So a rare departure from the usual gig review for this post just to mention some superb local acts that we Bristolians should be checking out in 2014
In no particular order then.....
1. Gaz Brookfield
Fresh from the release of his third and best album yet 'In The Company Of Thieves', the Bristol via Swindon folk/rock singer/songwriter regularly clocks up a mighty 200+ gigs a year including no fewer than 3 appearances at this year's Glastonbury Festival. With his superb tales of life on the road as a 'DIY' musician and unrelenting ability to unite and convert audiences, 2014 could be the year we see the grounded singer take the UK by storm.
www.gazbrookfield.com
Best Track:
'Diet Of Banality'
2. Lonely Tourist
Paul Tierney aka The Lonely Tourist is a Glaswegian singer/songwriter residing in Bristol and a regular on the city circuit. With the imminent release of his third solo album, it promises to be another great year for the self-effacing guitarist who is capable of combining catchy choruses and stunning lyrics that continue to win him new friends.
http://lonelytourist.bandcamp.com/
Best Track:
'Ballad Of Paul Tierney'
3. Coasts
Mixing tropical pop with some killer indie/rock anthems is Bath/Bristol quartet Coasts. 2013 saw Chris Caines' group release a couple of impressive EP's and the completion of their first UK tour culminating in a triumphant gig at The Louisiana. With tunes already being featured on TV, a growing fanbase and an ear for a rousing killer hook; these guys are destined for mainstream attention.
www.coastsband.com
Best Track:
'Oceans'
4. Oxygen Thief
Barry Dolan is the multi-talented guitarist/singer metal influenced Oxygen Thief. Having spent the most part of 2013 producing some mind-blowing performances individually he was recently signed to Xtra Mile after taking to the road and studio with a full band behind him for latest album; 'Accidents Do Not Happen, They Are Caused'. In a live arena he has the energy, power and ability to push any guitar you put into his hands to its absolute limit; a must see.
http://www.oxygenthiefmusic.com/
Best Track:
'Terry Nutkins Salute'
5. Flamenco Thief
One time Postie from Bath, Craig Sutton aka Flamenco Thief has just finished a monster tour of Europe with his trusty Boss rc300 loop pedal and is back out on the road again in 2014. Layering flamenco rhythms, percussive knuckle-rapping and some crazy finger-picking worthy of mention alongside Rodrigo y Gabriela, he has been mesmerising Bristol and Bath venues for some time now. Check him out live, you seriously won't believe what he can do.
http://theflamencothief.com/
Best Track:
'Mad Cow Stomp'
6. Poor Old Dogs
Bristol's favourite folk band Poor Old Dogs always make for a great night with their hilarious tales of immoral estate agents, flasher milkmen and nuisance neighbours. Expect frantic hoe-downs, furious mandolin and a whole load of fun in any live setting. Their second EP 'Milkman' was a highlight in what was a great year for the fantastic cider-swilling quintet.
http://poorolddogs.co.uk/
Best Track:
'Milkman'
7. Chris Webb
Chris is another of Bristol's best young acoustic acts who is returning to his role as curator for the Bank Tavern's fantastic Wednesday night slots. With an unusual strumming/picking technique, soulful vocals and some top folk fuelled tunes about everyday life, Chris continues to charm audiences around the city and more recently mainland Europe.
https://soundcloud.com/chriswebbbristol
Best Track:
'Lost Boy'
8. Magnus Puto
Magnus Puto are breathing fresh life into ska music in the UK and after a string of well-received EP's will surely continue to gain admirers. From Bristol, the quintet are heading back on the road to follow up on last year's BBC Introducing slot at Glastonbury and supporting the likes of Plan B, Fat Boy Slim, The Beat and Reel Big Fish amongst others. Mixing hip-hop, indie, reggae and ska, they're able to get any crowd jumping.
http://www.themagnusputo.com/
Best Track:
'Make Your Mind Up'
9. Sam Eason / Descendants Of Gentleman
Likeable Bath based singer/songwriter Sam Eason is a regular on the Bristol support circuit and with new band Descendants Of Gentleman up and running it promises to be an exciting year for fans of the bearded ginger maestro. Sam has two fantastic EP's as a solo artist mixing folk and pop with a great knack for producing some infectious choruses and heartfelt odes to love and life.
http://www.sameason.co.uk/
Best Track:
'Turn On Your Heels'
10. Yes Rebels
Bobby Anderson and his Bristol based band are an incendiary rock outfit well known across the city for their powerful delivery of scuzzy pop-punk/grunge. After the superb 'Mixtapes' EP and a string of energetic festival appearances the enigmatic Anderson knows how to work a crowd. Influenced by Queens Of The Stone Age and with a heritage in soul music (son of soul legend Carleen Anderson), expect these guys to play a blinder wherever they turn up.
https://www.facebook.com/yesrebels
Best Track:
'Out Of The Gun'
There's so many more across Bristol that deserve a mention but if your new years resolution (like mine last year) is to get out and see more bands then get your tickets sorted for these top talents ASAP!
