60 seconds of feedback ending the Washington Irving set but, that was enough to tempt me into buying the single.
Great to see Wintersleep back in
Frightened Rabbit are back on the scene with a great new album ‘Pedestrian Verse’ featuring some arena size anthems and last night they squeezed those songs into the tight confines of the Cambridge Junction.
At home straight away with the audience, good levels of banter after the Scottish translation fed it way back to the stage.
Surely this is a band on the rise. Great songs, and a great live set with a band full of passion for the job in hand whether, electric or acoustic. It was an appreciative crowd that waved the band goodbye after a set of nearly 20 songs.
Pete
- Live Reviews
I just got to the venue in time for Everything Everything so missed Outfit. Seventy Five minutes later I was on my way home again but, it was a very enjoyable Seventy Five minutes.
Pete
1. Arc
2. Kemosabe
3. QWERTY Finger
4. Torso of the Week
5. Duet
6. Leave The Engine Room
7. Final Form
8.
9. Schoolin’
10. Tin (The Manhole)
11. Photoshop Handsome
12. The Peaks
13. Suffragette Suffragette
14. Cough Cough
Encore:
15. MY KZ,
16. The House Is Dust
17. Radiant
18. Don’t Try
- Live Reviews
Foals bought the energy and enthusiasm with them to Rough Trade on a snowy February evening that makes their new album Holy Fire such a good record.
A short five song set, which included two new singles Inhaler and My Number had the majority teenage audience captivated from the start. This was it though, teenagers. Some, who had been there since
Foals were too concerned with the material than the attention that comes with it. Off the back of this short performance we can expect big things from Foals this year.
Foals played;
Prelude
My Number
Inhaler
- Live Reviews
Cody ChesnuTT is not nearly as popular as he should be. It is clear he is most responsible for this situation. For those who are familiar with his work, he has worked with a few different groups like The Roots, has written the critically acclaimed "Headphone Masterpiece" on a 4 track in his bedroom. And then spent 10 years abusing drugs, and doing just about anything he could to destroy his family and his relationships with friends.
When he realized he was on the wrong track. he up and moved his family from
It takes very little time when listening to this album to see how he has changed, all you have to do is listen to his words and realise he certainly is not "turning back". This album is a beautiful/soulful/ode to his new life, his love of life, his family and his friends and his desire to make things right.
His show last night was as good as it could get...Every song off his new cd was played, and he will not play anything off his old releases. He wants to focus on this more positive new album and I can't blame him. its beautiful.
Within five minutes of being on stage he has the entire venue singing along to "Til I met Thee" and "Love is More Than a Wedding Day" and the sing-a-long continues until he has done every song on the new album and with no encore. walks into the crowd and hugs as many people as he can before settling into the merch table to meet even more people.
This show was about nothing but positive vibes and I can say without a doubt, this will be my show of the year. If you like classic soul and r&b and enjoy his new album, please find the time to check Cody ChesnuTT out somewhere. He really is a special performer and probably one of the best singers I have ever heard!
Jim
- Live Reviews
After reading everything over the past few months, I had to check them out on their first trip to
As many of the reviews say, these youngsters do not hold anything back. Easy to spot the influences with these guys but they don’t just stop there, they push and push their sound at you throughout their set, and its really an assault of the best kind.
They start their set with "Clash like" song...which certainly wakes a few people up...then slip into a few more songs that bring in their influences from bands like the Strokes and in the meantime, they switch singers.
They push you with punk and settle down and soothe you with some very smooth pub rock/rock n roll ...its really a treat to see youngsters pull it off and it gives you hope that this young band, Palma Violets, will be around for awhile.
As of now, the only music available from them in Canada are two ep's with "Step up for Cool Cats" and "Best of Friends/Last of the Summer Wine" and these songs do come off really well live but its the other songs that give me hope!
Lets see where these guys go...all I know is that they have already booked another show in Toronto, now in a venue that holds 10 times as many fans as the Horseshoe, so get in while you can!
Jim
