Ra Ra Riot @ Academy 2 on 14/02/09

Even though it was Valentine’s Day the upstairs of the Academy was rather full, and it wasn’t just single people in need for a change of mind. No wonder, after all Ra Ra Riot are an amazing, must have see band!
After missing the 1st support act, I still managed to catch The Answering Machine Cliffer. This band did not blow me away, nor did they annoy me, they were a support band that you don’t mind seeing. They could file here and there to make their setting a bit more exciting, the punch was missing in there. Still, the singer looked a bit like a young Jarvis, which helped people warming up to the Answering Machine.

When Ra Ra Riot stepped on the stage there was a sudden wave of happiness going through the room. This band, having a very painful past, must be the happiest bunch I got to see in the last couple of months. They enchanted their audience

with their very melodic, string based music. You get taken on a musical voyage, a trip involving classical music and alternative rock that makes you want to drop everything and dance. Dance, most people did that, or at least they jumped around like little kids, and sang along to the songs they knew. During one song the bass and guitar players retreated to the back of the stage, letting the vocalist, cellist, and violinist have the public for themselves. It was classical music with singing.

As they have only released one album, “The Rumb Line”, their set wasn’t too long. One can only hope that next time that they’ll hit Newcastle there will be some new tunes in store.

Try to catch Ra Ra Riot, as they will make you feel happy inside every single cell of your body by the time you leave the gig, the only thing that will make you sad is that the gig is over.

Review and pictures by Solveig Werner

Preview - Noah And The Whale @ The Sage, Gateshead 10/03/09

The Sage - an ‘international home for music and musical discovery’. This fantastic venue is entirely dedicated to music of all varieties; jazz, country, and even classical. So having a recently popular indie band such as Noah And The Whale to play is quite a statement. It shows that this band can’t be just like any other outfit, dishing out pop song after pop song, there is a lot more to them, i.e. genuine musical talent. Noah And The Whale have a definite feel to their music, when listening to their album Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down I realised it has a lot of depth and sentiment to it. With carefully constructed lyrics and violin-clad harmonies it’s folksy and jolly in some parts, and dark and acoustic in others, broken up by the odd irresistible country-esque indie track. It takes a few listens to really appreciate it, but once you get to know and love the charming melodies, seeing this band live must be an absolute treat, a sing-a-long for want of a better phrase. With such an array of tracks this gig promises to deliver a varied and blossoming performance, and well if they’re playing at The Sage then they must be good, ukuleles and all.

Preview by Marzena Dabrowska 

Innerpartysystem @ Academy 2 03/02/09

Waiting in the queue for a sold out gig, just after having interviewed the headline band Innerpartysystem, I found myself surrounded by a lot of young girls. These girls were all dressed the same way. It was a bit disturbing, as I did not picture ISP to have a fan base of that nature.
It seems to have become a fashion for me not to see the first support act. I did not even dare step into the venue and only heard My Passion from the merch table. My excuse is that I did not want to loose my hearing, and that I had a very good conversation with ISP manager.
MC Rut (standing for Middle Class) from Sacramento (CAKE’s home town) were the next band to perform, and they were much more of my liking. I enjoyed their set, even though I have the feeling something was missing in it. I am not quite sure what it was though. A certain punch, but all in all I should not complain as I had a great time, and those two boys had a lot of energy when on stage. After the show I had a short conversation with the drummer (picture), a very nice guy I have to say, and well we talked about CAKE. He very much took a liking in my CAKE obsession.
Finally my very tiered self got to enjoy the very energetic set of Innerpartysystem. I myself think their music is electronic rock, with hints of metal meets dance. The music was great, and should be played on more dance floors! Music wasn’t the only important thing of their set; no there was an underling factor to the electronic side of it all. They put to show an amazing lighting, making it seem more like a club night than a concert. They ended the show with their current single “Don’t Stop”, sung by the whole crowd as well as the band.
I can only recommend you to catch ISP when you have the chance to do so.