Kindly published by Bristol24-7.com:
http://www.bristol247.com/2013/12/31/top-10-bristol-musiciansbands-to-watch-in-2014-2013/
Named after one of my favourite Verve songs, this is a dedicated blog covering live music in Bristol and beyond. Previous reviews have kindly been published by www.bristol247.com and Venue.co.uk (RIP)
Sunday, 22 December 2013
Monday, 16 December 2013
Peace - Anson Rooms, Thursday 12th December
Questions in my mind ahead of this one that I'm struggling to answer; for a band with so much exposure/whipped up hype (mostly from career makers and breakers NME) how come they can't sell out the Anson Rooms on a Thursday night? Are we all wearing rose-tinted specs? Are they actually any good? Is Bristol still apathetic to indie? It's a head scratcher alright after this incendiary 50 minute performance proves to those who were there that the Worcester quartet are one of the few shining lights in British rock.
Throwing together elements of psychedelia, baggy and Brit-pop; the group nominated for countless ‘Sound of 2013’ polls arrive in Bristol on what must surely be their last tour of recorded live debut album ‘In Love’. Whilst they’re often compared to other trendy hipster types Foals, Maccabbees and Vampire Weekend the group is actually fronted by a chap with a decent level of rock’n’roll charisma. Oft bizarrely-dressed Harry Koisser cuts a Jagger-esque figure on-stage adorned in a hatched two-tone shirt last seen wall-papering a yuppie flat in 1987. It’s been a far from peaceful year for the group The Guardian has hailed as the ‘future of indie’ with a whole heap of festival slots, an opening slot on the NME Awards Tour and perhaps some disproportionate gushing from the long-standing magazine.
After opener ‘Waste Of Paint’ throws it’s shifty indie-disco Happy Monday’s weight around, its fair to suggest we’re not hearing anything new but of course we’re in 2013 not 1989 and there’s a whole new generation of indie kids yearning for their own Hacienda experience. ‘Follow Baby’ invokes some crowd-surfing whilst other Koisser brother Samuel (bass) lays down a grungy groove to be layered over by a cacophony of wonky guitar brought into line by a smooth falsetto harmony. Organised chaos during the funky breaks on ‘Drain’ which sees some wild bubbling tropical guitar licks alongside some impressively stretching yet tight vocals. “If you’re not happy wearing denim, you’re a devil in disguise” is the call on ‘Float On Forever’ – a definite anthem that sounds like Gaz Coombes has replaced Damon Albarn in Blur circa ‘The Great Escape.’
The equally catchy ‘Lovesick’ ought to be a monster hit with a chorus that would have cleaned up in ’95 as would ‘Toxic’ which despite yet more of Doug Castle’s aggro wonky guitar can’t hide it’s pop sensibilities. There’s little time for banter as the band rattle off nearly all of the debut and a couple of EP tracks including a delightfully ear-splitting and visually blinding ‘1998’. No cute choruses here, just an adrenalin packed wall of sound, breathless and devastating (think ‘Blow Out’ from Radiohead’s ‘Pablo Honey’). They leave to a deservedly loud ovation in what was short, sweet and just superb from start to finish. Will the NME turn on them as they often do post-debut album? Maybe. Or maybe these are the first strides towards the top from a band happy to describe themselves as creating ‘music to grind, roll and smoke / music to fuck you in the heart.’
Kindly published by www.bristol24-7.com
http://www.bristol247.com/2013/12/18/review-peace-at-anson-rooms-bristol-40666/
Setlist:
1. Waste Of Paint
2. Follow Baby
3. Higher Than The Sun
4. Drain
5. Float On Forever
6. Lovesick
7. Money
8. Toxic
9. Wraith
10. 1998
11. California Daze
12. Bloodshake
Best track: Click on link below
Peace - 'Lovesick'
Buy album here:
Tuesday, 10 December 2013
The Moulettes - Thekla, Friday 6th December
Blood-curdling bassoon, bouncing double bass, scintillating strings and vocal harmonies to die for; welcome to the
fairytale alt-folk universe inhabited by Glastonbury
formed sextet The Moulettes.
Mid-way through the set and the celestial
‘Songbird’ has a timeless charm that sees the Miller/Skipper vocal dream team
alongside Anisa Arslanagic on sumptuous violin for a track that warms like
mulled cider. ‘Devil Of Mine’ is
tonight’s highlight and sounds like Kate Bush in a rock band with a hip-hop
style vocal, not least on rock’s most unlikely winning lyric; “He moved towards
us his cravat was exquisite.” Throw in
some violent cello and it’s a pretty good summation of the eccentricity and
off-beat magic of the band, it certainly has the audience gripped. Penultimate murder-ballad ‘Bloodshed In The
Woodshed’ is an enthralling ride with lyrics that Morrissey would be proud of
and shows that it’s worth remembering that above all the bewitching, complex
musicianship; these guys can rock. At times
breathtaking, at times potty, from the outbreaks of Irish jigs to 1920’s swing
jazz, it’s never a dull moment and certainly anything but pretentious. Forthcoming album with working title
‘Constellations’ has contributions from prog legend and ‘God of Hellfire’
Arthur Brown amongst others. And after
tonight’s superb performance its hard to not look forward with anticipation to what
on earth that will sound like.
