Chris Webb - Bank Tavern, Weds 19th February

For some time now, in a welcome oasis amongst the bustle of Broadmead, quite possibly Bristol’s smallest pub; The Bank Tavern has been a home from home to some of the city’s best up-and-coming musical talent.  With a safe capacity of just 70 this lively venue has been the perfect regular practice ground for one hugely talented 23 year old local Philosophy graduate soon to release his third album (“If Dragons Started Forest Fires.”)

A folk/pop prodigy, Chris Webb plays and curates Wednesday night sets there with guest supports of the highest order from the likes of Lonely Tourist, Mary Spender, Ellen Cox and more.  Mostly seated affairs and with a respectful crowd, Webb’s Wednesday gigs at the Bank don’t require any financial transaction and the singer can be seen working the room and thanking punters for coming along, which is a nice touch.  Alternating 30 minute sets with Tim Manning, frontman of country/Americana trio Blind River Scare we’re treated to some precision picking and well-crafted tales of everyday life.  Within the music you can hear the influence of some acoustic singer-songwriting classics (John Martyn, Nick Drake) to more contemporary alt-folk (Gomez and Josh Ritter, whom he covers well later on.)

His rather unusual guitar playing is showcased on the brilliant ‘Lost Boy.’  Using his thumb to play the rhythm by strumming the bottom three strings and picking the top three for the melody it sounds like we have a musical poltergeist in the room.  It’s a cool trick and one seldom seen that definitely helps to provide added depth.  Webb’s smooth yet powerful voice also demands attention especially when married with some knockout lyrics; “Nocturnally I’m organised and scattered in the day, by evening I’m a warrior drinking innocence away.”  Likewise, ‘Sundance’ involves some pretty swift strumming worthy of more ears.  Although the tunes are relatively simple in structure, Webb appears to have nailed the art of the catchy chorus with witty lines and the odd guitar trick; all delivered with a smile upon his face.

Now a full-time musician and with an intimate launch party on Friday, Webb has definitely progressed his sound.  New tracks ‘Keyrings’ and ‘Platforms’ certainly sound more immediate and there’s a greater more confident vocal reach than on his debut.  It’s difficult for a solo artist to stand out in a city with so much talent already at its disposal but if you see him in a support slot around town or on a Wednesday night you’ll see for yourself that the humble guitarist has the technical ability and songcraft to go far.

Best Track: Click on link below
Chris Webb - 'Lost Boy'

Kindly published by Bristol 24-7
http://www.bristol247.com/2014/02/26/review-chris-webb-bank-tavern-bristol-35170/

The Boxer Rebellion, Thekla, Thursday 6th February

Curiously named after a late nineteenth century peasant uprising in China; multi-national indie post-rockers The Boxer Rebellion win yet another battle aboard a packed Thekla.

It’s been an interesting journey so far for a band who’ve had their fair share of ups and downs.  Promising first release ‘Exits’ garnered critical support from NME and Kerrang rubbing shoulders with debuts from Bloc Party, Kasabian and the Kaiser Chiefs in the last real mainstream indie high-watermark back in 2005.  Having signed to Alan McGee’s ill-fated Poptones label which soon imploded the band found themselves homeless and in paid employment to produce a follow up release.  Entirely self-funded, mostly from tireless gigging, it was the first ever digital iTunes only album from an unsigned band to enter the US Billboard chart.  Latest effort ‘Promises’ is a progression of sorts as (in the studio at least) the band swap those early aggro rock-outs for Sigur Ros-like loops, layers and effects pedals.

Arriving at the Thekla and with a storm raging outside, the soggy audience of mixed ages are treated to an hour of piano-led building anthems, two-dimensional grunge and deafening distortion (think ‘The Bends’ era Radiohead).  They begin with ‘The Runner,’ a punchy punky ball-grabbing intro which goes down well.  Clean-cut Tennessee-bred frontman Nathan Nicholson then flits from guitar to keyboard, hitting those towering choir-boy falsettos for the most part with eyes closed and praying hands aloft.  There’s no doubting that Nicholson is an accomplished singer but his voice can sound a little generic at times, it would appear that balancing the technical ability to reach for high notes comes at the expense of injecting real passion.

Visually they have solid rock credentials with thick-set dynamo Australian guitarist Todd Howe and outstanding hairy Brit drummer Piers Hewitt.  Hewitt stars throughout with some top-class rapid-fire spattering that lifts the occasional gloom even when sharing drumming duties in a three-way attack with Howe and bassist Adam Harrison on the rousing ‘New York.’  Moving through the set and ‘Step Out Of The Car’ would sit comfortably on ‘Pablo Honey,’ once again for all its bluster you can’t help that feel that Nicholson feels more comfortable in front of a keyboard playing to the Coldplay sect nowadays.  ‘Diamonds’ proves a real crowd-pleaser and it’s easy to see how its guitar hook and stratospheric chorus would land it on so many US TV shows and soundtracks (‘One Tree Hill’, ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ et al.)  New single ‘Keep Moving’ breezily bounces before old favourite ‘Watermelon’ whips up a maelstrom of crunching guitars and rare throaty howls showing that they can still rock hard.

‘Fragile’ is the night’s highlight which sees Harrison back on the drum pads in tandem with Hewitt’s stunning kit work, Howe twiddles the effects knobs and Nicholson soars over a crescendo of fuzz.  Final tune ‘Gospel of Goro Adachi’ feels like the sound that U2 have recently been struggling to nail.  Gentle piano melody, breathy vocals, synthy pads, another scything masterclass from Howe (who plays keys, axe and drums!) before Nicholson and Harrison drop to their knees and pound on the effects pedals.  We’re left with a wall of noise and a huge ovation for a band who are strikingly superior live than on record and who will surely continue to win admirers.

Best Track: Click on link below
Boxer Rebellion - 'Diamonds'


Kindly published by Bristol 24-7
http://www.bristol247.com/2014/02/12/review-boxer-rebellion-thekla-bristol-24236/