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.  

Anderson hurtles about the stage with more energy than pretenders half his age; it’s obvious he’s really missed being on stage.  His largely unremarkable project with The Tears alongside maverick ex-guitarist Bernard Butler was short-lived and the chance to reconnect with his adoring fans has proven irresistible.  ‘Snowblind’ sounds like Hole with Richard Oakes’ squally guitars as Anderson maintains a pitch perfect delivery despite being engulfed by the crowd on one of many trips away from the stage.  When they come to play ‘Trash’ the whole floor is pogo-ing like it’s 1996 again, they just don’t make anthems like that anymore says the guy next to me; he has a point.  ‘Sabotage’ begins menacingly with a throbbing bassline before Oakes lets rip on an Edge style guitar riff and Anderson, on his knees and with arm aloft, makes it soar. 

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 Anderson.  Showing no sign of fatigue they power through ‘So Young’ finishing on lyrical masterpiece/sarcastic ode to the shallow; ‘Beautiful Ones’ which invokes another enthusiastic singalong.  In a live arena they’ve never left anything in the tank and tonight is without doubt a triumphant return for a band with renewed focus and a fanbase who have clearly fallen back in love with them.

Kindly published by Venue:
http://www.venue.co.uk/music-live-reviews-s/21276-suede

Best track: Click on link below
Suede - 'Trash'

Setlist:

1. Pantomime Horse 
2. Barriers 
3. Snowblind 
4. It Starts and Ends With You 
5. Filmstar 
6. Trash 
7. Animal Nitrate 
8. Heroine 
9. Sometimes I Feel I’ll Float Away 
10. Sabotage 
11. The Drowners 
12. Killing of a Flashboy 
13. The 2 of Us 
14. The Big Time 
15. For the Strangers 
16. So Young 
17. Metal Mickey 
18. Beautiful Ones 
19. New Generation 

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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 below
My Vitriol - 'Always Your Way'

Setlist To follow

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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: