Jimi Goodwin - Sunday 18th May, Thekla

“I’m not doing Doves stuff anymore, I’m doing Odludek now” the rattled former indie-band frontman calls with odd Russian accent as his arms mimic robotic movements.  Jimi Goodwin, now 45, cuts a northern Oliver Reed as he clutches his huge bass on his first solo UK tour, 5 years after his previous visit to Bristol and after which the Manchester band went on a ‘permanent hiatus.’

Debut release ‘Odludek’ is apparently Polish for loner or pilgrim which Goodwin felt suited the new project and chapter in his career.  The album itself is an eclectic mix of mid-paced indie-rock (a la Doves) with elements of country, electronica, keyboard led Elbow offcuts and an unwelcome splash of early 90’s Euro-dance (a nod to those days in Sub Sub).  From the start, comfortable as ever in front of the crowd, he raises his pint saluting all corners and balconies aboard the Thekla and kicks off with dramatic key-stabs of ‘Terracotta Warrior.’  Unshackled and on a voyage of discovery, lyrically the track is indicative of the rest of the album as Goodwin bellows out “I know who you are but who am I?”  There’s something a little more daring about his solo work, more Ian Brown than Morrissey in terms of first efforts and its all the better for it.  ‘Oh Whiskey’ is an understated yet still anthemic cut of country acoustic-rock quality, midway through it ascends a level and somehow has everyone dancing.  Doves rouser ‘Snowden’ maintains the momentum and reminds us of the real power of Goodwin’s range and how good the band really were at their peak.  “It’s time for a gameshow!” he jests when the bewildering muzak of ‘Man v Dingo’ begins to his own obvious embarrassment as he makes the sign of a cross, I don’t think this one will be on the next tour.

The growling singer appears slightly irked when there’s no attempt to echo lyrics back on ‘Panic Tree,’ most likely forgetting that the album’s has been out little over a month and its far from the most memorable on there.  The pick of the rest of the new stuff is ‘Lonely At The Drop’, balls-out rock that ends up jamming like ‘Come On’ by The Verve with searing stratospheric guitar.  Doves tracks ‘Last Broadcast’ and ‘Sulphur Man’ go down well, the former sounding funky as ever, the latter utterly enthralling with its brooding verses and big chorus making it a trademark melancholic triumph.  Returning for an encore he seems a little short of ideas and tunes left to play.  The crowd are baying for Doves songs and hailing him with all manner of album-track suggestions, this must have happened at earlier gigs on the tour but it doesn’t sit well with the burly singer.  The aforementioned mini-meltdown threatens to turn the atmosphere before an amusing suggestion to begin the gig again appears to be the compromise.  So off we go again with a second run-through of ‘Terracotta Warrior.’  Half the audience heads for the exit.  Those who stay get a fairly uneventful ‘Northenden’ to finish, a bit of an anti-climax to what was an entertaining first solo foray to Bristol and a genuine expectation that there’s better still to come.

Best Track: Click on link below
Jimi Goodwin - 'Oh! Whiskey'

Kindly published by Bristol 24-7
http://www.bristol247.com/2014/05/23/review-jimi-goodwin-at-thekla-bristol-77523/

The Delays - Weds 7th May, Thekla

Blissfully sun-drenched indie-pop sugary enough to rot your teeth a bit on-board the Thekla tonight for the return of the Delays; a band once declared as most likely heirs to the Stone Roses throne. 

The Southampton quartet are back in Bristol to open a tour to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the release of debut album ‘Faded Seaside Glamour’ which still remains their most celebrated and accomplished piece of work to date. It could be said that the Delays are both ahead of and behind their time. With a heavy nod to The La’s but hitting upon elements of what would become nu-rave (Klaxons etc) and the more recent art-rock scene (Foals et al) they shot to prominence delivering anthemic semi-psychedelic power-pop packing enough punch to worry the Top 30 album chart three times and so nearly with it prolonged mainstream success. With a 5th album on the way after a lengthy break there’s a fair bit of ground to make up but tonight we’re looking back at a time when the Delays had the ears of all with a notebook and pen. Don’t get me wrong, I do totally get why some people don’t like this band -the style can often be formulaic opening tracks with overly cheerful synths and Greg Gilbert’s inimitable falsetto. And with kid brother Aaron on keyboards chipping in with those high-pitched harmonies we get something reminiscent of The Hollies amid jangly Byrds guitar and some often bizarre early Depeche Mode electro-noodling. By that reckoning you’ll either love it or hate it - judging from the vociferous turnout who are hollering back at the band with hands clapping aloft here tonight, it’s looking like absence has made the heart grow still fonder.

Running in the order on their debut we get a vibrant opener with ‘Wanderlust’ its tropical ice-cream van keys giving way to Greg Gilbert’s dizzying vocals backed by the splashing of drums.  As the gig develops its hard to remember a band that look like they’re enjoying themselves so much.  Blonde-mopped Gilbert flips from choirboy to wannabe rock god throughout ‘Nearer Than Heaven’, probably the group’s best known hit which has a real timelessness. ‘Long Time Coming’ completes a triumphant trio that has so far seen the crowd singing, dancing and the odd good-natured though rather witless heckle.  It’s not to say they can’t rock out (‘Stay Where You Are’) or even hit on some nu-rave (‘On’ and ‘Lost In A Melody’) but they sound at their most convincing on tracks like ‘Hideaway’ and ‘Satellites Lost’ where gimmicky effects are sidelined by a trademark arrangement of twinkling guitars and luscious harmonies that no other group is brave enough to do in these hipster-led times.

Encore ‘You And Me’ is pacy and string-laden evoking front-of-stage jerking and those unusually smooth turning to strained vocals.  It’s not going to be blaring out of any boy-racer windows anytime soon but the Delays have never been ashamed of writing heartfelt indie-pop, they’re fearlessly chasing top spot unattached from a scene and clearly rejuvenated.  


Best Track: Click on link below
The Delays - 'Long Time Coming'

Kindly published by Bristol 24-7
http://www.bristol247.com/2014/05/15/review-delays-thekla-bristol-16331/