Kindly published by Bristol24-7: http://www.bristol247.com/2013/12/10/review-moulettes-thekla-bristol-81428/
Best track: Click on link below
Moulettes - 'Unlock The Doors'
Setlist TBC
Buy albums here:
Tuesday, 26 November 2013
Valerie June - Thekla, Monday 25th November
Tennessee Time at the Thekla and a taste of the deep south
as superstar-in-waiting Valerie June delights with her self-proclaimed
‘moonshine roots music.’
It’s been a big year for the Memphis bred multi-talented
singer with the release of her first album as a signed artist (the
superb ‘Pushin’ Against A Stone’), rave reviews from a support slot on Jake
Bugg’s UK tour and an attention-grabbing performance on Jools Holland’s
show. There was a real buzz and sense of
anticipation for tonight’s show as the venue sold out quickly with all the good
ship’s occupants feverishly sharing how they discovered her intoxicating blend
of blues, gospel, soul, folk and bluegrass. And it’s really hard not to love the self-effacing
charismatic American especially when you consider her struggle as a DIY artist self-releasing
albums personally sold from the boot of her car and busking at blues
festivals across the Mississippi Delta.
From her giddy entrance with leather brown handbag on her arm to the giggling fit of laughter at the close ridiculing herself for talking too much it’s clear we’re in the presence of a grounded seasoned performer and not the diva that her immensely powerful voice might suggest. Early track ‘The Hour’ impresses with it’s Motown soul and lilting double bass as Valerie puts that voice through a vigorous workout of hums, Tina Turner-esque grunts and razor-sharp but sweet melodies. Shedding her borrowed mustard cardie she tells us of how she’s been too busy being a ‘hard workin’ woman’ to go shopping before unleashing a pacy version of crowd-pleaser ‘Workin’ Woman Blues.’ Nimbly finger-picking through the opening bars before that shrieking Dolly Parton/June Carter-like twang “I ain’t fit to be no mother, I ain’t fit to be no wife yet, I been workin’ like a man, y’all, I been workin’ all my life, y’all.” There’s pockets of dancing in the crowd as its hard to resist the rapid funky beats, knockout vocals and brawling slide guitar.
Endearingly gabbing between songs she explains her influences (most notably Muddy Waters, Rosa Lee Hill, who she covers frenetically on Banjo later), the origin of aforementioned ‘moonshine roots music’ and her road to success. With church-reared gospel ability it looks like she barely opens her mouth to sing at times and she totters around the stage, all beaming smiles flicking her dreadlocked nest of snakes away from the frets. Her versatility proves the real winner tonight as she impressively turns her hand to a plethora of genres; ‘Can’t Be Told’ (Blues/Rock), ‘Somebody To Love’ (Folk), ‘Raindance’ (Bluegrass/Gospel) all with a timeless quality belying her years.
Returning to the stage for fan requested first encore
‘Twined and Twisted’ (which she says came to her in a dream) and an eerie but respectful
silence gives the perfect platform to mesmerize in a Springsteen (Nebraska era) desert campfire
tale. The schizophrenic ‘Shotgun’ is a
highlight as she sinisterly coos, ‘If I can’t have you nobody can’ before
plucking a butter knife from her hair to shaves the strings wildly. Good stuff.
She’s off home for her Grandma’s thanksgiving cooking, “I’m going now
y’all” as she drops off the stage, marching through the crowd to sell her own
merch. As a lengthy line forms, you
can’t help but feel we’ve seen something and someone with star quality tonight
–we all lament that she won’t be back to the Thekla for sure as the bigger
venues and a deserved limelight beckons.
Kindly published by Bristol24-7: http://www.bristol247.com/2013/11/27/review-valerie-june-54467/
Best track: Click on link below
Valerie June - 'Workin' Woman Blues
Setlist TBA
Buy albums here:
Wednesday, 13 November 2013
The Editors - 02 Academy, Monday 11th November
Tonight Matthew I'm going to be......Expressive frontman Tom Smith isn't far from bursting his slight frame tonight as his gloom-fuelled quintet takes the packed 02 crowd through the good, the bad and the god-awful of 80's post-punk. Always an easy target for criticism The Editors have made it through their first ten years and 4 albums with a strong fanbase where many have fallen away. Their debut album (and arguably still their best) went platinum and earned them a Mercury prize shortlisting as the brummie band became a regular festival favourite in the Noughties. They’re back in Bristol tonight in a bid to repair some of the damage done by Flood produced third album/synth-electro mish-mash; ‘In This Light And On This Evening’ and recent slight improvement fourth; ‘The Weight Of Your Love.’