Review by Solveig Werner

NME Awards Tour, 01.02.09, Carling Academy

Arriving a little late to the gig, due to rowdy football fans causing riot’s on the streets of Newcastle, Florence and the Machine are already in full swing. It’s easy to tell this is not your classical indie act it’s obvious from the second you see the stage, not a guitar insight, instead a harp and a stage set-up that is almost theatrical.
From Florence’s quirky clothes to her cappella voice you can tell why she’s shot to fame and bagged a performance slot at the BRIT awards. Her songs are elaborately arranged with a mixture of vocals and instrumental parts with a hint of eccentricity, which makes her different from her contemporaries. When “kiss with a fist” kicks in you see Florence’s love of performing as she twirls around on stage and works up frenzy in the crowd. When the final song “dog days are over” ends, Florence dances off stage leaving everyone wanting just a bit more.
White Lies are the second band on and after their recent success of a number 1 album you could tell expectations were going to be high. White Lies influences are fairly easy to cite such as Joy Division, Interpol and Editors with the lead singer often compared to the likes of Ian Curtis and Julian Cope due to his singing style. The band is on form tonight; still on a high from there number one hit they play a perfect set. Almost a bit too perfect, from their matching black shirts and serious faces every chord and vocal is expertly placed.
Barely a word is spoken to the audience and few exchanges are made between the band as there is almost an unspoken agreement that no charades are needed, just the music. This is all too clear when dark tones of “to lose my life” begin. Throughout the gig it was hard not to be captivated by the lead singer’s, Harry McVeigh, voice with the somber drone of it that could almost cause a shiver. They round of the gig with “death”, intense and in true White Lies style - flawless.
Review by Ann-Marie Loughney

Seconds after White Lies had, sadly, departed the stage; a shy foursome slinked on to set up for the next act. Quicker, and more efficient than most, these mysterious, downward-gazing roadies, were off again in as many seconds. Leaving only disco balls in a glittering heap next to a single, also glittering, drum and a keyboard that looked like the control panel of a spaceship (or at least how I would imagine one of those to look like). The bright lights dimmed to flickers and a soft cheer rumbled through the crowd, swiftly turning into hushed confusion as the same foursome appeared again. This time with dance moves. These were Friendly Fires.
They introduced themselves in the first line of their opener ‘Photobooth’. Instantly all eyes were fixed on the front man Ed MacFarlane. Bounding, gliding and snake-hipping his way across the stage, in somehow perfect harmony with the electric rock hybrid beats screaming out of their instruments, he was riotous and captivating with a voice which was both joyful and desperate. It is impossible to fight the urge to dance for the full 37minute set, their sound is unique and spunky but with influences of Prince and Chic. Their closeness as a band – together for four years now – is notable, the occasional hair-ruffling, and the odd look of mutual admiration; basically they looked like they were having just as much, if not more, fun as the heaving crowd. Closing with their biggest hit to date ‘Paris’, synthetic and thoughtful, proves to be an electric end to an electric show and as Friendly Fires say their thank yous and goodbyes politely, they can be safe in the knowledge that they have shown their potential to be the band to watch this year…just don’t stare at the disco balls for too long.
Headliners Glasvegas left the crowd waiting, still hyper and rowdy from the previous acts, for a little too long. Finally appearing to excitable cheers, dressed all in black and with solemn expressions, they aren’t the most cheerful of bands we’ve seen tonight but when ‘Geraldine’ kicks off the set comes alight and James Allen’s’ broad Glaswegian vocals echo around the room. After a Number 1 album, expectations were high and thick in the air and, at times, they didn’t disappoint. ‘Daddy’s Gone’ in particular was epic. Moving and emotional, the crowds singing along to the whole chorus solo, it was eerie and excellent.
However, apart from a strange moment where the bassist appeared to be playing the keyboard on a skateboard, the rest of their performance wasn’t quite so captivating. Although the band was musically tight, the booming stadium-rock choruses were similar on every song and – no offence to the Scots – the heavy accent made the lyrics almost impossible to follow. At times they almost become too powerful and the drum beats (from an upright black-haired lady) and scratchy guitars shook the room a little too hard, drowning out the melodies certain to be underneath. Their sound is certainly quite original and made them a success of 2008 but the telling of Glasvegas will come with their second album, perhaps just listen to them on CD until then.
Overall, NME put on a good show. A quirky, exciting and complementary selection of bands, some good, some greater, and everyone went out dancing and humming into the snow.
Review by Hannah Tomlinson