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I spent the best part of last weekend at a small festival in Norfolk called Tales of the Jackalope. It was an intimate affair put on by Vice magazine and I had a great day. Aside from the top weather and perfect location the line up included a load of great new unsigned and signed artists that are all doing their bit to push the boundaries of modern music forward. Acts like XX Teens and These New Puritans played top quality sets full of innovative uncompromising tunes. My personal highlight was a hardcore band called Fucked Up. Fronted by a very large man covrerved in tatoos they lay waste to the stage and were eventually forced off by the police for continuing to play after the midnight curfew. Many other acts played the festival including The Fall, Dizze Rascal, Foals and The Rumble Strips. However there was one major downside to the whole event (asdie from the catering) and that was the cancellation of New York legends ESG. I would highly reconmend this fetival to anyone looking for something a little different.
I've been busy these past few nights starting last Friday when I managed to get a ticket for the Arctic Monkeys gig at the Astoria. I haven't actually seen the band since spring 2005 when I was lucky enough to watch them play at a small venue in Manchester called Jabez Clegg just as they were about to become the biggest band in the country. Since then they have moved on so much and the new songs were spot on and they have developed a heavier sound that's reminiscent of early QOTSA and DFA1979 which is great in my book. After this show I headed over to Koko to watch US punk band Stalkers that are the New York equivalent of Towers of London so enough said. Then Ra Ra Riot followed them up (as I mentioned in my last post) and from then on I don't remember anything that happened until I woke up on Sunday afternoon.
I wasn't back in the game until last night and after meeting friends in Soho I headed to the Metro for a glimpse a a band called Jersey from Leicster, they were a bit dull and despite the singer having a good voice he didn't have the songs to compliment it. From then I went to check out a band called The Draytones - signed to 1965 Records - for the first time and really enjoyed their set. If you like merseybeat or are a fan of 60s garage bands like Standelles or Count Five you must check them out.
I saw a number of bands last week with the most impressive of the unsigned type being an act called Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong that I saw at Boogaloo for the second time in a fortnight. A bit of a buzz is starting to build up around this band because since I last saw them they have been in the NME radar pages and their demo was chosen by Zane Lowe to be his hottest record in the world last week. They impressed me again and after living with the demo for some time the songs have grown on me to the point that I'm singing them in my head all the time. I'm looking forwad to seeing them again in a few weeks now.
I have also been checking out a band from New York called Ra Ra Riot recently. They spent the back end of last week playing their first run of UK shows. I have known about them for a while as they were tipped after CMJ and SXSW by a number of people in the music business. I first saw them at the Proud Gallery in Camden last Thursday and despite their best effort the dodgy sound system all but ruined their show. However, I was lucky enough to see them the following night at Koko (a much larger venue with top sound) and this gig was far superior. Playing a handful of songs the band were definitely on form with a track called 'A Manner to Act,' standing out as my favourite. I would recommend this band to anyone who likes their US alt rock / indie and they can be found on myspace etc.
I had quite a busy time last week with gigs and all. I was out and about most nights and spent the entire week in London for a change. The week started on a bit of a low as I saw a couple of bands that I'd heard being talked up in industry circles that didn't live up to their supposed billing. Two of these bands played the Club Fandango night at the Dublin castle in Camden with the first band in question The Severes putting on a fairly pedestrian set. I'd actually seen this band before and had been quite excited by them but second time around they didn't make much of an impression on me as their sound was very Jam lite and a bit dated because the Libertines et al were doing this years ago. Following on were a Scottish band called Midnight Machine that had a contemporary electronic sound. Drawing influences from the Juan Maclean and The Knife they played out a half hour set of competent yet uninspiring songs. As it's very early days for this band it's a bit harsh to judge them at this point but I'd say there is room for improvement with this lot.
As the week moved on I checked out a band called the Priory at Notting Hill Arts Club. Like so many unsigned bands today they seemed content to knock out a few indie/punk numbers without really challening the audience. They did have a good attitude about them though and the front man had a good presence on stage so I will be checking them out again to see if they have written the tunes to match the bravado. Towards the end of the week I saw a band called Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong at Boogaloo in Highgate and they impressed me. They are not the most original sounding band but they had a good collection of songs that kept the audience intrested for the duration of the set. I'm sure I will be hearing more from this band as the year moves on.
It's not often I get to see signed bands that have records out as I spend most of my evenings watching unsigned artists (not that this is a bad thing it's just a treat to see a show when you know every song and can have it down the front). But before I discuss the !!! performance I must mention the support act 'Chow Chow' because they are a top band and have some interesting characters in the line up. For example, one of the members used to provide soundtracks to porno films and another is a Happy Hardcore DJ (anyone who grew up in a provincial town will be familiar with this music, Vibes and Lively anyone?). Baring this in mind it was little suprise to see this band belting out beat driven art rock that sounds prettey much like nothing you have heard before, and believe me this is a refreshing experience in these times of generic top shop endorsed indie music. Set highlights included the ace new single 'Dear Francis' (that must be purchased for the snakes & ladders themed artwork as well as the tune) and another belting tune called 'Bright Lights' and the most remarkable thing about this set was the fact that their performance matched the cavernous surroundings that this band are 'so' not used to.
Following Chow Chow was a band called Blood Red Shoes, a two piece band from Brighton that I don't want to discuss because i'm just not into them. So up step !!! with all the attidue of well adapted, educated New Yorker's and as they launch into the first song you realize that when God handed out talent and cool he provided each memeber with an ample portion of both. If you haven't heard of this band then I advise you to go out and buy their new album 'Myth Takes' because they are the real deal. Songs like 'Must Be The Moon' and 'All My Heroes are Werdios' sound like underground classics in the making and when 'Heart of Hearts' kicks in the audience dance like it's a friday night in Manchester 1987. I can't talk anbout this gig anymore because it was so good it's hard to describe so check them out yourself, end of!
The Retro Bar in Manchester is the kind of place that could have been used as a filming location for Miami Vice circa 1987. Bright Red Sofas line the mirrored walls competing for space with the usual crowd of angular mopped punters who are pushed right up against band members gracing it's barely there stage. Many of Manchesters finest bands past and present have performed in this intimate venue and in more recent years it's most memorable gig was the first Nine Black Alps show that attracted the majority of the UKs A&R community back in 2004.
My reason for being here on a bitter March evening was to check out the ever improving St Albans band Friendly Fires (www.myspace.com/friednlyfires) who made quite an impact with their
self titled EP, released during the the latter stages of 2006. Combining the punk funk energy of bands like the Rapture and the monotone vocals of early human league the band do more than enough to keep the majority of Manchesters music muso types happy. The Candi Staton sampling 'Your Love' is the obvious show highlight but other tracks like 'Photo Boooth' and 'On Board' suggest that this band are more than just another DFA influenced dance band. Expeact to hear more from this lot in the future and if this sounds like your kind of thinkg then I'd advise you check them out asap.
Moving onfrom the Retro Bar I headed up to the Dry Bar a pub made infamous by Shaun Ryder when he pulled a gun out there back in the early nineties - if you haven't already watch 24 Hour Party People for a better explanation/extention of the truth - to see a band called The Good Hurt. Drawing influenece from QOTSA, McKlusky and Trail of Dead ., The Good Hurt's performance was full of energy and quiet/loud moments that were executed with a Black Francis like precision. Their music will probably not be everyones cup of tea but if you like your US alt rock then this band is definitely for you. (The footage in the Good Hurt video is not from the gig I attended)
I really can't wait until Friday because I'm heading up to Manchester for a few days to catch up on all things new in the current music world up there. I have a load of venues and clubs to visit and although the musical output of Manchester has been lukewarm in recent years, there is always a feeling when visiting the city looking for bands that the next Joy Division, Stone Roses or Happy Mondays are knocking out the classics in a practice room in Salford or Ancoats. I will mention all of the interesting things that happen at the weekend on this blog next week so check it out if you can.
I headed up to the Fibbers in York on Monday to check out a new band from Liverpool called The Hot Melts. Despite playing to an audience of about 6 people (it was a monday night in York) the band retained their composure and belted out a few power pop/rock tunes. The highlight of the set was a track called 'Edith' that can be heard here www.myspace.com/thehotmelts .
I love nothing more than being suprised by a band be they old or new and although they split opinion Forward Russia really impressed me on Saturday @ Chalk (Scala). I've never been the biggest fan of this band but it seems that spending the best part of two years living on the road has helped them raise the bar live with the show on Saturday proving that hard work and dedication is way more important to a band then chosing the right hair product.
Some great albums out there at the moment that everyone should check out -
!!! - Myth Takes, Another quality record by the New York based dance band, 'Heart of Hearts' is my favourite track on this.
The Gallows - Orchestra of Wolves, Listen to this record after a bad day at work and you will soon get over whatever menial problem/task that was occupying your mind.
MSTRKRFT - The Looks, The best electronic/dance album I've heard in ages from one of the best production teams around.