Starting with new track ‘Sugar’ and Russell Leetch’s pulsing bass appears to borrow heavily from Bjork track ‘Army Of Me’. Smith writhes and squirms about the stage, enchanting the crowd as he howls “it breaks my heart to love you” with the facial expressions of a man having a cardiac arrest. There’s billows of smoke and a crackling light show, it’s an appropriate backdrop for their maudlin melodies and Smith’s blood-curdling Ian Curtis baritone to really let rip. Dropping in the anthemic ‘Smokers Outside The Hospital Doors’ so early could be a mistake but tell that to the delighted owners of pointy fingers and waving limbs across the sweaty pit.
‘Two
Hearted Spider’ has an intriguing title but that’s where the intrigue ends as
they slip into watery Simple Minds territory and the crowd begin to
chatter. Thankfully though it’s one of only
a few tonight that bore rather than bewilder and it’s obvious that most punters
are here for the first two albums. ‘Munich ’ sounds as joyously
violent as ever and is the night’s obvious highlight and ‘Racing Rats’ with its
pumping chorus and grandiose piano is a real moment of class. Sadly though the feeling that this could be
one of the great gigs is short-lived
as Smith tries to force the lengthy drab Coldplay-esque ‘Honesty’ and Leetch
leads an uncomfortable clap-along.
First
encore ‘Bricks And Mortar’ is an unmitigated disaster with some irking, rancid
trance bleeping and Smith pounding the piano in a Thom Yorke stupor as the
audience shrugs. Only a couple of new
tracks hit the spot tonight (‘Sugar’, ‘A Ton Of Love’) in what is a tale of two
eras for the band. Smith certainly gives
it his all throughout and you can’t fault the desire to diversify their sound
but you can’t help but feel that they’re struggling for consistency. Mounting the piano on ‘Nothing’ can’t save
the tune from anonymity but they do at least leave on a high to a dancey
‘Papillion’ with its dark Depeche Mode disco and bleak-as-ever lyrics. In all they can be pleased with what is a
performance full of energy and passion; no band can consider themselves
entirely original but at times, in a live arena, The Editors can draw upon the
qualities of the past to look like world-beaters.
- Sugar
- Someone Says
- Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors
- Bones
- Eat Raw Meat = Blood Drool
- Two Hearted Spider
- You Don't Know Love
- All Sparks
- Formaldehyde
- A Ton of Love
- An End Has a Start
- Bullets
- In This Light and on This Evening
- Munich
- The Racing Rats
- Honesty
- Bricks and Mortar
- Nothing
- Papillon
Best Track: click on link below
Editors - 'Munich'
Buy albums here:
Tuesday, 5 November 2013
Coasts - Louisiana, Wednesday 30th October
Bristol in promising new guitar band shocker! And these guys mean business; they’ve brought their own palm tree. Together for just two years the 5-piece purveyors of ‘trop-pop’ have already chalked up an impressive 30,000 I-Tunes downloads and 300,000 You Tube views of debut single ‘Oceans’ with support from Radio One. Coasts head up a trio of talented indie-rock sets at the Louie (alongside Dive In and Goan Dogs) and after two 20+ date UK tours this year and some enthusiastic reviews, the band are starting to make some real waves.
A sun-drenched fusion of Foals, Two Door Cinema Club and Vampire Weekend they get the crowd bouncing from the start with chunky electro-rock opener ‘Wallow.’ Frontman Chris Caines, with a floppy youthful Albarn mop and baggy white t-shirt, perhaps isn’t the most imposing figure but he nails the tricky chorus and looks full of confidence in such an intimate venue. Their indie-pop sound relies perhaps too heavily on those tropical dancehall rhythms at times; wonky keyboard effects and a weak chorus make ‘Your Soul’ sound a little Maroon 5 but it’s one of few tonight that underwhelm. ‘Stone’ begins with Clock Opera keyboard precision and some nice fills from classy drummer Ben Street, now back to full health having broken his neck over the summer. Although the vocals threaten to whine, the guitars are cranked up and their California slacker sound scorches.
Imminent new single ‘Stay’ is actually the first song that the band wrote together and is a real stand-out with a Duran Duran 80’s feel that climbs up towards a monstrous chorus and Caines in familiar falsetto. With ‘hit’ written all over it you can’t help but feel that this could be the last time we see them at such a tight venue. Fair play to Coasts, with indie still languishing as a tired genre in need of a shot in the arm or a violent shake, their bouncy rock-pop certainly breathes fresh life tonight into the vox, guitar, bass, keys and drums formula.
Final track ‘Oceans’ is power-pop masterstroke that opens with resonating customary calypso Caribbean guitar from Liam Willford who rarely threatens the lower half of the fret board and Street’s shimmering drums definitely shift the tune towards glory. “We fell in love right by the ocean, made all our plans down on the sand” is the catchy mantra and there’s total crowd participation as the primarily student populated sweatpit vivaciously throws its shapes. With a tidal surge of glowing reviews and performances as tight as this one, the future looks as bright and breezy as their punchy trop-pop anthems for Coasts; surely one of
Kindly published by Venue.co.uk:
http://www.venue.co.uk/music-live-reviews-c/21310-coasts
Best Track: Click on link below
Coasts - 'Oceans'
Buy music here:
Monday, 28 October 2013
Suede - O2 Academy, Thursday 24th October
Britpop architects Suede wow a capacity 02 Academy crowd and
its clear as ever that in 45 year old frontman Brett Anderson they have one of
popular music’s greatest ever performers.
