The Sound Ex

The End Bar Newcastle is the small bands dream: dark, dingy and cosy. The small corner pub was surprisingly packed with around 100 people ready to listen to the local boys’ second album, entitled ‘Palomino’. Sound Ex have toured with The Datsuns, and the Mooney Suzuki, and their influences were easy to see on their music. The support band came on the stage first though, but just a general hint with support bands. They need to be of a similar genre to the actual main act. This band was a punk band. I’m sorry for all the punk fans that read this, but it’s not my cup of tea, so when I want to hear Rock music, don’t pump out Punk. It’s one of those great lists called ‘the oldest trick in the book’, which they obviously didn’t read. They did have the ‘I look really bored’ bassist and the ‘I don’t think that I should be here’ lead singer that looked more like an accountant than a punk singer.
Anyway, The Sound Ex came on. As this was an album launch, it’s not the best place to judge a band on their live performances, the crowd obviously here to support the release of the album. As a band they worked well, they interacted with each other, having two vocalists sharing almost equally, except they have an obvious front man. The album as a whole is one of those efforts in which bands have fallen into the trap of producing a ‘safe’ album, one which doesn’t really do anything, but at the same time still gets your foot tapping, but this could be by the energy of the band on stage, as opposed to their music. Its interesting to see what they do from here, they are already signed with Damnation Records, so it’s not like there one of the masses of bands unsigned. It is, though, a crossing point for The Sound Ex, between going ‘reasonably’ big nationwide, regional or even going into the doldrums. Its something that could go either way, but with their life performance they have… more up than down.

Review by Izaac Carlisle

The Hoosiers Freshers Gig

This year’s freshers’ second gig was the London band The Hoosiers supported by two local acts. After having the treat of interviewing the lovely lads of the Hoosiers my friends and I settled far away from the freshers in a quiet room of the union close to the basement. We missed the first of the two support bands, which is of course unfortunate, but let our ears be virgin to the sound of Detroit Social Club or DSC.
I had heard of DSC before, but never anything by them. So it came as a pleasant surprise that they are in fact a really good live band. In a way live bands are good when even without knowing their music you are totally in the vibe once they step on the stage. There was energy present in the room that filled it from almost empty to almost completely full in a matter of minutes. I absolutely loved what I saw and heard and I believe that I was not alone on that account. Certain songs a lot of fresher’s chanting along with their hands in the air, the last song was probably the best, no one wanted the band to leave the stage behind. The ambiance was absolutely amazing, and I can’t do anything but recommend you to see Detroit Social Club.
Then it was for the Hoosiers to prove what they could do with their Yeti amps, and good looks. I had for some reason always heard form people that the Hoosiers are not such a good band. I have to say whoever told me that was exaggerating. The Hoosiers were a fun band, making the drunk and the sober students party. Their keyboard player, who was the additional member, from Newcastle, could apparently play everything. After asking the crowd what they should play, it came down to an extract of a Killers song, and the theme tune to Inspector Gadget. The Killers song was almost a mistake, as the crowd could not stop singing even though they had stopped playing it. When they did Cops and Robbers, it seemed like everyone was dancing. It is too bad that the weeks held during freshers week do not come with encores.

Review by by Solveig Werner

Woodpigeon at the Cumberland Arms 18/09/2008

Arriving a bit late at the gig, I almost missed the whole of the first act that was on, the solo artist Francis Conway. I made it just in time to hear the last two song of his acoustic set. They were absolutely amazing, and both were rather long so I can say I got a good picture of what Francis Conway sounds like.
Beth Jeans Houghton was up next. Last time I saw her live she was performing on her own, this time around she was joined by a drummer, ok he did not only play drums, he also was gifted for the piano. I am still very impressed by Beth’s good use of the loop pedals, they give her music the extra something that make is very special. It is going to be interesting to see where Beth is going to be in a couple of months time as she has just released a single and has a lot of new songs up her sleeve.
It was so hot in the Cumberland Arms that night that I seriously considered leaving as it made me really tired. I am happy, that I did stay around because Woodpigeon are a really good band that I would have regretted not seeing. This Canadian band had the characteristic of having many people on stage. As a consequence they had a lot of different instruments including a violin. The music was absolutely stunning. Everyone seemed to try to figure out what genre they belong to. “Unclassifiable” that’s most likely what they are, the music is a mix of eastern European folk and Abba, with elements of all sorts of musical styles. The fact that they are Canadians with many band members and a diverse selection of instruments makes them a bit Arcade Fire-ish. By any means if you have the chance to see Woodpigeon, you should definitely take it, as for them as well you can’t know where they will be in a bit.

Review by Solveig Werner

The Little Ones at the Cluny 17/09/2008

Back in Newcastle for three days I had my first proper night out at the Cluny. The American band The Little Ones were playing supported by local acts Spies in Limbo, and New Vinyls.
First up it was the New Vinyls, over the summer this band has worked on a lot of new songs. I must say that they were really good. They are catchy and very different one from the other. For the song Polytechnic the lead singer leaves his guitar behind and dances on stage à la Jarvis Cocker. If you have the chance to catch New Vinyls live you should do so. Interaction with the public is another thing that characterizes this band. Surprisingly the Cluny was fuller than normally at the time of the first band. Maybe the word did spread that New Vinyls is a must see band.
Then it was Spies in Limbo’s turn to show what they’ve got. Nothing can be said against their music, because that was class. The atmosphere that was created by the previous band was carried on just there were no direct exchanges of words with the public. If they would have done that it could have been even better.
The Little Ones, probably most known for their song Lovers Who Uncover had a wide variety of songs on their set list. High, sweet voices, is what probably best describes the singing of this very particular band. They were a lot of fun to see perform. The Cluny must be a lot smaller than the venues they are used to, also a lot nicer. In a way they reminded me a bit of Vampire Weekend, the same style of music but a bit less quirky. All in all it was a great night back in the Toon.

Review by Solveig Werner