It’s not difficult to see how the London
quintet has retained their appeal despite a ten year hiatus. This years comeback album ‘Bloodsports’ is
amongst their best work and a return to the bombastic, grandiose anthems that
soundtracked the last major domestic rock renaissance back in the
mid-90’s. Add to the mix the tightest of
live reputations and an enigmatic lead singer oozing an intoxicating Bowie-esque
cocktail of cool and sex appeal that would leave most bands green with envy and
there’s no doubting, that even now, when Suede come to your town, you’re going
to experience a real event.
And they’ve picked a cracker of a setlist satisfying
die-hards and newbies mixing up rare b-sides, early album tracks and greatest
hits amongst much of the latest release.
Anderson
enters the stage behind his bandmates dressed in a skin-tight smart white
shirt, energetic from the outset, hopping on and off a wooden box to address
the baying audience. The concern he
shows towards a faulty electric fan on stage shows the intention to pour out
every possible ounce of effort and passion into their opening date of the
tour. ‘Barriers’ is already a firm crowd
favourite with the familiar sharp sneering vocals and euphoric guitar hooks
meeting a light smattering of drums, Anderson with arms outstretched, back
arched demanding engagement.
Arms are waving in unison for sassy classic ‘The Drowners’ before underrated B-side ‘Killing Of A Flashboy.’ A change of pace next with a mesmerizing delivery of ‘The Two Of Us’ rich in alt-romantic Smiths; “Two silhouettes by the cash machine make a lovers dance.” New single ‘For The Strangers’ is pure class; melodic chimes from Oakes’ Gibson and rasping effortless vocals from
Kindly published by Venue:
http://www.venue.co.uk/music-live-reviews-s/21276-suede
Best track: Click on link below
Suede - 'Trash'
Setlist:
- Pantomime Horse
- Barriers
- Snowblind
- It Starts and Ends With You
- Filmstar
- Trash
- Animal Nitrate
- Heroine
- Sometimes I Feel I’ll Float Away
- Sabotage
- The Drowners
- Killing of a Flashboy
- The 2 of Us
- The Big Time
- For the Strangers
- So Young
- Metal Mickey
- Beautiful Ones
- New Generation
Buy albums here:
Thursday, 24 October 2013
My Vitriol - The Fleece, Tuesday 22nd October
The last time My Vitriol released a studio album mobile
phones could do little more than call and text, Saddam still ruled in Iraq and England
had just beaten Germany 5-1
in Munich. After what looked like
an inevitable drive towards mainstream glory with debut shoe-gaze indie-rock
classic ‘Finelines’ the band burned out and exiled itself for what has felt
like a musical eternity. Fast-forward 12
years and the London quartet are beginning again as die-hard fans still clutch
onto the debut, a patchy b-sides album and a solitary, false-dawn mid-hiatus of
an EP in hope of new material and a fitting reward for their patience.
Sri Lankan born front-man Som Wardner has cause to sweat
tonight. Not only is he donning a tight
leather jacket in a hot-house almost-full Fleece but it’s the first night of a
long awaited tour in front of an audience that wants to be both seriously
re-energised and if possible, some answers.
From the off a Perspex screen is rather curiously placed in front of
drummer Ravi Kesaravam as Wardner sits unaccompanied at a keyboard for promising
eerie new opener ‘London City Lights’. When
bespectacled Jarvis lookalike Seth Taylor (guitar) and Ringo Starr’s gothy
basque-wearing grand-daughter Tatia (bass) join on stage for ‘War Of The
Worlds’ we’re re-introduced to the searing wall of sound and creamy vocals that
won them their loyal army more than a decade ago.
‘Cemented Shoes’ is the first real ‘oldie’ and brings about
some committed head throwing as the band overcome their early sound frustrations
that left Wardner’s guitar almost redundant.
Volatile yet melodic pop is played out with a scorching metal aggression
throughout as Taylor
and Wardner’s guitars spiral against some frankly vicious drumming. A handful of new tracks have some worrying
hand-clap synth drum beats but Wardner’s sharp vocals pull them up well. The beaming frontman comes over all Jeff
Buckley on ‘Cast Aspersions’ –a mid-paced glimpse into the next phase of the
band which appears to go down well. More
sound issues on the pulverizing ‘Moodswings’ as the audience duck for cover;
although the Fleece is known for it’s monster metal gigs, there can’t be many
performances as brutally earsplitting as tonight’s. The spiky powerhouse ‘Losing Touch’ is an old
favorite devastatingly dispatched before Wardner addresses the crowd “thanks
for sticking with us over the years” –by which point most have forgiven them.
‘Always Your Way’ is an anthemic eruption that sirens and soars
as the night’s highlight with some fearsome angular guitar from Taylor . Finishing with Tongue Tied / C.O.R -another
carefully assembled instrumental showcasing their glorious, cacophonous blend
of distorted feedback and guitar chimes that threatens to bring the lighting
rig down. As they exit the audience is
left with both the ringing of ears and a bittersweet reminder of what could
have been. Laziness, buckling under
pressure or writer’s block, we’re none the wiser. But seemingly rejuvenated live and with a new
album imminent and the weight of expectation suitably dampened by the passing
of time the conditions appear right for a fresh tilt for one of indie rock’s
most powerful live acts.
Kindly published by Venue:
http://www.venue.co.uk/music-live-reviews-m/21265-my-vitriol
Best Track: Click link belowKindly published by Venue:
http://www.venue.co.uk/music-live-reviews-m/21265-my-vitriol
My Vitriol - 'Always Your Way'
Setlist To follow
Buy albums here:
Wednesday, 9 October 2013
Cocos Lovers - The Canteen, Thursday 3rd of October
“Is it like this in Bristol
every night?” is the bemused call from Will Greenham, lead singer and guitarist
of septet family folk ensemble Cocos Lovers (pronounced Co-cos). It’s a pretty sizable and high-spirited Thursday
night crowd at the bohemian renaissance of the Canteen in Stokes Croft. And as the well-lubricated blend of students,
artists and other trendy types invade the front few rows displacing the languishing
diners it’s impossible to resist dancing to the bands infectious African
beats.
Touring the UK in support of latest album ‘Gold Or Dust’ the
eclectic group from Deal are causing a stir with their third release which
delves into a vast pool of styles and influences from aforementioned African
rhythms (think a more subtle Paul Simon’s ‘Graceland’), vintage coastal Kent folk
and even a bit of deep south thrown in for good measure. The band have supported Stealing Sheep and
all-conquering folk Cinderellas Mumford & Sons after some honest hard graft
busking/touring to perfect their sound on the nation’s high streets, farmyards,
squats and communes. Many of the tracks
are lyrically melancholic and sincere with an over-arching tribal lilt held
down with stunning vocal harmonies that soar and enchant; instrumentally
there’s so much happening on-stage it’s a challenge to keep up.
Main single and standout ‘Emily’ is a classy but downbeat
slice of trippy folk that starts with an eerie musical saw and a wandering
acoustic guitar conjuring images of tree-whistling winds and high rolling hills. Then there’s entry of the trademark punchy resonating
bounce of David Hatton’s electric guitar that puts the audience into a hypnotic
groove. Quickly followed by sweet layers
of virtuoso acid-jazz flute and some seamless five-part vocal harmonies; real
quality bristling from every contribution on the cramped stage. It’s the kind of multi-instrumental mash-up
that has no right to work. Skin drums,
mandolins, banjos, guitars, flute, saws, trumpet employed with orchestral
precision but with a loose dreamy feel that has everyone beaming.
Husband and wife Will and Natasha Greenham front the band,
their voices harmonising seamlessly, the former sounding a little bit Belle and
Sebastian and the latter giving a more coarse rootsy texture that quietens the
chatter from tonight’s boisterous audience.
It’s tough at times to pick out every instrument with the limited sound
mixing on offer and Phil Self’s mandolin is unfairly muted but it’s those
Saharan desert rhythms that really dazzle; a really refreshing change from
those still plundering from the Celtic alt-folk genre. ‘Dea Matrona’ with sensual fiddle and
folk-country vocals is tailor-made for a Sunday afternoon at Glastonbury ’s Green Fields, one foot as ever
in the World Music camp and a joyful attack on the senses. You don’t have to be a connoisseur of folk to
enjoy Cocos Lovers but if you like true honest musicianship with a danceable
groove then this group is definitely for you.
Kindly published by Venue:
http://www.venue.co.uk/music-live-reviews-c/21188-cocos-lovers
Best Track: Click on link below
Cocos Lovers - 'Emily'
Buy albums here:
Monday, 30 September 2013
Manic Street Preachers - Monday 23rd Sept, Colston Hall
“Overweight and out of date” sings 44 year old Manics
frontman James Dean Bradfield on a rare performance of ‘Elvis Impersonator:
Blackpool Pier’ as the Blackwood trio roll into town in support of 11th
album ‘Rewind The Film.’ Whilst the band
may be carrying a few extra pounds from the heady Britpop days, they still have
an adoring army of fans and positive reviews of the new release (an assured
address to middle-age) seem to be pointing towards yet another resurgence.
The spectre of enigmatic guitarist Richey Edwards still
looms large over every performance as the band fondly recount anecdotes of
early gigs and the wild escapades of their disappeared/departed (you decide) former
fourth member. As the bands newer
material is culpable of sliding into the Radio 2 friendly territory that bassist
Nicky Wire lambasts of other bands weekly in NME one wonders what Edwards would
make of the ‘no electric guitars’ policy on the latest record. Thankfully it won’t be long though for fans
of the early edgier albums to ride it out as the anticipation of next years
rumoured ‘punk’ album sates the appetite for a more energetic approach.
Tonight’s gig begins with some real class and a ferocious
‘Motorcycle Emptiness’ showcases Bradfield’s sumptuous guitar licks that surprises
everyone as an opening choice. The
offbeat, moody ‘Ready For Drowning’ follows and couldn’t be more of an
antithesis, Bradfield’s glorious vocals shine in what now feels like an
underrated album track. Wire, looks
typically garish in red trousers on the right but he ought to be wearing a
striped black and white t-shirt and balaclava for his shameless theft of the
Neighbours theme tune on latest hit ‘Show Me The Wonder.’ With honking gorgonzola trumpet buffoonery and
sickly MoR chorus isn’t the groups finest hour and the crowd are largely
inanimate, pining for the next Bradfield guitar solo. Fortunately the understated melancholy of ‘4
Lonely Roads’ redeems well as silky-voiced welsh starlet Cate Le Bon joins them
onstage. There’s no Richard Hawley for
the new album’s title-track and the frontman struggles with the Sheffield
crooners depth on a track where clumsy lyrics threaten to spoil.
‘You Love Us’ is humorously dedicated to the Bierkeller who
made the band pay £100 to perform in their formative days. With a heavily drenched brown jacket,
Bradfield holds the stage unaccompanied for a mezmerising solo of ‘The
Everlasting’ which follows dull as dishwater newbies ‘This Sullen Welsh Heart’
and ‘(I Miss The) Tokyo Skyline.’ Powerful
political assault on the middle classes ’30-Year War’ is the pick of the new
tracks showing that Wire hasn’t lost any of his biting lefty wit. Finishing with glorious punk (‘Motown Punk’)
and the colossal Design For Life’ we’re reminded of the true qualities of a
band fighting the tides of time but still with the power to unite embracing
strangers and fully wrench the guts. It’s
a hit packed set and for the most part one of impressive variety, above all
though it’s one that proves the undying appeal of a band that will surely go
down as one of the most important of the last 20 years.
Kindly published by Venue:
http://www.venue.co.uk/music-live-reviews-m/21139-manic-street-preachers
Best Track: Click on link below
Manic Street Preachers - 'Motown Junk'
Setlist:
1. Motorcycle Emptiness
2. Ready for Drowning
3. Your Love Alone Is Not Enough
4. Show Me the Wonder
5. Anthem for a Lost Cause
6. (It's Not War) Just the End of Love
7. You Stole the Sun From My Heart
8. 4 Lonely Roads (with Cate Le Bon)
9. Rewind the Film
10. You Love Us
11. If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next
12. This Sullen Welsh Heart
13. (I Miss the) Tokyo Skyline
14. The Everlasting
15. Elvis Impersonator: Blackpool Pier
16. Revol
17. Tsunami
18. Sleepflower (Snippet)
19. 30-Year War
20. Kevin Carter
21. Motown Junk
22. A Design for Life
Buy albums here:
Sunday, 15 September 2013
Babyshambles - O2 Academy, Wednesday 11th September
Nobody divides public opinion quite like Pete Doherty. Adoring Libertines fans have long since
placed him on a stratospheric pedestal as a tortured genius, some sort of
modern day prophet/poet, misunderstood and afflicted. And to the non-believers he will always be a cautionary
tale; a disgusting mess perhaps culpable for the tragic demise of national
treasure Amy Winehouse. Whichever camp
you sit in there’s no denying that the unpredictable frontman is pure box
office and from the early soundcheck adorned in just a towel and turban, the
entertainment factor is never in doubt.
It’s been a busy year for the eccentric ringmaster, still
legally exiled from living in a London postcode
Pete has enjoyed a bohemian renaissance with new room-mate Macauley Culkin in Paris where recent
mischief has seen him banned from French trains for thieving uniforms. After his underwhelming solo debut
Babyshambles are back together for third album ‘Sequel To The Prequel’ –another
new lineup and one feels, a final chance to reward their label’s patience. With customary tardiness, Doherty takes to
the stage in a sharp suit flanked by elder statesman guitarist Mick Whitnall
and lively bassist Drew McConnell. It’s
a decent first half an hour which kicks off with Kinks influenced ‘Delivery’
followed by impressive new single ‘Nothing Comes To Nothing’ prompting some
heavy showers of beer in the pit.
Doherty sheds his jacket to reveal an ill-fitting white
shirt, in truth he looks awkward and anxious without a guitar, wafting his
microphone around like a sozzled Ian Brown.
No longer the firebrand of ten years ago for sure but the mixed crowd of
smashed hipsters and less animated voyeurs are at least treated to some
reasonably tight work on new tracks ‘Farmer’s Daughter’ and lyrically amusing
‘Penguins.’ Then, a turning point. Potty Pete puts down two pints to the crowd’s
delight and accidentally switches his microphone off. Further shrieking sound issues result in a
stand being hurled into the crowd and the tottering singer swings the mic round
repeatedly scraping the floor. The band
are now ragged throughout ‘Fuck Forever’, all eyes on the stricken frontman,
his vocals reduced to incoherent mumbling.
Taking a trip on the stage he’s unceremoniously dragged to his feet and
the group exit the stage.
“Can anyone play drums?” –they’re back on minus drummer
Jamie Morrison and Drew McConnell. A
reluctant roadie is drafted in and the remaining crew stand left of stage
mouths aghast at what follows. Playing
the first thing that pops into his head and abandoning it almost as quickly
Doherty covers in part, ‘Ask’ (Smiths), ‘Waterfall’ (Stone Roses) and
‘Cigarettes & Alcohol’ replacing the former for crack cocaine. Stumbling around the stage he smashes the
drumkit with the mic and grabs a trilby from the audience concluding that “If
only you’d have given me the hat at the beginning everything would have turned
out fine.” More nonsense ensues before
the venue cut the sound and Doherty collapses to be dragged off by hands and
feet by the long-suffering crew. Quoted
as saying recently “I’ll need to cut my hand off to beat crack” it may well be
too late for him to save his legacy, whether you consider tonight as horrific
or triumphantly crazy, it’s one to remember.
Babyshambles - 'Albion'
Setlist: Coming Soon
Buy albums here:
Sunday, 1 September 2013
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - 02 Academy, Bristol, Tuesday 27th August
It’s been an eventful 3 years for San
Francisco gloom-rock trio BRMC since they last brought their dry
ice fuelled glorious scuzzy wall of sound to Bristol .
A band so loud that one of their gigs was cancelled due to fears that the
floor would collapse has had to overcome the backstage death of sound engineer/father
of bassist Robert Levon Been as well as a curious combination of commercial
decline yet critical and creative rejuvenation. Often typecast as difficult and painfully
introverted the band has rebutted lucrative corporate endorsements and
stone-walled interviewers throughout their 15 year career. Live though they’re a committed and powerful
force as they mix up a two hour set of fuzzy garage rock, black-hearted blues
and beer-spraying apocalyptic punk. The
opening half hour is a breakneck rock assault which can’t possibly be
maintained. From the moody funk of ‘Hate
The Taste’ through neon-acoustic piledriver ‘Beat The Devil’s Tattoo’ the crowd
fervently jostle and a vociferous pit forms.
Guitarist Pete Hayes, all sideburns and oily hair looks like
a bad-ass biker on the right sharing vocal duties between lighting up. Early track ‘Ain’t No Easy Way’ has him at
his snarling best on a retro barnstormer that would sit well on a Young Guns
soundtrack. Alongside him Robert Levon
Been with Morrissey coiffeur and black leather jacket strums a battered hollow
bass giving the band their trademark aggressive bone-shakingly distorted boom
sound; later track ‘Stop’ proving his best moment as the place goes berserk. What follows though is a lengthy mid-set lull
as ill-advised acoustic turns from Robert then Pete are drowned out by audience
chatter. ‘Lullaby’ seems to take an age
to get going due to perfectionist loop pedal tinkering but they pull it off in what
is the closest to a heartfelt ballad as BRMC offer.
‘Specter At The Feast,’ their seventh studio album was a
largely cathartic project for Been and his father’s biggest hit whilst with The
Call; ‘Let The Day Begin’ is a suitably raucous but poignant cover that is
widely appreciated. Also on new brooding
ethereal anthem ‘Returning’ Been again pays tribute as the event still clearly
weighs heavy on his mind “I will follow you till we all return, till we know
our souls survived.” Behind the noisy
boys ex-Raveonettes and relatively newbie drummer Leah Shapiro keeps a steady
beat impressing in particular on the ferocious ‘Rival’ with some military
spattering and handy fills.
Thunderous anthems ‘Whatever Happened To My Rock And Roll’ and
‘Spread Your Love’ incite some cheeky crowdsurfing much to the anger of heavy-handed
security bulldogs who quickly bundle them out.
Ending with ‘Sell It’ we’re reminded of what the band does best. It’s dark, dirty and bordering on evil in
places as blood-curdling bass and wild early Verve guitar thrashing make it a
moody enjoyable mess with Hayes screaming “Get it, I got it on the run, sell it.”
Its top stuff and a ballsy way to end for
an overlooked rock band still going strong where their peers have long since
burned out.
Kindly published by Venue:
http://www.venue.co.uk/music-live-reviews-b/21035-black-rebel-motorcycle-club
Best Track: Click On Link Below
BRMC - 'Stop'
Setlist:
1. Hate The Taste
2. Beat The Devil's Tattoo
3. Let The Day Begin
4. Rival
5. Ain't No Easy Way
6. Berlin
7. Screaming Gun
8. Returning
9. Conscience Killer
10. Shade Of Blue
11. Weight Of The World
12. Stop
13. Funny Games
14. The Line (Robert acoustic)
15. Some Kind Of Ghost (Peter acoustic)
16. Fire Walker
17. Lullaby
18. Whatever Happened To My Rock & Roll
19. Spread Your Love
20. Six Barrel Shotgun
21. Sell It
Albums available here:
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